Biology Pathway

SyllabusUnit 1: Preparing To Study

On completion of this unit you will:

• Understand how study is organised and planned
• Understand how to apply theories of learning in relation to personal approaches to learning
• Understand a range of constraints upon study
• Understand the importance of assessment feedback.

On completion of this unit you will:

• Be able to write with relevance in responding to an academic task.
• Know how to interpret and discuss concepts and debates in responding to a set, academic writing task.
• Be able to summarise for academic purposes, selecting key points, information or central ideas.
• Understand the role of reference, allusion and paraphrase to avoid plagiarism.

On completion of this unit you will:

• Understand how to use key information sources.
• Understand why sources are acknowledged and referenced.
• Understand a range of reading strategies.
• Understand note-making methods.
• Understand how to plan draft and produce a written assignment.

On completion of this unit you will:

• Be able to plan a piece of research on an approved subject area.
• Be able to collect research material from different sources
• Be able to use data to substantiate an argument
• Be able to record sources of information
• Be able to present research findings

On completion of this unit you will:

• Understand the reasons for the rise in public provision of health care between the mid19th century and 1948.
• Understand the background to and the founding principles of the National Health Service as part of the introduction of the Welfare State.
• Understand the political trends which have shaped the National Health Service since 1948.
• Understand the ethos of the contemporary National Health Service

On completion of this unit you will:

• Understand potential next steps in education.
• Understand key sources of information relevant to HE application.
• Understand personal HE opportunities.
• Understand the financial implications of further study.
• Know how to apply for a course.

On completion of this unit you will:

• Understand the importance of research in psychology
• Understand the main approaches in psychology.
• Understand ethical issues in psychological research.

On completion of this unit you will:

• Understand research in an area of cognitive psychology.
• Understand how the findings of research into cognitive processes can be applied to real-life issues

On completion of this unit you will:

• Understand the difficulties faced by psychologists in the definition and diagnosis of abnormal behaviour.
• Understand a psychological disorder.
• Understand therapy used to treat people with psychological disorders.

On completion of this unit you will:

• Understand the structure and functions of the organs of the digestive system.
• Understand nutrients and their sources.
• Understand how diet may influence health.

On completion of this unit you will:

• Understand anatomical terminology.
• Understand the skeletal system and locomotion.
• Understand the muscular system

On completion of this unit you will:

• Understand the major sub divisions of the nervous system.
• Understand the structure and function of glial cells and neurons.

On completion of this unit you will:

• Understand the structure and function of the human reproductive system.
• Understand how hormones regulate the reproductive tract throughout life.
• Understand the sequence of events from conception to puberty.

On completion of this unit you will:

• Understand the cell.
• Understand cellular metabolism.
• Understand how cells grow and divide.

On completion of this unit you will:

• Understand the sociological approach and its distinction from common sense and other social sciences.
• Understand basic concepts in sociological explanation.
• Understand contrasting sociological perspectives.
• Understand concepts and perspectives relating to a specific social institution.

On completion of this unit you will:

• Understand concepts and models of health.
• Understand the social construction of health and ill health.
• Understand alternative approaches to health.

On completion of this unit you will:

• Understand definitions of and explanations for poverty and health
• Understand approaches to poverty and health.
• Understand the approaches to the social distribution of health chances.

On completion of this unit you will:

• Understand sociological factors influencing the relationships between patients and health professionals.
• Understand the role of social motivational factors in health and ill health.
• Understand the significance of social support networks in health care and maintenance.

This is only an approximate figure and is dependant upon how much time you can dedicate to your studies and how well you grasp the learning concepts in the course material. Furthermore, at the end of each lesson there is a question paper that needs to be completed and returned to your tutor. You should allow at least 1 - 2 hours of study to complete each question paper.

The approximate amount of time required to complete the course is: 360 hrs.