Medical Genetics Intercalated BSc

Course detail Description

The Medical Genetics iBSc explores the importance and future potential of molecular and medical genetics in the understanding, diagnosis, treatment and prevention of human diseases and cancer.

It is now generally accepted that the health or disease status of an individual has as its basis a particular gene expression profile that can be determined by inherited genetic and acquired epigenetic factors.

The Medical Genetics iBSc course is designed to highlight the impact advances in molecular genetics have made on our understanding of the mechanisms of human disease, and how they have provided novel diagnostic and therapeutic intervention strategies.

You will study basic concepts, new discoveries, and potential or actual clinical applications. You will also learn how to appraise work critically, solve problems, and communicate your findings efficiently, while acquiring a fundamental understanding of research methods and rationales.

This degree is a one-year course that comprises modules totalling 120 credits: taught modules totalling 60 credits take place in Semester 1.

In Semester 2, all students take a transferable skills module, but can then follow two separate pathways to make up the remaining 45 credits. The first of these, a key feature of this course, allows students to gain laboratory experience by completing an experimental research project. The projects on offer include the chance to work in both ‘wet’ and ‘dry’ labs. Projects undertaken in the ‘dry’ lab involve the analysis of data produced in the Department of Medical & Molecular Genetics. Alternatively, students can opt for a Library Research Project accompanied by two further 15-credit modules.

Teaching

The following table gives an indication of the contact and self-study time allocation you might expect from a typical academic year:

Module

Lectures

Seminars & Tutorials

Practicals & Lab Work

Private Study

Other

Human Molecular Genetics: the Fundamentals

18 hours

2 hour

-

127 hours

-

Medical Genetics

21 hours

2 hours

-

127 hours

-

Complex Disease Genetics

20 hours

7 hours

-

123 hours

-

Cancer Genetics

20 hours

2 hour

-

128 hours

-

Semester 2: students are required to take a 15 credit module and can opt for one of two different ways in which to make up the remaining 45 credits to make a total of 60 credits.

Module

Lectures

Seminars & Tutorials

Practicals & Lab Work

Private Study

Other

Research & Clinical Genetics: Transferable Skills

(15 credits)

-

8 hours

14 hours

128 hours

-

Option 1: Can be taken with the following 45 credit module:

Module

Lectures

Seminars & Tutorials

Practicals & Lab Work

Private Study

Other

Human Experiemental Genetics (45 credits)

-

-

240 hours

160 hours

50 hours

Option 2: Can be taken with the following 15 credit module:

Module

Lectures

Seminars & Tutorials

Practicals & Lab Work

Private Study

Other

Molecular Genetics Library Project B

-

15 hours

-

135 hours

-

Plus any two of the 15-credit modules listed below:

Module

Lectures

Seminars & Tutorials

Practicals & Lab Work

Private Study

Other

Immunology & Immunotherapy of Cancer

22 hours

2 hours

30 hours

96 hours

-

Forensic Genetics & Toxicology

16 hours

4 hours

16 hours

-

-

Principles of Epidemiology

20 hours

18 hours

-

112 hours

-

Epigenetics 20 hours 5 hours 6 hours 119 hours - Birth Defects 26 hours 4 hours - 117 hours 3 hours

Typically, one credit equates to 10 hours of work. You will study 120 credits during the academic year, which equates to 1,200 theoretical hours of learning.

Assessment

The primary methods of assessment for this course are assessed essays, coursework, oral presentations, examinations and a dissertation.

Module

Examinations

Essays/Reports/Dissertations

Presentations/Orals/Vivas

Other types of In-Course Assessment

Human Molecular Genetics: the Fundamentals

80%

20%

-

-

Medical Genetics

80%

20%

-

-

Complex Disease Genetics

80%

20%

-

-

Cancer Genetics

80%

20%

-

-

Research and Clinical Genetics: Transferable Skills

60%

20%

20%

-

Human Experimental Genetics

-

70%

20%

10%

Molecular Genetics Library Project B

-

90%

-

10%

Immunology & Immunotherapy of Cancer 70% 20% - 10% Forensic Genetics & Toxicology 40% - - 60% Principles of Epidemiology 80% - - 20% Epigenetics 70% 20% 10% - Birth Defects 75% 15% 10% -

The study time and assessment methods detailed above are typical and give you a good indication of what to expect. However, they are subject to change.

Regulating body

King’s College London is regulated by the Office for Students.

Location

The majority of learning for this degree takes place at the King’s College Guy’s Campus. Please note that locations are determined by where each module is taught and may vary depending on the modules you study.

See our full list of intercalated courses here.

Read more

Structure

Year 1

Courses are divided into modules. You will normally take modules totalling 120 credits.

Required Modules

You are required to take the following modules:

Semester 1

You are required to take the following modules:

• Human Molecular Genetics:

• The Fundamentals (15 credits)

• Medical Genetics (15 credits)

• Complex Disease Genetics (15 credits)

• Cancer Genetics (15 credits)

Semester 2

You are required to take:

• Research & Clinical Genetics (15 credits)

together with either:

• Human Experimental Genetics (45 credits)

or:

• Molecular Genetics Library Project B (15 credits)

together with a further two 15-credit modules to be chosen from the following modules:

• Immunology & Immunotherapy of Cancer (15 credits)

• Forensic Genetics & Toxicology (15 credits)

• Principles of Epidemiology (15 credits)

• Epigenetics (15 credits)

• Birth Defects (15 credits)

Optional Modules

King’s College London reviews the modules offered on a regular basis to provide up-to-date, innovative and relevant programmes of study. Therefore, modules offered may change. We suggest that you keep an eye on the course finder on our website for updates.