Course Title: Viral Infections

Part A: Course Overview

Course Title: Viral Infections

Credit Points: 24.00

Terms

Course Code

Campus

Career

School

Learning Mode

Teaching Period(s)

ONPS1047

City Campus

Postgraduate

135H Applied Sciences

Face-to-Face

Sem 2 2013

Course Coordinator: Professor Peter Smooker

Course Coordinator Phone: +61 3 9925 7129

Course Coordinator Email: peter.smooker@rmit.edu.au

Course Coordinator Location: Bundoora West Campus 223.1.29

Course Coordinator Availability: By Appointment


Pre-requisite Courses and Assumed Knowledge and Capabilities

A knowledge and understanding of microbiology and the disease process in humans, such as that achieved by completing a science degree with a major in microbiology.


Course Description

General Aims: To provide students with an understanding of selected viral diseases of humans and animals and their laboratory diagnosis.

Topic Areas: History of virology, viral replication, molecular diagnosis of viral infections, viral vaccines, viral immunology, antiviral drugs, selected viral diseases of humans and animals, biosecurity. 


Objectives/Learning Outcomes/Capability Development

At successful completion of this course you will be able to:
1. understand the types of viruses that infect humans and animals
2. understand the clinical outcomes of a range of viral infections in humans and animals
3. understand the process of viral diagnosis in humans and animals
4. understand the means used to control viral infections in humans and animals.


Students will achieve an understanding of the types and clinical outcomes of a range of viral infections in humans and animals, their diagnosis and control.   This will contribute to their ability to work in a viral diagnostic or research laboratory on diseases of humans and animals.


Overview of Learning Activities

Students will be guided through the subject by lectures and by a practical course to achieve competence in technical skills. The normal weekly lecture load will be 2-3 hours, but this will be varied according to the particular educational objectives for the topic.  The practical course will be offered as an intensive program over one full week at a time when no other classes are timetabled. 

Students have the roles of active learners and have the responsibility of attending and actively participating in all planned student learning experiences, i.e. lectures and practical classes, reading all relevant references pointed out during planned student learning experiences and undertaking such other private study as will benefit their learning towards the objectives of the subject. Although no minimum attendance is required, students must be aware that sessions are available only at the times specified and cannot be repeated.

Student feedback will be obtained anonymously and voluntarily at the end of the semester on the subject content and evaluation processes. This will be used by the subject team to revise the subject and for discussion by the course team at the course review meeting at the end of each year.


Overview of Learning Resources

In addition to prescribed and recommended textbooks, references to specific learning materials will be given during lectures and practical classes or will be displayed on the DLS. 


Overview of Assessment

Written examination, critical review of literature, post lecture on-line tests, practical assessment.