Course Title: Medical Biochemistry

Part A: Course Overview

Course Title: Medical Biochemistry

Credit Points: 12.00

Course Code	Campus	Career	School	Learning Mode	Teaching Period(s)
ONPS2295	Bundoora Campus	Undergraduate	160H Medical Sciences	Face-to-Face	Sem 2 2006, Sem 2 2007, Sem 2 2008, Sem 2 2009, Sem 2 2010

Course Coordinator: Assoc Prof Marian Dobos

Course Coordinator Phone: +61 3 99257067

Course Coordinator Email: marian.dobos@rmit.edu.au

Course Coordinator Location: 223.2.04

Course Coordinator Availability: By appointment

Pre-requisite Courses and Assumed Knowledge and Capabilities

Knowledge and understanding of the principles of cell biology as presented in Year 1 ‘Biology of the Cell’ or an equivalent course of cell / human biology.

Course Description

This course is designed to extend student theoretical and practical knowledge in the fields of medical biochemistry. The general aims of the course are:
* to provide a comprehensive analysis of important topic areas of medical biochemistry and to teach the principles of scientific investigation and techniques employed in these fields.
* to introduce key concepts of clinical biochemistry and relate them to cell/human physiology, with an emphasis on structure-function relationships in normal and diseased states.
* to familiarise the student with key methods of investigation employed in the field of biochemistry.
* to train the student in the critical assessment of scientific data, presentation of scientific results and in scientific writing.

Objectives/Learning Outcomes/Capability Development

Having studied this course it is expected that you will be able to demonstrate the following capabilities:

1. You will be have knowledge and understanding of key areas of the disciplines of medical and clinical biochemistry. 
2. You will be able to research biochemical literature, analyse relevant information and synthesise new written and oral communications which conform to prescribed guidelines for submission or presentation.
3. You will demonstrate a spirit of enquiry and enthusiasm to continue your learning beyond the bounds of the university.

On satisfactorily completing the course the student will:

1. be able to demonstrate an understanding of key concepts in medical and clinical biochemistry which will form a comprehensive basis for further studies in this field.
2. be able to demonstrate an understanding of key concepts in medical and clinical biochemistry  which will form the basis for further studies in subsequent courses offfered in the Chinese Medicine/Human Biology program.
3. be able to interpret results of biochemical investigations.

Overview of Learning Activities

The face-to-face learning activities of the course take place in lectures and tutorial sessions. A student-centered approach is adopted in the tutorial sessions and the self-directed learning activities of the course. These activities are conducted in parallel with the lecture program and consist of
• targeted student-based discussions and
• problem-solving of specific case studies and/or experimental data interpretation.

Biochemical literature research and interpretation of biochemical data are learning activities that form part of the requirements of 2 assignments that are competed in this course.

Assessment activities are conducted as both formative and summative assessments. Tutorials and self-directed learning activities will provide continuous feedback to the student regarding his/her understanding and level of performance in the interpretation of biochemical conceps and of biochemical data. Formative as well as summative assessment will be provided for the 2 assignments during the semester.

Overview of Learning Resources

Learning resources in this course include text books, lecture notes (Powerpoint presentations), handouts and references on selected topics. The DLS provides opportunities for students to independently access much of this material and use an asynchronous conference.

Overview of Assessment

The theoretical component of the course delivered in lectures will be assessed in a mid semester test and a final semester examination. The theoretical component of the course forms the basis of the 4 sets of self -directed exercises which are to be submitted at the completion of each major topic. The quality of the student submissions related to the self-directed exercises is assessed. Both formative as well as summative assessment will be provided for the 2 assignments during the semester.