Course Title: The World of Life Sciences

Part A: Course Overview

Course Title: The World of Life Sciences

Credit Points: 12.00

Terms

Course Code

Campus

Career

School

Learning Mode

Teaching Period(s)

ONPS2699

City Campus

Undergraduate

171H School of Science

Face-to-Face

Sem 1 2023,
Sem 1 2024

ONPS2726

RMIT University Vietnam

Undergraduate

171H School of Science

Face-to-Face

Viet1 2024

Course Coordinator: Dr Nhiem Tran

Course Coordinator Phone: +61 3 9925

Course Coordinator Email: nhiem.tran@rmit.edu.au

Course Coordinator Location: City Campus


Pre-requisite Courses and Assumed Knowledge and Capabilities

None


Course Description

This course provides an introduction to Biological, Food and Environmental Science. It will introduce you to fundamental concepts and key topics across life sciences including the diversity and structure and function of biomolecules, cells and organisms and their wider biochemical, cellular and ecological interactions. The course will then consider the wider significance and importance of life sciences across major global, societal, industrial, technological and environmental priorities and challenges such as health, biotechnology, food and agriculture and biodiversity and environmental change. The course will enable you to apply understanding of life sciences and associated technical, transferable and communication skills into your studies in science and enhance your future career. 

The course is designed to introduce you to different elements of life sciences in the broader context of scientific and technological landscape. The aim is to develop basic knowledge that will support further studies in wider STEM areas of your interest. 


Objectives/Learning Outcomes/Capability Development

This course contributes to Program Learning Outcomes (PLOs) for:

BH116 Bachelor of Surveying (Honours)
BH117 Bachelor of Geospatial Science (Honours)
BP083 Bachelor of Applied Mathematics and Statistics
BP192 Bachelor of Environmental Science
BP199 Bachelor of Food Technology and Nutrition
BP330 Bachelor of Space Science


On completion of this course, you should be able to: 

  1. Explain key components, processes and concepts that shape and determine structures and functions across biological, food and environmental systems.
  2. Identify and investigate biological, food and environmental processes and associated data by applying practice-based skills.
  3. Present, describe and interpret life-science related data and information.
  4. Apply the knowledge of life-science to global grand challenges and priorities beyond disciplinary boundaries using links to key concepts and processes.


Overview of Learning Activities

You will undertake an integrated series of immersive learning experiences and activities to develop fundamental conceptual and practical understanding and experience in life sciences. A blended learning will approach will be used involving face-to-face experiential learning activities complemented by online learning and team-based activities. 

You are encouraged to be proactive and self-directed in your learning, asking questions of your lecturers and/or peers and seeking out information as required, especially from the numerous sources available through the RMIT library, and through links and materials specific to this course that are available through myRMIT Studies Course Site.


Overview of Learning Resources

RMIT will provide you with resources and tools for learning in this course through myRMIT Studies Course.

There are services available to support your learning through the University Library. The Library provides guides on academic referencing and subject specialist help as well as a range of study support services. For further information, please visit the Library page on the RMIT University website and the myRMIT student portal.


Overview of Assessment

Assessment Tasks

Assessment Task 1: Quizzes
Weighting 20%
This assessment task supports CLOs 1 & 4

Assessment Task 2: Presentations
Weighting 25%
This assessment task supports CLOs 1 & 3

Assessment Task 3: Practical reports
Weighting 20%
This assessment task supports CLOs 2 & 3

Assessment Task 4: Reports
Weighting 35%
This assessment task supports CLOs 1, 3 & 4

If you have a long-term medical condition and/or disability it may be possible to negotiate to vary aspects of the learning or assessment methods. You can contact the program coordinator or Equitable Learning Services if you would like to find out more.