This is an archived handbook for a previous year. The current undergraduate and postgraduate handbooks can be viewed using the links above.

Undergraduate Handbook 2010-2011 (archived)

Module BIOL3461: Research Project

Department: Biological and Biomedical Sciences

BIOL3461: Research Project

Type	Level	Credits	Availability	Module Cap	Location
Tied	3	20	Available in 2010/2011	None.	Durham

Tied To

Pre-requisites

Satisfactory completion of Level 2 single honours course in Biological Sciences.

Corequisites

None.

Excluded Combinations

None.

Aims

To study a chosen topic of biological sciences in depth.
To design a work schedule and experiments to investigate a specified biological problem.
To work Independently.
To integrate knowledge and skills acquired in other parts of the course.
To communicate a written account of research work done in a logical and concise manner.
To communicate the results in a the form of an oral presentation.

Content

There will be workshops in:
experimental design and analysis of results
ethics and regulation;
health and safety in the laboratory;
There will be tutorials in:
the subject area to study;
scientific writing
oral presentation.

Learning Outcomes

Subject-specific Knowledge

At the end of the module students should be able to demonstrate in depth knowledge and understanding of a selected topic in biological sciences.

Subject-specific Skills

Students should be able to describe the fundamental tenets of a chosen research project.
Students should be able to place the project in context and describe current and emerging developments in this area.
Students should be able to design and carry out laboratory or field investigations to address a biological problem.

Key Skills

Students should demonstrate self-motivation.
Students should be able to critically assess scientific literature for strengths and weaknesses.
Students should be able to produce a clear and concise project report.
Students should be able to present a summary of their findings in the form of an oral presentation.

Modes of Teaching, Learning and Assessment and how these contribute to the learning outcomes of the module

Workshops, Tutorials, Field Work or Lab work, Project report and an Oral presentation.

Teaching Methods and Learning Hours

Activity	Number	Duration	Total Hours	Attendance Monitored
Laboratory or fieldwork			150	Yes
Tutorials	3	1 hour	3	Yes
Workshop	6	1 hour	6
Preparation & report writing			41
Total			200

Summative Assessment

Component	Component Weighting	Element	Element Weighting
Continuous Assessment	100%	Oral presentation	10%
		Laboratory skills assessment	30%
		Project report	60%

Formative Assessment

None

Students who do not attend monitored activities shown under Teaching Methods and Learning Hours, or who fail to complete the summative or formative assessment(s) specified above, may be subject to the Academic Progress procedures defined in the University's General Regulation V, and may be required to leave the University.