Undergraduate Programme and Module Handbook 2010-2011 (archived)

Module BIOL3461: Research Project

Department: Biological and Biomedical Sciences

BIOL3461: Research Project

Type	Tied	Level	3	Credits	20	Availability	Available in 2010/11	Module Cap	None.	Location	Durham

Tied to	C100
Tied to	C101
Tied to	C130
Tied to	C132
Tied to	C184
Tied to	C185
Tied to	CC77
Tied to	C701
Tied to	C300
Tied to	C301

Prerequisites

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

Corequisites

None.

Excluded Combination of Modules

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	Frequency	Duration	Total/Hours
Laboratory or fieldwork				150	■
Tutorials	3		1 hour	3	■
Workshop	6		1 hour	6
Preparation & report writing				41
Total				200

Summative Assessment

Component: Continuous Assessment		Component Weighting: 100%
Element	Length / duration	Element Weighting	Resit Opportunity
Oral presentation		10%
Laboratory skills assessment		30%
Project report		60%

Formative Assessment:

None

■ Attendance at all activities marked with this symbol will be monitored. Students who fail to attend these activities, or to complete the summative or formative assessment specified above, will be subject to the procedures defined in the University's General Regulation V, and may be required to leave the University