James Cook University Subject Handbook - 2003

MD4101:24

Medical Science (Honours)

Townsville HECS Band 3

Approximately 800 hours of mostly practical work, plus seminars. Full year.

Staff: Professor R Hays.

Students will conduct a supervised research project within any of the disciplines included in Years 1-3 of the MBBS program within the Schools of Medicine; Biomedical Sciences; Pharmacy and Molecular Sciences; Anthropology, Archaeology and Sociology; Psychology; Public Health and Tropical Medicine. Individual research topics will be approved by the School of Medicine Board of Studies and supervisors must be on the register of supervisors.

Students will complete: an introductory seminar within a month of commencement outlining the aims and hypotheses of the research project, a timetable for completion and demonstration of appropriate facilities and ethical clearances for the work; maintenance of laboratory books or diaries (depending on the field of study) as a record of activities; a literature review of 7,000-10,000 words; a research project leading to completion of a thesis of not less than 10,000 and not more than 20,000 words; an exit seminar to outline the most significant findings of the research in the context of the field; attendance at components of coursework usually completed by honours students within the discipline (compulsory task); attendance at research seminars of the School of Medicine and the discipline in which the research is conducted (compulsory task); students will be required to address relevant animal or human ethics issues through applying to the University’s Ethics Committee for permission to conduct their project (compulsory task); before commencing their research, students must have completed relevant safety/training courses eg laboratory safety for lab-based programs (compulsory task).

Learning Objectives:

  1. demonstrate a capacity to analyse the relevant clinical and scientific literature;
  2. formulate a research question relevant to the chosen discipline;
  3. design a research project able to address this question within resource constraints;
  4. conduct under supervision a research project;
  5. analyse and interpret research findings;
  6. present relevant findings in a way that links to clinical practice.

Assessment by seminar outlining initial proposal of research (5%); literature review (20%); exit seminar (10%); final thesis (50%); log books/diaries (5%); supervisor assessment (diligence, participation etc) (10%).