Pathology - PATHA13529
Stream Summary
Faculty: MED - Faculty of Medicine
School: School of Medical Sciences
Contact: http://medicalsciences.med.unsw.edu.au/
Program: 3529 - Commerce/Science
Award(s):
Bachelor of Science (Major)
View stream information for previous years
Stream Outline
Pathology is a scientific discipline which involves the study of diseases, such as infections and cancers, at the genetic, molecular, cellular, and organ levels. Pathology examines:
- How and why diseases develop;
- The disease process - what happens to our bodies when we are ill; and
- The effects of diseases, including their symptoms and complications.
It has been estimated that pathology plays a critical role in more than 70 percent of clinical diagnoses and many of the decisions around the optimal treatment for patients. For example, the diagnostic skills of pathologists allow patients to know if they are pregnant, anaemic, diabetic, at risk of heart disease, or if their lump is cancerous.
Undergraduate study in Pathology involves examination of various disease processes such as inflammation (including infections), wound healing and cancer. Students become familiar with examining both macroscopic specimens and the microscopic differences between normal and abnormal cells, tissues and organs. In modern teaching facilities, much of the study of microscopic abnormalities is undertaken using computer-based “virtual” microscopy. Courses offered in Pathology allow in-depth study of many fascinating and important disorders such as meningitis, tuberculosis, auto-immune diseases, congenital diseases, a variety of cancers, HIV/AIDS, heart disease, asthma, musculoskeletal diseases and the human version of 'mad cow disease'.
Undergraduate study in Pathology involves examination of various disease processes such as inflammation (including infections), wound healing and cancer. Students become familiar with examining both macroscopic specimens and the microscopic differences between normal and abnormal cells, tissues and organs. In modern teaching facilities, much of the study of microscopic abnormalities is undertaken using computer-based “virtual” microscopy. Courses offered in Pathology allow in-depth study of many fascinating and important disorders such as meningitis, tuberculosis, auto-immune diseases, congenital diseases, a variety of cancers, HIV/AIDS, heart disease, asthma, musculoskeletal diseases and the human version of 'mad cow disease'.
Stream Structure
A major in Pathology is comprised of 66 units of credit of courses as follows:
Stage 1
- CHEM1011 Chemistry A (6 UOC) or CHEM1031 Higher Chemistry A (6 UOC)
- CHEM1021 Chemistry B (6 UOC) or CHEM1041 Higher Chemistry B (6 UOC)
Recommended elective course (this course is not required but is recommended as a good foundation course for the Pathology major):
Stage 2
- BIOC2181 Fundamentals of Biochemistry (6 UOC) or BIOC2101 Principles of Biochemistry (Advanced) (6 UOC)
PLUS 6 UOC from:
- ANAT2111 Introductory Anatomy (6 UOC)
- BABS2202 Molecular Cell Biology 1 (6 UOC)
- MICR2011 Microbiology 1 (6 UOC)
Stage 3
- PATH3205 Mol Basis Inflamm & Infection (6 UOC)
- PATH3206 Cancer Pathology (6 UOC)
PLUS 6 UOC from:
Honours
Students seeking to enrol into Honours in Pathology should refer to program 4500 – Science (Honours) and the plan page for Medical Science (Honours) in this Handbook.
