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BMSC13009 - Immunology

General Information

Unit Synopsis

The study of Immunology introduces the student to pre-natal and post-natal development of the human immune system and its function in health and disease states, this includes autoimmune disorders, hypersensitivity reactions and microbiological infections. Students will also learn about the diagnostic uses of antibodies, vaccine design and preventive and therapeutic uses of vaccines.

Details

Level Undergraduate
Unit Level 3
Credit Points 6
Student Contribution Band SCA Band 2
Fraction of Full-Time Student Load 0.125
Pre-requisites or Co-requisites

Prerequisite

BMSC12010 Clinical Biochemistry

or

BMED19003 Clinical Biochemistry

Important note: Students enrolled in a subsequent unit who failed their pre-requisite unit, should drop the subsequent unit before the census date or within 10 working days of Fail grade notification. Students who do not drop the unit in this timeframe cannot later drop the unit without academic and financial liability. See details in the Assessment Policy and Procedure (Higher Education Coursework).

Class Timetable View Unit Timetable
Residential School Compulsory Residential School
View Unit Residential School

Unit Availabilities from Term 3 - 2019

Term 1 - 2020 Profile
Mixed Mode
Rockhampton
Term 1 - 2021 Profile
Mixed Mode
Rockhampton
Term 1 - 2022 Profile
Mixed Mode
Rockhampton

Attendance Requirements

All on-campus students are expected to attend scheduled classes – in some units, these classes are identified as a mandatory (pass/fail) component and attendance is compulsory. International students, on a student visa, must maintain a full time study load and meet both attendance and academic progress requirements in each study period (satisfactory attendance for International students is defined as maintaining at least an 80% attendance record).

Assessment Overview

Recommended Student Time Commitment

Each 6-credit Undergraduate unit at CQUniversity requires an overall time commitment of an average of 12.5 hours of study per week, making a total of 150 hours for the unit.

Assessment Tasks

Assessment Task Weighting
1. Practical Assessment 25%
2. Written Assessment 25%
3. Examination 50%

This is a graded unit: your overall grade will be calculated from the marks or grades for each assessment task, based on the relative weightings shown in the table above. You must obtain an overall mark for the unit of at least 50%, or an overall grade of ‘pass’ in order to pass the unit. If any ‘pass/fail’ tasks are shown in the table above they must also be completed successfully (‘pass’ grade). You must also meet any minimum mark requirements specified for a particular assessment task, as detailed in the ‘assessment task’ section (note that in some instances, the minimum mark for a task may be greater than 50%).

Consult the University’s Grades and Results Policy for more details of interim results and final grades

Past Exams

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Previous Feedback

Term 1 - 2022 : The overall satisfaction for students in the last offering of this course was 59.09% (`Agree` and `Strongly Agree` responses), based on a 37.29% response rate.

Feedback, Recommendations and Responses

Every unit is reviewed for enhancement each year. At the most recent review, the following staff and student feedback items were identified and recommendations were made.

Source: Student feedback
Feedback
The assessment expectations assumed some knowledge and skills not yet covered in Year 2.
Recommendation
Review assessment content and guidance materials to better align with Year 2 curriculum.
Action Taken
Assessments were overhaulled in 2022 with content better aligning with the year 2 curriculum.
Source: Student feedback and personal communication
Feedback
Some students did not see a clear connection between the unit’s theory content and the practical component of the residential schools.
Recommendation
The residential school with be restructured to incorporate dedicated theory sessions where the key immunological principles of the practical will be discussed.
Action Taken
Residential school was changed to include both practical and theory sessions.
Source: Student feedback and personal reflection
Feedback
Tutorial questions mirroring the final test prepared students for this assessment.
Recommendation
The live tutorials incorporating test-like questions will be retained.
Action Taken
The format of the tutorials were retained.
Source: Student feedback
Feedback
Students felt they were not prepared for the style of exam questions.
Recommendation
Include more exam type questions in tutorials and online moodle site.
Action Taken
Nil.
Source: Student feedback
Feedback
It was felt that the tutorials should be more interactive.
Recommendation
Encourage greater student interaction in the tutorials.
Action Taken
Nil.
Source: Unit Coordinator reflection
Feedback
Earlier assessment feedback may be beneficial.
Recommendation
Assessment timing will be examined to see if earlier assessment feedback is possible.
Action Taken
Nil.
Unit learning Outcomes

On successful completion of this unit, you will be able to:

  1. List the major cells and tissues of the immune system and state their function in the immune response.
  2. Explain, using examples, the processes of self / non-self-discrimination and disorders that arise as a result of dysfunction in self/non-self-recognition (autoimmunity).
  3. Define, using examples, the terms 'innate' and 'specific' immunity and describe how the non-specific and specific arms of the immune system work together to effect an immune response.
  4. Describe, using examples, the structure and function of antigen recognition molecules.
  5. Define and give examples of the effects of immune 'dysfunction' such as hypersensitivity and immunodeficiency.
  6. Outline the host responses to transplantation and be able to define xenotransplantation and discuss advantages and disadvantages of this process.
  7. Describe, the typical mammalian immune system responses to proteins, bacteria, viruses, protozoa, helminths, fungi and other representative multi-cellular organisms.
  8. Demonstrate competence in the use of primary resource material for experimental and research assignment purposes.

Alignment of Assessment Tasks to Learning Outcomes
Assessment Tasks Learning Outcomes
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8
1 - Practical Assessment
2 - Written Assessment
3 - Examination
Alignment of Graduate Attributes to Learning Outcomes
Introductory Level
Intermediate Level
Graduate Level
Graduate Attributes Learning Outcomes
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8
1 - Communication
2 - Problem Solving
3 - Critical Thinking
4 - Information Literacy
6 - Information Technology Competence
Alignment of Assessment Tasks to Graduate Attributes
Introductory Level
Intermediate Level
Graduate Level
Assessment Tasks Graduate Attributes
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10
1 - Practical Assessment
2 - Written Assessment
3 - Examination