| Unit name | Medical Virology |
|---|---|
| Unit code | PANM33009 |
| Credit points | 20 |
| Level of study | H/6 |
| Teaching block(s) |
Teaching Block 1 (weeks 1 - 12) |
| Unit director | Professor. Matthews |
| Open unit status | Not open |
| Units you must take before you take this one (pre-requisite units) |
None |
| Units you must take alongside this one (co-requisite units) |
One unit from level 6/H in teaching block 1 and two level 6/H units from teaching block 2 and Research Skills unit |
| Units you may not take alongside this one |
None |
| School/department | School of Cellular and Molecular Medicine |
| Faculty | Faculty of Life Sciences |
Why is this unit important?
It is difficult to over-estimate the global impact on public health of viruses. They are responsible for millions of deaths and countless episodes of ill health arising from chronic or acute infections each year worldwide. There are effective vaccines to combat some viral infections but in most cases good vaccines remain elusive. Indeed, for some viruses, it is not at all clear if vaccines can be developed in the foreseeable future given our present level of understanding.
How does this unit fit into your programme of study?
This unit builds on the first year unit Medical Microbiology and Infectious Diseases and the second year unit Infection and Immunity.
An overview of content
This unit will comprehensively review the main viral diseases of man in terms of their natural history, biology, molecular biology, immunology, pathogenesis and epidemiology. The viruses in question will include Coronaviruses , HIV, Dengue virus, hepatitis virus, herpesviruses, papillomaviruses, influenza viruses, measles viruses, rotaviruses and Zoonotic viruses such as Ebola, MERS and Hendra.
How will students, personally, be different as a result of the unit
Students will be able to review the general virology of the most important viral pathogens in terms of world health including HIV, hepatitis viruses, herpesviruses and others.
Learning Outcomes
Lectures, Data Handling Session.
Independent study: Students are expected to study the recommended literature.
Task which helps you learn and prepare you for summative tasks (formative)
Students will complete a formative essay on this or one of the other Level 6/H units offered by the School of Cellular and Molecular Medicine in teaching block 1. Feedback will be provided, and students will have the opportunity to familiarise themselves with the marking descriptors for the assessment criteria used at Level 6/H.
Task which count towards your unit mark (summative)
Students will have an examination in the Winter Assessment Week, before the winter break.The exam will include two essays, one to be chosen from each section containing three questions.
When an assessment does not go to plan.
If you are unable to take an end of unit exam due to self-certification or exceptional circumstances the faculty examination board may give you the opportunity to take this in the reassessment period. The examination will be in the same format as the initial examination.
If this unit has a Resource List, you will normally find a link to it in the Blackboard area for the unit. Sometimes there will be a separate link for each weekly topic.
If you are unable to access a list through Blackboard, you can also find it via the Resource Lists homepage. Search for the list by the unit name or code (e.g. PANM33009).
How much time the unit requires
Each credit equates to 10 hours of total student input. For example a 20 credit unit will take you 200 hours
of study to complete. Your total learning time is made up of contact time, directed learning tasks,
independent learning and assessment activity.
See the University Workload statement relating to this unit for more information.
Assessment
The Board of Examiners will consider all cases where students have failed or not completed the assessments required for credit.
The Board considers each student's outcomes across all the units which contribute to each year's programme of study. For appropriate assessments, if you have self-certificated your absence, you will normally be required to complete it the next time it runs (for assessments at the end of TB1 and TB2 this is usually in the next re-assessment period).
The Board of Examiners will take into account any exceptional circumstances and operates
within the Regulations and Code of Practice for Taught Programmes.
