Human biology
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| 4 Tutor-marked assignments (TMAs) | |
| Examination | No residential school |
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This course is available for study in the countries shown.
Summary
This course presents human biology in a way that connects it directly with health and disease. It starts with the concept of a healthy body and explores the mechanisms that enable it to maintain its integrity. Although you’ll deal with the physiology of each body system separately, the overall emphasis is on interaction and coordination. You’ll acquire sufficient background to appreciate how systems can fail and which medical interventions can be successful. The course will suit science students – especially those with a biology background; anyone interested in health; or people working in health and social care or other professions allied to medicine.
Course content
The course is jointly produced by the Science Faculty and the Faculty of Health and Social Care. It presents the biological foundations of physiology and health as a dynamic process. The core of the course is concerned with an integrated study of human biology, drawing on the disciplines of anatomy, physiology, immunology, biochemistry, and endocrinology. It includes all the biological ‘facts and figures’ familiar from traditional courses in human biology, but they are presented as part of a functional account that is different from the usual format, which rarely assembles the parts into an integral human being. A distinctive feature of the course is a series of case reports integrated within each chapter; these reports explore individuals’ experiences associated with particular disease states.
The course is presented in four books, accompanied by a Study Guide and a range of other materials.
Book 1 begins with an introduction to the course, explaining both its scope and approach. It first discusses how living processes are maintained before considering diet and nutrition in depth.
Book 2 looks at communication and control (nervous and endocrine systems), and responses to the world around us (sensory and musculo-skeletal systems).
Book 3 continues to guide us around the anatomy and physiology of body systems: circulation and respiration; fluid regulation and excretion; and responding to non-self (the immune system).
Book 4 considers some of the challenges of life: obesity; sleep; stress; reproduction; and our varied responses to them in the context of genetic and environmental diversity.
Associated residential school course
The 10-point residential school course Investigative biology (SXR270) (previously coded SXR204) offers tuition and activities that support the academic aims of this course. If you want to count SK277 towards certain Open University qualifications, you may need to include SXR270/SXR204 as well. If you decide to attend the residential school, you must register for SXR270 separately, for which an additional fee is payable.
Entry
SK277 is a Level 2 course. It would be an advantage to have studied biology or human biology to GCSE or, preferably, A-level standard. In addition, you are expected to have the study skills appropriate to progress on a Level 2 course, and these can be acquired through achieving a pass in one of the University's Level 1 courses; we particularly recommend Introducing health sciences: a case study approach (SDK125) or Exploring science (S104) (or the discontinued courses S102, S103), or An introduction to health and social care (K101) (or the discontinued course K100).
As well as being a suitable choice for science students, especially those who have a background in biology and health, the course can also provide a sound grounding in human physiology for social-science students who are particularly interested in health. It is very appropriate for health and social-care workers, and particularly for people in professions allied to medicine. If you have not taken our Level 1 course Exploring science (S104) (or S103), or Introducing health sciences: a case study approach (SDK125), SK277 can serve as a refresher course, perhaps for nurses returning to work or others who want to update their knowledge. If you have any doubt about the suitability of the course, please contact our Student Registration & Enquiry Service.
Preparatory work
Students who particularly wish to improve their study skills are advised to read The Sciences Good Study Guide (1997) by A. Northedge, J. Thomas, A. Lane and A. Peasgood.
Qualifications
SK277 is a compulsory course in our:
- Diploma of Higher Education in Health Sciences (E49)
- Diploma of Higher Education in Paramedic Sciences (E52)
- Diploma of Higher Education in Operating Department Practice (E58)
- Foundation Degree in Paramedic Sciences (G11)
- Foundation Degree in Health Sciences (G12)
- Foundation Degree in Operating Department Practice (G19)
SK277 is an optional course in our:
- Diploma in Health and Social Care (D10)
- Diploma in Health Sciences (E21)
- Diploma in Life Sciences (E05)
- Diploma of Higher Education in Health and Social Care (E40)
- Diploma in Natural Sciences (D47)
- Advanced Diploma in Equality and Diversity (D06)
- Foundation Degree in Health and Social Care (G05)
- BA/BSc (Honours) Health and Social Care (B18)
- BA/BSc (Honours) Health Studies (B17)
- BSc (Honours) Life Sciences (B28)
- BSc (Honours) Natural Sciences (B16)
- BA/BSc (Honours) Nursing Studies (B47)
- BSc (Honours) Nursing Practice (B53)
It can also count towards most of our other degrees at bachelors level, where it can help to weight your degree towards a BSc. We advise you to refer to the relevant qualification descriptions for information on the circumstances in which this course can count towards these qualifications because from time to time the structure and requirements may change.
Excluded combinations
Sometimes you will not be able to count a course towards a qualification if you have already taken another course with similar content. To check any excluded combinations relating to this course, visit our excluded combination finder or check with our Student Registration & Enquiry Service before registering.
If you have a disability or additional requirement
Please note that this course makes substantial use of complex visual material and includes a significant number of interactive animations on CD-ROMs. You will need to spend considerable amounts of time using a personal computer and probably also the internet.
If you are a new student, or new to courses using a computer or the internet, you will need to inform us of your particular needs as soon as possible, as some of our support services may take several weeks to arrange. Details of how to do this and our range of support services are described in our booklet Meeting your needs which you can download or request from our Student Registration & Enquiry Service.
You can also find information about accessible course materials, financial support and the Disabled Students' Allowance, equipment and other services, on our Services for disabled students website. It also includes our contact details for advice and support both before you register and while you are studying.
Course materials
What's included
Course books, study texts and other printed materials, CD-ROMs.
Computing requirements
This course includes online computer activities – you can access these using a web browser that can play Flash and Shockwave.
You will need internet access and a computer. If you have purchased a new computer since 2002 it should meet your course computing requirements. Check our Technical Requirements section if your computer is older than this or is otherwise unusual.
Teaching and assessment
Support from your tutor
You will have a tutor who will help you with the course material and encourage and moderate your tutor-group conference, mark and comment on your written work, and whom you can ask for advice and guidance. We may also be able to offer group tutorials or day–schools that you are encouraged, but not obliged, to attend. Where your tutorials are held will depend on the distribution of students taking the course. Contact our Student Registration & Enquiry Service if you want to know more about study with the OU before you register.
Assessment
The assessment details for this course can be found in the facts box above.
You must submit your tutor-marked assignments (TMAs) on paper.
Assessment is an essential part of the teaching, so you are expected to complete it all. However, if you unavoidably miss or do badly in an assignment, some courses allow you a 'substitution score'. In SK277, this rule can apply to one of the assignments only. You will be given more detailed information when you begin the course.
Students also studied
Students who studied this course also studied at some time:
Future availability
The details given here are for the course that starts in October 2009. We expect it to be available once a year.
How to register
To register a place on this course return to the top of the page and use the Click to register button. For more information and advice about registration see OU Study Explained.
About this page
An undergraduate course in Health and Social Care and Science.
Study explained
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Student Reviews
I throughly enjoyed this course. It was very challenging and at times I found myself reading the same pages over ...
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Fascinating course, fantastic tutor. This course shows how completely amazing the human body is. The TMAs are well sturctured to ...
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