Researching biology and health science
On this page
This course is a project module for the BSc (Hons) Natural Sciences (B64) and BSc (Hons) Life Sciences (B28). You will undertake individual investigations within a range of defined topics: stem cells, emerging infectious disease, the human senses and coevolution. The topic chosen depends on the Level 3 courses included in your degree profile. Investigations will be literature-based, so you’ll need access to scientific literature, probably from electronic library sources. The study materials provide a guide to planning and conducting project work; help with searching and using the literature; and writing a report.
Fees 2012
See fees and funding options for study from September 2012.
Course facts
An undergraduate course in Health and Social Care and Science.
| About this course: | |
|---|---|
| Course code | SXL390 |
| Credits | 30 |
| OU Level | 3 |
| SCQF level | 10 |
| FHEQ level | 6 |
| Course work includes: |
|---|
| 3 Tutor-marked assignments (TMAs) |
| End-of-module assessment |
| No residential school |
Register for the course
This course is available for study in the countries shown. Fees and financial support may vary by country.
What you will study
Early in the course you will be guided by the study materials and by your tutor to select a specific aspect of your chosen topic to investigate in depth. Unless you have access to an academic library, you may find that you have to spend up to two-thirds of your time in the early part of the course online, identifying suitable material to inform your choice of project topic from the electronic journals available via the Open Library website. In discussion with your tutor, you will define your individual investigation that must cover the following four components: contextualisation, application or development, detailed analyses, and future directions.
Entry
This is a Level 3 course. Level 3 courses build on study skills and subject knowledge acquired from previous studies at Levels 1 and 2. They are intended only for students who have recent experience of higher education in a related subject.
You should study this science project course as the final module of your degree – the BSc (Honours) Natural Sciences (B64) or BSc (Honours) Life Sciences (B28) – as you will need to apply knowledge and skills from your prior studies. Normally you should have passed at least 60 credits of the Level 3 requirements for your degree before embarking on your project course.
It is essential that you establish whether or not your background and experience give you a sound basis on which to tackle the course, since students who are appropriately prepared have the best chance of completing their studies successfully. The Science Faculty has produced a booklet Are You Ready For your Science Level 3 Project Course? to help you to decide whether you already have the recommended background knowledge or experience to start the course or whether you need a little extra preparation. This can be viewed or printed from the Science Faculty website.
If you have any doubt about the suitability of the course, please contact our Student Registration & Enquiry Service.
If you have a disability or additional requirement
The study materials are available on the website in Adobe (PDF) format. Components may not be available or fully accessible using a screen reader and mathematical, scientific, and foreign language materials may be particularly difficult to read in this way. Other alternative formats may be available in the future. Our Services for disabled students website has the latest information about availability.
Your project requires you to complete an appropriate literature review. Many literature sources and parts of the course guidance are accessed electronically, and much of the contact with your tutor will be by email and online forums, so time spent using a computer and the internet will be considerable. If you use specialist hardware or software to assist you in operating a computer or the internet and have any concerns about accessing the Library's electronic databases or study materials you are advised to talk to our Student Registration & Enquiry Service before enrolling for the course about the support which can be given to meet your needs.
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 publication Meeting your needs.
You can also find information about accessible study 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.
Study materials
What's included
Printed materials, a website.
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 2005 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 initiate contact at key points during the course, will mark and comment on your written assignments, and whom you can ask for advice and guidance. Much of your contact with your tutor will be by email or online forums. There is no face-to-face tuition for this course.
Contact our Student Registration & Enquiry Service if you want to know more about study with The Open University before you register.
Assessment
The assessment details for this course can be found in the facts box above.
You will be expected to submit your tutor-marked assignments (TMAs) online through the eTMA system unless there are some difficulties which prevent you from doing so. In these circumstances, you must negotiate with your tutor to get their agreement to submit your assignment on paper.
The TMAs help you to record progress with your investigation and build up the elements required for the project report. The project is a serious piece of science writing and comprises a substantial part of the end-of-module assessment (EMA). It must be word processed and submitted on paper. You will be expected to keep a log of your project work and to submit your cumulative log with your TMAs and the EMA.
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 February 2013. We expect it to be available once a year.
Fees 2012
See fees and funding options for study from September 2012.
Course facts
An undergraduate course in Health and Social Care and Science.
| About this course: | |
|---|---|
| Course code | SXL390 |
| Credits | 30 |
| OU Level | 3 |
| SCQF level | 10 |
| FHEQ level | 6 |
| Course work includes: |
|---|
| 3 Tutor-marked assignments (TMAs) |
| End-of-module assessment |
| No residential school |
Study explained
- Financial support
- - find out if you qualify for support with your fees with our eligibility checker.
- Study explained
- - all you need to know about distance learning with the OU.
Student Reviews
Although at times baffling, frustrating and anxiety inducing, this was ultimately a very rewarding course. Choosing your own project topic ...
Read more
Well I loved every minute of this course. Being able to choose your own topic within very broad subject areas ...
Read more
Your questions
We may have already answered it in our frequently asked questions.
Or contact an adviser in our Student Registration & Enquiry Service Email or call +44(0) 845 300 60 90+44(0) 845 366 60 35
Browse the prospectus
Get a prospectus
Download or
order
Share
This PageThe University wishes to emphasise that, while every effort is made to regularly update this site, the material on it is subject to alteration or amendment in the light of changes in regulations or in policy or of financial or other necessity.