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The Open University

Diploma

Code
E21
Level
Undergraduate
Made up of
120 credit points

Description

This diploma provides evidence of achievement at pre-degree level for students who wish to use it for career purposes before their degree is complete, or who want to obtain an interim qualification on their way to a full degree.

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Planning your studies

The Diploma in Health Sciences is made up of Level 2 and Level 3 courses taken from our undergraduate programme. There are no entry requirements but you must be suitably prepared for study at that level. The normal preparation would be the Level 1 course Introducing health sciences: a case study approach (SDK125).  Alternatively, you may choose to start with one or more of the relevant Level 1 Science 10 or 15-point courses and then go on to SDK125.

You can register your intention to study for the diploma when you reserve your place on individual courses, or you can ask us at any time to link courses that you have already studied towards the diploma. This gives you the flexibility to delay your decision or to change your mind as your studies progress. There is no time limit for obtaining the required credit points for this qualification unless you are including discontinued courses which may cease to be countable at some point after their final presentation. You must include at least 40 points from OU courses that have not been counted in any other OU diploma or first degree that you may have been awarded.

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Career relevance and employability

While this diploma is not attached to any specific professional endorsement, it will be relevant to people in the health-related professions who are seeking broad subject knowledge and also scientific, numerical and ICT skills as the courses studied will supply all these skills. The learning outcomes of the diploma conform closely to the generic items in all the health-related subject benchmarking statements so far published.

For planning your next career steps, visit the OU Careers Advisory Service.

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Courses

For this diploma you require:

120 points from the following compulsory courses:

Level 2 compulsory courses Points Next start
Human biology (SK277)

Explore human biology in relation to health and disease, how systems of the body interact, how they can fail, and how medical interventions can help.

See full description.

30 Oct 2010
Biological psychology: exploring the brain (SD226)

Investigate the brain and nervous system – focusing on human health and behaviour – exploring questions like ‘What do we mean by consciousness?’, and ‘What is schizophrenia?’

See full description.

30 Feb 2010
Level 3 compulsory courses Points Next start
Infectious disease (S320)

This course approaches infectious disease from several perspectives, including the biological. It explores the causes  and control of disease and  its interaction with the human immune system.

See full description.

30 Feb 2010
Signals and perception: the science of the senses (SD329)

Investigate how we interact with our environment through our senses – using concepts from biology, chemistry, physics and psychology to explore the process psychologists call ‘perception’.

See full description.

30 Feb 2010

Or subject to the rules about excluded combinations, at Level 2 the discontinued courses SD206*, SK220, U205*(* only 30 points can count towards this qualification)

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Learning outcomes

The learning outcomes of this qualification are described in four areas:

  • Knowledge and understanding
  • Cognitive skills
  • Practical and professional skills
  • Key skills

Read more detailed information about the learning outcomes, and how they are acquired through teaching, learning and assessment methods.

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Credit for previous study elsewhere

For this qualification, we do not allow you to count credit for study you have already done elsewhere.

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On completion

On successful completion of the required courses you will be awarded a Diploma in Health Sciences.

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Regulations

As a student of The Open University, you should be aware of the content of the Award Regulations and the Student Regulations.

Award Regulations

Student Regulations

The Student Regulations (including the Code of Practice for Student Assessment and the Code of Practice for Student Discipline) are available on our Policy Documents for Students website.

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How to register

To register for this qualification, read the description and check you meet any specific requirements (for example, some of our qualifications, require you to be working in a particular environment, or be sponsored by your employer). Then select the course you wish to study first and ensure it is suitable for you before following the registration procedure for that course.

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About this page

An undergraduate qualification in Health and Social Care and Science.

Study explained

Credit points
- show how much study is required to complete a course or qualification. One credit point represents roughly 10 hours of study.
Level
- indicates how difficult a course is. Undergraduate study starts at Level 1.
Financial support
- find out if you qualify for support with your fees with our eligibility checker.
Study explained
- all you need to know about studying with the OU.

Got a question?

Contact an adviser in our Student Registration & Enquiry Service
Email or call +44(0) 845 300 60 90

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