Diploma in Paramedic Science: Standard pathway

Stage 1

There are three compulsory modules in this diploma.

In the first – Human biology (SK277)Human biology::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.undergraduate.qualification.pathways.V20-1,module,SK277,,1 (30 credits) – you’ll 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. We recommend that alongside this, you study Developing your paramedic practice (S211)Developing your paramedic practice::This course is the Level 2 work-based module of the OU qualifications in paramedic sciences and it further develops your understanding of the science underpinning your work. You'll study a range of topics including legal and ethical issues in practice; quality assurance and audit; evidence-based practice and research methodology; introductory biochemistry and enzymology; pharmacology; and pathophysiology. Practical applications such as patient and wound assessment, trauma and advanced airway management, critical care transfer and clinical decision-making will also be covered. Additionally, you will learn how to manage conflict. Finally, you will research and write-up a project on a health topic that particularly interests you.undergraduate.qualification.pathways.V20-1,module,S211,,1. This 60-credit work-based module will improve your practical paramedic skills and develop your understanding of the science and theory that underpins them.

The final module The science of the mind: investigating mental health (SDK228)The science of the mind: investigating mental health::To what extent can we understand mental wellbeing and treat mental health conditions such as depression and dementia by focusing on the brain and its functioning? This course presents and challenges the medical model of mental health with its reliance on drug treatment, contrasting it with ideas in the field of health psychology. You will learn from case reports of those who have a mental health condition and those who care for them, as well as from relevant research studies. The course has an emphasis on understanding different approaches within psychology, as well as the nature of evidence for and against these approaches.undergraduate.qualification.pathways.V20-1,module,SDK228,,1 (30 credits) looks at mental health conditions, such as depression and dementia, and questions the traditional medical model of mental health, with its reliance on drug treatment – comparing it with alternative ideas, including the biopsychosocial model.