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LSC-20117 - Module Specification
School of Life Sciences
Faculty of Natural Sciences

For academic year: 2025/26 Last Updated: 04 December 2025

LSC-20117 - Veterinary Diagnostics
Coordinator:
Lecture Time: See Timetable...
Level: Level 5
Credits: 30
Study Hours: 300
School Office: 01782 734414

Programme/Approved Electives for 2025/26

None

Available as a Free Standing Elective

No

Co-requisites

None

Prerequisites

None

Barred Combinations

None

Description for 2025/26

This module builds on prior knowledge of animal health and disease, focusing on the practical application of diagnosing, treating, and monitoring animal diseases across different taxa. You will gain skills in veterinary diagnostics, learning how to research diseases independently, assess clinical tests, and report findings in a scientific format. Through hands-on laboratory sessions, you will also develop the ability to interpret data using statistical tools and communicate results effectively to both scientific and public audiences, preparing them for real-world veterinary challenges.

Aims
This module builds on LSC-10095, Animal Health and Disease where students will explore how scientific theory and understanding of the pathophysiology of disease can be put into practice to diagnose, treat and monitor health and disease in different animal taxa. The module aims to develop the students ability to independently research disease and to communicate relevant findings to different audiences, answer questions typically encountered in the field of veterinary diagnostics, and report the outcomes of laboratory investigations as a scientific report (based on laboratory sessions delivered in Practical and Professional Skills in Bioscience LSC-20127)

Intended Learning Outcomes

Discuss the pathophysiology of animal disease and explain how it can be applied to screening, diagnosis, monitoring, and prognosis.: 1,2,3,4
Describe a range of diagnostic tests available in veterinary laboratories, including sample processing, preservation, and transportation, and explain the clinical relevance of these tests.: 1,2,3,4
Explain the bioscientific principles underpinning common veterinary diagnostic techniques and their application to clinical cases.: 1,2,3,4
Discuss the impact of pre-analytical variables and sample quality on laboratory results.: 2,3,4
Evaluate the consequences of an animal disease outbreak on human behaviour, public health, and food security.: 1,3,4
Construct and present an evidence-based argument tailored to a public audience, demonstrating well-reasoned and critical evaluation of source material and audience-appropriate communication.: 1,3,4
Conduct an experimental study, analysing and interpreting data using statistical packages and appropriate statistical tests.: 2
Communicate experimental results effectively in the format of a scientific research paper, using appropriate academic practices.: 2

Study hours

Active Learning Hours: 127 hrs
1 hour Formative case-based learning session
3x 4 hours Case based learning sessions
7 hours Assessment introduction and guidance sessions
3x 1 hour Drop-in sessions
10x 2 hour interactive sessions
10x 6 hours Asynchronous Directed Learning topics (engagement with asynchronous content (including consumption, wider reading and note taking)
4x 6 hours preparation for case-based learning)
Independent Study Hours: 173 hrs
40 hours independent study; preparation for in-course assessment (poster)
40 hours independent study; preparation for in-course assessment (report)
91 hours independent study; revision and engagement with directed reading/discussion tasks to support end-of semester class tests
2 hour exam

School Rules

None

Description of Module Assessment

1: Poster weighted 30%
Owner Information Poster
An A4 poster to highlight the clinical presentation, screening, diagnosis and monitoring of a selected animal disease. Topic selected from a range of options provided at the start of the module. The poster should be accessible to pet and/or livestock carers. The submission should be accompanied by a brief justification form (no more than 500 words) that addresses the main aim and how accessibility, credibility, formatting and style have been considered.

2: Laboratory Report weighted 40%
Laboratory Report of 2000 words
2000 word laboratory report, written on an individual basis, based on experimental data collected in laboratory sessions associated with Practical and Professional Skills in Bioscience LSC-20127, supported with tutorial sessions for data analysis

3: Exam weighted 30%
Unseen exam of MCQs and SAQs
The unseen exam will consist of multiple-choice and short-answer questions assessing lecture-based material. While the exam is designed to take approximately 1 hour, all students will be allocated 2 hours to ensure an inclusive and accessible assessment experience. Students will be permitted to take a double-sided A4 memory prompt of notes with them to the exam. Formative assessment opportunities will be provided to support preparation.

4: Competence weighted 0%
Engagement with preparation and participation with case-based learning
Students will have the opportunity to take on the roles of scribe, chair and group member during tutorials. Students are required to attend and engage; this will be judged by the data generated from the Keele attendance app and recorded attendance and feedback from the tutor. Students must attend and engage with a minimum of 50% of the scheduled CBL sessions. Reassessment opportunity will be provided if the student does not meet the 50% threshold to pass this component.

The University undertakes a continuous review of its teaching and research provision to ensure programmes are of a high quality and changes may be made to modules where it is necessary and reasonable to do so. Please be aware that minor changes to modules, such as a change to an individual assessment, can occur up until enrolment, although we endeavour to give you as much notice as possible of any changes. Details about the circumstance in which changes are made to programmes can be found in the Student Agreement, available at: https://www.keele.ac.uk/legalgovernancecompliance/governance/actcharterstatutesordinancesandregulations/studenttermsconditions/

Last Updated: 04 December 2025