LSC-40049 - Module Specification
School of Life Sciences
Faculty of Natural Sciences

Programme/Approved Electives for 2025/26

Available as a Free Standing Elective

Co-requisites

None

Prerequisites

None

Barred Combinations

None

Description for 2025/26

In this module you will be taught by both experienced healthcare practitioners and prominent biomedical science researchers. Together, we will explore the role of medical microbiology in the delivery of modern-day healthcare, giving you a critical insight into the patient pathway.
Core content will guide you through an understanding of the complex relationship between microorganisms and the host. You will learn how healthcare practitioners working in Medical Microbiology use this knowledge to assess, investigate and evaluate patient needs. Typical subject areas include bacteriology, virology, parasitology and mycology. This material will be available online for you to work through at a time that suits you with live workshops scheduled with your tutors and peers to explore the topics in more detail.
Topics are supported by a number of patient cases. The aim is to consolidate your learning by providing an opportunity to apply knowledge and understanding to patient cases. This better reflects real-world problems and provides you with an opportunity to tackle real issues and decisions faced by healthcare professionals today. This case-based approach will provide an insight into modern-day diagnostic problems, including the importance of a multi-disciplinary approach while developing key skills.

This module aims to develop and enhance students' understanding of the clinical and technical role of medical microbiology laboratories. They will develop key analytical skills used to assess, investigate and evaluate pathophysiology and patient pathways as well as develop evidence-based arguments to support clinical decision-making.

Intended Learning Outcomes

Integrate complex knowledge of microorganisms and the human immune system with their associated pathology and clinical findings to assess patient needs: 1,2
Critically evaluate professional practice within medical microbiology and relate that to current research and publications: 1,2
Critically appraise scientific publications, test methodologies and screening techniques principally within medical microbiology: 1,2
Evaluate complex scientific data to accurately interpret and validate clinical findings within medical microbiology: 1,2
Critically reflect on the ways in which current understanding of medical microbiology and infection prevention impact on methodological design and patient health: 1,2
Justify the importance of a multi-disciplinary approach to assessing patient health and clinical outcomes: 1,2

Study hours

Active Learning Hours
1x 2-hour introductory tutorial
1 x 3-hour case-based learning - introduction to the cases
4 x 2 hours case-based learning
10 x 2-hour seminars
2 x 2-hour assessment workshops
8 x 10 hours engagement with asynchronous content (including initial consumption, wider reading and note taking)
4 x 4 hours preparation for case study tutorials
Independent Study Hours
30 hours to complete the assignment
70 hours of preparation for the short answer question based on case study exercise
67 hours of independent study

School Rules

None

Description of Module Assessment