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LSC-40079 - Module Specification
School of Life Sciences
Faculty of Natural Sciences

For academic year: 2026/27 Last Updated: 09 July 2026

LSC-40079 - Medical Microbiology (blended)
Coordinator: Rebecca Harrison Room: HUX202 Tel: +44 1782 7 33056
Lecture Time: See Timetable...
Level: Level 7
Credits: 30
Study Hours: 300
School Office: 01782 734414

Programme/Approved Electives for 2026/27

None

Available as a Free Standing Elective

No

Co-requisites

None

Prerequisites

None

Barred Combinations

None

Description for 2026/27

This module is a detailed exploration of Medical Microbiology. As such, you will explore the laboratory tests and analyses conducted in these key areas. You will learn to critically evaluate each technique and understand its role in the diagnosis and monitoring of disease states. You will also investigate the clinical and research implications of Medical Microbiology within Biomedical Science.
This module will be delivered through a combination of guided independent study, weekly optional drop-in sessions, and an optional week-long residential programme that will further develop and enhance your academic, practical and professional skills. The optional week-long residential is shared with your other core module in semester 1.

Aims
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 to assess, investigate, and evaluate pathophysiology and patient pathways, and to 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: 3
critically evaluate professional practice within medical microbiology and relate that to current research and publications: 1,3
critically appraise scientific publications, test methodologies and screening techniques principally within medical microbiology: 1,2,3
evaluate complex scientific data to accurately interpret and validate clinical findings within medical microbiology: 2
critically reflect on the ways in which current understanding of medical microbiology and infection prevention impact on methodological design and patient health: 1
justify the importance of a multi-disciplinary approach to assessing patient health and clinical outcomes: 3

Study hours

Active Learning Hours:
10 x 1-hour optional drop-in online sessions, including supporting introduction to the module, assessments, asynchronous topics and student Q&As
8 x 8hr engagement with weekly asynchronous content, including note-taking, further reading and research on the topic
Independent Study Hours:
4 x 20hrs SAQ assessment completion
65 hrs lab report writing
81 hrs completion of group task
Optional Residential hours:
5 x 3 hours of activities, which may include meetings with the programme team and practical, academic and professional skills sessions


School Rules

None

Description of Module Assessment

1: Group Assessment weighted 30%
Student group project
In groups of approx. 4-5, students will produce one of the following: a 20-minute narrated PowerPoint (or equivalent) presentation, a 20-minute podcast, or a 10-minute video (which must include audio and visual content beyond presentation slides). In addition to the group project (50% weighting), students will be required to include a 500-word personal reflection on their performance (30%) and complete a peer review (20%) for other group members. Bespoke marking criteria will be prepared for each recorded output option with clear criteria to distinguish between each. Guidance will be provided for reflective writing and peer evaluation. Students will be provided with topic options, which the student group can further refine with the tutor's approval.

2: Laboratory Report weighted 30%
Lab report component
Across the programme, students will be required to complete an introduction, methods (or SOP), results and discussion. In this module, students will be provided with options for each component, all of which relate to the laboratory diagnosis of infectious disease. This will support student choice and accommodate different start dates. Each component will be approximately 1500 words (+/- 10%).

3: Assignment weighted 40%
Series of short answer questions
Students will be provided with four short-answer questions that cover the module content. Each question will require a 500 (+/-10%) answer plus an annotated reference list justifying the use of each included source. There is no word count for the annotated reference list. Examples of this element will be provided to demonstrate the level of detail expected. The SAQs will be released throughout the module, aligned with the content. There will be a single deadline for each SAQ; however, students may elect to submit a single SAQ to an earlier drop-box to receive feedback that supports the completion of further SAQs within the module.

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: 09 July 2026