Exploring Human Disease (PATH20001)
Undergraduate level 2Points: 12.5On Campus (Parkville)
About this subject
Contact information
Semester 1
Subject Coordinator
Associate Professor Vicki Lawson
Administrative Coordination
Overview
| Availability | Semester 1 |
|---|---|
| Fees | Look up fees |
This subject will explore the scientific basis of disease. Students will be introduced to factors affecting the initiation, progression and resolution of human disease through the study of:
- Injury, inflammation and repair
- Infection, immunity and immune mediated disease
- Homeostasis and vascular disease
- Genes, cancer and the environment.
Through lectures and tutorials students will understand that, as first described by Rudolf Virchow in 1958, ‘injury to the smallest living unit of the body, the cell, is the basis of all disease’, and appreciate how injury can lead to the development of diseases such as cancer and diabetes or cause a heart attack.
Intended learning outcomes
On completion of this subject students should be able:
- Describe the factors affecting the initiation, progression and resolution of human disease
- Apply the appropriate scientific terminology to the discussion of disease
- Explain the relationship between normal and abnormal cell structure and function and its contribution to the development of disease
Generic skills
- Recognise and describe the relationship between complex concepts.
Last updated: 4 March 2025
Eligibility and requirements
Prerequisites
Students must complete one of these subject sets (A, B, C or D):
BIOL10004 Biology of Cells and Organisms
AND
BIOL10005 Genetics and The Evolution of Life
SET B:
BIOL10004 Biology of Cells and Organisms
AND
One of
| Code | Name | Teaching period | Credit Points |
|---|---|---|---|
| BIOL10010 | Foundational Biology: Life's Complexity | Semester 2 (On Campus - Parkville) |
12.5 |
| BIOL10011 | Biology: Life's Complexity | Not available in 2025 |
12.5 |
SET C:
BIOL10005 Genetics and The Evolution of Life
AND
One of
| Code | Name | Teaching period | Credit Points |
|---|---|---|---|
| BIOL10008 | Foundational Biology: Life's Machinery |
Semester 1 (On Campus - Parkville)
Summer Term (On Campus - Parkville)
|
12.5 |
| BIOL10009 | Biology: Life's Machinery | Not available in 2025 |
12.5 |
SET D:
One of
| Code | Name | Teaching period | Credit Points |
|---|---|---|---|
| BIOL10008 | Foundational Biology: Life's Machinery |
Semester 1 (On Campus - Parkville)
Summer Term (On Campus - Parkville)
|
12.5 |
| BIOL10009 | Biology: Life's Machinery | Not available in 2025 |
12.5 |
AND
One of
| Code | Name | Teaching period | Credit Points |
|---|---|---|---|
| BIOL10010 | Foundational Biology: Life's Complexity | Semester 2 (On Campus - Parkville) |
12.5 |
| BIOL10011 | Biology: Life's Complexity | Not available in 2025 |
12.5 |
Corequisites
None
Non-allowed subjects
This subject is not available to students admitted to Bachelor of Biomedicine.
Recommended background knowledge
Biochemistry
Inherent requirements (core participation requirements)
The University of Melbourne is committed to providing students with reasonable adjustments to assessment and participation under the Disability Standards for Education (2005), and the Assessment and Results Policy (MPF1326). Students are expected to meet the core participation requirements for their course. These can be viewed under Entry and Participation Requirements for the course outlines in the Handbook.
Further details on how to seek academic adjustments can be found on the Student Equity and Disability Support website: http://services.unimelb.edu.au/student-equity/home
Last updated: 4 March 2025
Assessment
| Description | Timing | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
10 Weekly online quizzes (1 hour each)
| Throughout the semester | 10% |
Two written examinations during semester. (Up to 40 minutes each). 15% each.
| During the teaching period | 30% |
Written examination
| During the examination period | 60% |
Last updated: 4 March 2025
Dates & times
- Semester 1
Principal coordinator Vicki Lawson Mode of delivery On Campus (Parkville) Contact hours 3 hours per week of lectures and 1 hour tutorial/computer aided learning session per week Total time commitment 170 hours Teaching period 3 March 2025 to 1 June 2025 Last self-enrol date 14 March 2025 Census date 31 March 2025 Last date to withdraw without fail 9 May 2025 Assessment period ends 27 June 2025 Semester 1 contact information
Subject Coordinator
Associate Professor Vicki Lawson
Administrative Coordination
Time commitment details
170 hours (which includes study time).
What do these dates mean
Visit this webpage to find out about these key dates, including how they impact on:
- Your tuition fees, academic transcript and statements.
- And for Commonwealth Supported students, your:
- Student Learning Entitlement. This applies to all students enrolled in a Commonwealth Supported Place (CSP).
Subjects withdrawn after the census date (including up to the ‘last day to withdraw without fail’) count toward the Student Learning Entitlement.
Last updated: 4 March 2025
Further information
- Texts
- Subject notes
- Related Handbook entries
This subject contributes to the following:
Type Name Informal specialisation Science Discipline subjects - new generation B-SCI - Available through the Community Access Program
About the Community Access Program (CAP)
This subject is available through the Community Access Program (also called Single Subject Studies) which allows you to enrol in single subjects offered by the University of Melbourne, without the commitment required to complete a whole degree.
Please note Single Subject Studies via Community Access Program is not available to student visa holders or applicants
Entry requirements including prerequisites may apply. Please refer to the CAP applications page for further information.
- Available to Study Abroad and/or Study Exchange Students
Last updated: 4 March 2025