Bachelor of Biomedical Sciences (BBiomedSc)
The Bachelor of Biomedical Sciences (BBiomedSc) programme was introduced in the academic year 2012-13. It is a four-year full-time credit-based programme leading to the award of a degree in biomedical sciences.
The programme aims at nurturing graduates with a broad but core knowledge base of key biomedical disciplines. They will be well-trained to develop careers in a wide range of areas, such as research in university, government or medical laboratories; research and development for the pharmaceutical, diagnostics, medical devices and laboratory instrumentation industries; management and business development related to pharmaceutical, diagnostic and therapeutic products; clinical trials management; media and communication; health promotion, hospital administration and healthcare planning in the government sector; and teaching. They will also acquire an excellent base for future study at the level of MPhil/PhD, or seeking admission to a medical programme.
The BBiomedSc curriculum is designed with the aim of achieving a balance of structure and flexibility, so as to accommodate the increasing needs for students to plan for a study programme straddling sciences and humanities.
Students are required to complete 240 credits of courses throughout the 4-year curriculum:
1. Core Courses for Biomedical Sciences major (96 credits), covering:
- structure and function of the human body and the process that are essential to life;
- basic principles of the processes, mechanisms, patterns of diseases and concepts of therapeutic strategies; and
- essential analytical methodologies and contemporary information technology skills in the field of biomedical sciences
Student will have different types of learning experiences, including traditional lectures, laboratory practicals, problem-based learning tutorials, web-based learning, as well as research projects.
Introductory Level Courses
The introductory courses consolidate students’ knowledge of anatomy, human biology, human physiology, biochemistry, and pharmacology which are all necessary to understand the basis of human biology and processes that are essential to life.
| Courses | Credits | Year of study |
|---|---|---|
| Students are required to complete the following introductory courses: | ||
| Human Biology | 6 | 1 |
| Perspectives in Biochemistry | 6 | 1 |
| Biostatistics | 6 | 1 |
| General Chemistry/ Foundations of Chemistry | 6 | 1 |
| Basic Biomedical Laboratory Techniques | 6 | 2 |
| plus any four of the following: | ||
| Anatomy | 6 | 2 |
| Physiology and Pathophysiology I | 6 | 2 |
| Epidemiology | 6 | 2 |
| Pharmacology I | 6 | 2 |
| Human Genetics | 6 | 2 or 3 |
Advanced Level Courses
The advanced courses provide students with a foundation in the cellular, molecular and genetic basis of human diseases, as well as strategies for diagnosis. The Final Year Project constitutes capstone experience for students, allowing them to integrate their knowledge and to apply experimental and informatics skills to solve defined problems by research.
| Courses | Credits | Year of study |
|---|---|---|
| Students are required to complete the following courses of the advanced level: | ||
| Molecular Diagnostics Laboratory | 6 | 3 or 4 |
| Final Year Project | 12 | 4 |
| plus any four of the following: | ||
| Medical Microbiology | 6 | 3 or 4 |
| Molecular Biology of the Cell | 6 | 3 or 4 |
| Mechanisms of Diseases | 6 | 3 or 4 |
| Infection and Immunity | 6 | 3 or 4 |
| Sequence Bioinformatics | 6 | 3 or 4 |
2. Common Core Courses (36 credits)
Students are required to complete 6 Common Core courses, 6-credit each, and at least one course in each of the Areas of Inquiry, within the first and second years of study.
3. Language Enhancement Courses (18 credits)
| Courses | Languages | Credits | Year of study |
|---|---|---|---|
| Core University English | English | 6 | 1 or 2 |
| English in the Discipline | English | 6 | 1 or 2 |
| Professional Use of Chinese | Chinese | 6 | 1 or 2 |
4. Minors and/or Electives (90 credits)
Apart from the courses listed above, students can plan their study with the remaining credits. They may opt to take a minor or electives offered in the BBiomedSc curriculum or other curricula, subject to time-table constraints and approval of the host faculties.
New Minors:
The Bachelor of Biomedical Sciences curriculum will provide students with two new minors in ‘Biotechnology and Clinical Research’ and ‘Kinesiology’ from 2017/18, aiming to equip students with the essential knowledge in the field of biomedical sciences and putting them on an accelerated path to becoming health-related professionals. Together with the existing ‘Genetics and Genomics’ option, a total of 3 minors will be offered by the BBiomedSc curriculum:
- Minor in Genetics & Genomics (36 credits)
- Minor in Biotechnology and Clinical Research (36 credits)
- Minor in Kinesiology (36 credits)
Electives:
| Courses | Credits | Year of study |
|---|---|---|
| Emerging Infections | 6 | 3 or 4 |
| Molecular Neuroscience | 6 | 3 or 4 |
| Stem Cell & Regenerative Medicine | 6 | 3 or 4 |
| Clinical Trial Strategies | 6 | 3 or 4 |
| Physiology and Pathophysiology II | 6 | 3 or 4 |
Email: medfac@hku.hk
Phone: (852)2819 9346