Students enter Second Science Biological Sciences from the First Science Area of Study: Biological and Chemical Sciences (CK402) provided they have passed First Science. The Second Science Biological Sciences programme consists of compulsory modules to the value of 55 credits, and additional elective modules to the value of 5 credits. In Third Science, students enter the honours degree programme in Biochemistry, Biotechnology, Microbiology, Neuroscience or Physiology. Students in Biochemistry, Microbiology and Neuroscience may elect to take a 5-credit optional work placement module in Third Year.

Quotas
For students who enter Second Science Biological Sciences from 2017/18, there will be a total of 120 places available in Second Science Biological Sciences. Quotas apply for all other degree outlets – please see specific degree outlets for further details. Students who opt to enter Biological Sciences will be offered a place in order of merit based on their First Year University Examination results. In determining aggregation and progression, full marks obtained in all modules passed at the Summer Examination Board in the first attempt plus capped marks obtained in modules in Supplemental and Repeat Year Examinations are used unless mitigation has been granted by an Examination Board.
Note: entry to specific degree programmes in Third Science is also subject to quotas for each discipline.

Students enter Second Biological Sciences from First Biological and Chemical Sciences (CK402) and can proceed to a BSc (Hons) Degree in one of the following:
Biochemistry
Biotechnology
Microbiology
Neuroscience
Physiology

Programme Requirements

In Second Science, students take core modules to the value of 55 credits and elective modules to the value of 5 credits from the modules listed below.

Students take 60 credits as follows:

Core Modules (55 credits):
Biochemistry: BC2001 (5 credits), BC2002 (5 credits)
Biotechnology: BT2001 (5 credits)
Molecular Biology: ML2001 (5 credits)
Microbiology: MB2005 (5 credits), MB2006 (5 credits)
Neuroscience: AN2003 (5 credits), AN2020 (5 credits)
Physiology: PL2021 (5 credits), PL2022 (5 credits)
Statistics: ST2001 (5 credits)

Elective Modules
Students select 5 credits from the following:

Semester 1
Chemistry: CM2001 (5 credits), CM2002 (5 credits), CM2003 (5 credits)
Plant Science: PS2001 (5 credits)
Zoology: ZY2000 (5 credits)

Semester 2
Chemistry: CM2007 (5 credits)
Ecology: AE2001 (5 credits)

Module Semester Information may be found here. Module Descriptions may be found here.

Examinations
Full details and regulations governing Examinations for each programme will be contained in the Marks and Standards 2020/2021 Book and for each module in the Book of Modules, 2020/2021.

Three Year Rule
Students must pass the Second University Examination in Science - Biological Sciences within three academic years from the date of first registration for Second Year. Failure to comply with this rule would mean that the student would be ineligible to proceed further with his/her studies. Exceptions to this rule may be granted by the College only for very serious reasons.

Degree Outlets, Quotas and Transfers

In Third Science, students enter the honours degree programme in Biochemistry, Biotechnology, Microbiology, Neuroscience or Physiology. Entry to the degree programmes is subject to quotas (See Quotas below). Each year of a degree programme has a core of compulsory modules and a specified number of elective modules to the total value of 60 credits.

Transfers into Third Year Biological Sciences may be possible for students who have met programme requirements. Please consult the relevant Head of School/Department.

Quotas
All students who pass the Second University Examination in Science may enter an honours degree programme in Third Science but entry to a particular programme is subject to a quota. Quota selection will be based on the aggregate of second year results in core modules. In filling the quotas, preference will be given to students passing the Second University Examination in Science in the first year of registration for the Second University Examination in Science, and in order of merit of aggregate marks obtained thereat. Remaining places, if any, will be filled in order of merit without distinction as to when the examination was completed. The decision as to the filling of such remaining places will be made after the results of the Autumn Supplemental Examination are known. The quotas for entry to the various degree programmes in Third Science are presented in the Table below.

Programme Requirements

Students take modules to the value of 60 credits in one of the degree outlets as follows:

Biochemistry
Core Modules (50 credits)
BC3001 (5 credits), BC3003 (5 credits), BC3004 (5 credits), BC3005 (5 credits), BC3006 (5 credits), BC3007 (5 credits), BC3008 (5 credits), BC3009 (5 credits), BC3010 (5 credits), BC3012 (5 credits)

plus 10 credits from:
MB3001 (5 credits), MB3002 (5 credits), MB3012 (5 credits), PE4010 (5 credits), PL3005 (5 credits), PT3001 (5 credits), PT3002 (5 credits), PT3005 (5 credits)

Optional Module - BC4021 (5 credits)
Students electing to take this optional module must secure a work placement relevant to the discipline, to be undertaken in June-August (minimum four weeks) subject to the approval of the School of Biochemistry and Cell Biology. BC4021 is not included for progression to subsequent year and is not counted toward the final degree award. The result obtained in BC4021 will be recorded on the student's transcript.

Module Semester Information may be found here. Module Descriptions may be found here.

Biotechnology
Core Modules (60 credits)
BC3001 (5 credits), BC3006 (5 credits), BC3009 (5 credits), BC3010 (5 credits), BT3001 (5 credits), MB3005 (5 credits), MB3006 (5 credits), MB3008 (5 credits), MB3914 (5 credits), MB3021 (5 credits), PE2005 (5 credits), PT3001 (5 credits)

Module Semester Information may be found here. Module Descriptions may be found here.

Microbiology
Core Modules (60 credits)
MB3002 (5 credits), MB3003 (5 credits), MB3005 (5 credits), MB3006 (5 credits), MB3007 (5 credits), MB3008 (5 credits), MB3012 (5 credits), MB3016 (10 credits), MB3017 (5 credits), MB3021 (5 credits), MB3914 (5 credits)

Optional Module - MB3019 (5 credits)
Students electing to take this optional module must secure a work placement relevant to the discipline, to be undertaken in June-August (minimum four weeks) subject to the approval of the School of Microbiology. MB3019 is not included for progression to subsequent year and is not counted toward the final degree award. The result obtained in MB3019 will be recorded on the student's transcript.

Module Semester Information may be found here. Module Descriptions may be found here.

Neuroscience
Core Modules (50 credits)
AN3001 (5 credits), AN3003 (5 credits), AN3004 (5 credits), AN3011 (5 credits), AN3012 (10 credits), AN3013 (5 credits), BC3006 (5 credits), BC3008 (5 credits), PT3001 (5 credits)

plus 10 credits from:
AN3009 (5 credits), AP2043 (5 credits), AP2044 (5 credits), PL3020 (5 credits)

Optional Module - AN4015 (5 credits)
Students electing to take this optional module must secure a work placement relevant to the discipline, to be undertaken in June-August (minimum four weeks) subject to the approval of the Department of Anatomy & Neuroscience. AN4015 is not included for progression to subsequent year and is not counted toward the final degree award. The result obtained in AN4015 will be recorded on the student's transcript.

Module Semester Information may be found here. Module Descriptions may be found here.

Physiology
Core Modules (55 credits)
AN3001 (5 credits), BC3005 (5 credits), PL3005 (5 credits), PL3009 (5 credits), PL3020 (5 credits), PL3021 (5 credits), PL3022 (5 credits), PL3023 (5 credits), PL3024 (5 credits), PL3025 (5 credits), PT3001 (5 credits)

plus 5 credits from:
PT3002 (5 credits), PT3005 (5 credits)

Module Semester Information may be found here. Module Descriptions may be found here.

Examinations
Full details and regulations governing Examinations for each programme will be contained in the Marks and Standards 2020/2021 Book and for each module in the Book of Modules, 2020/2021.

Students who have passed Third Year may choose not to proceed to Fourth Year and may opt instead to be conferred with a BSc Ordinary Degree.

Three Year Rule
Students must pass the Third University Examination in Science - Biological Sciences within three academic years from the date of first registration for Third Year. Failure to comply with this rule would mean that the student would be ineligible to proceed further with his/her studies. Exceptions to this rule may be granted by the College only for very serious reasons.

Programme Requirements

In Fourth Science students take modules to the value of 60 credits. The following list indicates the modules for each degree programme.

Biochemistry
Core Modules (60 credits)
BC4001 (5 credits), BC4002 (5 credits), BC4009 (5 credits), BC4010 (5 credits), BC4011 (5 credits), BC4012 (15 credits), BC4016 (5 credits), BC4017 (5 credits), BC4022 (5 credits), GN4001 (5 credits)

Module Semester Information may be found here. Module Descriptions may be found here.

Biotechnology
Core Modules (60 credits)
BC4002 (5 credits), BC4017 (5 credits), BT4001 (10 credits), BT4002 (10 credits), BT4003 (5 credits), BT4004 (5 credits), BT4005 (5 credits), MB4013 (5 credits), PE4028 (10 credits)

Module Semester Information may be found here. Module Descriptions may be found here.

Microbiology
Core Modules (35 credits)
MB4002 (15 credits), MB4019 (5 credits), MB4025 (5 credits), MB4026 (5 credits), MB4027 (5 credits)

plus 25 credits from:
MB4010 (5 credits), MB4011 (5 credits), MB4013 (5 credits), MB4029 (5 credits), MB4030 (5 credits), MB4031 (5 credits)

Module Semester Information may be found here. Module Descriptions may be found here.

Neuroscience
Core Modules (60 credits)
AN4008 (10 credits), AN4009 (5 credits), AN4011 (20 credits), AN4012 (5 credits), AN4013 (5 credits), AN4014 (5 credits), BC4011 (5 credits), PT4005 (5 credits)

Module Semester Information may be found here. Module Descriptions may be found here.

Physiology
Core Modules (60 credits)
PL4006 (5 credits), PL4007 (5 credits), PL4009 (5 credits), PL4010 (5 credits), PL4011 (5 credits), PL4012 (5 credits), PL4013 (5 credits), PL4014 (5 credits), PL4020 (20 credits)

Module Semester Information may be found here. Module Descriptions may be found here.

Examinations
Full details and regulations governing Examinations for each programme will be contained in the Marks and Standards 2020/2021 Book and for each module in the Book of Modules, 2020/2021.

Three Year Rule
Students must pass the BSc (Hons) Biological Sciences Degree Examination within three academic years from the date of first registration for Fourth Year. Failure to comply with this rule would mean that the student would be ineligible to proceed further with his/her studies. Exceptions to this rule may be granted by the College only for very serious reasons.

Programme Learning Outcomes for BSc in Biochemistry (NFQ Level 8, Major Award)
On successful completion of this programme, students should be able to:

• Demonstrate a knowledge and understanding of Biochemistry;
• Describe, apply and perform a range of Biochemistry laboratory techniques;
• Design, implement and evaluate scientific investigations and assess, interpret and present scientific data;
• Analyse critically research literature and present such analyses in both written and oral formats;
• Engage in professional and academic communication with other scientists;
• Work effectively, ethically and professionally as an individual, in teams and in multi-disciplinary settings, with the capacity for leadership and innovation.

Programme Learning Outcomes for BSc in Biotechnology (NFQ Level 8, Major Award)
On successful completion of this programme, students should be able to:

• Discuss the key principles and concepts underpinning the discipline of Biotechnology;
• Describe the role of modern and traditional biotechnology in society and critically analyse future biotechnological developments of relevance to society;
• Apply the basic principles of process engineering and unit operations to biological processes;
• Explain the role and applications of microbes in the biotechnology industry;
• Discuss the role of recombinant DNA technology and protein science in modern biotechnology;
• Critically assess recent and ongoing developments in biotechnology research and effectively communicate scientific knowledge both orally and in writing;
• Apply fundamental laboratory procedures for applications in research, in medical and/or industrial laboratories;
• Apply the scientific method of investigation and hypothesis testing, including the development of theoretical and practical skills, in the design and execution of experiments;
• Demonstrate appropriate scientific proficiency for entry into further postgraduate education/research or for employment in government, academic or industrial positions.

Programme Learning Outcomes for BSc in Microbiology (NFQ Level 8, Major Award)
On successful completion of this programme, students should be able to:

• Discuss the key principles and concepts underpinning the discipline of Microbiology;
• Describe the role of microbes in society and critically analyse future microbiological developments of relevance to society;
• Discuss in detail the physiology and biochemistry of bacteria, and the key elements of genetics in prokaryotes, eukaryotic microbes and viruses;
• Explain the molecular basis of infectious diseases and host immune responses;
• Explain the role and applications of microbes in the food and biotechnology industries, in environmental biotechnology and in ecosystem functioning;
• Critically assess recent and ongoing developments in scientific research and effectively communicate scientific knowledge both orally and in writing;
• Apply fundamental laboratory procedures in Microbiology for applications in research, in medical and/or industrial laboratories;
• Apply the scientific method of investigation and hypothesis testing, including the development of theoretical and practical skills, in the design and execution of experiments;
• Demonstrate appropriate scientific proficiency for entry into further postgraduate education/research or for employment in government, academic or industrial positions.

Programme Learning Outcomes for BSc in Neuroscience (NFQ Level 8, Major Award)
On successful completion of this programme, students should be able to:

• Use fundamental knowledge of anatomy, physiology, biochemistry, pharmacology and applied psychology to derive and apply solutions which promote a better understanding of the function of the human nervous system, the diseased or injured human nervous system, and its repair;
• Identify and explain suitable molecular, cellular and behavioural methodologies for applications in research in order to increase our knowledge of Neuroscience;
• Design, plan and execute an experiment or study to test a hypothesis in Neuroscience;
• Interpret research findings and perform appropriate statistical analysis to enable effective communication of research in both written and oral formats;
• Critically analyse scientific literature published in the field of Neuroscience;
• Work effectively as an individual, in teams and in multidisciplinary settings having developed the capacity to undertake lifelong learning and critical thinking;
• Communicate effectively with the scientific community and appreciate the importance of contributing to the public understanding of science and neuroscience in particular.

Programme Learning Outcomes for BSc in Physiology (NFQ Level 8, Major Award)
On successful completion of this programme, students should be able to:

• Describe the different physiological systems and how they integrate to determine the function of the organism as a whole;
• Explain with suitable molecular, cellular and integrated physiology examples, the concept of homeostasis and how its disruption can lead to the disease state;
• Select techniques suitable for the evaluation of physiological process at the molecular, cellular, organ and system level, in an integrated manner that can be used to increase our knowledge of both normal and pathophysiological states;
• Critically evaluate research publications to enable them to formulate research ideas and hypotheses, and design experiments with appropriate controls;
• Interpret laboratory findings, perform appropriate statistical analysis and clearly communicate their research findings to both scientific and lay audiences, both orally and in writing, in the context of their laboratory research projects and course work.