Undergraduate Course: Research Skills in Reproductive Biology (REPB10004)

Course Outline
School	Deanery of Biomedical Sciences	College	College of Medicine and Veterinary Medicine
Credit level (Normal year taken)	SCQF Level 10 (Year 4 Undergraduate)	Availability	Not available to visiting students
SCQF Credits	20	ECTS Credits	10
Summary	This course aims to equip you with core research skills and covers the experimental systems used in reproductive biology, together with key transferable communication skills to assist you during the honours programme
Course description	The course is made up of a series of lectures that will provide up-to-date information about current experimental systems used in research relevant to reproductive biology, a toolkit of transferable skills that will help you benefit maximally from the other courses on the programme, and prepare you for a career in a scientific discipline. By the end of the course you will be able to: ż Describe the generic experimental techniques and methodological tools that are broadly applicable to many areas of modern biology, and particularly relevant across the reproductive biology field of study. ż Discuss the progress made in the field by advances in different methodologies. ż Evaluate the advantages and limitations of different experimental approaches. ż Critically appraise research findings arising from studies using these methodological tools. ż Discuss the interpretation, evaluation and integration of results across a range of these methodologies in the field. ż Read, abstract, understand, assimilate, critically evaluate and present primary research papers published in reproductive journals. ż Prepare and present a time-limited Powerpoint presentation, and respond confidently and knowledgeably to audience questions. ż Critically review a journal manuscript for its suitability for publication.

Entry Requirements (not applicable to Visiting Students)
Pre-requisites		Co-requisites
Prohibited Combinations		Other requirements	None
Additional Costs	~Ł30 towards Firbush Trip

Course Delivery Information

Academic year 2015/16, Not available to visiting students (SS1)		Quota: None
Course Start	Full Year
Timetable	Timetable
Learning and Teaching activities (Further Info)	Total Hours: 200 ( Lecture Hours 61, Seminar/Tutorial Hours 14, Feedback/Feedforward Hours 2, Formative Assessment Hours 3, Summative Assessment Hours 1, Revision Session Hours 2, Other Study Hours 10, Programme Level Learning and Teaching Hours 4, Directed Learning and Independent Learning Hours 103 )
Additional Information (Learning and Teaching)	learning skills session
Assessment (Further Info)	Written Exam 100 %, Coursework 0 %, Practical Exam 0 %
Additional Information (Assessment)	100% exam. Research Skills I - 2 essays (40% each, choice of 4) plus 1 short answer question (20%, choice of 3). Research Skills II (50% - 10 Credits) Answer 1 question out of 2
Feedback	One to one feedback in semester two
Exam Information
Exam Diet	Paper Name		Hours & Minutes
Main Exam Diet S1 (December)	Research Skills 1		2:00
Main Exam Diet S2 (April/May)	Research Skills 2		3:00

Learning Outcomes
The course is made up of a series of lectures that will provide up-to-date information about current experimental systems used in research relevant to reproductive biology. In addition, the lectures and interactive sessions in this course aim to provide a range of transferable science communication skills that will help you benefit maximally from the other courses on the programme, prepare you for the exams, and for a career in a scientific discipline. By the end of the course you will be able to: ż Describe the generic experimental techniques and methodological tools that are broadly applicable to many areas of modern biological and biomedical sciences which are relevant across the reproductive biology field of study. ż Critically appraise research findings arising from studies using these methodological tools. ż Discuss the interpretation, evaluation and integration of results across a range of these methodologies in the field. ż Read, abstract, understand, assimilate, critically evaluate and present primary research papers published in reproductive journals. ż Prepare and present a time-limited Powerpoint presentation, and respond confidently and knowledgeably to audience questions. ż Critically review a journal manuscript for its suitability for publication.