I'm not expecting this thread to get too much traction, but hopefully it will be useful to a few people.
The following is very brief, and partially based off my recollection from several years ago, so please be aware that it may not all be 100% up-to-date. It’s applicable to any Griffith Gold Coast students in courses that participate in foundation year health: this includes medical science (provisional entry into the MD), dental health science, medical laboratory science, pharmacy, exercise science, biomedical science and health science. If you ask more specific questions related to the courses or the university itself (etc etc) I'm happy to answer them.
So, the subjects that first year foundation year health students will do in trimester I include: Anatomy & Physiology Systems I (ANP), Cells, Tissues & Regulation (CTR), Chemistry of Biological Systems I (Chem) and Legal and Ethical Principles in Healthcare (this last one is only for Medical Science and Biomed (Hons) accelerated students).
Anatomy & Physiology Systems I
Timetabled classes
- 3 hours of lectures per week (1 x 2-hour + 1 x 1-hour, offered in two streams)
- 1 hour “tutorial” per week (given the very large class sizes this is more like an interactive lecture as opposed to the classic small-class tutorial)
- 3 hour prac every second week covering the previous week’s content (pracs are very interactive and well-guided)
Content
You’ll do a basic overview of six systems split into 2-week blocks: skeletal, muscular, special senses, endocrine, nervous and reproductive.
Teaching is excellent and the content is really enjoyable. Good to keep on top of it with regular study but cramming is definitely achievable. The pracs are the only compulsory classes and the ones where attendance is marked off.
Assessment
- Mid-trimester written worth 30%, mainly MC with two short answer questions at the end. Assesses skeletal, muscular and nervous systems.
- Mid-trimester lab exam worth 25%, all short answer, assesses skeletal, muscular and nervous systems.
- EOT lab exam worth 15%, assesses endo/special senses/repro
- EOT written exam worth 30%, assesses endo/special senses/repro, about half MC and half written (split between SA and LA)
Chemistry of Biological Systems
Timetabled classes
- 3 hours of lectures per week (3 x 1-hour, offered in two-three streams)
- 1 hour “tutorial” per week (given the very large class sizes this is more like an interactive lecture as opposed to the classic small-class tutorial)
- 3 hour lab every second week
If you did chemistry at high school or in past university study I’d be avoiding all lectures and tutorials unless there’s a topic you really need refreshing. Everything is very basic/introductory and the lectures are boring. The labs are even more boring but are compulsory and I think lab attendance forms part of the assessment from memory.
Content
Very basic introduction to inorganic chemistry, unless it’s changed since I did the subject.
Assessment
- Mid-trimester worth 18%, mainly MC (~60%) with some short answer.
- Mini quizzes at the end of the labs in weeks 3/7/10. IIRC they’re worth 20% in total.
- Course quiz towards the end of trimester worth 12%. All MC questions.
- EOT written exam worth 50%, assesses the entire trimester’s content from memory.
Cells, Tissues and Regulation
Timetabled classes
- 3 hours of lectures per week (1 x 2-hour + 1 x 1-hour, offered in two streams)
- 2 hour lab every second week covering the previous week’s content
Content
You’ll do a basic introduction to cells and tissues (shockingly!) as well as cellular processes – the content ties in well with ANP.
Roughly, the content will be: structures and function of cells, the four basic types of tissues, diffusion/osmosis/active transport, homeostasis, intro to microbiology, osmolarity/tonicity, action potentials, synapses, signalling.
Teaching was really good from memory, but the content can be a bit dry. As with ANP: good to keep on top of it with regular study but cramming is definitely achievable around exam times. The pracs are the only compulsory classes and the ones where attendance is marked off.
Assessment
- Mid-trimester written worth 25%, combination of MC and SA
- Group assignment worth 15%: you need to make a poster about an academic or HDR student and their research
- Lab exam worth 15%
- EOT written exam worth 45%, assesses whole trimester’s content but mainly the second half. Equal between MC and SA/LA written responses.
I am aware that GC students also need to do stats and health law in their first semester but both of these subjects have transitioned to online-based since I took them and I don’t want to give outdated or inaccurate information, so I haven’t covered them here.
Tri 2 available on request.
The following is very brief, and partially based off my recollection from several years ago, so please be aware that it may not all be 100% up-to-date. It’s applicable to any Griffith Gold Coast students in courses that participate in foundation year health: this includes medical science (provisional entry into the MD), dental health science, medical laboratory science, pharmacy, exercise science, biomedical science and health science. If you ask more specific questions related to the courses or the university itself (etc etc) I'm happy to answer them.
So, the subjects that first year foundation year health students will do in trimester I include: Anatomy & Physiology Systems I (ANP), Cells, Tissues & Regulation (CTR), Chemistry of Biological Systems I (Chem) and Legal and Ethical Principles in Healthcare (this last one is only for Medical Science and Biomed (Hons) accelerated students).
Anatomy & Physiology Systems I
Timetabled classes
- 3 hours of lectures per week (1 x 2-hour + 1 x 1-hour, offered in two streams)
- 1 hour “tutorial” per week (given the very large class sizes this is more like an interactive lecture as opposed to the classic small-class tutorial)
- 3 hour prac every second week covering the previous week’s content (pracs are very interactive and well-guided)
Content
You’ll do a basic overview of six systems split into 2-week blocks: skeletal, muscular, special senses, endocrine, nervous and reproductive.
Teaching is excellent and the content is really enjoyable. Good to keep on top of it with regular study but cramming is definitely achievable. The pracs are the only compulsory classes and the ones where attendance is marked off.
Assessment
- Mid-trimester written worth 30%, mainly MC with two short answer questions at the end. Assesses skeletal, muscular and nervous systems.
- Mid-trimester lab exam worth 25%, all short answer, assesses skeletal, muscular and nervous systems.
- EOT lab exam worth 15%, assesses endo/special senses/repro
- EOT written exam worth 30%, assesses endo/special senses/repro, about half MC and half written (split between SA and LA)
Chemistry of Biological Systems
Timetabled classes
- 3 hours of lectures per week (3 x 1-hour, offered in two-three streams)
- 1 hour “tutorial” per week (given the very large class sizes this is more like an interactive lecture as opposed to the classic small-class tutorial)
- 3 hour lab every second week
If you did chemistry at high school or in past university study I’d be avoiding all lectures and tutorials unless there’s a topic you really need refreshing. Everything is very basic/introductory and the lectures are boring. The labs are even more boring but are compulsory and I think lab attendance forms part of the assessment from memory.
Content
Very basic introduction to inorganic chemistry, unless it’s changed since I did the subject.
Assessment
- Mid-trimester worth 18%, mainly MC (~60%) with some short answer.
- Mini quizzes at the end of the labs in weeks 3/7/10. IIRC they’re worth 20% in total.
- Course quiz towards the end of trimester worth 12%. All MC questions.
- EOT written exam worth 50%, assesses the entire trimester’s content from memory.
Cells, Tissues and Regulation
Timetabled classes
- 3 hours of lectures per week (1 x 2-hour + 1 x 1-hour, offered in two streams)
- 2 hour lab every second week covering the previous week’s content
Content
You’ll do a basic introduction to cells and tissues (shockingly!) as well as cellular processes – the content ties in well with ANP.
Roughly, the content will be: structures and function of cells, the four basic types of tissues, diffusion/osmosis/active transport, homeostasis, intro to microbiology, osmolarity/tonicity, action potentials, synapses, signalling.
Teaching was really good from memory, but the content can be a bit dry. As with ANP: good to keep on top of it with regular study but cramming is definitely achievable around exam times. The pracs are the only compulsory classes and the ones where attendance is marked off.
Assessment
- Mid-trimester written worth 25%, combination of MC and SA
- Group assignment worth 15%: you need to make a poster about an academic or HDR student and their research
- Lab exam worth 15%
- EOT written exam worth 45%, assesses whole trimester’s content but mainly the second half. Equal between MC and SA/LA written responses.
I am aware that GC students also need to do stats and health law in their first semester but both of these subjects have transitioned to online-based since I took them and I don’t want to give outdated or inaccurate information, so I haven’t covered them here.
Tri 2 available on request.
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Lots of rote learning involved in biochemistry but easy enough courses.