The programme is particularly suitable for staff working in hospital pathology and National Blood Service (NBS) laboratories.
Health Care Scientists are essential members of the modern healthcare team and in collaboration with doctors, nurses and other professions allied to medicine aid in the diagnosis of disease.
Why study Health Care Sciences at Chester?
This part-time Foundation Degree is specifically designed for technicians working in the Health Service or related laboratories. The course also provides the opportunity to top-up to an appropriate BSc degree programme, for example Biomedical Sciences, once the course has been successfully completed. This flexible delivery will allow students to complete single modules as part of an ongoing CPD (continuing professional development) programme, or completion of six modules to gain a Certificate of Higher Education, or completion of twelve modules for the Foundation Degree.
Features:
This degree programme is delivered predominantly via distance learning materials which are supplemented and supported by tutor-led Residential Schools at the University of Chester and by work-based mentoring. Each module takes the form of a learning package comprising a detailed module text which the student works through, supplemented by an appropriate textbook and relevant online learning materials. Support of learning is provided mainly by the module tutor via the Residential Schools, emails and on-line discussion boards and chat rooms.
Typically, each module commences with a one-day Residential School at which the module content (including support provision, learning materials and assessment details) is described. Considerable guidance is given on learning to learn, accessing and using resources and preparing assignments, as well as introducing the modular content.
This programme is taught by an enthusiatic team of tutors who have considerable experience of writing and delivering distance learning materials.
Programme Structure:
Students normally take 3 modules for each of the 4 years' duration of this part-time programme of study. The modules cover a range of relevant basic scientific subjects (e.g. physiology, biochemistry), data presentation and analysis, together with more specialised biomedical science topics.
The modules studied during the first 2 years of the programme (i.e. Level 1) can be seen mainly as providing a firm foundation for progression to study at Level 2 (i.e. years 3 and 4), which, if the student subsequently decides to progress to a full honours degree programme, provides a basis for continued study at Level 3.
Years 1 and 2 (Level 1)
The first module in the programme is 'The Health Care Scientist and Patient Care', and this introduces the students to the theoretical, practical and professional aspects of the disciplines involved in healthcare science. The other modules form the basis for study throughout the remainder of the programme, and comprise:
- Essential Biological Chemistry
- Cells and Tissue Science
- Anatomy and Physiology
- Introduction to Genetics
- Haematology and Immunology
Years 3 and 4 (Level 2)
The modules here develop the knowledge, concepts and skills introduced at Level 1. They are content-specific and provide an essential background in the biomedical sciences, together with research and its implications, for those students going on to study at Level 3 for a BSc Honours degree. The modules comprise:
- Tissues and Transplantation
- Transfusion Science
- Applied Molecular Biology
- Microbiology
- Biology of Disease
- Research methods and Medical Ethics
The content of the programme has been informed by the requirements of the:
- NHS National Occupational Standards
- HPC Standards of Proficiency for Clinical Scientists
- QAA Subject Benchmarks for Healthcare Professional Training
- Institute of Biomedical Sciences
The aim is to introduce students to a range of assessment methods and to develop their performance in assessment. Generally, modules are assessed via a combination of coursework (e.g. essays, data handling exercises, student presentations) and examination.
Formative assessment features particularly in the Level 1 modules and is designed to introduce students to assessment in higher education and to make them aware of what is expected. Such assessments will be marked (but the marks will not be formally recorded) and written feedback given to the students, which can then be discussed with the module tutor and/or the workplace mentor.
This degree forms part of the Continuing Professional Development (CPD) programme for technical support staff employed in the National Blood Service and enables Medical Laboratory Assistants (MLAs) and Medical Technical Officers (MTOs) to progress to a relevant B.Sc. hgonours degree. The foundation degree programme is designed to equip students with the skills, kowledge and understanding necessary for a fulfiling career within the health sector. Some graduates, however, may ultimately decide not to embark on such a career pathway. The transferable skills embedded throughout this programme equip graduates to enter other areas of employment or to continue their studies for a postgraduate qualification.
Applicants will be interviewed at the University prior to acceptance on to the programme. The interview will focus on personal qualities and related skills in addition to formal academic requirements.
