Programme Overview

The B.Sc. in Human Health & Disease degree is a 4-year programme of multidisciplinary study and training in basic and applied biomedical science provided by the School of Medicine in partnership with the School of Biochemistry and Immunology and collaborators from across Trinity College Dublin and beyond. The degree is led and managed from The Discipline of Physiology.

Degree Objectives

To provide students with a programme focussed on developing an expert appreciation of the following;

  • the structure and function of the human body in health
  • signs and symptoms of disease
  • the molecular basis of disease
  • current treatment of disease and cutting edge therapeutics

Learning Format

Teaching is provided through a combination of lectures, practicals and tutorials. In the fourth year a research project is undertaken within the laboratory of a biomedical researcher on campus, at one of the affiliated teaching hospitals or at an ERASMUS partner university. Throughout, a major emphasis is placed on the development of proficiency in the following;

  • laboratory technique
  • data analysis
  • public presentation
  • report writing
  • research methodology, ethics and critical thinking

On successful completion of this programme, students should be able to:

  • Integrate key biological principles into a detailed description of the structure-function relationships operational in the human body.
  • Relate the signs and symptoms of disease to fundamental alterations in body function at the molecular, cellular, tissue, organ and organ system levels.
  • Evaluate the respective roles of pharmacological, lifestyle-related and dietary factors in the treatment and prevention of disease.
  • Identify the link between translational research and innovation and the emergence of advances in diagnostics and therapeutics.
  • Appraise scientific data in a critical, ethical, informed and independent manner.
  • Design, conduct, analyse and evaluate research in the field of applied biomedical science.