Course at a glance
Introduction
Human Biology is the scientific study of the human body in it’s entirety. From the cells in your toes, to the neurons in your brain. You will learn why and how your organs work the way they do, why and how your heart beats as fast as it does, what cells are used to create the human body, organs, muscles, bones and neurons from scratch and why you feel the burn after a bit of exercise. This course will detail the effect of the surrounding environment on the human body and why this may impact some more than others. You will discover why and how your body gets sick, and why some chemicals work more than others when it comes to dealing with the illness as well as how some people are more resilient than others. You will ride the human life cycle through it’s entirety, from the date of birth to the time after death. You shall adventure through the process of human reproduction and find out why people may look more like their father than their mother or vice versa. In the same breath you will learn how and why all organisms, fauna and flora alike inherit their genetic make-up and maintain the best parts of it through millions of years of evolution.
Learning Objectives
- Students will have an opportunity to learn lifestyle and health.
- Be able to review genetics and health.
- Look at different infectious diseases, energy and exercise in relation to health.
- Review how to use different aspects of Biology.
This course consists of ten units and is a qualification awarded by Oxford Learning College, in its own right; with the quality assurance of a leading awarding body (CIE Global) that hallmarks this professional qualification.
Assessment Objectives (AO)
AO: 1
Students must select and demonstrate clearly relevant knowledge and understanding through the use of evidence, examples and correct language and terminology appropriate to the course of study. This assessment, involves two written assignments: one halfway through the course and following the final unit. Both are assessed and graded by the assigned tutor, according to college procedures.
AO: 2
Students must critically evaluate and justify a point of view through the use of evidence and reasoned argument. Students can include evidence in different formats to support their written work such as documentation or images to support their course.
Accredited Level 3 Biology Diploma Entry Requirement
Entry to this Accredited Level 3 Biology Diploma requires that potential students have gained GCSE/IGCSE or equivalent qualifications and have, good English oral, reading and writing skills.
Advice on enrolment and guidance of prior learning (APL) can be obtained through out contact centre. The course is a rolling programme and can be started at any point in the year. Successful students can go on to Higher Education, including remaining as students at OLC to complete courses in our portfolio of higher awards.
All students must be aged 16 or over.
Assesment
The coursework is assessed through continuous assessment with no formal exit examinations.
Study Hours
Approximately: 200 hours of personal study time for the entire course is recommended. All of which is supported by the OLC Course Tutor, who we greatly encourage students to access support from throughout their course.
Quality Assurance
This course has been developed by the College’s professional team of tutors to meet the needs of sector based employers and employees. It is also part of the College’s validated level three Diplomas, recognised internationally, as verified and moderated Centre for Interactive Education (CIE Global). Further details of our accreditations are provided on our website.
Accredited Level 3 Biology Diploma Course Length
1 Year.
Awarding Body
Accredited Level 3 Biology Diploma Course Content
The whole level three diploma has TEN (10) specific units of study, which are sub-divided into topic areas these are:
Accredited Level 3 Biology Diploma Unit 1: Lifestyle, Health and Risk Part 1
In this unit you will learn about life from the basic atoms to the complex molecules such as carbohydrates, proteins and fats. What is needed to sustain life, where did oxygen come from, and what properties of water help sustain life?
Accredited Level 3 Biology Diploma Unit 2: Lifestyle, Health and Risk Part 2
Within this unit you will look at what constitutes a healthy diet and what tests there are for the different food groups. How is food processed, broken up, used and controlled within the body. A range of systems and processes maintain sufficient energy, water, oxygen and manage the waste within our body.
Accredited Level 3 Biology Diploma Unit 3: Genes and Health
Through this unit you will be able to recognise the formation of cells and how they take in nutrients and oxygen. You will understand genetics and structures as well as DNA and abnormalities.
Accredited Level 3 Biology Diploma Unit 4: The Voice of the Genome
Here you will discover themes of genes and how they differ in various living organisms. How cells divide asexually through mitosis and sexually through meiosis is covered in detail. The structure of the cell (which is not widely different to single-celled organisms) and the organelles within each are studied to see how they function, their role in replication and how they work together to form multi-celled structures like tissues.
Accredited Level 3 Biology Diploma Unit 5: Biodiversity and Natural Resources
In this unit you will learn transport system of plants, although different to animals, is complex and efficient. How water, nutrient solutes and energy from the sun are harnessed, taken in and transported to where they are needed.
Accredited Level 3 Biology Diploma Unit 6: The Wild
You will explore the presentation of structure and functions within plants, in order to cover topics such as transport and the production of energy using chlorophyll within chloroplasts. You will look at various cycles such as the Carbon, Nitrogen and Calvin cycle. Food chains and food webs are also addressed, to show the wider application of nutrients, energy, food and water in the environment and diverse Ecosystems.
Accredited Level 3 Biology Diploma Unit 7: Infection, Immunity and Forensics
In this unit, you will look at how pathogens affect and cause illness, disease or how they are used in the production of useful products such as antibiotics, bread, yoghurt and beer. You will look at their structure, how they function, reproduce, attack or have effect, how they are bred. Lastly, you will look at how we use them or protect against their bad/ good effects and how this helps us to understand precisely how and in what way they work.
Accredited Level 3 Biology Diploma Unit 8: Infectious Disease
You will review an array of diseases investigated e.g. Influenza, Malaria and HIV/ Aids. The module reviews methods by which humans try (and should try) to prevent infection and how – using the Immune system, immunity and antibodies can be of benefit. You will also look at immunisation and genetic modification.
Accredited Level 3 Biology Diploma Unit 9: Energy and Exercise
This unit will explore bones and the skeleton, all the systems involved in movement such as muscles, ligaments and tendons starts this topic. Each system is complex having specialised elements such as the heart and its cardiac muscle or the movement of the abdomen, all systems involve a totally different set and form of muscles, which you will investigate in this unit of study. Finally, you will look at what is needed in order to exercise. The organisation of the transport, respiration, hormonal, skeletal and musculature systems, and how they are coordinated is covered in depth.
Accredited Level 3 Biology Diploma Unit 10: Grey Matter
In this final unit you will review how humans can respond to their external environment and take control by using the nervous (brain and nerve cord) and endocrine (hormonal) systems. The nervous system is made up of a network of neurons controlled by the brain and the spinal cord, you will learn and explore how these work in conjunction.
Progression
This Accredited Level 3 Biology Diploma can be used to gain entry to a Level 4 Diploma or higher.
