Students

HLTH2301 – Principles in Health and Disease

2025 – Session 2, In person-scheduled-weekday, North Ryde

General Information

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Unit convenor and teaching staff Unit convenor and teaching staff Unit Convener
Stephanie Marhoff-Beard
Contact via Email
Lecturer
Amy Melamet
Contact via Emal
Lecturer
Dean Esposito
Contact via Email
Lecturer
Josh Fitzgerald
Contact via Email
Credit points Credit points
10
Prerequisites Prerequisites
20cp from ANAT1001 or BIOL1110 or BIOL1210
Corequisites Corequisites
Co-badged status Co-badged status
Unit description Unit description

This unit provides the students with the opportunity to explore the relationship between health and disease, from both the biological and psychosocial perspective. The diversity of stressors influencing the human body and mind is explored, and the response of the body to them is discussed. This includes adaptations at both cellular and tissue levels of organisation, inflammation, the immune response, tissue death and neoplasia. The immunisation debate and other relevant public health issues are explored. The relationship between the brain, 'mind', immune and endocrine systems is also studied. By the conclusion of this unit, students will have an understanding of the complex relationship between ourselves and our environment.

Important Academic Dates

Information about important academic dates including deadlines for withdrawing from units are available at https://www.mq.edu.au/study/calendar-of-dates

Learning Outcomes

On successful completion of this unit, you will be able to:

  • ULO1: Demonstrate the appropriate use of terminology, within the disciplines of pathology and microbiology.
  • ULO2: Explain the multi-factorial nature of health and disease.
  • ULO3: Demonstrate a broad knowledge and understanding of medical microbiology and general pathological processes.
  • ULO4: Apply an understanding of the epidemiological aspects of disease, to issues such as immunisation, infection control and disease prevention.

General Assessment Information

Grade descriptors and other information concerning grading are contained in the Macquarie University Assessment Policy.

All final grades are determined by a grading committee, in accordance with the Macquarie University Assessment Policy, and are not the sole responsibility of the Unit Convenor.

Students will be awarded a final grade and a mark which must correspond to the grade descriptors specified in the Assessment Procedure (clause 127-8).

To pass this unit, you must demonstrate sufficient evidence of achievement of the learning outcomes, meet any ungraded requirements, and achieve a final mark of 50 or better.

Further details for each assessment task will be available on iLearn.

 

Late Submissions

Unless a Special Consideration request has been submitted and approved, a 5% penalty (OF THE TOTAL POSSIBLE MARK) will be applied each day a written assessment is not submitted, up until the 7th day (including weekends). After the 7th day, a grade of ‘0’ will be awarded even if the assessment is submitted. Submission time for all written assessments is set at 11.55pm. A 1-hour grace period is provided to students who experience a technical concern. 

 For example:

Number of days (hours) late

Total Possible Marks

Deduction

Raw mark

Final mark

1 day (1-24 hours)

100

5

75

70

2 days (24-48 hours)

100

10

75

65

3 days (48-72 hours)

100

15

75

60

7 days (144-168 hours)

100

35

75

40

>7 days (>168 hours)

100

-

75

0

 

For any late submissions of time-sensitive tasks, such as scheduled tests/exams, performance assessments/presentations, and/or scheduled practical assessments/labs, students need to submit an application for Special Consideration.

Assessment Tasks

Name Weighting Hurdle Due
Presentation on the pathogenesis of a condition 30% No Week 8, September 19, 11:55pm
Lab report 30% No One week after your final workshop.
Final examination 40% No Official University Examination Period

Presentation on the pathogenesis of a condition

Assessment Type 1: Presentation
Indicative Time on Task 2: 12 hours
Due: Week 8, September 19, 11:55pm
Weighting: 30%

 

You will complete a presentation detailing the pathogenesis of a condition covered in lectures and tutorials.

 


On successful completion you will be able to:
  • Demonstrate the appropriate use of terminology, within the disciplines of pathology and microbiology.
  • Explain the multi-factorial nature of health and disease.
  • Demonstrate a broad knowledge and understanding of medical microbiology and general pathological processes.
  • Apply an understanding of the epidemiological aspects of disease, to issues such as immunisation, infection control and disease prevention.

Lab report

Assessment Type 1: Lab report
Indicative Time on Task 2: 12 hours
Due: One week after your final workshop.
Weighting: 30%

 

You will complete a lab report that assesses your knowledge of workshop procedures, results, and content.

 


On successful completion you will be able to:
  • Demonstrate the appropriate use of terminology, within the disciplines of pathology and microbiology.
  • Explain the multi-factorial nature of health and disease.
  • Demonstrate a broad knowledge and understanding of medical microbiology and general pathological processes.
  • Apply an understanding of the epidemiological aspects of disease, to issues such as immunisation, infection control and disease prevention.

Final examination

Assessment Type 1: Examination
Indicative Time on Task 2: 24 hours
Due: Official University Examination Period
Weighting: 40%

 

You will complete an end of semester written examination.

 


On successful completion you will be able to:
  • Demonstrate the appropriate use of terminology, within the disciplines of pathology and microbiology.
  • Explain the multi-factorial nature of health and disease.
  • Demonstrate a broad knowledge and understanding of medical microbiology and general pathological processes.
  • Apply an understanding of the epidemiological aspects of disease, to issues such as immunisation, infection control and disease prevention.

1 If you need help with your assignment, please contact:

  • the academic teaching staff in your unit for guidance in understanding or completing this type of assessment
  • the Writing Centre for academic skills support.

2 Indicative time-on-task is an estimate of the time required for completion of the assessment task and is subject to individual variation

Delivery and Resources

As a student enrolled in this unit, you will engage in a range of face-to-face (and online) learning activities, including lectures, tutorials and workshops. Details can be found on the iLearn site for this unit.

Recommended Readings

Understanding Pathophysiology by Judy Craft, Christopher Gordon & Adriana Tiziani; Mosby 2 Ed. 2014;ISBN 9780729541602.

Technology Used

Active participation in the learning activities throughout the unit will require students to have access to a tablet, laptop or similar device. Students who do not own their own laptop computer may borrow one from the university library.

Unit Schedule

Date

Lecture (Tuesday)

Pre-recorded lectures

Lecture (Thursday)

01WW G03 lecture theatre

Tutorial

Workshop

Important Dates

WK 1

28 JUL

Introduction to Microbiology

Concepts of Health, Disease & Illness; Terminology

No tutorial

Workshop Groups 1/1 and 1/4 

 

WK 2

04 AUG

Stressors and cell injury

Cell Structure: Prokaryotes & Eukaryotes; Principles of taxonomy

Concepts of health and disease & terminology

Workshop Groups 1/1 and 1/4 

 

WK 3

11 AUG

Biology of Medically important Bacteria: Growth, Nutrition, Virulence & Bacterial Genetics

Biology of Viruses 1 Bacteriophages

Stressors and Cell injury 1

Workshop Groups 1/1 and 1/4 

 

WK 4

18 AUG

Biology of Animal Viruses Microbes other than Bacteria & Viruses

Controlling the growth of Microbes in: Environment, Food and in Infections

Stressors and Cell injury 2 Characteristics of micro-organisms 1

Workshop Groups 1/2 and 1/5 

 

 

AT2 Lab Report due August 22 (Workshop 1/1 and 1/4)

22/08 Census date

WK 5

25 AUG

Host defence mechanisms

Inflammation

Characteristics of micro-organisms 2

Workshop Groups 1/2 and 1/5 

 

 

WK 6

01 SEPT

Specific Defence Mechanisms (aka ‘The 3rd level of defence’)

Immunological disorders:  an overview

Host defence mechanisms - non-specific defences

Workshop Groups 1/2 and 1/5 

 

 

WK 7

08 SEPT

A selection of immunological disorders

The host-microbe interaction

The inflammatory response and tissue repair

Workshop Groups 1/3 and 1/6

AT2 Lab Report due September 12 (Workshop 1/2 and 1/5)

WK 8

15 SEPT

Immunisation

Haemodynamic Disturbances 1

Immunity and Immunopathology

Workshop Groups 1/3 and 1/6

AT1Video Presentation due September 19, 11:55pm

22/09-03/10 MID-SEMESTER BREAK

28/09 Last day to withdraw without academic penalty

WK 9

06 OCT

Haemodynamic Disturbances 2  

Haemodynamic Disturbances 3

Interaction between micro-organisms and the host

Workshop Groups 1/3 and 1/6

 

WK 10

13 OCT

Haemodynamic disturbances 4  

Role of bacteria in Biotechnology, applications in medical microbiology

Haemodynamic disturbances 1

Workshop Group 1/7

AT2 Lab Report due October 17 (Workshop 1/3 and 1/6)

WK 11

20 OCT

Principles of Epidemiology and Infection Control

Neoplasia

Haemodynamic disturbances 2

Workshop Group 1/7

 

WK 12

27 OCT

Mind-body connection, PNI and mental illness

No lecture

Neoplasia

Workshop Group 1/7

 

WK 13

03 NOV

No lecture

No lecture

Psychoneuro-immunology/ Revision

 

AT2 Lab Report due November 07 (Workshop 1/7)

Policies and Procedures

Macquarie University policies and procedures are accessible from Policy Central (https://policies.mq.edu.au). Students should be aware of the following policies in particular with regard to Learning and Teaching:

Students seeking more policy resources can visit Student Policies (https://students.mq.edu.au/support/study/policies). It is your one-stop-shop for the key policies you need to know about throughout your undergraduate student journey.

To find other policies relating to Teaching and Learning, visit Policy Central (https://policies.mq.edu.au) and use the search tool.

Student Code of Conduct

Macquarie University students have a responsibility to be familiar with the Student Code of Conduct: https://students.mq.edu.au/admin/other-resources/student-conduct

Results

Results published on platform other than eStudent, (eg. iLearn, Coursera etc.) or released directly by your Unit Convenor, are not confirmed as they are subject to final approval by the University. Once approved, final results will be sent to your student email address and will be made available in eStudent. For more information visit connect.mq.edu.au or if you are a Global MBA student contact globalmba.support@mq.edu.au

Academic Integrity

At Macquarie, we believe academic integrity – honesty, respect, trust, responsibility, fairness and courage – is at the core of learning, teaching and research. We recognise that meeting the expectations required to complete your assessments can be challenging. So, we offer you a range of resources and services to help you reach your potential, including free online writing and maths support, academic skills development and wellbeing consultations.

Student Support

Macquarie University provides a range of support services for students. For details, visit http://students.mq.edu.au/support/

Academic Success

Academic Success provides resources to develop your English language proficiency, academic writing, and communication skills.

The Library provides online and face to face support to help you find and use relevant information resources. 

Student Services and Support

Macquarie University offers a range of Student Support Services including:

Student Enquiries

Got a question? Ask us via the Service Connect Portal, or contact Service Connect.

IT Help

For help with University computer systems and technology, visit http://www.mq.edu.au/about_us/offices_and_units/information_technology/help/

When using the University's IT, you must adhere to the Acceptable Use of IT Resources Policy. The policy applies to all who connect to the MQ network including students.

Changes from Previous Offering

To align with the Univeristy assessment policy, the assessments in this unit have changed. This unit previously had online quizzes, practical lab test and a final exam. The online quizzes and the practical lab quiz have been replaced by a presentation (AT1) and lab report (AT2), the final exam remains.

The online weekly quizzes have now been made formative, allowing students the opportunity to continuously test their knowledge throughout the semester.

Inclusion and Diversity

Social inclusion at Macquarie University is about giving everyone who has the potential to benefit from higher education the opportunity to study at university, participate in campus life and flourish in their chosen field. The University has made significant moves to promote an equitable, diverse and exciting campus community for the benefit of staff and students. It is your responsibility to contribute towards the development of an inclusive culture and practice in the areas of learning and teaching, research, and service orientation and delivery. As a member of the Macquarie University community, you must not discriminate against or harass others based on their sex, gender, race, marital status, carers' responsibilities, disability, sexual orientation, age, political conviction or religious belief. All staff and students are expected to display appropriate behaviour that is conducive to a healthy learning environment for everyone.

Professionalism

In the Faculty of Medicine, Health and Human Sciences, professionalism is a key capability embedded in all our courses.

As part of developing professionalism, students are expected to attend all small group interactive sessions including clinical, practical, laboratory, work-integrated learning (e.g., PACE placements), and team-based learning activities. Some learning activities are recorded (e.g., face-to-face lectures), however you are encouraged to avoid relying upon such material as they do not recreate the whole learning experience and technical issues can and do occur. As an adult learner, we respect your decision to choose how you engage with your learning, but we would remind you that the learning opportunities we create for you have been done so to enable your success, and that by not engaging you may impact your ability to successfully complete this unit. We equally expect that you show respect for the academic staff who have worked hard to develop meaningful activities and prioritise your learning by communicating with them in advance if you are unable to attend a small group interactive session.

Another dimension of professionalism is having respect for your peers. It is the right of every student to learn in an environment that is free of disruption and distraction. Please arrive to all learning activities on time, and if you are unavoidably detained, please join activity as quietly as possible to minimise disruption. Phones and other electronic devices that produce noise and other distractions must be turned off prior to entering class. Where your own device (e.g., laptop) is being used for class-related activities, you are asked to close down all other applications to avoid distraction to you and others. Please treat your fellow students with the utmost respect. If you are uncomfortable participating in any specific activity, please let the relevant academic know.


Unit information based on version 2025.04 of the Handbook