MEDSCI 312 : Neuroendocrinology of Growth and Metabolism

Medical and Health Sciences

2021 Semester Two (1215) (15 POINTS)

Course Prescription

An introduction to the mechanism controlling the production of hormones and how these achieve their effects in regulating body function. The course focuses in particular on the hormone systems controlling growth and metabolism and contrasts the differences between fetal and adult life. It also highlights how defects in endocrine systems are associated with conditions such as obesity and diabetes.

Course Overview

Medsci 312 contains three distinct modules, which complement each other in terms of content as well as integration.
Module A: Principles of Endocrine System
Module B: Growth and Development
Module C: Clinical Endocrinology


Course Requirements

Prerequisite: 30 points from BIOSCI 203, MEDSCI 201, 205

Course Contacts

  1. Course Director
    A/P Kathy Mountjoy
    k.mountjoy@auckland.ac.nz
    extn: 86447

  2. Course Coordinator
    Anuj Bhargava
    a.bhargava@auckland.ac.nz
    extn: 86200

Capabilities Developed in this Course

Capability 1: Disciplinary Knowledge and Practice
Capability 2: Critical Thinking
Capability 3: Solution Seeking
Capability 4: Communication and Engagement
Capability 5: Independence and Integrity
Capability 6: Social and Environmental Responsibilities
Graduate Profile: Bachelor of Science

Learning Outcomes

By the end of this course, students will be able to:
  1. Demonstrate an understanding of the function of the major organs in neuroendocrine homeostasis. (Capability 1 and 2)
  2. Critically evaluate how endocrine function of the human body is essential for development and good health to develop an appreciation for the outcomes when this goes wrong. (Capability 1, 2 and 3)
  3. Integrate information from laboratories and lectures into a cohesive, clear understanding of fat production, metabolism, and variables which alter this. (Capability 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5)
  4. Analyse and evaluate data in laboratories to produce meaningful conclusions and challenge scientific ideas. (Capability 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 and 6)

Assessments

Assessment Type Percentage Classification
Laboratories 28% Group & Individual Coursework
Quizzes 4% Individual Coursework
Test 30% Individual Test
Final Exam 38% Individual Examination
Assessment Type Learning Outcome Addressed
1 2 3 4
Laboratories
Quizzes
Test
Final Exam

Workload Expectations

This course is a standard 15 point course and students are expected to spend 10 hours per week involved in each 15 point course that they are enrolled in.

For this course, you can expect 2 hours of lectures, a 3 hour lab session, 3 hours of reading and thinking about the content and based on previous students feedback, about 10+ hours of work on assignments and/or test preparation.

"In any paper that includes practical work as well as written work, a student must obtain passes in both the practical and written work in order to pass that paper as a whole."

To pass Medsci 312 course, you are required to pass both the final exam and the internal assessments. This means:

(i) Final exam: you need to obtain at least 19% out of 38%.

Internal Assessments: you need to obtain at least 31% out of 62% (made up of 32% practical lab activities and 30% module tests).

Specifically, you need to:

(ii) Attend and actively participate in the laboratory practical sessions.

(iii) Submit all the FOUR assessments (as above).

(iv) Receive a minimum mark of 16% out of 32% in the laboratory course component.


Delivery Mode

Campus Experience

Attendance is required at scheduled activities including labs/tutorials to complete and receive credit for components of the course.

Learning activities including lectures/seminars/tutorials/labs might be available as recordings.

The course will include live online events including group discussions/tutorials.

Attendance on campus for term tests and final exam is required.

The activities for the course are scheduled as a standard weekly timetable. 


Learning Resources

For each lecture we have provided specific course objectives to help focus your study. We have a recommended text to assist in revision of basic cardiovascular physiology. If this text does not work for you, the library holds many more that may better suit. The more detailed knowledge required for the course will be found in specialist literature: books, reviews and original scientific papers. A list of starter references are provided for each lecture or module, but students are expected to read more widely. 

Resources
  1. Integrated Endocrinology Author(s): John Laycock Karim Meeran
    First published:23 October 2012
    Print ISBN:9780470688137 |Online ISBN:9781118450642 |DOI:10.1002/9781118450642
    Copyright © 2013 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd
  2. Essential Endocrinology and Diabetes
    Richard I. G. Holt and Neil A. Hanley

Student Feedback

At the end of every semester students will be invited to give feedback on the course and teaching through a tool called SET or Qualtrics. The lecturers and course co-ordinators will consider all feedback and respond with summaries and actions.

Your feedback helps teachers to improve the course and its delivery for future students.

Class Representatives in each class can take feedback to the department and faculty staff-student consultative committees.

Digital Resources

Course materials are made available in a learning and collaboration tool called Canvas which also includes reading lists and lecture recordings (where available).

Please remember that the recording of any class on a personal device requires the permission of the instructor.

Course materials are made available in a learning and collaboration tool called Canvas which also includes reading lists and lecture recordings (where available).

Please remember that the recording of any class on a personal device requires the permission of the instructor.

From this website: “Students should be aware that the course materials, and content and delivery of lectures in each course, are protected by copyright. Course materials have been copied either under the Education provisions of the Copyright Act 1994 or one of the Copyright licences the University has entered into. Recording of lectures is at the discretion of the lecturer. Lecturers own copyright in the lectures, materials they have created which supplement the course, and their power point presentations.

You must not copy, alter, distribute (for example on a social media site such as Facebook) or sell to any other person any part of these course materials or lectures. Failure to comply with the terms of this warning may expose you to legal action for copyright infringement by the copyright owner, and disciplinary action by the University.”

Lecture slides on CANVAS: it is the policy of the Department of Physiology not to automatically provide lecture powerpoints on Canvas. Lecturers may choose to do so, but this is at their discretion. They will either be put up prior to the lecture or just after the session

NO CELLPHONES ARE ALLOWED IN THE LABORATORY SESSIONS

Academic Integrity

The University of Auckland will not tolerate cheating, or assisting others to cheat, and views cheating in coursework as a serious academic offence. The work that a student submits for grading must be the student's own work, reflecting their learning. Where work from other sources is used, it must be properly acknowledged and referenced. This requirement also applies to sources on the internet. A student's assessed work may be reviewed against online source material using computerised detection mechanisms.

Further information can be obtained from: http://www.auckland.ac.nz/teachingandlearning/ (Students - Plagiarism and Cheating section).
If you are under pressure or stressed by deadlines, discuss this with the Course co-ordinators. We are here to help you.

Inclusive Learning

All students are asked to discuss any impairment related requirements privately, face to face and/or in written form with the course coordinator, lecturer or tutor.

Student Disability Services also provides support for students with a wide range of impairments, both visible and invisible, to succeed and excel at the University. For more information and contact details, please visit the Student Disability Services’ website http://disability.auckland.ac.nz

Special Circumstances

If your ability to complete assessed coursework is affected by illness or other personal circumstances outside of your control, contact a member of teaching staff as soon as possible before the assessment is due.

If your personal circumstances significantly affect your performance, or preparation, for an exam or eligible written test, refer to the University’s aegrotat or compassionate consideration page https://www.auckland.ac.nz/en/students/academic-information/exams-and-final-results/during-exams/aegrotat-and-compassionate-consideration.html.

This should be done as soon as possible and no later than seven days after the affected test or exam date.

Learning Continuity

In the event of an unexpected disruption we undertake to maintain the continuity and standard of teaching and learning in all your courses throughout the year. If there are unexpected disruptions the University has contingency plans to ensure that access to your course continues and your assessment is fair, and not compromised. Some adjustments may need to be made in emergencies. You will be kept fully informed by your course co-ordinator, and if disruption occurs you should refer to the University Website for information about how to proceed.

Student Charter and Responsibilities

The Student Charter assumes and acknowledges that students are active participants in the learning process and that they have responsibilities to the institution and the international community of scholars. The University expects that students will act at all times in a way that demonstrates respect for the rights of other students and staff so that the learning environment is both safe and productive. For further information visit Student Charter https://www.auckland.ac.nz/en/students/forms-policies-and-guidelines/student-policies-and-guidelines/student-charter.html.

Disclaimer

Elements of this outline may be subject to change. The latest information about the course will be available for enrolled students in Canvas.

In this course you may be asked to submit your coursework assessments digitally. The University reserves the right to conduct scheduled tests and examinations for this course online or through the use of computers or other electronic devices. Where tests or examinations are conducted online remote invigilation arrangements may be used. The final decision on the completion mode for a test or examination, and remote invigilation arrangements where applicable, will be advised to students at least 10 days prior to the scheduled date of the assessment, or in the case of an examination when the examination timetable is published.

Published on 09/09/2021 08:45 a.m.