Flexible Bachelor: a new curriculum in Groningen

Paul van Hutten Jan Piet Franke 17 December 2004

Life Sciences

Objectives: Basic knowledge, comprehension and skills Orientation on majors Motivation Selection

1st semester: common programme for all Life Sciences students

Flexible Bachelor Life Sciences

specialized minor
30 EC

7 majors:

biomedical engineering
free
pharmaceutical sciences medical biology behavioural & neurosciences molecular biology & biotechnology ecology, evolution & marine biology biology

Major

minor
30 EC

120 EC

Common 1st semester

Bachelor pharmacy

1st year, 1st semester Common to all major programmes 30 EC

Theme 1: from Big Bang to cell Evolution & genetics Biochemistry Cell biology Theme 2: complex systems Diversity & behaviour (Patho)physiology & pharmacology Diseases

Genesis and evolution of life: increasing complexity

Schematic course programme majors minors

Semester

1
Common courses 30 EC

2
Major 30 EC

3
Major 30 EC

4+5
Major courses (incl. electives) 30 EC

6
Special. minor 30 EC

Free minor 30 EC

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compulsory subjects

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electives

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Majors, 2nd semester (3rd quarter)

Major Theme Technology for Heart Failure Pharmaceutical Equilibria Hypertension Visible Cell Conservation x x x x x x BME EEMB PS MB BN MBB

Technology for Heart Failure Anatomy / physiology Mathematics Engineering design Anatomy and (patho)physiology (heart and blood circulation) Integral calculus; differential equations; Example: fluid mechanics Design theory; Project: design of a heart support pump

Educational goals:
(through tutorials, practical courses, projects)

learning how to learn stimulation of deep learning integration of knowledge from diverse disciplines assimilation & application of knowledge approaching and solving a (complex) problem experimentation skills communication skills Testing! Portfolio

Flexible bachelor Life Sciences

Activating and motivating education 1st year: education around themes (problem-centred) 3 semesters of compulsory subjects; electives in major Academic skills learning tracks / achievement levels

1st semester common to all major programmes

Genesis and evolution of life: increasing complexity Properties of chemical elements and compounds Role of life in the evolution of the atmosphere Genesis of prokaryotes Genesis of eukaryotes Origin and function of multicellularity Neural systems Interactions between organisms Diversification of body plans Interactions between organism and environment From animal behaviour to human behaviour

increasing complexity

Majors, 2nd semester

Biomedical engineering Anatomy / Physiology Engineering design I Histology / pathophysiology Physics / Imaging

Mathematics / Statistics

Molecules & reactivity

Ecology, evolution & marine biology General ecology I General ecology II

Diversity
Mathematics / Statistics

Genetics (& evolution)

Molecules & reactivity

Pharmaceutical sciences Anatomy / Physiology Gen. & analytical chemistry I Gen. & analytical chemistry II Pharmacy & society

Mathematics / Statistics

Molecules & reactivity

Majors, 2nd semester

Behavioural & neurosciences Anatomy / Physiology Receptor pharmacology Physics / Imaging Neurobiology

Mathematics / Statistics

Molecules & reactivity

Medical biology Anatomy / Physiology Pathophysiology

Receptor pharmacology
Mathematics / Statistics

Research project
Molecules & reactivity

Molecular biology & biotechnology Cell biology Spectroscopy Mathematics / Statistics Genetics Lab course chemistry Molecules & reactivity

Schedule
3 years = 6 semesters = 12 quarters

1 quarter = 10 weeks = 15 EC
5 EC 5 EC 5 EC

3 subjects in one quarter: 2 consecutively and 1 in parallel