Unit Outline

This unit develops the pathological processes that underlie various human diseases. You will recognise common pathological conditions. In addition, histopathological methods and microscopic recognition are used to demonstrate bacterial and fungal infections, amyloidosis, pigments andneoplasia. Immunohistochemistry will be studied theoretically and practically to inform disease processes and diagnosis. This unit is co-taught with a related unit to students in the Bachelor of Laboratory Medicine, and although you will be provided with similar knowledge and laboratory skills as these students, you will also undertake additional learning activities and assessment. This is necessary for you to develop and demonstrate the higher level investigatory and communication skills to satisfy the Australian Qualification Framework level 9 requirements of a Master’s degree.

Intended Learning Outcomes

As per the Assessment and Results Policy 1.3, your results will reflect your achievement against specified learning outcomes.

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


1.	Explain the principles and processes of common human pathological states.
2.	Compare the process of diagnosis of a variety of diseases by drawing appropriate conclusions from clinical and pathological data.
3.	Communicate in a systematic way, both orally and in writing, using correct, discipline specific terminology related to histopathology.
4.	Demonstrate a theoretical and practical understanding of the histochemical and immunohistochemical staining techniques used in the diagnosis of common diseases
5.	Differentiate normal and diseased tissue by identifying microscopically altered cell structures and staining in benign and malignant disease.
6.	Recognize variations in microscopic structures that fall within the normal range compared to abnormal tissue.

Requisites


REQUISITE TYPE	REQUISITES
Pre-requisite	CXA625 Histology

Alterations as a result of student feedback

How will I be Assessed?

For more detailed assessment information please see MyLO.

Assessment schedule


ASSESSMENT TASK #	ASSESSMENT TASK NAME	DATE DUE	WEIGHT	LINKS TO INTENDED LEARNING OUTCOMES
Assessment Task 1:	Practical report	Refer to Assessment Description	25 %	LO1, LO2, LO3, LO4, LO5, LO6
Assessment Task 2:	Practical Exam	Exam Period	35 %	LO1, LO3, LO4, LO5
Assessment Task 3:	Examination	Exam Period	40 %	LO1, LO2, LO3, LO4

Assessment details

Assessment Task 1: Practical report

Task Description:

Practical report.
You will be required to submit an 800 word abstract for a laboratory report. This report will be based on work performed in laboratory sessions.
For more information please see the guidelines on MyLO

Task Length:

800 words

Due Date:

Refer to Assessment Description

Weight:

25 %

CRITERION #

CRITERION

MEASURES INTENDED

LEARNING OUTCOME(S)


1	Explain the principle and purpose of immunohistochemistry within the context of clinical histopathology.	LO3, LO4
2	Justify the stain used in the laboratory session with reference to the clinical significance of the stain	LO2, LO3, LO4, LO5, LO6
3	Discuss the results obtained within the laboratory session to explain the basis of disease and extrapolate this to clinical indications.	LO1, LO2, LO3, LO4, LO5, LO6
4	Comply with the format for an abstract according to specified histology journal guidelines.	LO3

Assessment Task 2: Practical Exam

Task Description:

This is a closed-book exam (no materials permitted) comprising the microscopic examination of tissue sections and associated questions covering practical material from the entire unit.
Further details will be released at the end of semester by teaching staff. . This is a hurdle task and students must pass this task to pass the unit overall.
You may take one A4 double sided or two A4 single sided pages of typed notes into the exam.

Task Length:

3 hours

Due Date:

Exam Period

Weight:

35 %

CRITERION #

CRITERION

MEASURES INTENDED

LEARNING OUTCOME(S)


1	Explain the principles and processes of common human pathological states	LO1
2	Differentiate abnormal tissue from variations in the normal range at a microscopic level to identify disease.	LO3, LO5
3	Communicate by completing drawings and using discipline specific terminology	LO3
4	Demonstrate a practical understanding of the histochemical and immunohistochemical staining techniques used in the diagnosis of common diseases	LO4

Assessment Task 3: Examination

Task Description:

This is a closed book paper-based exam, where you will be required to demonstrate your individual ability to communicate and apply theoretical and practical knowledge. You may take one A4 double sided or two A4 single sided pages of typed notes into the exam.

Task Length:

2 hours

Due Date:

Exam Period

Weight:

40 %

CRITERION #

CRITERION

MEASURES INTENDED

LEARNING OUTCOME(S)


1	Explain the pathogenesis of disease states states.	LO1, LO3
2	Compare the process of diagnosis of a variety of diseases by drawing appropriate conclusions from clinical and pathological data.	LO2
3	Demonstrate a theoretical understanding of the histochemical and immunohistochemical staining techniques used in the diagnosis of common diseases	LO4
4	Communicate using correct, discipline specific terminology	LO3

How your final result is determined

To pass this unit, you need to demonstrate your attainment of each of the Intended Learning Outcomes, achieve a final unit grade of 50% or greater, and pass any hurdle tasks.

Submission of assignments

Where practicable, assignments should be submitted to an assignment submission folder in MYLO. You must submit assignments by the due date or receive a penalty (unless an extension of time has been approved by the Unit Coordinator). Students submitting any assignment in hard copy, or because of a practicum finalisation, must attach a student cover sheet and signed declaration for the submission to be accepted for marking.

Academic integrity

Academic integrity is about acting responsibly, honestly, ethically, and collegially when using, producing, and communicating information with other students and staff members.

In written work, you must correctly reference the work of others to maintain academic integrity. To find out the referencing style for this unit, see the assessment information in the MyLO site, or contact your teaching staff. For more detail about Academic Integrity, see Important Guidelines & Support.

Requests for extensions

If you are unable to submit an assessment task by the due date, you should apply for an extension.

A request for an extension should first be discussed with your Unit Coordinator or teaching support team where possible. A request for an extension must be submitted by the assessment due date, except where you can provide evidence it was not possible to do so. Typically, an application for an extension will be supported by documentary evidence: however, where it is not possible for you to provide evidence please contact your Unit Coordinator.

The Unit Coordinator must notify you of the outcome of an extension request within 3 working days of receiving the request.

Late penalties

Assignments submitted after the deadline will receive a late penalty of 5% of the original available mark for each calendar day (or part day) that the assignment is late. Late submissions will not be accepted more than 10 calendar days after the due date, or after assignments have been returned to other students on a scheduled date, whichever occurs first. Further information on Late Penalties can be found on the Assessments and Results Procedure.

Review of results and appeals

You are entitled to ask for a review of the marking and grading of your assessment task if there is an irregularity in the marking standards or an error in the process for determining the outcome of an assessment. Details on how to request a review of a mark for an assignment are outlined in the Review and Appeal of Academic Decisions Procedure.

Required Resources

Required reading materials

Wheater’s Basic Pathology (A Text, Atlas and Review of Histopathology), Barbara Young William Stewart and Geraldine O’Dowd, (Churchill Livingstone Elsevier). Edition Number: 6, Published: 9th May 2019.

Histopathology (Fundamentals of Biomedical Science), Guy Orchard and Brian Nation (Oxford University Press). Second Edition, Published: 2018.