Course structure

What you will study

The aim is to provide foundation knowledge via hybrid delivery of the course. Applicants will expand their core knowledge of viruses aiming to underpin the many applications utilised in the life sciences sector. A blended learning approach utilising a wide range of teaching methods including lectures, review and revision sessions will be employed within the modules.

Lecture material will introduce the key theoretical concepts and principles, with the GCU virtual learning environment providing a dedicated resource to encourage further student engagement through additional reading with materials provided by module tutors, including web links, supplementary videos and published scientific articles and reviews. In addition, data interpretation and analysis sessions will be an integral part of the module curriculum and students will be encouraged to critically interpret data reported in scientific publications.

Modules are accredited and subject to assessment. Successful completion of each module will generate portable academic credits. Portable academic credit may be used at a later stage towards a structured academic award.

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Module 1: Viruses: the Good the Bad and the Useful (10 credits at SCQF 9)

This module aims to be an introduction to Viruses, where they come from, how they affect health and how they can be exploited in order to create therapies and vaccines. A brief history of the study of viruses and evolution of the field of virology will be given following on with more detailed discussion on infections and immunity in the host. We will then address the good and useful aspects of viruses and what they can do to improve health. Assessment is carried out using 4 activities that contribute to the overall mark.

Module 2: Concepts in Virology (20 credits at SCQF 10)
Clinical presentation, transmission, diagnosis, treatment, prevention and epidemiology of relevant viral infections will be covered. In particular, the knowledge base will include detail of infections with viruses and detail on their epidemiology, transmission and clinical disorder provided. The development of viral diagnostics over the last 20 years will be discussed and what the aim is for clinical and laboratory diagnostics. Outbreak investigation and control will be discussed alongside the requirements at national and global level.

Module 3: Viral Biotechnology (20 credits at SCQF 10)
This module examines the current understanding of the molecular mechanisms employed by viral pathogens of humans in establishing infectious diseases and will focus on an in-depth appreciation of the molecular cell biology of the host-pathogen relationship and therapeutic strategies. Students should gain an appreciation of the application of molecular microbiology to aspects of infectious agents including mode of action and clinical consequences of intracellular antiviral mechanisms employed by eukaryotic cells and potential novel drug targets. The application exploitation of viral mechanisms of infection to generate viral of viral and non-viral vectors to transfer and express genetic information will also be covered, in addition to clinical applications of these technologies and the adverse events that can occur.

NB: Both Module 2 and 3 build on the content of Module 1. It is recommended that Module 2 is taken prior to Module 3. All assessments ae online and built into the module stricture and are not required out with the period if study.