MEDSCI 734 : Advanced Cardiovascular Science

Medical and Health Sciences

2024 Semester Two (1245) (15 POINTS)

Course Prescription

Examines the current state of the field of research relating to cardiovascular physiology, including critical analysis of the literature. This course portrays how an integrative physiological approach can reveal new levels of understanding in the field of cardiovascular research. Examples of this approach will be drawn from research programmes within the broad area of cardiovascular biology.

Course Overview

The objective of the course is to provide an in-depth understanding of the current research in integrative cardiovascular physiology.  The course will be based on introductory lectures on each topic by leading researchers in the field, followed by student presentations of papers published in scientific journals. Modules include preserving brain blood flow in health and disease, neural cardiovascular control in exercise, cellular mechanisms of cardiac pathology and fetal cardiovascular physiology, as it relates to cerebral blood flow. 

Course Requirements

Prerequisite: 15 points from MEDSCI 309, 311, 312, 316, 317

Course Contacts

Course Director: Dr. Kim Mellor (k.mellor@auckland.ac.nz)
Course coordinator: Dr. Sally Rutherford (s.rutherford@auckland.ac.nz)

Capabilities Developed in this Course

Capability 1: People and Place
Capability 2: Sustainability
Capability 3: Knowledge and Practice
Capability 4: Critical Thinking
Capability 5: Solution Seeking
Capability 6: Communication
Capability 7: Collaboration
Capability 8: Ethics and Professionalism
Graduate Profile: Master of Science

Learning Outcomes

By the end of this course, students will be able to:
  1. Demonstrate a broad and in-depth understanding of cardiovascular physiology, and apply this advanced knowledge to real-world applications. (Capability 1, 3, 4 and 5)
  2. Apply knowledge of important disease mechanisms and identify new research questions (Capability 2, 3, 4 and 5)
  3. Develop and demonstrate advanced skills in sourcing research literature (Capability 4, 5 and 6)
  4. Develop and demonstrate advanced written and oral science communication skills (Capability 1, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7 and 8)
  5. Critically analyse the research literature in the relevant field (Capability 4, 5, 6 and 8)

Assessments

Assessment Type Percentage Classification
Presentation 15% Individual Coursework
Literature reviews (x3) 60% Individual Coursework
Test 20% Individual Test
Engagement 5% Individual Coursework
Assessment Type Learning Outcome Addressed
1 2 3 4 5
Presentation
Literature reviews (x3)
Test
Engagement
Submission of assignments
  • Extensions will only be considered in exceptional circumstances where evidence is provided (such as a medical/counsellor certificate), and the request is made within a reasonable timeframe, prior to the assignment due date.
  • Late submission of assignments without prior-approved extensions will be subject to an initial penalty of 10% of the available marks, with additional penalties of 10% every 24 hours. Assignments will not be accepted 7 days after the due date.
  • Submission of written work is only complete when an electronic copy has been submitted through the appropriate platform (i.e. Turnitin). Please retain your submission confirmation as evidence of timely submission.

Workload Expectations

This course is a standard 15 point course and students are expected to spend 150 hours total during the semester.

For this course, you can expect 10 hours of lectures, 10 hours of peer oral presentations, 40 hours reading and thinking about the content and 90 hours of work on literature reviews, oral presentation and test preparation.


Delivery Mode

Campus Experience

Attendance is expected at both lectures and presentations, and will be assessed as part of the engagement component of the overall course assessment.

Medsci 734 will not include live online teaching sessions. 

Attendance on campus is required for the test.

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

Technology permitting, lectures will be available as recordings up to 72 hours after the teaching session. These recordings are only intended as a supplementary resource (if needed), and not as a replacement for lecture attendance. Technical difficulties sometimes occur that may affect recording quality, or prevent/delay the release of recordings. 

Learning 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.

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.

Student feedback for 2023 highlighted the engaging nature of the course from the lecturers and student presentations. In response to comments from the 2023 student cohort, the learning objectives will be emphasised more clearly in the lectures.

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 for potential plagiarism or other forms of academic misconduct, using computerised detection mechanisms.

Class Representatives

Class representatives are students tasked with representing student issues to departments, faculties, and the wider university. If you have a complaint about this course, please contact your class rep who will know how to raise it in the right channels. See your departmental noticeboard for contact details for your class reps.

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 course assessment continues to meet the principles of the University’s assessment policy. Some adjustments may need to be made in emergencies. You will be kept fully informed by your course co-ordinator/director, and if disruption occurs you should refer to the university website for information about how to proceed.

The delivery mode may change depending on COVID restrictions. Any changes will be communicated through Canvas.

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 students may be asked to submit 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. In exceptional circumstances changes to elements of this course may be necessary at short notice. Students enrolled in this course will be informed of any such changes and the reasons for them, as soon as possible, through Canvas.