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Study Physiology at Otago

• Overview
• Qualifications
• Papers
• Major Subject and Programme Requirements
• Minor Subject Requirements
• Further Information

Overview

In Physiology you study how animals function; how they move, digest, excrete, reproduce, circulate their blood, breathe and survive in different surroundings; and how their nervous systems detect, interpret and learn. At Otago there is particular emphasis on how the human body functions. The study of individual organs, their cells and membranes incorporates the related disciplines of Biochemistry, Biophysics and Molecular Biology.

Medical, dental, veterinary and agricultural sciences depend on a sound background in Physiology, as do the vocational training courses for Medicine, Dentistry, Physical Education, Physiotherapy, Medical Laboratory Science and Pharmacy.

The present explosion of advances in the health sciences in which Physiology plays a central unifying, integrative role, reflects the increasing excitement in the discovery of unsuspected new ideas and processes.

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Qualifications

• Bachelor of Science (BSc)
• Bachelor of Science with Honours (BSc(Hons))
• Diploma for Graduates (DipGrad)
• Postgraduate Diploma in Science (PGDipSci)
• Master of Science (MSc)

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Papers

See the full list of Physiology (PHSL) papers.

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Programme Requirements

Bachelor of Science (BSc) majoring in Physiology

Level	Papers	Points
100-level	HUBS 191 HUBS 192 Two of BIOC 192, CELS 191, CHEM 191, PHSI 191	18 18 36
200-level	PHSL 231 PHSL 232 PHSL 233	18 18 18
300-level	Four of PHSL 341, PHSL 342, PHSL 343, PHSL 344, PHSL 345	72
Plus	162 further points; must include 54 points at 200-level or above. Up to 90 points may be taken from outside Science	162
Total		360

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Bachelor of Science with Honours (BSc(Hons)) in Physiology

Stage	Papers	Points
1st stage	HUBS 191 HUBS 192 Three of BIOC 192, CELS 191, CHEM 191, PHSI 191 (all recommended) 36 further points	18 18 54 36
2nd stage	PHSL 231 PHSL 232 PHSL 233 One of BIOC 221, BIOC 222, BIOC 223, BIOC 230 (recommended) 36 further 200-level points 18 further points	18 18 18 18 36 18
3rd stage	PHSL 360 Four of PHSL 341, PHSL 342, PHSL 343, PHSL 344, PHSL 345 36 further points at 200-level or above (one of BIOC 221, BIOC 222, BIOC 223, BIOC 230 recommended if not already passed)	18 72   36
4th stage	PHSL 490 PHSL 471 PHSL 472 PHSL 473 PHSL 474	48 24 24 24 24
	There is no second stage Honours course in this subject; admission to the Honours programme is normally at third stage (after passing a total of 252 points, including at least 108 points above 100-level, in the first and second years of study).

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Postgraduate Diploma in Science (PGDipSci) in Physiology

Papers
PHSL 480 PHSL 471, PHSL 472, PHSL 473, PHSL 474
Note: With the approval of the Head of Department or Programme Director concerned, a 48 point dissertation or project may be substituted for any project of fewer points prescribed in the table above.

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Master of Science (MSc) in Physiology

Papers
PHSL 495, and PHSL 471, PHSL 472, PHSL 473, PHSL 474. PHSL 5 (thesis)

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Minor Subject Requirements

Physiology as a minor subject for a Bachelor of Arts (BA), Bachelor of Theology (BTheol), Bachelor of Science (BSc), Bachelor of Applied Science (BAppSc) or Bachelor of Commerce (BCom) degree

Level	Papers	Points
100-level	See Below
200-level	PHSL 231 PHSL 232 PHSL 233	18 18 18
300-level	Two of PHSL 341, PHSL 342, PHSL 343, PHSL 344, PHSL 345 Prerequisites for PHSL 231, PHSL 232, PHSL 233 include HUBS 191, HUBS 192, and two of BIOC 192, CELS 191, CHEM 191, PHSI 191	36
Total		90

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Further Information

Email us at physiology@otago.ac.nz or visit our home page http://www.otago.ac.nz/physiology