Course at a glance
Introduction
The following unit descriptors are brief content guides to the course components and should provide a holistic overview of structure and format.
Assessment Objectives (AO)
AO: 1
Students must select and demonstrate clearly relevant knowledge and understanding through the use of evidence, examples and correct language and terminology appropriate to the course of study. This assessment, involves two written assignments: one halfway through the course and following the final unit. Both are assessed and graded by the assigned tutor, according to college procedures. The grading procedure if Pass or Fail. If you Fail an assessment you have the opportunity to amend where your tutor has highlighted and resubmit.
AO: 2
Students must critically evaluate and justify a point of view through the use of evidence and reasoned argument. Students can include evidence in different formats to support their written work such as documentation or images to support their course remembering Confidentiality and Data Protection.
Quality of Written Communication (QWC)
In addition, COLC require students’ to produce written material in English, candidates must: ensure that text is legible and that spelling, punctuation and grammar (SPG) are accurate so that meaning is clear; select and use a form and style of writing appropriate to studying a complex subject matter; organise information clearly and coherently, using specialist vocabulary when appropriate and Harvard referencing of citation and sources. In this Specification, SPG will be assessed in all tutor marked assignments (TMAs)
To ensure that we maintain quality standards; all our students written assignments are subject to our plagiarism policy and procedure.
Accredited Level 3 Clinical Science Diploma Entry Requirement
Entry to this Accredited Level 3 Clinical Science Diploma requires that potential students have gained GCSE/IGCSE or equivalent qualifications and have, good English oral, reading and writing skills.
Advice on enrolment and guidance of prior learning (APL) can be obtained through out contact centre. The course is a rolling programme and can be started at any point in the year. Successful students can go on to Higher Education, including remaining as students at COLC to complete courses in our portfolio of higher awards.
All students must be aged 16 or over.
Assessment
The coursework is assessed through continuous assessment with no formal exit examinations.
Study Hours
Approximately: 200 hours of personal study time for the entire course is recommended. All of which is supported by the COLC Course Tutor, who we greatly encourage students to access support from throughout their course.
Quality Assurance
This course has been developed by the College’s professional team of tutors to meet the needs of sector based employers and employees.
Further details of our accreditations are provided on our website.
Course Length
1 Year.
Awarding Body
Course Content
Accredited Level 3 Clinical Science Diploma Unit 1: Cardiovascular and circulatory systems
One of the key organs in the body that transports food and oxygen, removes wastes, maintains and regulates the internal environment via Homeostasis is the cardiovascular and circulatory system. A detailed look at the anatomy and physiology of this system, the heart and blood, is carried out and additionally, examples of common conditions and disorders such as; cardiovascular disease, leukaemia, anaemia, and other relevant conditions are given. The unit will contain detailed images and diagrams to aid learning.
Accredited Level 3 Clinical Science Diploma Unit 2: Respiratory system
This unit looks at the anatomy and physiology of the respiratory system and how humans respire – the mechanism about the way we breathe and exchange gases from the nose and mouth to the lungs, to be transported by the blood to every part of the body. Examples of common conditions and disorders such as carcinoma, tuberculosis, pleurisy, asthma, smoking and other relevant conditions, including detailed diagrams, comprehensive symptom description and treatment indications will be described in detail.
Accredited Level 3 Clinical Science Diploma Unit 3: Nervous and musculoskeletal systems
Something simple like blinking our eyes when we are awake or walking from bed as we get up require a complex set of movement and instruction from our brain and the Central Nervous system, CNS. This third unit looks at the anatomy and physiology of the nervous and musculoskeletal systems, how our body is held up and protected and also how messages are passed around the nerves and synapses in the human body. First how bones are made and form a complex skeleton attached to various muscle groups using tendons and ligaments is studied. The more common conditions and disorders such as breaks and traumas, tumours, Alzheimer’s, arthritis, osteoporosis, and other relevant conditions, and possible treatment is investigated in depth.
Accredited Level 3 Clinical Science Diploma Unit 4: Gastrointestinal and endocrine systems
This section gives students the opportunity to explore the anatomy and physiology of the gastrointestinal and endocrine systems through detailed diagrams and comprehensive descriptions to explain what happens to the food we ingest, digestion and the waste that results. The role of enzymes and hormones is discussed, as well as examples of common conditions and disorders such as carcinoma, absorption, gastric ulceration, diabetes, Cirrhosis and glandular problems, and other relevant conditions with treatment their indications.
Accredited Level 3 Clinical Science Diploma Unit 5: Skin, reproductive and urinary systems, and special senses
This unit looks at the anatomy and physiology of the skin, genetic reproductive and urinary systems. Detailed look at hair and nails, as well as the role of the skin as a protective and sense organ is carried out. How humans reproduce and have adapted to their environment follows, with a general look at the Kidney in filtration and production of urine. In addition examples of common conditions and disorders such as carcinoma, eczema, psoriasis, infertility, endometriosis, prostate problems, kidney disorders, and other relevant conditions are studied.
Accredited Level 3 Clinical Science Diploma Unit 6: Clinical pathology
In this unit the focus is on the normal pathology or what makes the body ill or sick, which disease are the cause and how can it be attacked. Our body can be resilient; we can build resistance and immunity so how this is possible is investigated through microbiology. Detailed cellular composition, how our cells regenerate, where the energy comes from and how pathogens impact the body at its basic level is explored with particular emphasis on common diseases as well as recent epidemics such as with the Ebola and HIV-Aids virus.
Accredited Level 3 Clinical Science Diploma Unit 7: Clinical pharmacology
A key to fighting pathogens was through the development of chemicals to counter-attack them. Initially humans used plants and commonly found substances like salt and spices. The classification and grouping of drugs, and how drugs work and are administered is explored. Drug addiction and the processes behind this are also considered. Specific examples of drugs will be given, together with the correlating diseases they are used to treat; for example students will look at antibiotics, analgesics, chemotherapy and, e.g. the use of beta-blockers in treating hypertension and heart disease.
Accredited Level 3 Clinical Science Diploma Unit 8: Clinical immunology and epidemiology
The immune system is a collection of cells and chemicals that protect the body against harmful micro-organisms. The basic structure and function of immunology, what it means in terms of disease, and prevention such as vaccination and inoculation, and also when we are immune-deficient is studied in depth. The way in which vaccines are made, the history of their development and how immunology is linked to epidemiology and predicting disease in the population will be covered.
Accredited Level 3 Clinical Science Diploma Unit 9: Nutrition and psychology
Nutrition is an important part of health, growth and wellbeing as it maintains and is maintained by homeostasis. We look at different food groups, the body’s requirements and the way in which food is used by the body to provide energy that runs the body systems, and to keep us well. Eating disorders, malnutrition and the psychological aspects of diet, exercise, relaxation, health and disease are explored.
Accredited Level 3 Clinical Science Diploma Unit 10: Clinical examination and diagnostic procedures
Skills are needed in effectively examining and treating a patient. A balance of professionalism is required alongside empathy and good communication. Knowledge of the systematic examination, both specifically and generally are addressed. This final unit looks at some of the diagnostic procedures such as X-ray, blood tests, MRI scanning, ECG, and other significant and commonly used tests. Within this topic, specific examples where these tests are used such as for screening purposes are looked at. Some information is given in detail whilst other topics are covered briefly and can be researched further depending on interest and needs of the learner.
Progression
This Accredited Level 3 Clinical Science Diploma can be used to gain entry to a Level 4+5 Diploma or higher.
You can view a lit of our Level 4+5 Diplomas here: Accredited level 4+5 Diplomas
