Study in Physiology is offered by the School of Medical Sciences, Faculty of Medicine and Health.
Physiology is the science of life. It is the branch of biology that aims to understand the mechanisms which enable living things, especially people, to function. It traverses the basis of cellular function through to the integrated behaviour of the whole person or animal, and how function is influenced by the external environment.
Human Physiology is fundamental to an understanding of the medical sciences. It connects molecular and cellular function through tissues, organs, and systems to ultimately understand whole-body function. It also encompasses common body dysfunction, enabling a broader understanding of both the normal and abnormal function of the human body. Molecular and cellular physiology investigates how the interactions of molecules (from genome to proteins and metabolism) enable specific functions. Systems, or integrative, physiology examines the local and distant actions of organs through neural and humoral communication, such as hormones, to sustain the life of an organism.
A major in Physiology provides students with a thorough understanding of how the body works. You will learn about normal body function and how we adapt to exercise and the environment, as well as the mechanisms associated with pathophysiology that leads to disease. This major is ideal for students seeking to understand the fundamental mechanisms underlying normal physiology and disease processes, and for those interested in identifying targets and strategies to treat disease. It therefore provides an essential foundation for anyone interested in pursuing careers in medicine, dentistry, allied health, biomedical engineering or medical research.
As a physiology major you will first explore the normal functioning and integration of the human body from cells to systems. You will explore the functioning of the brain, circulatory and respiratory systems and how they interact to keep you alive, as well as how as life is transferred to the next generation via reproduction and other vital systems. You will perform experiments that will enhance your understanding of these systems, bringing physiology, literally, to life. Later in your studies you will delve in more detail into what happens when body systems fail and learn about approaches scientists are taking to drive repair following disease or injury.
You will also gain a range of transferable skills, including data analysis, interpretation and communication, project planning, group work, and critical thinking. Because physiology focuses on the complex, multi-layered interactions within cells, organs, and the whole body, and on environmental influences, it equips students with big-picture problem-solving abilities and strong analytical skills.
Graduates with expertise in physiology and related skills are equipped to pursue a wide range of careers. For instance, their knowledge of physiology can be directly applied not only to careers in medicine, allied health, research and biomedical engineering but also to public health, data science and other fields. The large range of transferable skills developed, such as critical thinking, data analysis, clear oral and written communication and problem-solving, which are developed by students graduating with a Physiology major are in demand at a large variety of workplaces, including education, health, biotech companies and the public service.
Requirements for the major and minor in Physiology are listed in the .
Honours in Physiology may be undertaken in certain appended honours degrees. Admission requirements and unit of study information can be found on the Physiology – Honours unit of study table. Read how to apply for honours as a current student.
Honours in physiology is available via an appended Honours. Students will be part of world leading medical research within the School of Medical Sciences. The one-year program includes a 36-credit point research project giving students access to the latest biomedical technologies, whilst two 6-credit point coursework units will aid in the development of fundamental research and communication skills. For more information about Honours in the School of Medical Sciences, please visit our website.
| Website | Sydney Pharmacy School |
|---|---|
| General enquiries (Honours) | soms.honours@sydney.edu.au |
| Contact | Associate Professor Andrew Hoy E andrew.hoy@sydney.edu.au |
| Contact | Associate Professor Catherine Leamey E catherine.leamey@sydney.edu.au |