Biology
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About the Pathway
Choose from modules in Biology, Biochemistry and Cell Biology, Ecology and Conservation, and Microbiology and Medicine. For more information, please read our guide on how Pathways work.
The following modules are for entry year 2025.
Biology
You will study organisms and the environment, and how human activities can change them. Biological mechanisms relate to the environmental challenges of the 21st century. These include environmental pollution, sustainability and conservation.
*Please note: some field courses will incur additional costs and are subject to availability
| Year One | Year Two | Year Three |
|---|---|---|
| Core modules | Core modules | Core modules |
| Aquatic Ecology | Environment Physiology | Animal Behaviour |
| Evolutionary Biology | Evolution | Optional modules |
| Global Change Biology | Optional modules | Coral Reef Ecology |
| Marine and Estuarine Biology | Experimental Design and Analysis | Dissertation |
| Zoology | Field Biology | Dissertation with Work Placement |
| Optional modules | Introduction to Eco-Innovation | Environmental Plant Biology |
| Biodiversity and Conservation | Populations to Ecosystems | *Field Course in Kenya - Tropical Biology and Conservation |
| *Field Course in the Eden Project, Cornwall | Research Design and Delivery | *Field Course in the Scottish Highlands |
| *Field Course in the Spanish-Doñana | Vertebrate Biology | Host-Parasite Interactions |
| (One of these modules may be taken in the place of either Aquatic Ecology or Marine and Estuarine Biology) | Issues in Conservation Biology | |
| Sustainable Agriculture |
Biochemistry, Cell Biology and Genetics
Specific A Level Entry Requirements: Chemistry
Cellular biochemistry examines the macromolecular structure and the relationship of cellular organisation to the central pathways of intermediary metabolism and the physical processes underlying cellular functions. Cell biology covers the interactions within and between cells that allow them to perform their function in the whole organism. Genetics examines the mechanisms of heredity, moving through Mendelian genetics and its extensions to molecular genetics.
| Year One | Year Two | Year Three |
|---|---|---|
| Core modules | Optional modules | Optional modules |
| Biotechnology | Biochemical Techniques | Biology of Ageing |
| Cell Structure and Function | Biochemistry | Cancer |
| Genetics | Bioinformatics | Cell Signalling |
| Molecules of Life | Cell Biology | Cell Signalling, Transport and Disease |
| Protein Biochemistry | Cell Biology Techniques | Genetics |
| DNA Technology | Medical Genetics | |
| Genetics | Proteins: Structure, Function and Evolution |
Ecology and Conservation
Interactions between organisms, the environment and humanity are often complex. You will receive a thorough grounding in ecological theory and how these biological principles relate to the conservation of wildlife and ecological habitats. The pathway also concerns the practice of ecology and has a strong fieldwork component designed to encourage you to develop your practical skills.
*Please note: some field courses will incur additional costs and may be subject to availability
| Year One | Year Two | Year Three |
|---|---|---|
| Core modules | Core modules | Core modules |
| Aquatic Ecology | Populations to Ecosystems | Coral Reef Ecology |
| Biodiversity and Conservation | Principles of Biodiversity Conservation | Issues in Conservation Biology |
| Evolutionary Biology | Optional modules | Optional modules |
| Global Change Biology | Environmental Physiology | Animal Behaviour |
| Zoology | Evolution | Dissertation |
| Optional modules | Experimental Design and Analysis | Dissertation with Work Placement |
| *Field Course in the Eden Project, Cornwall | Field Biology | Environmental Plant Biology |
| *Field Course in the Spanish-Doñana. | Introduction to Eco-Innovation | *Field Course in Kenya - Tropical Biology and Conservation |
| (One of these modules may be taken in place of Aquatic Ecology, Global Change Biology or Zoology) | Research Design and Delivery | *Field Course in the Scottish Highlands |
| Host-Parasite Interactions | ||
| Sustainable Agriculture |
Microbiology and Medicine
This pathway contains a balanced mixture of biochemistry, microbiology and physiology. It attempts to demonstrate the relevance of microbiology to human affairs, whether the connection is direct, e.g. diseases of humans, or indirect, e.g. the control of diseases of food crops. Although some lectures deal specifically with one group of microbes, i.e. bacteria, fungi or protozoa, entire modules emphasise ecological and functional relationships between different groups of microbes.
| Year One | Year Two | Year Three |
|---|---|---|
| Core modules | Optional modules | Optional modules |
| Anatomy and Tissue Structure | Cell Biology | Biology of Ageing |
| Hormones and Development | Cell Biology Techniques | Cancer |
| Human Physiology | Genetics | Cell Signalling |
| Impact of Microbes | Medical Microbiology | Cell Signalling, Transport and Disease |
| Infection and Immunity | Microbiological Techniques | Clinical Immunology |
| Environmental Pathogens | ||
| Molecular and Biochemical Parasitology |
To study on any particular Pathway you must meet the entry requirements of that subject. Lancaster University offers a range of programmes, some of which follow a structured study programme, and some which offer the chance for you to devise a more flexible programme to complement your main specialism.
Information contained on the website with respect to modules is correct at the time of publication, and the University will make every reasonable effort to offer modules as advertised. In some cases changes may be necessary and may result in some combinations being unavailable, for example as a result of student feedback, timetabling, Professional Statutory and Regulatory Bodies' (PSRB) requirements, staff changes and new research. Not all optional modules are available every year.