Postgraduate Module Descriptor


SOCM016: Cultures of the Life Sciences

This module descriptor refers to the 2021/2 academic year.

Module Content

Syllabus Plan

Whilst the precise content may vary from year to year, it is envisaged that the syllabus will cover all or some of the following topics:

  • Natural history and the role of classification in biology
  • Experimental practices
  • Modelling practices
  • Data sharing and intellectual property
  • Publishing practices
  • The role of concepts such as ‘gene’
  • Bioinformatics and the role of computers in biology
  • Sociopolitics of biology
  • Relations between biology and medicine

Learning and Teaching

This table provides an overview of how your hours of study for this module are allocated:

Scheduled Learning and Teaching ActivitiesGuided independent studyPlacement / study abroad
232770

...and this table provides a more detailed breakdown of the hours allocated to various study activities:

CategoryHours of study timeDescription
scheduled learning activity 2211 x 2 hour lectures
scheduled learning activity 11 hour writing tutorial (in preparation for essay writing)
Guided independent study11011 x 10 hours of course readings
Guided independent study40Preparation of presentation
Guided independent study127Reading/research for and writing of essay

Online Resources

This module has online resources available via ELE (the Exeter Learning Environment).

Web based and electronic resources:

ELE http://vle.exeter.ac.uk/

Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy: http://plato.stanford.edu/