QCF261 Fundamentals in Life Sciences
To view more information for this unit, select Unit Outline from the list below. Please note the teaching period for which the Unit Outline is relevant.
| Unit code: | QCF261 |
|---|---|
| Credit points: | 12 |
| Timetable | Details in HiQ, if available |
| Availabilities |
|
Unit Outline: College 1 2026, Kelvin Grove, Internal
| Unit code: | QCF261 |
|---|---|
| Credit points: | 12 |
| Coordinator: | Adam Meek | adam.meek@qut.edu.au |
Overview
Inquiry into the nature of the universe is at the core of all science disciplines. Studying fundamental concepts in Biology and Chemistry will help you become better informed about the world around you and about how these disciplines impact society. In QCF261 Fundamentals in Life Science you will learn skills required for scientific investigation and develop critical skills to evaluate and make evidence-based decisions about current scientific issues. This unit will develop your ability to work scientifically and understand the processes required to gather, scrutinise and use evidence.
Learning Outcomes
On successful completion of this unit you will be able to:
- Investigate and explain phenomena and determine outcomes, behaviours and implications (CLO1)
- Identify trends and patterns in data (CLO1, 2)
- Draw evidence-based conclusions from experimental and research-based activities (CLO2)
- Communicate using scientific representations and language to present information (CLO3)
- Analyse problems and propose solutions (CLO2)
Content
Topics include:
Chemistry of life
- Basic concepts of Chemistry
- Chemical reactions and Stoichiometry
- Electron Configuration and Chemical bonding
- Aqueous system
- Organic chemistry
Cells and multicellular organisms
- How life begins
- Molecules
- Structure
- Cell membranes and transport
- Energetics
- Cell cycle
Maintaining the internal environment
- Modern techniques and ethics in science
- Homeostasis and disease
- Body systems and human physiology
- Heredity
- DNA to protein
Learning Approaches
QCF261 Fundamentals in Life Science encourages learning and engagement with content through questioning, scientific enquiry and problem solving.
In this unit you will investigate ideas, solve problems, reason, draw conclusions and develop evidence-based arguments. All these inquiry skills are transferrable to your other units.
As reflection is also an important part in this unit opportunities will be provided to ensure you engage with reflective practices.
Feedback on Learning and Assessment
You will receive feedback in various forms throughout the semester which may include:
• Informal: worked examples, such as verbal feedback in class, personal consultation
• Formal: in writing, such as checklists, rubrics, written commentary
• Direct: to individual students, either in written form or in consultation
• Indirect: to the whole class
Assessment
Overview
In QCF261 Fundamentals in Life Science, there are three summative assessments: a mid-semester examination, an experimental investigation and report, and a final examination. Formative assessment will support your learning by giving you an opportunity to review your learning and practice content with learning from feedback before summative assessment. Formative assessment may include online quizzes and practice exams which support your learning by giving you the opportunity to practice responding to questions and reviewing what you have learned before undertaking summative assessment tasks.
Unit Grading Scheme
7- point scale
Assessment Tasks
Assessment: Chemistry Workbook
You will complete a Chemistry Workbook that assesses your understanding and application of theoretical chemical concepts taught within the chemistry section of this unit. You will also demonstrate your critical thinking and problem-solving skills through short response questions.
This assignment is eligible for the 48-hour late submission period and assignment extensions.
Assessment: Experiment Report
You will perform an experimental investigation which includes collecting, analysing and evaluating primary data. Your findings will be communicated in a scientific report that includes an introduction, rationale, experimental design, results, analysis, conclusion and references.
This assignment is eligible for the 48-hour late submission period and assignment extensions.
Assessment: Final Examination
You will do a timed examination that assesses your understanding and application of theoretical biology concepts taught in the unit. This will allow you to show your knowledge of concepts and procedures and critical thinking and problem-solving skills.
Academic Integrity
Academic integrity is a commitment to undertaking academic work and assessment in a manner that is ethical, fair, honest, respectful and accountable.
The Academic Integrity Policy sets out the range of conduct that can be a failure to maintain the standards of academic integrity. This includes, cheating in exams, plagiarism, self-plagiarism, collusion and contract cheating. It also includes providing fraudulent or altered documentation in support of an academic concession application, for example an assignment extension or a deferred exam.
You are encouraged to make use of QUT’s learning support services, resources and tools to assure the academic integrity of your assessment. This includes the use of text matching software that may be available to assist with self-assessing your academic integrity as part of the assessment submission process.
Breaching QUT’s Academic Integrity Policy or engaging in conduct that may defeat or compromise the purpose of assessment can lead to a finding of student misconduct (Code of Conduct – Student) and result in the imposition of penalties under the Management of Student Misconduct Policy, ranging from a grade reduction to exclusion from QUT.
Resources
Your QCF261 Fundamentals in Life Sciences canvas site will be the primary resource that you will be using in the unit.
Risk Assessment Statement
Some classes may be conducted in a laboratory. If this is required you must follow standard laboratory protocol which includes wearing covered-in shoes and ensuring that long hair is tied back. You are also responsible for handling materials and equipment carefully and following staff members' instructions.
Course Learning Outcomes
This unit is designed to support your development of the following course/study area learning outcomes.QC18 University Preparation Program
- Demonstrate knowledge and skills that are fundamental to academic studies across a range of discipline areas.
Relates to: Chemistry Workbook, Experiment Report, Final Examination - Apply critical, creative and analytical thinking and effective problem solving in a range of contexts
Relates to: Experiment Report, Final Examination - Communicate effectively in an academic context using written, oral and/or multimodal genres
Relates to: Experiment Report
Unit Outline: College 2 2026, Kelvin Grove, Internal
| Unit code: | QCF261 |
|---|---|
| Credit points: | 12 |
| Coordinator: | Adam Meek | adam.meek@qut.edu.au |
Overview
Inquiry into the nature of the universe is at the core of all science disciplines. Studying fundamental concepts in Biology and Chemistry will help you become better informed about the world around you and about how these disciplines impact society. In QCF261 Fundamentals in Life Science you will learn skills required for scientific investigation and develop critical skills to evaluate and make evidence-based decisions about current scientific issues. This unit will develop your ability to work scientifically and understand the processes required to gather, scrutinise and use evidence.
Learning Outcomes
On successful completion of this unit you will be able to:
- Investigate and explain phenomena and determine outcomes, behaviours and implications (CLO1)
- Identify trends and patterns in data (CLO1, 2)
- Draw evidence-based conclusions from experimental and research-based activities (CLO2)
- Communicate using scientific representations and language to present information (CLO3)
- Analyse problems and propose solutions (CLO2)
Content
Topics include:
Chemistry of life
- Basic concepts of Chemistry
- Chemical reactions and Stoichiometry
- Electron Configuration and Chemical bonding
- Aqueous system
- Organic chemistry
Cells and multicellular organisms
- How life begins
- Molecules
- Structure
- Cell membranes and transport
- Energetics
- Cell cycle
Maintaining the internal environment
- Modern techniques and ethics in science
- Homeostasis and disease
- Body systems and human physiology
- Heredity
- DNA to protein
Learning Approaches
QCF261 Fundamentals in Life Science encourages learning and engagement with content through questioning, scientific enquiry and problem solving.
In this unit you will investigate ideas, solve problems, reason, draw conclusions and develop evidence-based arguments. All these inquiry skills are transferrable to your other units.
As reflection is also an important part in this unit opportunities will be provided to ensure you engage with reflective practices.
Feedback on Learning and Assessment
You will receive feedback in various forms throughout the semester which may include:
• Informal: worked examples, such as verbal feedback in class, personal consultation
• Formal: in writing, such as checklists, rubrics, written commentary
• Direct: to individual students, either in written form or in consultation
• Indirect: to the whole class
Assessment
Overview
In QCF261 Fundamentals in Life Science, there are three summative assessments: a mid-semester examination, an experimental investigation and report, and a final examination. Formative assessment will support your learning by giving you an opportunity to review your learning and practice content with learning from feedback before summative assessment. Formative assessment may include online quizzes and practice exams which support your learning by giving you the opportunity to practice responding to questions and reviewing what you have learned before undertaking summative assessment tasks.
Unit Grading Scheme
7- point scale
Assessment Tasks
Assessment: Chemistry Workbook
You will complete a Chemistry Workbook that assesses your understanding and application of theoretical chemical concepts taught within the chemistry section of this unit. You will also demonstrate your critical thinking and problem-solving skills through short response questions.
This assignment is eligible for the 48-hour late submission period and assignment extensions.
Assessment: Experiment Report
You will perform an experimental investigation which includes collecting, analysing and evaluating primary data. Your findings will be communicated in a scientific report that includes an introduction, rationale, experimental design, results, analysis, conclusion and references.
This assignment is eligible for the 48-hour late submission period and assignment extensions.
Assessment: Final Examination
You will do a timed examination that assesses your understanding and application of theoretical biology concepts taught in the unit. This will allow you to show your knowledge of concepts and procedures and critical thinking and problem-solving skills.
Academic Integrity
Academic integrity is a commitment to undertaking academic work and assessment in a manner that is ethical, fair, honest, respectful and accountable.
The Academic Integrity Policy sets out the range of conduct that can be a failure to maintain the standards of academic integrity. This includes, cheating in exams, plagiarism, self-plagiarism, collusion and contract cheating. It also includes providing fraudulent or altered documentation in support of an academic concession application, for example an assignment extension or a deferred exam.
You are encouraged to make use of QUT’s learning support services, resources and tools to assure the academic integrity of your assessment. This includes the use of text matching software that may be available to assist with self-assessing your academic integrity as part of the assessment submission process.
Breaching QUT’s Academic Integrity Policy or engaging in conduct that may defeat or compromise the purpose of assessment can lead to a finding of student misconduct (Code of Conduct – Student) and result in the imposition of penalties under the Management of Student Misconduct Policy, ranging from a grade reduction to exclusion from QUT.
Resources
Your QCF261 Fundamentals in Life Sciences canvas site will be the primary resource that you will be using in the unit.
Risk Assessment Statement
Some classes may be conducted in a laboratory. If this is required you must follow standard laboratory protocol which includes wearing covered-in shoes and ensuring that long hair is tied back. You are also responsible for handling materials and equipment carefully and following staff members' instructions.
Course Learning Outcomes
This unit is designed to support your development of the following course/study area learning outcomes.QC18 University Preparation Program
- Demonstrate knowledge and skills that are fundamental to academic studies across a range of discipline areas.
Relates to: Chemistry Workbook, Experiment Report, Final Examination - Apply critical, creative and analytical thinking and effective problem solving in a range of contexts
Relates to: Experiment Report, Final Examination - Communicate effectively in an academic context using written, oral and/or multimodal genres
Relates to: Experiment Report