| Physiology at Wits |
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A physiologist needs to have a systematic, probing mind and the aims of our courses in Physiology are to produce scientists and health professionals who have consolidated and thorough physiological knowledge. Graduates will be familiar with methods used to make whole body, internal and environmental measurements.
Physiology is not offered in the first year of study since a preliminary year of the more fundamental sciences is first required. The compulsory first year subjects are Chemistry, Physics or Mathematics and Introductory Life Sciences or Biological Sciences.
At second-year level, the course includes topics such as body fluids, nerves and muscles, cardiovascular system, respiration, central nervous system, endocrinology, gastrointestinal tract and nutrition and energetics. Courses in the MBBCh curriculum provide an excellent grounding for understanding the function of the human body, while BSc courses include a wider perspective covering non-human animal physiology as well.
Physiology is also offered at the third-year level where the emphasis is on the integration and development of the topic taught in second year, problem-solving with acquired knowledge and hands on research. |
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| What can you do with a degree in Physiology? |
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For a start it provides you with knowledge and skills which are attractive to employers in the health and agricultural sectors of the economy. Your understanding of physiological processes, of biochemistry, of anatomy and of the research process enables you to market drugs, enter health and exercise/sport related careers, do market research, act as a consultant, take up careers in education and do scientific research. Also we are thoroughly preparing you for entry into medicine (MBBCh). Your degree (specifically if you have done well) also makes you a highly attractive applicant for admission to professional (clinical) degrees at any South African University and to many overseas Universities. Careers in medicine, dentistry, veterinary science, pharmacy, physiotherapy and occupational therapy are suited to people who have strong scientific interest in how human and animal bodies work and Physiology gives them a better grounding in these subjects than those students who enter these careers directly from school.
Your degree also allows you to apply for entry to an Honours degree, which in turn provides you with the knowledge and skills to do research and obtain a masters (MSc) or doctoral (PhD) degree. This sort of academic progression is not the only one that an honours degree enables you to take.
It is also a point of entry to professional degrees other than those mentioned above. Students with Honours degrees in human sciences can make an excellent career by taking a Postgraduate Diploma in Management (PDM) or an MBA LLB. The combination of a human science degree and a management or legal qualification, is exceptionally powerful and desirable in today s job market. For example, this combination is ideal for people who are interested in health care management, or in environmental law, or in the medico-legal area. To summarize, the world has too few people with scientific training in the basics of health sciences and our degree will provide an excellent gateway to further studies and careers. |
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| Physiology Excellence |
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| The School is well known locally and internationally for the outstanding quality of its teaching and research and includes top-rated scientists as well as many experts renowned worldwide in their fields. Every year the School is proud to be "home" to students of both human and animal physiology. |
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| Entrance Requirements |
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| For matriculation, Mathematics and English should be taken at the Higher Grade and it would be advantageous to include another science subject in the Matriculation Curriculum. |
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