Course coordinator
Dr Yinghong Zhou
Course overview
- Study period
- Summer Semester, 2025 (05/01/2026 - 31/01/2026)
- Study level
- Postgraduate Coursework
- Location
- Herston
- Attendance mode
- Online
- Units
- 2
- Administrative campus
- Herston
- Coordinating unit
- Dentistry School
This course is an applied biological foundations course aimed at postgraduate dentistry students to provide them with the background knowledge required to understand key contemporary aspects of the management of oral and craniofacial disease.
This course provides applied biological foundations for postgraduate dentistry students, equipping them with the essential background knowledge needed to understand contemporary approaches to managing oral and craniofacial diseases. Delivered externally, it enables students to learn at their own pace through online resources and interactive workshops with experts. The four-week block format prepares students for the commencement of the in-person Doctor of Dental Medicine program in the following semester.
Course requirements
Assumed background
A Bachelor's degree (or equivalent) in health, allied health, physical sciences or biological sciences, and have successfully completed university-level study in human anatomy and human physiology or cellular physiology, within the 10 years prior to program commencement.
Restrictions
Restricted to students enrolled in the DMD program.
Course contact
Lecturer
Dr Yinghong Zhou
Course staff
Guest lecturer
Dr Kevan Jones
Timetable
The timetable for this course is available on the UQ Public Timetable.
Additional timetable information
Please refer to the course site for more information: https://learn.uq.edu.au/ultra/courses/_196397_1/outline
Aims and outcomes
This course aims to introduce students to the fundamental concepts of cells and organ systems, with a focus on their relevance to oral health and dentistry. Students will explore the structure and function of key biological systems, gaining an understanding of how they impact dental practice and patient care.
Learning outcomes
After successfully completing this course you should be able to:
LO1.
Describe the control, integration, and coordination mechanisms required for oral health.
LO2.
Understand intracellular and extracellular communication in tissue injury and disease of the oral cavity.
LO3.
Understand the properties of cell membranes and the application of excitable and non-excitable cells to pharmacology in dental practice.
LO4.
Demonstrate an understanding of the structure and morphology of oral and craniofacial structures, in the context of regeneration, reconstruction and rehabilitation.
LO5.
Demonstrate an understanding of homeostasis and control of major physiological systems to manage chronic inflammation and wound healing in the oral cavity.
LO6.
Apply the concepts of physiology to oral health or disease.
LO7.
Apply the pharmacological principles of drug treatments to dental practice.
Assessment
Assessment summary
| Category | Assessment task | Weight | Due date |
|---|---|---|---|
| Quiz |
In-Semester Inspera Quiz
|
20% |
16/01/2026 2:00 pm |
| Essay/ Critique |
Critical Essay
|
40% |
28/01/2026 2:00 pm |
| Quiz |
End-of-Semester Inspera Quiz
|
40% |
30/01/2026 2:00 pm |
Assessment details
In-Semester Inspera Quiz
- Online
- Mode
- Written
- Category
- Quiz
- Weight
- 20%
- Due date
16/01/2026 2:00 pm
- Other conditions
- Student specific, Time limited.
- Learning outcomes
- L02, L03, L04, L05, L07
Task description
This in-semester quiz consists of 20 questions in a range of formats, including multiple-choice questions (MCQs), drag-and-drop questions, and true/false questions, covering Week 1 and Week 2 content. The quiz will be delivered via Inspera and will run for 30 minutes, from 2:00 pm to 2:30 pm.
Submission guidelines
Inpsera Off-campus Exams non-invigilated
Deferral or extension
You may be able to defer this exam.
Late submission
Exams submitted after the end of the submission time will incur a late penalty.
Critical Essay
- Online
- Mode
- Written
- Category
- Essay/ Critique
- Weight
- 40%
- Due date
28/01/2026 2:00 pm
- Other conditions
- Student specific.
- Learning outcomes
- L01, L02, L03, L04, L05, L06, L07
Task description
In this task, you are required to compose a 1,000-1,200 words critical essay on how basic science is applied in everyday dental practice. This task is designed to develop your ability to integrate foundational scientific knowledge with clinical reasoning and evidence-based practice.
Below are some examples to get you started, but feel free to write about a topic of your choosing:
- How understanding mitosis, epithelial turnover, and cellular communication informs the diagnosis and management of oral mucosal lesions.
- How knowledge of epithelial histology supports interpretation of clinical signs such as ulceration, white lesions, or mucosal integrity in disease.
- How principles of drug absorption, metabolism, and excretion influence the safe and effective use of local anaesthetics, analgesics, and antibiotics in dental practice.
- How understanding alveolar bone composition and remodelling guides treatment planning in periodontics, extractions, implant placement, and orthodontics.
- How the anatomy and function of key cranial nerves support local anaesthetic techniques, diagnosis of neuropathies, and management of sensory disturbances.
- How vascular knowledge guides safe procedural planning, management of bleeding, and recognition of vascular complications.
Submission guidelines
Please submit the document through ePortfolio.
Deferral or extension
You may be able to apply for an extension.
The maximum extension allowed is 7 days. Extensions are given in multiples of 24 hours.
Late submission
A penalty of 10% of the maximum possible mark will be deducted per 24 hours from time submission is due for up to 7 days. After 7 days, you will receive a mark of 0.
End-of-Semester Inspera Quiz
- Online
- Mode
- Written
- Category
- Quiz
- Weight
- 40%
- Due date
30/01/2026 2:00 pm
- Other conditions
- Student specific, Time limited.
- Learning outcomes
- L01, L02, L03, L04, L05, L06, L07
Task description
The end-of-semester quiz consists of 40 questions in a range of formats, including multiple-choice questions (MCQs), drag-and-drop questions, and true/false questions, covering Week 1 to Week 4 content. The quiz will be delivered via Inspera and will run for 60 minutes, from 2:00 pm to 3:00 pm.
Submission guidelines
Inpsera Off-campus Exams non-invigilated
Deferral or extension
You may be able to defer this exam.
Late submission
Exams submitted after the end of the submission time will incur a late penalty.
Course grading
Full criteria for each grade is available in the Assessment Procedure.
| Grade | Cut off Percent | Description |
|---|---|---|
| 1 (Low Fail) | 0 - 19 |
Absence of evidence of achievement of course learning outcomes. Course grade description: Attains an overall mark of less than 20% |
| 2 (Fail) | 20 - 44 |
Minimal evidence of achievement of course learning outcomes. Course grade description: Attains an overall mark of at least 20% but less than 45% |
| 3 (Marginal Fail) | 45 - 49 |
Demonstrated evidence of developing achievement of course learning outcomes Course grade description: Attains an overall mark of at least 45% but less than 50% |
| 4 (Pass) | 50 - 64 |
Demonstrated evidence of functional achievement of course learning outcomes. Course grade description: Attains an overall mark of at least 50% but less than 65% |
| 5 (Credit) | 65 - 74 |
Demonstrated evidence of proficient achievement of course learning outcomes. Course grade description: Attains an overall mark of at least 65% but less than 75% |
| 6 (Distinction) | 75 - 84 |
Demonstrated evidence of advanced achievement of course learning outcomes. Course grade description: Attains an overall mark of at least 75% but less than 85% |
| 7 (High Distinction) | 85 - 100 |
Demonstrated evidence of exceptional achievement of course learning outcomes. Course grade description: Attains an overall mark of at least 85% |
Additional course grading information
Overall mark will be rounded to the nearest whole number in computing score. For example, 74.50 and above will be rounded up to 75 and 74.49 will be rounded down to 74. This will apply to all grade cutoffs apart from a grade of 4. As such, the minimum pass mark is 50% and a pass cannot be achieved with a rounded up score, for example 49.9%.
Supplementary assessment
Supplementary assessment is available for this course.
Learning resources
You'll need the following resources to successfully complete the course. We've indicated below if you need a personal copy of the reading materials or your own item.
Library resources
Library resources are available on the UQ Library website.
Learning activities
The learning activities for this course are outlined below. Learn more about the learning outcomes that apply to this course.
Filter activity type by
Please select
| Learning period | Activity type | Topic |
|---|---|---|
Multiple weeks From Week 1 To Week 4 |
Not Timetabled |
Self-directed Learning Self-directed learning through UQExtend. Learning outcomes: L01, L02, L03, L04, L05, L06, L07 |
Workshop |
Workshops Online workshops via Zoom Learning outcomes: L01, L02, L03, L04, L05, L06, L07 |
Policies and procedures
University policies and procedures apply to all aspects of student life. As a UQ student, you must comply with University-wide and program-specific requirements, including the:
- Student Code of Conduct Policy
- Student Integrity and Misconduct Policy and Procedure
- Assessment Procedure
- Examinations Procedure
- Reasonable Adjustments for Students Policy and Procedure
- AI for Assessment Guide
Learn more about UQ policies on my.UQ and the Policy and Procedure Library.
School guidelines
Your school has additional guidelines you'll need to follow for this course: