Molecular Life Sciences (BML) / BSc

Profile

Being a 'University for Life Sciences', Wageningen University is concerned with the improvement of the quality of life. Research and educational programmes aimed at improving the quality of life can be done on different levels of integration, varying from atoms and molecules at the smaller end of the scale, to climatic changes at the other extreme. Chemistry, biology and physics play a key role in many of these research and educational programmes that are further grouped in various 'University for Life Sciences' domains. In some programmes the natural sciences are used in a more applied sense and in others, including Molecular Life Sciences, in a more fundamental sense, i.e. the focus is on molecules and their chemical and physical properties in relation to the environment where they occur. The BSc programme Molecular Life Sciences of Wageningen University provides students with a spectrum of professional and personal competencies needed to work under supervision of an academic scientist (MSc Level) in fields related to fundamental molecular aspects of the 'University for Life Sciences' domains. The main goal of the BSc programme Molecular Life Sciences is that it prepares for a master programme. The programme also provides domain specific knowledge to become a licensed secondary school teacher in chemistry. For the latter a supplementary training in pedagogical and didactic aspects of teaching is required, which can be achieved in post graduate education.
Mission statement 'To develop the potential of students to extend molecular life sciences'.

Learning Outcomes

After successful completion of this BSc programme graduates are expected to be able to:
- interpret and apply concepts from biological chemistry, cell biology, genetics and microbiology;
- apply mathematical knowledge, methods and techniques from linear algebra and calculus and use relevant software to solve mathematical problems, in the domain of the molecular life sciences;
- apply concepts from chemistry and physics, handle and derive formulas, do calculations, analyse and solve theoretical problems in the fields organic, inorganic and physical chemistry, thermodynamics, colloid science, biophysics, quantum mechanics and spectroscopy;
- explain the relationships between structure and reactivity of molecules and apply concepts and theories in synthesis, catalysis and biochemistry and molecular biology;
- apply scientific experimental methods in the various fields of molecular life sciences including analytical, physical, inorganic and organic chemistry, biochemistry, microbiology, molecular biology, biophysics and spectroscopy;
- Analyse and discuss a societal or scientific problem in teams
- write and carry out a simple research plan under supervision of an academic (master-level) scientist in at least one of the domains of the molecular life sciences;
- present and discuss collected data, both orally, in writing or on a poster;
- evaluate safety, environmental, ethical, societal issues that are intrinsically related to being active in the molecular-sciences domain;
- make a well-founded choice for a follow-up MSc programme or a position in the labour market, in consultation with a study advsisor;
- develop a critical attitude towards science in general, their own data, and literature and be able to evaluate the quality of an article.

Programme Director

Dr. ir. W.K.P. van Loon
Phone: 0317-(4)85216
Email: wilko.vanloon@wur.nl

Study Adviser(s)

- Dr. C.W. Hoogendam (A-G)
Phone: 0317-(4)84426
Email: rene.hoogendam@wur.nl
-Dr. ir. D. Heering (H-O)
Email: dirk.heering@wur.nl
- Dr. ir. J. Wellink (P-Z)
Phone: 0317-(4)83266
Email: joan.wellink@wur.nl

Programme Committee

Chair: S. Wintermans
Secretary: dr. ir. W.K.P. van Loon

Internet

www.wur.nl/bml
https://teamsites.wur.nl/sites/mls/default.aspx

Study Association

MSV Alchimica
Email: msv.alchimica@wur.nl
Internet: http://www.msvalchimica.nl/

Unconditional Admission to the MSc

MBF Bioinformatics
MBT Biotechnology
MDR Development and Rural Innovation
MML Molecular Life Sciences