National Certificate in Applied Sciences (G90N 46)

National Certificate in Applied Sciences (G90N 46)

Course overview and skills development summary

Introduction

National Certificates are made up of Units. Each Unit is mapped against an agreed set of national standards to identify the appropriate level and credit value defined by the Scottish Credit and Qualifications Framework (SCQF).

The SCQF level is a measure of how hard the Unit is.

The credit value is a measure of the time, on average, it should take a learner to achieve the Unit. A single-credit Unit works out at an average of 40 hours teaching time and 20 hours self-directed learning. A double credit Unit works out an average of 80 hours teaching time and 40 hours self directed learning. If you’d like more information, it is available at www.scqf.org.uk.

Most National Certificates have mandatory and optional Units:

¨  Mandatory Units provide the generic knowledge, understanding and skills needed to be successful in your chosen career. Every student has to complete them.

¨  Optional Units give you an opportunity to choose a particular area of interest that you would like to learn about.

This document provides information about the Units that make up your Course and the skills you will be developing as you work through each Unit. It explains:

¨  the way you will use Core Skills in your chosen area of work

¨  how the Course is structured

It also describes the purpose of each Unit in the Course, including:

¨  the subject-specific skills you will develop in each Unit

¨  the Core Skills you will develop naturally as you work through each Unit

¨  any Core Skill or Core Skill component that will be recorded on your certificate

Core Skills in your chosen area of work

Working in the scientific industries, you will be using Core Skills every day.

Communication

You need to be able to deal with work colleagues and make sure that you give clear and precise information or instructions regarding practical procedures and investigations. You need to be able to discuss with others the use of specific equipment, how to research evidence, and how to produce reports relating to any investigations.

Numeracy

You need to be able to produce and interpret graphs and charts, read scales on instruments, understand how to process experimental results, and use a calculator.

Information and Communication Technology

You need to be able to input information onto a computer and retrieve information and produce a graph or report. This will involve researching information, accessing and analysing documents from different sources.

Problem Solving

You will have to be able to plan, organise and complete a project. This will involve choosing the correct method of solving the problem, collecting information, analysing it and evaluating what you have achieved.

Working with Others

You will need to work with colleagues to plan a project, including planning the appropriate methods of collecting and organising information and presenting it as a report. You will need to work with colleagues to ensure that the conditions you are working in are safe and present no danger to others.
Course structure for Applied Sciences

To achieve this National Certificate you will need to achieve:

¨  ten Unit credits (seven credits at level 6 and three credits at level 5) from the mandatory section

¨  two Unit credits from the optional section

Mandatory Units (three credits):

Chemistry

Unit title / Unit
code / SCQF
level / Credit
value / Date achieved
Chemical Reactions / D071 12 / 6 / 1
Energy Matters / D069 12 / 6 / 1
The World of Carbon / D070 12 / 6 / 1

Mandatory Units (three credits):

Biology

Unit title / Unit
code / SCQF
level / Credit
value / Date achieved
Cell Biology / D029 12 / 6 / 1
Control and Regulation / D031 12 / 6 / 1
Genetics and Adaptation / D030 12 / 6 / 1

OR

Human Biology

Unit title / Unit
code / SCQF
level / Credit
value / Date achieved
Behaviour, Populations and the Environment / D045 12 / 6 / 1
Cell Function and Inheritance / D043 12 / 6 / 1
The Continuation of Life / D044 12 / 6 / 1

OR

Managing Environmental Resources

Unit title / Unit
code / SCQF
level / Credit
value / Date achieved
Investigating Ecosystems / D315 12 / 6 / 1
Land Use in Scotland / D316 12 / 6 / 1
Natural Resource Use / D312 12 / 6 / 1

OR

Biotechnology

Unit title / Unit
code / SCQF
level / Credit
value / Date achieved
Biotechnology / DF5J 12 / 6 / 1
Microbiological Techniques / D042 12 / 6 / 1
Microbiology / DF5H 12 / 6 / 1

Mandatory Units (three credits):

Physics

Unit title / Unit
code / SCQF
level / Credit
value / Date achieved
Electricity and Electronics / D380 12 / 6 / 1
Mechanics and Properties of Matter / D383 12 / 6 / 1
Radiation and Matter / D384 12 / 6 / 1

Plus one credit at Intermediate 2 SCQF level 5 from the science area not selected above.

For a list of the available Intermediate 2 Units — see above, the details of the Intermediate 2 Units in Biological Sciences, Chemistry and Physics in the Structure of the National Certificate National Certificate in Applied Sciences level 5.

AND three credits listed below:

Unit title / Unit
code / SCQF
level / Credit
value / Date achieved
Experimental Procedures — Science / D937 12 / 6 / 1
Mathematics for Science / F3T8 11 / 5 / 1
Science and Technology in Society / F3T9 11 / 5 / 1

Optional Units (two credits):

Unit title / Unit
code / SCQF
level / Credit
value / Date achieved /
Acids, Bases and Metals / D068 11 / 5 / 1
Animal Physiology / D028 11 / 5 / 1
Applied Electronics / D186 11 / 5 / 1
Applied Electronics / D186 12 / 6 / 1
Behaviour, Populations and the Environment / D045 12 / 6 / 1
Biodiversity in Scotland / D837 11 / 5 / 1
Biotechnology / DF5J 12 / 6 / 1
Biotechnology / DF5G 11 / 5 / 1
Building Blocks / D066 11 / 5 / 1
Carbon Compounds / D067 11 / 5 / 1
Cell Biology / D029 12 / 6 / 1
Cell Function and Inheritance / D043 12 / 6 / 1
Chemical Reactions / D071 12 / 6 / 1
Control and Regulation / D031 12 / 6 / 1
Earth Physics and Earth Movements / D247 11 / 5 / 1
Earth Physics, Structural Geology and Plate Tectonics / D250 12 / 6 / 1
Economic Geology / D252 12 / 6 / 0.5
Ecosystems / D310 11 / 5 / 1
Electricity and Electronics / D380 11 / 5 / 1
Electricity and Electronics / D380 12 / 6 / 1
Energy / D185 11 / 5 / 0.5
Energy Matters / D069 12 / 6 / 1
Environmental Biology and Genetics / D027 11 / 5 / 1
Forest Ecology / D855 12 / 6 / 1
Fossils and Stratigraphy / D251 12 / 6 / 0.5
Genetics and Adaptation / D030 12 / 6 / 1
History of the Earth / D8XL 11 / 5 / 1
Human Physiological Processes / DC4D 12 / 6 / 1
Introducing Microbiology / D13J 11 / 5 / 1
Investigating Ecosystems / D315 12 / 6 / 1
Laboratory Safety / F3TD 11 / 5 / 1
Land Use in Scotland / D316 12 / 6 / 1
Living Cells / D026 11 / 5 / 1
Local Environment / D314 11 / 5 / 1
Mechanical Systems / D188 11 / 5 / 0.5
Mechanics and Heat / D379 11 / 5 / 1
Mechanics and Properties of Matter / D383 12 / 6 / 1
Microbiological Techniques / D042 12 / 6 / 1
Microbiology / DF5H 12 / 6 / 1
Microbiology for Healthcare: An Introduction / DC4H 11 / 5 / 1
Minerals and Rocks / D8XK 11 / 5 / 1
Minerals and Rocks / D8XK 12 / 6 / 1
Natural Resource Use / D312 11 / 5 / 1
Natural Resource Use / D312 12 / 6 / 1
Radiation and Matter / D384 12 / 6 / 1
Radioactivity / D382 11 / 5 / 0.5
Structures and Materials / D190 12 / 6 / 0.5
Systems and Control / D187 11 / 5 / 1
Systems and Control / D187 12 / 6 / 1
Technological Studies: Case Study Report / D191 12 / 6 / 0.5
The Biology of Micro-organisms / DF5F 11 / 5 / 1
The Continuation of Life / D044 12 / 6 / 1
The Ecology of Scotland / D897 12 / 6 / 1
The Human Body / F1RH 11 / 5 / 1
The World of Carbon / D070 12 / 6 / 1
Waves and Optics / D381 11 / 5 / 0.5
Working with Micro-organisms / D039 11 / 5 / 1
Experimental Procedures: Biology / D934 12 / 6 / 1
Experimental Procedures: Chemistry / D935 12 / 6 / 1
Experimental Procedures: Physics / D936 12 / 6 / 1
Mathematics 1 / D321 11 / 5 / 1
Mathematics 1 / D321 12 / 6 / 1
Mathematics 2 / D322 11 / 5 / 1
Mathematics 2 / D322 12 / 6 / 1
Mathematics 3 / D323 11 / 5 / 1
Mathematics 3 / D323 12 / 6 / 1
Communication / D01B 12 / 6 / 1
Information Technology / D01D 12 / 6 / 1
Work Experience Higher / D36H 12 / 6 / 1

It is suggested that the Unit Laboratory Safety at SCQF level 5, an Experimental Procedures Unit in a separate science at SCQF level 6 or a Mathematics Unit at SCQF level 5 or 6 could be an appropriate selection.

Unit summaries

This section provides a brief description of each Unit in the Course. It explains:

¨  the purpose of each Unit

¨  the subject-specific skills you will learn for each Unit

¨  which Core Skills you will be developing as you work through each Unit

¨  which Core Skill or Core Skill components are recorded in your Core Skills profile on your certificate

The Unit summaries are in alphabetical order so you can find them easily. This might not be the order you do them in.

Acids, Bases and Metals (D068 11) 1 credit

In this Unit, you will develop skills in understanding and problem solving, and practical abilities in the context of acids and bases, salt preparation and metals.

You will:

¨  solve problems related to acids, bases and metals by selecting, accurately processing, calculating and presenting relevant information

¨  use relevant information to plan, design and evaluate experiments

¨  accurately observe, measure, calculate and record the results of your experiments in a table with correct headings

¨  produce a report that explains what has happened and why

This Unit has the Problem Solving component Critical Thinking embedded in it. When you achieve the Unit, your Core Skills profile will also be updated to show you have achieved Critical Thinking at SCQF level 5.

As you are doing this Unit you will also be developing aspects of the Core Skills in Problem Solving, Numeracy and Communication.

Animal Physiology (D028 11) 1 credit

In this Unit, you will develop skills in understanding, problem solving and practical abilities in the context of mammalian nutrition, control of the internal environment, circulation and gas exchange, sensory mechanisms and processing of information.

You will:

¨  demonstrate your understanding of how the animal body works and solve problems in animal physiology

¨  carry out experiments and gather information from them

¨  study, review and evaluate your results

This Unit has the Core Skill of Problem Solving, and the Numeracy component Using Graphical Information, embedded in it. This means that when you achieve the Unit, your Core Skills profile will also be updated to show that you have achieved Problem Solving and Using Graphical Information at SCQF level 5.

Applied Electronics (D186 11) 1 credit

In this Unit you will develop an understanding of direct current networks and simple electronic systems as well as learning how resistance affects these systems.

You will:

¨  identify the relationship between current and voltage in a direct current network

¨  carry out calculations to solve problems involving resistance, current and voltage

¨  design and construct a simple electronic system

¨  devise a combinational logic system

This Unit has the Core Skills of Numeracy, Information and Communication Technology and Problem Solving embedded in it, which means when you achieve this Unit, your Core Skills profile will also be updated to show that you have achieved Numeracy and Problem Solving at SCQF level 5 and Information and Communication Technology at SCQF level 4.

Applied Electronics (D186 12) 1 credit

In this Unit you will develop skills to simulate, construct and evaluate systems to given specifications.

You will:

¨  identify components and subcomponents for electronic systems

¨  explain the operation of electronic systems and sub-systems and the operational characteristics of common integrated circuit logic families

¨  carry out calculations to verify the operation of sub-systems and operational amplifier based systems

¨  use computer simulation to evaluate an electronic and logic system

¨  interpret written and graphical information from data booklets to select operational amplifier configurations and integrated circuits

¨  carry out calculations relating to operational amplifier based systems including: input voltage, output voltage, supply voltage, feedback resistance, input resistance, and gain; and represent configurations graphically

¨  evaluate operational amplifier systems and logic circuits against a given specification

¨  use truth tables, Boolean expressions, common logic gate diagrams and NAND-based equivalents to devise solutions to logic problems

This Unit has the Core Skills of Numeracy and Problem Solving embedded in it, which means when you achieve this Unit your Core Skills profile will also be updated to show that you have achieved Numeracy and Problem Solving at SCQF level 6.