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Unit outline_

DERM5001: Essential Dermatology

Semester 1, 2023 [Distance education/intensive on campus] - Western Clinical School, Westmead

Essential Dermatology will enable students to diagnose the most common cutaneous presentations, formulate an appropiate differential diagnosis, and complete a management plan. In this unit, you will study the common skin diseases and comprehensively review clinical presentation, differential diagnosis, impact on quality of life, and management. The unit will also cover the clinicopathological correlation and aetiology and pathogenesis of skin disease, and will equip students to interpret histology reports. Diseases are organised by body region and clinical characteristics and include: inflammatory diseases (acne, psoriasis, eczema); autoimmune and autoinflammatory diseases (lupus, morphea, pustulosis); cutaneous drug reactions; infections; and cancer. The use of new technologies in diagnosis and treatment is also discussed.

Unit details and rules

Academic unit Anaesthesia PGCW
Credit points 6
Prerequisites
? 
None
Corequisites
? 
None
Prohibitions
? 
None
Assumed knowledge
? 

None

Available to study abroad and exchange students

No

Teaching staff

Coordinator Pablo Fernandez Penas, pablo.fernandezpenas@sydney.edu.au
Type Description Weight Due Length
Supervised exam
? 
Final Graded Exam
MCQs and SAQs
40% Formal exam period 1 hour
Outcomes assessed: LO1 LO2 LO3 LO4 LO5 LO6 LO7
Small test Graded quizzes
MCQs
10% Multiple weeks 4x 30 mins
Outcomes assessed: LO1 LO7 LO6 LO5 LO4 LO3 LO2
Online task Peerwise
Online task
10% Multiple weeks 4x cycles
Outcomes assessed: LO1 LO2 LO3 LO4 LO5 LO6 LO7
Online task Discussion Boards
Written task
20% Multiple weeks 4x 350 words, plus replies to peers
Outcomes assessed: LO1 LO2 LO3 LO4 LO5 LO6
Small test Workshop Quiz
MCQs
15% STUVAC 45 minutes
Outcomes assessed: LO2 LO3
Participation Workshop Attendance
Attendance
5% Week 10 1 day
Outcomes assessed: LO2 LO3

Assessment summary

  • Graded quizzes: 4 graded quizzes composed of MCQs. 
  • Peerwise: There will be 4 cycles of Peerwise throughout the unit. For each cycle you must: author 3 questions, critique 3 questions and answer 6 questions. 
  • Discussion Boards: Each discussion board will have a clinical scenario followed by some questions. You are required to answer and reference your answer (word count excludes references). First posts must be completed by the end of the relevant module, then there will be a further week to post at least 1 substantive comment on a peer's post.
  • Workshop: Attendance to 1-day workshop held on Sat 6 May plus completion of quiz based on workshop content. 
  • Final Exam: A graded, fully invigilated exam conducted via Canvas with the help of an online proctor.

Detailed information for each assessment can be found on Canvas.

Assessment criteria

The University awards common result grades, set out in the Coursework Policy 2014 (Schedule 1).

As a general guide, a high distinction indicates work of an exceptional standard, a distinction a very high standard, a credit a good standard, and a pass an acceptable standard.

Result name

Mark range

Description

High distinction

85 - 100

 

Distinction

75 - 84

 

Credit

65 - 74

 

Pass

50 - 64

 

Fail

0 - 49

When you don’t meet the learning outcomes of the unit to a satisfactory standard.

For more information see guide to grades.

Late submission

In accordance with University policy, these penalties apply when written work is submitted after 11:59pm on the due date:

  • Deduction of 5% of the maximum mark for each calendar day after the due date.
  • After ten calendar days late, a mark of zero will be awarded.

Academic integrity

The Current Student website provides information on academic integrity and the resources available to all students. The University expects students and staff to act ethically and honestly and will treat all allegations of academic integrity breaches seriously.

We use similarity detection software to detect potential instances of plagiarism or other forms of academic integrity breach. If such matches indicate evidence of plagiarism or other forms of academic integrity breaches, your teacher is required to report your work for further investigation.

Use of generative artificial intelligence (AI) and automated writing tools

You may only use generative AI and automated writing tools in assessment tasks if you are permitted to by your unit coordinator. If you do use these tools, you must acknowledge this in your work, either in a footnote or an acknowledgement section. The assessment instructions or unit outline will give guidance of the types of tools that are permitted and how the tools should be used.

Your final submitted work must be your own, original work. You must acknowledge any use of generative AI tools that have been used in the assessment, and any material that forms part of your submission must be appropriately referenced. For guidance on how to acknowledge the use of AI, please refer to the AI in Education Canvas site.

The unapproved use of these tools or unacknowledged use will be considered a breach of the Academic Integrity Policy and penalties may apply.

Studiosity is permitted unless otherwise indicated by the unit coordinator. The use of this service must be acknowledged in your submission as detailed on the Learning Hub’s Canvas page.

Outside assessment tasks, generative AI tools may be used to support your learning. The AI in Education Canvas site contains a number of productive ways that students are using AI to improve their learning.

Simple extensions

If you encounter a problem submitting your work on time, you may be able to apply for an extension of five calendar days through a simple extension.  The application process will be different depending on the type of assessment and extensions cannot be granted for some assessment types like exams.

Special consideration

If exceptional circumstances mean you can’t complete an assessment, you need consideration for a longer period of time, or if you have essential commitments which impact your performance in an assessment, you may be eligible for special consideration or special arrangements.

Special consideration applications will not be affected by a simple extension application.

Using AI responsibly

Co-created with students, AI in Education includes lots of helpful examples of how students use generative AI tools to support their learning. It explains how generative AI works, the different tools available and how to use them responsibly and productively.

WK Topic Learning activity Learning outcomes
Week 01 Module 1: basic tools Lecture (10 hr)  
Week 02 Module 1: basic tools Lecture (10 hr)  
Week 03 Module 2: scaly plaques Lecture (10 hr)  
Week 04 Module 2: scaly plaques Lecture (10 hr)  
Week 05 Module 3: red skin Lecture (10 hr)  
Week 06 Module 3: red skin Lecture (10 hr)  
Week 07 Module 4: fluid filled Lecture (10 hr)  
Week 08 Module 5: purpura Lecture (10 hr)  
Week 09 Module 6: growths Lecture (10 hr)  
Week 10 Module 6: growths Lecture (10 hr)  
Week 11 Module 7: body sites Lecture (10 hr)  
Week 12 Module 7: body sites Lecture (10 hr)  
Week 13 Module 8: special times Lecture (10 hr)  

Study commitment

Typically, there is a minimum expectation of 1.5-2 hours of student effort per week per credit point for units of study offered over a full semester. For a 6 credit point unit, this equates to roughly 120-150 hours of student effort in total.

Required readings

All readings for this unit can be accessed via the Library. Links will be provided on Canvas.

  • Andrews’ Diseases of the Skin, 13th Edition (William James Dirk Elston James Treat Misha Rosenbach Isaac Neuhaus) 2019 Philadelphia, Pennsylvania: Elsevier.

Learning outcomes are what students know, understand and are able to do on completion of a unit of study. They are aligned with the University's graduate qualities and are assessed as part of the curriculum.

At the completion of this unit, you should be able to:

  • LO1. Diagnose and manage common skin conditions
  • LO2. Formulate a differential diagnosis and perform a biopsy when needed and request appropriate investigations
  • LO3. Diagnose, triage, and describe treatment options for skin cancers and their precursors
  • LO4. Recognise and initiate the management of life-threatening skin conditions
  • LO5. Recognise the multiple manifestations of systemic diseases on the skin
  • LO6. Confidently prescribe topical and systemic treatments, from emollients and steroids to immunosuppressants, and understand the benefits and potential side effects of these treatments
  • LO7. Recognise the psychosocial impact of skin disease.

Graduate qualities

The graduate qualities are the qualities and skills that all University of Sydney graduates must demonstrate on successful completion of an award course. As a future Sydney graduate, the set of qualities have been designed to equip you for the contemporary world.

GQ1 Depth of disciplinary expertise

Deep disciplinary expertise is the ability to integrate and rigorously apply knowledge, understanding and skills of a recognised discipline defined by scholarly activity, as well as familiarity with evolving practice of the discipline.

GQ2 Critical thinking and problem solving

Critical thinking and problem solving are the questioning of ideas, evidence and assumptions in order to propose and evaluate hypotheses or alternative arguments before formulating a conclusion or a solution to an identified problem.

GQ3 Oral and written communication

Effective communication, in both oral and written form, is the clear exchange of meaning in a manner that is appropriate to audience and context.

GQ4 Information and digital literacy

Information and digital literacy is the ability to locate, interpret, evaluate, manage, adapt, integrate, create and convey information using appropriate resources, tools and strategies.

GQ5 Inventiveness

Generating novel ideas and solutions.

GQ6 Cultural competence

Cultural Competence is the ability to actively, ethically, respectfully, and successfully engage across and between cultures. In the Australian context, this includes and celebrates Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures, knowledge systems, and a mature understanding of contemporary issues.

GQ7 Interdisciplinary effectiveness

Interdisciplinary effectiveness is the integration and synthesis of multiple viewpoints and practices, working effectively across disciplinary boundaries.

GQ8 Integrated professional, ethical, and personal identity

An integrated professional, ethical and personal identity is understanding the interaction between one’s personal and professional selves in an ethical context.

GQ9 Influence

Engaging others in a process, idea or vision.

Outcome map

Learning outcomes Graduate qualities
GQ1 GQ2 GQ3 GQ4 GQ5 GQ6 GQ7 GQ8 GQ9

This section outlines changes made to this unit following staff and student reviews.

Since this unit was last offered, we made the Discussion Board marking rubric easier to find and updated some lectures. Due to COVID-19 limitations, workshop material was pre-recorded in 2020 and will be delivered online in 2022. We value your feedback about any aspect of the unit of study and your experience as a student of Sydney Medical School. To help ensure our courses meet your needs and maintain a high standard, we welcome your feedback at any time and we ask you to complete the Mid-Semester Evaluation Survey and the unit of study Evaluation Survey at the end of the semester. You can also rate any component of the unit using our star rating system found at the bottom of many pages as you progress through the unit. Your ratings and comments are anonymous and specifying what you liked and didn’t like about any of the learning materials, assessment items, discussion forums, feedback etc will help us to target our improvement efforts. Please note that your participation in this unit of study permits de-identified information about your learning experience and interaction with learning resources to be used for the purpose of improving the student learning experience.

Disclaimer

The University reserves the right to amend units of study or no longer offer certain units, including where there are low enrolment numbers.

To help you understand common terms that we use at the University, we offer an online glossary.