The Department of Life Sciences in the Context of an Undergraduate Degree in Psychology (Hebrew Only)

The Department of Life Sciences in the context of an undergraduate degree in Psychology is intended to teach students to understand the new scientific space in order to build a strong infrastructure to shape the future generation of science and health specialists. The Department offers a diverse curriculum to provide the necessary knowledge while looking ahead to the key challenges in science and medicine. The Department's various courses deal with developing scientific thinking in connection with physiological processes, the development of diseases, the human genome, and chemical processes affecting the biological space in which we live. Life science studies are also an essential foundation for additional scientific fields such as biotechnology, computational biology, and entrepreneurship in the medical industry.

Prof. Arnon Afek

Deputy Director-General, Sheba Tel HaShomer Medical Center

Department Features

The Life Sciences Department includes classes totaling 26 credit points, providing knowledge in the core fields of life sciences, such as microbiology, molecular biology, and biochemistry, along with practical experience in these fields.
Life science graduates will be able to integrate into industry, research, and medical studies, subject to passing exams and meeting the terms determined by the Ministry of Health, the Council for Higher Education, and the universities, for medical studies.
Eligibility: Acceptance into the Department is based on matriculation grades as well as degree grades. Preference will be given to students with a scientific background.

Department Structure

Department studies will be spread across the two years of undergraduate Psychology studies, and Department graduates will be granted a certificate upon completing their Life Science studies.
The course "Introduction to the Life Sciences Department" (3 credit points), intended for students without previous knowledge in biology or chemistry, is given to Department students in their first semester as a prerequisite for all Department courses.
Studies in the Department will be open at first to Psychology undergraduate students. Students from other schools will be able to register for Department courses as electives, based on availability.
The number of students who may join the Department is limited.

Selected Courses From the Department

- Dr. Orna Zagoory | 3 credit points
  
  The course is intended to provide basic knowledge and understanding in chemistry and biology necessary for understanding the courses in the Life Sciences Division. In the course we will get to know the chemical and biological languages, acquire basic tools for understanding chemical processes of life, processes that allow existence and development. We will learn about the chemical elements through the understanding of the periodic table. We discuss the variety of chemical bonds which make up molecules and macromolecules. We will understand what ionic compounds and organic compounds are. We will understand the chemical terminology: compound vs mixture, liquid and solid gas, dissolving processes and chemical reactions. We will expand on acids and bases, and their importance in biology. We will review the energy transitions that are important for sustaining life, while reviewing the principles of physical chemistry and thermodynamics. In addition, we will learn what waves are, what radioactivity is and the usage in nuclear medicine. During the lectures we will talk about chemical elements, molecules and processes and how they affect the biology and psychology of mammals.
- Dr. Limor Shtoot | Yearly Course | 4 credit points
  
  The course aims to provide basic concepts and familiarity with the biology of the living cell. A cell is the basic unit of life that is responsible for the living and functioning of organisms. Understanding the structure and function of the cell is the basis for understanding the structure and function of tissues and the activity of the whole organism. We will learn about the structure of cells, organelles, organization of cells as tissues. We will learn about the role of organelles and the contribution of structure to function in the whole organism. We will discuss the great diversity of cells in the animals and plants kingdoms and understand how the structure contributes to the unique activity.
- Dr. Rom Keshet
- Prof. Dov Greenbaum | 3 credit points
  
  This course is designed to be both an introductory course to genetics, while simultaneously providing students with advanced knowledge regarding emerging areas of human genetics especially the genetic contribution to various human disorders.
  Students will not only gain an understanding of the underlying mechanics of how genotype becomes phenotype through frontal learning, but will also gain an appreciation for the role of genetics in commerce, research, and diagnostic and therapeutic medicine through both classical genetic labs as well as the use of computational genetics tools.
  
  Final Exam
  
  Please note that the course will be delivered in English.
- Dr. Jonathan Giron | 4 credit points
- Prof Nati Keller | 4 credit points
- Dr. Gal Cafri | 4 credit points

Academic Faculty

Prof. Arnon Afek
Prof. Nati Keller
Prof. Dov Greenbaum
Dr. Orna Zagoory
Dr. Rom Keshet
Dr. Jonathan Giron
Dr. Gal Cafri
Dr. Limor Stoots