Ms Petra Paula Spiteri
biology.jc@um.edu.mt
Room D002
Lectures: 5 hours per week
Tutorials: 1 hour per week
Practical sessions: 2 hours per week Fieldwork provided
Lectures: 3 hours per week
The current subject coordinator is Ms Petra Paula Spiteri and the department includes fourteen full-time members of academic staff, two lab officers and other part-time academics.
As a department we aim to provide our students with the best possible teaching programmes in order to instil a sound theoretical and practical background to the subject as well as provide them with the necessary skills to enable them achieve their desired grades in the AM and IM examinations. Moreover, we provide our students with a holistic learning environment through other activities we organise as a department.
Our academic staff members are extremely dedicated and provide an excellent teaching programme.
As a department we offer the following courses:
This course prepares students for the Malta Matriculation Advanced Level examination in Biology. Students choosing this course are expected to have an Ordinary Level knowledge of the subject and should preferably be in possession of a Grade 3 or better. Knowledge of Chemistry is a great asset.
Every week students have eight hours dedicated to Biology made up of: five hours of lectures, a tutorial hour and two hours of practical laboratory work.
Each class is taken care of by two lecturers, so students will be completing two different topics simultaneously. Tutorials are carried out by the respective lecturers and classes are divided into small groups. Tutorials are used to further enhance what was learnt during lectures and to discuss any difficulties.
Whenever required students can make use of contact hours, where they can get individual attention from their lecturers.
The practical aspect of the subject is given great importance since it carries thirty-three per cent of the final mark in the Advanced Level Examination. The laboratories of the Department are very well equipped. Hence students are given the opportunity to do practical work of a high standard.
Students who opt to study Biology at Intermediate Level have three hours of lectures weekly conducted by one or two lecturers. The Intermediate level does not have any practical component. Knowledge of Biology at Ordinary level is an asset. Students can get individual attention from their lecturers during contact hours.
