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Anatomical Pathology unit (CXA620)

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Unit year 2026

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Location: Launceston

Introduction

This unit develops your understanding of the pathological processes that underlie various human diseases at a cellular, tissue and organ level. Histopathological methods and microscopic recognition are used to demonstrate disease processes such as inflammation, fibrosis and neoplasia. A range of standard staining techniques and immunohistochemistry will be studied theoretically and practically to inform disease processes and diagnosis.

This unit is co-taught with a related unit to students in the Bachelor of Biomedicine, and although you will be provided with similar knowledge and laboratory skills as these students, you will also undertake additional learning activities and assessment. This is necessary for you to develop and demonstrate the higher level investigatory and communication skills to satisfy the Australian Qualification Framework level 9 requirements of a Master’s degree.

Summary

Unit name Anatomical Pathology
Unit code CXA620
Credit points 12.5
College/School Health
School of Health Sciences
Discipline Health Sciences
Coordinator Doctor Jeff Beckett
Delivered By University of Tasmania
Level Postgraduate

Availability

Location Study period Attendance options Available to
Launceston Semester 2 This unit is available through on-campus delivery Available to International Students Available to Domestic Students
  • Key:
  • This unit is available through on-campus delivery On-campus
  • This unit is available through off-campus delivery Off-Campus
  • Available to International Students International students
  • Available to Domestic Students Domestic students
Note

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Units are offered in attending mode unless otherwise indicated (that is attendance is required at the campus identified). A unit identified as offered by distance, that is there is no requirement for attendance, is identified with a nominal enrolment campus. A unit offered to both attending students and by distance from the same campus is identified as having both modes of study.

Key Dates

Study Period Start date Census date WW date End date
Semester 2 5/7/2026 27/7/2026 30/8/2026 24/10/2026

* The Final WW Date is the final date from which you can withdraw from the unit without academic penalty, however you will still incur a financial liability (refer to How do I withdraw from a unit? for more information).

Unit census dates currently displaying for 2026 are indicative and subject to change. Finalised census dates for 2026 will be available from the 1st October 2025. Note census date cutoff is 11.59pm AEST (AEDT during October to March).

About Census Dates

Learning Outcomes

  • Explain the principles and processes of common human pathological states.
  • Undertake tissue-based diagnosis of a variety of disease pathologies by drawing appropriate conclusions from clinical and pathological manifestations.
  • Communicate in a systematic way in writing, using correct, discipline specific terminology related to pathology.
  • Demonstrate a theoretical and practical understanding of the histochemical and immunohistochemical staining techniques used in the diagnosis of common diseases.
  • Differentiate normal and diseased tissue by identifying microscopically altered cell structures and staining in benign and malignant disease.
  • Perform multiplex immunohistochemical staining to demonstrate and describe the pathology of the tissue by using different primary and secondary antibodies.

Fee Information

Field of Education Commencing Student Contribution 1,3 Grandfathered Student Contribution 1,3 Approved Pathway Course Student Contribution 2,3 Domestic Full Fee 4
019901 $1,192.00 $1,192.00 not applicable $2,862.00
  • Available as a Commonwealth Supported Place
  • HECS-HELP is available on this unit, depending on your eligibility3
  • FEE-HELP is available on this unit, depending on your eligibility4

1 Please refer to more information on student contribution amounts.
2 Please refer to more information on eligibility and Approved Pathway courses.
3 Please refer to more information on eligibility for HECS-HELP.
4 Please refer to more information on eligibility for FEE-HELP.

If you have any questions in relation to the fees, please contact UniConnect or more information is available on StudyAssist.

Please note: international students should refer to What is an indicative Fee? to get an indicative course cost.

Requisites

Mutual Exclusions

You cannot enrol in this unit as well as the following:

CXA625, CXA622

Teaching

Teaching Pattern

Tutorial (1hr x weekly); Online learning (6hrs x weekly); Practical (3hrs x 6 times); Workshop (2hrs x 2 times)

AssessmentPractical Exam (30%)|Practical Report (30%)|Examination (40%)
TimetableView the lecture timetable | View the full unit timetable

Textbooks

Required

Required readings will be listed in the unit outline prior to the start of classes.
Recommended

Orchard, G., & Nation, B. (2019). Histopathology (Second edition.). Oxford University Press.
Reisner, E. G., & Reisner, H. M. (2018). Crowley’s an introduction to human disease¿: pathology and pathophysiology correlations (10th ed.). Jones & Bartlett Learning.
Aster, J. C., Kumar, V., Abbas, A. K., Debnath, J., & Das, A. (2026). Robbins, Cotran & Kumar pathologic basis of disease (Eleventh edition / International edition.). Elsevier.
Eroschenko, V. P. (2017). Atlas of histology with functional correlations (Thirteenth edition.). Wolters Kluwer.
 

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