The Physiology major will teach students how the body works. Students will learn about the ways in which cells, organs and the whole body function in an integrated way. By understanding normal function, students will investigate disturbances in whole body systems such as those relating to the endocrine, cardiovascular, musculoskeletal, developmental and neural control systems. The experimental bases of physiology are emphasized and students will use contemporary techniques to examine questions in physiology. Discoveries in physiology have a broad impact upon health and medicine, environmental science, industry, nutrition, exercise and reproductive biology. Many of the discoveries from the human genome project rely on physiology to understand their impact on the human body.

This major opens up career opportunities in areas including  consulting, medical and health-related sciences, pharmaceutical research, research in university departments and in hospitals, and research work in applied physiology.

Employers include universities, the Royal Melbourne Hospital, the Murdoch Children’s Research Institute, and the Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre.