BACHELOR OF SCIENCE IN MICROBIOLOGY AND BIOTECHNOLOGY
Admission Requirements for the Bachelor of Science in Microbiology and Biotechnology
a) Candidates must have obtained the minimum University and School admission requirements.
b) The following shall be eligible for registration for the degree of Bachelor of Science in Science in Microbiology and Biotechnology
in the Department of Biological sciences:
i) An aggregate of C+ grade which is the minimum University of Embu admission requirement and must have obtained at Kenya Certificate of Secondary Education (KCSE) the following grades:
Biological Sciences C+
Physical Sciences C
Mathematics C
English/Kiswahili /Geography C
OR
Biology C+
Chemistry C
Mathematics/Physics C
English/Kiswahili/ Geography C
ii) Two principal passes at A-level in Biology and Chemistry and a subsidiary all obtained at the same sitting. In addition, a credit in Mathematics or Physics at O-level.
iii) A degree in Biological Sciences and/or Chemistry from any recognized University plus KSCE Biology/Biological Sciences C+ or a credit in Biology at O-level.
iv) Have a diploma in relevant subjects from an Institution recognized by the University Senate
v) Have a National diploma with a credit pass in a Microbiology related subject from a institution recognized by the University Senate, or have any other qualification accepted by the University Senate as equivalent, a relevant diploma may at the discretion of the Department of Biological Sciences be admitted at 2nd year of the course in which case they may complete their course in 3 academic years and a maximum of five years.
vi) Those with a relevant Higher Diploma may at the discretion of the Department of Biological Sciences be admitted directly into the course in the third year of study in which case they may complete their course in a minimum of two years and a maximum of four academic years
c) Any other qualification equivalent to the above subject to Senate’s approval.
Duration of Study
Four (4) academic years
Expected learning outcomes
Upon successful completion of the course students will:
a) Have gained knowledge and skills to enable them work in research institutions or industry.
b) Have gained solid basic knowledge that will enable them to enroll for postgraduate studies in Microbiology or Biotechnology.
c) Be able to articulate the Application of microorganisms in agriculture, medicine, industry and environment.
d) Be conversant with relevant and recent advances in basic and applied microbiology and Biotechnology.
Career prospects
The students who graduate from the BSc Microbiology and Biotechnology course can work in research institutions or industry specifically in the development and manufacture of pharmaceutical, agricultural and environmental biological products for the benefit of the society. The graduate may also pursue postgraduate degrees in microbiology, biotechnology, genetics or public health.
Course requirements.
i. A learner is required to attend at least two thirds of the total number of lectures in a unit in order to be allowed to sit for the end of semester examination in a given unit of the programme.
ii. The lecturer shall ensure the programme course(s) are delivered in a manner that learning takes place and in line with the University requirements for teaching, assessment and evaluation of a unit.
iii. Any student who fails to attain the pass mark in:
a) Less than 40% of the units taken in an academic year shall be required to retake the failed units when next offered.
b) Between 40% and 75% of the units taken in an academic year shall be required to repeat the year.
c) More than 75% of the units taken in an academic year shall be discontinued.
iv. A student who fails to attain a pass mark in a retake examination, shall on recommendation of the school board and approval by Senate be allowed to retake the failed unit only once. Grading of retake Examinations shall be similar to that of ordinary Examinations as specified in respective programmes.
v. A student will not be allowed to proceed to the subsequent year of study without clearing retakes in the previous year. For instance, a second year student with retakes in the first year will not be allowed to proceed to the third year of study.
vi. A student who fails after the second retake will be required to repeat the year and shall not be allowed to register for the next year of study until they have passed in all the pending retake units.
vii. A student shall be allowed to repeat a year of study ONLY ONCE.
viii. A repeating student in any academic year who fails to attain the pass mark in any of the failed courses shall on recommendation of the School Board and approval by Senate, be discontinued from the degree programme.
ix. The lecturer is obliged to interpret and implement the curriculum and check student class attendance.
x. Course requirement for community service includes the 200hrs Field and Industrial Attachment.
Courses/Unit Distribution Table for BSc Microbiology and Biotechnology
First Year Common undergraduate Courses/Units
|
Unit code |
Courses/Unit Title |
Theory Hours |
Practical Hours |
Status/ Remarks |
|
CCS001 |
Communication Skills |
45 |
0 |
Senate approved |
|
CCS010 |
HIV and AIDS |
45 |
0 |
Senate approved |
|
CCS 009 |
Elements of Economics |
45 |
0 |
Senate approved |
First Year 10 Courses/Units
|
Unit code |
Courses/Unit Title |
Theory Hours |
Practical Hours |
Status/ Remarks |
|
SBT101 |
Plant Diversity |
30 |
15 |
Senate approved |
|
SBT102 |
Introduction to Genetics |
30 |
15 |
Senate approved |
|
SMB101 |
Biological Techniques and Laboratory safety |
30 |
15 |
Senate approved |
|
SMB102 |
Introduction to Microbiology |
30 |
15 |
Senate approved |
|
SZL101 |
Invertebrate Zoology |
30 |
15 |
Senate approved |
|
SZL103 |
Fundamentals of Ecology |
30 |
15 |
Senate approved |
|
SCH101 |
Inorganic Chemistry |
30 |
15 |
Senate approved |
|
SCH102 |
Organic Chemistry |
30 |
15 |
Senate approved |
|
SCH103 |
Physical Chemistry |
30 |
15 |
Senate approved |
|
SBC107 |
Information Technology |
30 |
15 |
Senate approved |
Second Year 12 Courses/Units
|
Unit code |
Courses/Unit Title |
Theory Hours |
Practical Hours |
Status/ Remarks |
|
SZL201 |
Cell Biology |
30 |
15 |
Senate approved |
|
SZL210 |
Structure of Biomolecules |
30 |
15 |
Senate approved |
|
SBC203 |
Enzymology |
30 |
15 |
Senate approved |
|
SBC205 |
Regulation of Metabolic Pathways |
30 |
15 |
Senate approved |
|
SBC206 |
General and Molecular Genetics |
30 |
15 |
Senate approved |
|
SBC210 |
Principles of Parasitology |
30 |
15 |
Senate approved |
|
SBT204 |
Plant Biochemistry |
30 |
15 |
Senate approved |
|
SBT207 |
Principles of Plant Pathology |
30 |
15 |
Senate approved |
|
SBT208 |
Plant microbe interactions |
30 |
15 |
Senate approved |
|
SMB201 |
Principles of Bacteriology |
30 |
15 |
Senate approved |
|
SMB202 |
Epidemiology |
30 |
15 |
Senate approved |
|
SZL204 |
Basic Immunology |
30 |
15 |
Senate approved |
Third Year 12 Course/Units Equivalent
|
Unit |
Courses/Unit Title |
Theory Hours |
Practical Hours |
Status/ Remarks |
|
SMB301 |
Techniques in Molecular Biology |
30 |
15 |
Senate approved |
|
SMB302 |
Recombinant DNA technology |
30 |
15 |
Senate approved |
|
SMB303 |
Microbial Genetics |
30 |
15 |
Senate approved |
|
SMB304 |
Microbial Metabolism |
30 |
15 |
Senate approved |
|
SMB305 |
General Mycology |
30 |
15 |
Senate approved |
|
SMB306 |
Food Microbiology |
30 |
15 |
Senate approved |
|
SMB307 |
Mechanisms in Microbial Pathogenicity |
30 |
15 |
Senate approved |
|
SMB308 |
Virology |
30 |
15 |
Senate approved |
|
SMB309 |
Downstream Processing and Bioreactors |
30 |
15 |
Senate approved |
|
SZL303 |
Biostatistics |
30 |
15 |
Senate approved |
|
SZL312 |
Entomology |
30 |
15 |
Senate approved |
|
SZL315 |
Research Methodology |
30 |
15 |
Senate approved |
|
SBM320 |
Field and Industrial Attachment |
180 |
0 |
Senate approved |
Fourth Year
Core Units Seven Courses/ Units
|
Unit |
Courses/Unit Title |
Theory Hours |
Practical Hours |
Status/ Remarks |
|
SMB401 |
Ethics and risks in Biotechnology |
30 |
15 |
Senate approved |
|
SMB402 |
Biopolicy, Biopiracy and Biodiplomacy |
30 |
15 |
Senate approved |
|
SMB403 |
Bioentrepreneurship |
30 |
15 |
Senate approved |
|
SBC401 |
Bioinformatics |
30 |
15 |
Senate approved |
|
SMB405 |
Recent advances in Biotechnology |
30 |
15 |
Senate approved |
|
SMB406 |
Microbial Natural products chemistry |
30 |
15 |
Senate approved |
|
SMB407 |
Applied Microbiology and Biotechnology |
30 |
15 |
Senate approved |
|
SBC416 |
Industrial Enzymes |
30 |
15 |
Senate approved |
Microbiology Option
Any Five Course/Units Equivalent
|
Unit |
Courses/Unit Title |
Theory Hours |
Practical Hours |
Status/ Remarks |
|
|
SMB430 |
Research Project |
30 |
60 |
Senate approved |
|
|
SMB408 |
Soil Microbial Ecology |
30 |
15 |
Senate approved |
|
|
SMB409 |
Industrial Microbiology |
30 |
15 |
Senate approved |
|
|
SMB410 |
Micro-organisms as Biological Control Agents |
30 |
15 |
Senate approved |
|
|
SMB411 |
Microbial Food Toxicology |
30 |
15 |
Senate approved |
|
|
SMB412 |
Pathogenic Microbiology |
30 |
15 |
Senate approved |
|
|
SMB413 |
Marine Microbiology |
30 |
15 |
Senate approved |
|
|
SMB414 |
Environmental Microbiology |
30 |
15 |
Senate approved |
|
|
SZL406 |
Medical Protozoology |
30 |
15 |
Senate approved |
|
|
SZL407 |
Medical Helminthology |
30 |
15 |
Senate approved |
|
|
SZL416 |
Vector Biology |
30 |
15 |
Senate approved |
|
Biotechnology Option
Any Five Course/Units Equivalent
|
Unit |
Courses/Unit Title |
Theory Hours |
Practical Hours |
Status/ Remarks |
|
SMB430 |
Research Project |
30 |
60 |
Senate approved |
|
SMB415 |
Industrial Applications of Biotechnology |
30 |
15 |
Senate approved |
|
SMB416 |
Discovery Strategies in Biotechnology |
30 |
15 |
Senate approved |
|
SMB417 |
Applications of Genetic Engineering |
30 |
15 |
Senate approved |
|
SMB418 |
Fermentation Technology |
30 |
15 |
Senate approved |
|
SMB419 |
Bio screening |
30 |
15 |
Senate approved |
|
SMB420 |
Biosensor technology |
30 |
15 |
Senate approved |
|
SBC414 |
Cell Technology |
30 |
15 |
Senate approved |
Requirements for graduation
a) The curriculum for the Bachelor of Science in Microbiology and Biotechnology shall take a minimum of four academic years consisting of two semesters each.
b) In each year a candidate is required to take all the thirteen (13) course units or equivalent offered.
c) Candidates are expected to attend the courses registered for in entirety to the satisfaction of the Department and School Board of Examiners.
Award of Degree
a) The degree award and classification shall be based on the average score of all units taken in programme.
b) The degree award shall be Bachelor of Science in Microbiology and Biotechnology
Classification of Degrees
A candidate who qualifies for Award of the Degree in Microbiology and Biotechnology
shall be placed in one of the classes as follows:
i. First Class Honours 70% - 100%
ii. Second Class Honours (Upper Division) 60% - 69%
iii. Second Class Honours (Lower Division) 50% - 59%
iv. Pass 40% - 49%