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Welcome to the Department of Biological Sciences.

BACHELOR OF SCIENCE IN BIOCHEMISTRY

Admission Requirements for the Bachelor of Science in Biochemistry

  1. Candidates must have obtained the minimum University and School admission requirements.
    The following shall be eligible for registration for the degree of Bachelor of Science in Biochemistry in the Department of Biological sciences:
  2. 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.
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.

   c. A credit at Diploma level in any of the following from a Senate recognized training institution:

  • Animal Health
  • Medical Laboratory Technology
  • Science Laboratory Technology
  • Food Science Technology
  • Education (Biology and Chemistry)
  • Dental Science
  • Public Health
  • Nursing
  • Pharmaceutical Technology
  • Clinical Medicine

   d. 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 program students will:

  1. Demonstrate an understanding of fundamental biochemical principles.
  2. Acquire proficiency in laboratory techniques in biochemistry and apply the scientific method to the processes of experimentation and hypothesis testing.
  3. Apply molecular and cell-based techniques in delineating the cells functional processes in research and industrial settings.
  4. Apply and effectively communicate scientific reasoning and data analysis in both written and oral forums.

Career prospects
The University of Embu aims to train biochemists who will work in industry and academia.
Course requirements.

  1. 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.
  2. 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.
  3. 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.
  4. 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.
  5. 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.
  6. 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.
  7. A student shall be allowed to repeat a year of study ONLY ONCE.
  8. 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.
  9. The lecturer is obliged to interpret and implement the curriculum and check student class attendance.
  10. Course requirement for community service includes the 200hrs Field and Industrial Attachment.

Bachelor of Science Biochemistry Courses/Unit Distribution Table
First year

 

Semester one units

 

Unit Code

Courses/Unit Title

Theory Hours

Practical  Hours

Total unit hours

Status/ Remarks

Common courses

CCS 001

Communication Skills

45

 0

45

Senate approved

CCS 010

HIV and AIDS

45

 0

45

Senate approved

SCH 101

Inorganic Chemistry

30

 15

45

Senate approved

SCH 103

Physical Chemistry I

30

 15

45

Senate approved

SMA 101

Basic Mathematics

45

0

45

Senate approved

Core courses

SBC 103

Mammalian physiology

30

15

45

Senate approved

SZL 101

Invertebrate Biology

30

15

45

Senate approved

 

Semester two units

Common courses

CCS 009

Elements of Economics

45

 0

45

Senate approved

SBC 106

Information Technology

30

 15

45

Senate approved

SCH 102

Organic Chemistry I

30

 15

45

Senate approved

Core courses

SBC 101

Cell Structure and Function

30

 15

45

Senate approved

SBC 102

Introduction to Biochemistry

30

 15

45

Senate approved

SBC 104

Plant Physiology

30

15

45

Senate approved

SBC 105

Introduction to Genetics

30

 15

45

Senate approved

 

 

 

Total

630 hours

 

 

 Second Year

 

Semester one units

 

Unit Code

Courses/Unit Title

Theory Hours

Practical Hours

Total unit hours

Status/ Remarks

Core courses

SBC 201

Mammalian Histology

30

 15

45

Senate approved

SBC 204

Metabolism I

30

 15

45

Senate approved

SBC 207

Comparative Biochemistry

30

 15

45

Senate approved

SBC 205

General and Molecular Genetics

30

 15

45

Senate approved

SZL 210

Structure of Biomolecules

30

 15

45

Senate approved

SCH 202

The Chemistry of Alkyl Halides, Alcohols, Ethers Alkenes, Alkynes and Aromatic Compounds

30

 15

45

Senate approved

SBC 209

Principles parasitology

30

 15

45

Senate approved

 

Semester two units

Core courses

SBC 203

Enzymology

30

 15

45

Senate approved

SBC 206

Biomembranes

30

 15

45

Senate approved

SBC 202

Laboratory Practice and safety

15

 30

45

Senate approved

SBC 210

Calculus for biological sciences

45

-

45

Senate approved

SBC 208

Mammalian Tissues Metabolism

30

 15

45

Senate approved

SBT 204

Plant Biochemistry

30

 15

45

Senate approved

SCA 201

Quantitative Analysis

30

 15

45

Senate approved

 

 

 

Total

630 hours

 

 

Third Year

 

Semester one units

 

Unit code

Courses/Unit Title

Theory Hours

Practical Hours

Total unit hours

Status/ Remarks

Core courses

SBC 301

Food and Nutritional Biochemistry

30

15

45

Senate approved

SBC 302

Principles of Biochemical Endocrinology

30

15

45

Senate approved

SBC 308

Metabolism II

30

15

45

Senate approved

SZL 303

Biostatistics

30

15

45

Senate approved

SMB 301

Techniques in Molecular Biology

15

30

45

Senate approved

SBC 309

Biochemistry of Microorganisms

30

15

45

Senate approved

SMB 302

Recombinant DNA technology

30

15

45

Senate approved

 

Semester two units

Core courses

SBC 303

Advanced Enzymology

30

15

45

Senate approved

SBC 304

Mammalian Parasites

30

15

45

Senate approved

SBC 305

Protein Biochemistry

30

15

45

Senate approved

SBC 306

Biochemistry of Drug Use and Addiction

30

15

45

Senate approved

SMB 309

Downstream Processing and Bioreactors

30

15

45

Senate approved

SZL 315

Research Methodology

30

15

45

Senate approved

SBC 310

Regulation of Metabolic Pathway

30       

15       

45         

Senate approved

SBC 307

Field and Industrial Attachment

200

200

Senate approved

 

 

 

Total

830 hours

 

 

Fourth Year

 

Semester One units

 

Unit Code

Courses/Unit Title

Theory Hours

Practical Hours

Total unit hours

Status/ Remarks

Core courses

SBC 401

Bioinformatics

30

15

45

Senate approved

SBC 402

General Biochemical Techniques & Instrumentation

15

30

45

Senate approved

SBC 403

Advanced Biochemical Techniques & Instrumentation

15

30

45

Senate approved

 

Semester two units

Core courses

SBC 404

Forensic Biochemistry

30

15

45

Senate approved

SBC 405

Biochemical Toxicology

30

15

45

Senate approved

SBC 406

Biochemical Parasitology

30

15

45

Senate approved

SBC 407

Biochemical Pharmacology

30

15

45

Senate approved

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Medical Option        Any Five Units Equivalent

 

Semester One units

 

Unit

Courses/Unit Title

Theory Hours

Practical Hours

Total unit hours

Status/ Remarks

Elective course

SBC 408

Research Project

15

30

45

Senate approved

Core courses

SBC 409

Molecular Immunology

30

15

45

Senate approved

SBC 410

Clinical Chemistry

30

15

45

Senate approved

 

 

 

Semester two units

Elective courses

SBC 408

Research Project

15

30

45

Senate approved

SBC 412

Applied Biochemical Endocrinology

30

15

45

Senate approved

SMB 411

Microbial Food Toxicology

30

15

45

Senate approved

SMB 412

Pathogenic Microbiology

30

15

45

Senate approved

Core courses

SBC 411

Applied Clinical Chemistry

30

15

45

Senate approved

SBC 413

Biochemistry of Cancer

30

15

45

Senate approved

 

 

 

Total

540

 

 

Molecular Biology and Biotechnology Option          Any Five Course/Units Equivalent

 

Semester one units

 

Unit

Courses/Unit Title

Theory Hours

Practical Hours

Total unit hours

Status/ Remarks

Elective courses

SBC 408

Research Project

15

30

45

Senate approved

SMB 409

Industrial Microbiology

30

15

45

Senate approved

Core courses

SMB 415

Industrial Applications of Biotechnology

30

15

45

Senate approved

SBC 414

Cell Technology

30

15

45

Senate approved

 

 

Semester two

Elective courses

SBC 408

Research Project

15

30

45

Senate approved

SMB 401

Ethics, Risks and opportunities in Biotechnology

30

15

45

Senate approved

SMB 416

Discovery Strategies in Biotechnology

30

15

45

Senate approved

Core courses

SBC 415

Human and Population Genetics

30

15

45

Senate approved

SMB 417

Applications of Genetic Engineering

30

15

 

45

Senate approved

 

 

 

Total

540

 

 

Industrial Biochemistry Option             Any Five Course/Units Equivalent

Semester none units

 

 

Unit

Courses/Unit Title

Theory Hours

Practical Hours

Total unit hours

Status/ Remarks

Core courses

SBC 416

Industrial Enzymes

30

15

45

Senate approved

SMB 418

Fermentation Technology

30

15

45

Senate approved

Elective courses

SMB 415

Industrial Applications of Biotechnology

30

15

45

Senate approved

SBC 408

Research Project

15

30

45

Senate approved

Semester two units

Core courses

SBC 417

Immunochemistry

30

15

45

Senate approved

SMB 419

Bio screening

30

15

45

Senate approved

Elective courses

SMB 420

Biosensor technology

30

15

45

Senate approved

SBC 418

Environmental Biochemistry

30

15

45

Senate approved

SBC 408

Research Project

15

30

45

Senate approved

 

 

 

Total

540

 

 

Requirements for graduation
a)    The curriculum for the Bachelor of Science in Biochemistry 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 fourteen (14) course units or equivalent offered.
c)    In the fourth year of study, a candidate is required to register for SBC 401, 402, 403, 404, 405, 406, 407 and six (6) courses from any of the following degree options:
i.    SBC 408, SBC 409, SBC 410, SBC 411, SBC 412, SBC 413, SMB 411 and SMB 412 for BSc in Biochemistry (Medical option).
ii.    SBC 408, SMB 409, SMB 415, SBC 414, SBC 415, SMB 401, SMB 416 and SMB 417 for BSc in Biochemistry (Molecular Biology and Biotechnology option).
iii.    SBC 408, SBC416, SBC 417, SBC 418, SMB 415, SMB 418, SMB 419 and SMB 420 for BSc in Biochemistry (Industrial Option).
d)    Candidates are expected to attend all the fifty four (54) units equivalent to 2670 hours registered for in entirety to the satisfaction of the Department and School of Pure and Applied Sciences Board of Examiners.
The degree award and classification shall be based on the average score of all the fifty two (54) units taken in the programme.
b)    The degree award shall be Bachelor of Science in Biochemistry with options indicated as follows:
i.    Bachelor of Science in Biochemistry (Medical Option)
ii.    Bachelor of Science in Biochemistry (Molecular Biology and Biotechnology Option)
iii.    Bachelor of Science in Biochemistry (Industrial Biochemistry Option)

Classification of Degrees
A candidate who qualifies for Award of the Degree in Biochemistry 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