BACHELOR OF SCIENCE IN BIOLOGY
Admission Requirements for the Bachelor of Science in Biology
a) 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 Biology in the Department of Biological sciences:
b) 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.
c) A credit at Diploma level in any relevant area the following from a Senate recognized training institution
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:
i) Apply scientific reasoning in explaining biological concepts.
ii) Demonstrate ability to design, conduct and communicate biological research.
iii) Explain the role of molecular, cellular and organismal diversity in fundamental biological processes.
iv) Demonstrate an understanding of laboratory and field techniques that relate to natural resource management, such as parasitology, entomology, microbiology and molecular biology.
Career prospects
The University of Embu aims to train biologists who will work in academia, conservation, natural resources and environmental management and industries related to biological processes such as agriculture and 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.
Bachelor of Science Biology Courses/Unit Distribution Table
FIRST YEAR COMMON UNDERGRADUATE COURSES
|
Unit code |
Course Title |
Theory Hours |
Practical Hours |
Status |
|
CCS 001 |
Communication Skills |
45 |
0 |
Senate approved |
|
CCS 010 |
HIV and AIDS |
45 |
0 |
Senate approved |
|
CCS 009 |
Elements of Economics |
45 |
0 |
Senate approved |
First year 11 Courses
|
Unit code |
Course Title |
Theory Hours |
Practical Hours |
Status |
|
SBT 101 |
Plant diversity |
30 |
15 |
Senate approved |
|
SBT 102 |
Introduction to Genetics |
30 |
15 |
Senate approved |
|
SZL 101 |
Invertebrate Zoology |
30 |
15 |
Senate approved |
|
SBT 103 |
Lower Plants |
30 |
15 |
Senate approved |
|
SZL 102 |
Vertebrate zoology |
30 |
15 |
Senate approved |
|
SCH 103 |
Physical Chemistry 1 |
30 |
15 |
Senate approved |
|
SCH 102 |
Organic Chemistry 1 |
30 |
15 |
Senate approved |
|
SCH 101 |
Inorganic Chemistry 1 |
30 |
15 |
Senate approved |
|
SZL 103 |
Fundamentals of Ecology |
30 |
15 |
Senate approved |
|
SMB 102 |
Introduction to Microbiology |
30 |
15 |
Senate approved |
|
SMB 103 |
Information Technology |
30 |
15 |
NEW |
SECOND YEAR
|
Unit code |
Course Title |
Theory Hours |
Practical Hours |
Status |
|
SZL 201 |
Cell Biology |
30 |
15 |
Senate approved |
|
SZL210 |
Biomolecules |
30 |
15 |
Senate approved |
|
SBT 201 |
Gymnosperm and Angiosperm Taxonomy |
30 |
15 |
Senate approved |
|
SMB 210 |
General Microbiology |
30 |
15 |
Senate approved |
|
SBT 203 |
Plant Ecology |
30 |
15 |
Senate approved |
|
SBT 204 |
Plant Biochemistry |
30 |
15 |
Senate approved |
|
SZL 202 |
Histology |
30 |
15 |
Senate approved |
|
SZL 203 |
Fundamentals of Aquatic Ecology |
30 |
15 |
Senate approved |
|
SZL 204 |
Basic Immunology |
30 |
15 |
Senate approved |
|
SBC 202 |
Laboratory Techniques and Safety |
30 |
15 |
Senate approved |
|
SBT 207 |
Principles of Plant Pathology |
30 |
15 |
Senate approved |
|
SBT 208 |
Plant microbial interactions |
30 |
15 |
Senate approved |
|
SBC 210 |
Principles of Parasitology |
30 |
15 |
Senate approved |
|
SBC 206 |
General and Molecular Genetics |
30 |
15 |
Senate approved |
THIRD YEAR
CORE COURSES
|
Unit code |
Course Title |
Theory Hours |
Practical Hours |
Status |
|
SBT 302 |
Plant Physiology |
30 |
15 |
Senate approved |
|
SZL 302 |
Evolutionary Biology |
30 |
15 |
Senate approved |
|
SZL 303 |
Biostatistics |
30 |
15 |
Senate approved |
|
SZL 312 |
Entomology |
30 |
15 |
Senate approved |
|
SZL 313 |
Bioethics and Biosafety |
30 |
15 |
Senate approved |
|
SZL 315 |
Research Methodology |
30 |
15 |
Senate approved |
|
SMB 304 |
Microbial Metabolism |
30 |
15 |
Senate approved |
|
SMB 305 |
Mycology |
30 |
15 |
Senate approved |
|
SMB 308 |
Virology |
30 |
15 |
Senate approved |
THIRD YEAR (SPECIALIZATION)
BOTANY MAJOR
(Any 4 courses)
|
Unit code |
Course Title |
Theory Hours |
Practical Hours |
Status |
|
SBT 303 |
Biosystematics and Palynology |
30 |
15 |
Senate approved |
|
SBT 312 |
Plant Cell Structure and Function |
30 |
15 |
Senate approved |
|
SBT 315 |
Plant Nematology |
30 |
15 |
Senate approved |
|
SBT 307 |
Eco-physiology |
30 |
15 |
Senate approved |
|
SBT 317 |
Plant taxonomy |
30 |
15 |
Senate approved |
|
SBT 318 |
Ethnobotany |
30 |
15 |
Senate approved |
|
SBT 303 |
Biosystematics and Palynology |
30 |
15 |
Senate approved |
|
SBT 305 |
Plant Population Ecology |
30 |
15 |
Senate approved |
|
SBT 307 |
Eco-physiology |
30 |
15 |
Senate approved |
|
SBT 319 |
Arid Land Ecology |
30 |
15 |
Senate approved |
ZOOLOGY MAJOR
(Any 4 courses)
|
Unit code |
Course Title |
Theory Hours |
Practical Hours |
Status |
|
SZL 314 |
Fundamentals of Animal Welfare |
30 |
15 |
Senate approved |
|
SZL 301 |
Animal Physiology |
30 |
15 |
Senate approved |
|
SZL 304 |
Developmental Biology |
30 |
15 |
Senate approved |
|
SZL 318 |
Animal Behavior and Ethology |
30 |
15 |
Senate approved |
|
SZL 309 |
Advanced Vertebrate Zoology |
30 |
15 |
Senate approved |
|
SZL 301 |
Animal Ecology |
30 |
15 |
Senate approved |
|
SZL 310 |
Theoretical Ecology |
30 |
15 |
Senate approved |
FOURTH YEAR
CORE COURSES
|
Unit code |
Course Title |
Theory Hours |
Practical Hours |
Status |
|
SBT 412 |
Community ecology |
30 |
15 |
Senate approved |
|
SBT 404 |
Population Genetics |
30 |
15 |
Senate approved |
|
SBT 416 |
Bio-Entrepreneurship |
30 |
15 |
Senate approved |
|
SZE 401 |
Environmental Biology and Conservation |
30 |
15 |
Senate approved |
|
SZL 404 |
History and Philosophy of Biology |
30 |
15 |
Senate approved |
|
SZL 405 |
Limnology and Marine Biology |
30 |
15 |
Senate approved |
FOURTH YEAR (SPECIALIZATION)
BOTANY MAJOR
|
Unit code |
Course Title |
Theory Hours |
Practical Hours |
Status |
|
SBE 430 |
Research project (Optional) |
15 |
75 |
Senate approved |
|
SBT 403 |
Plant Morphogenesis |
30 |
15 |
Senate approved |
|
SBT 406 |
Ecological Monitoring |
30 |
15 |
Senate approved |
|
SBT 407 |
Economic Botany |
30 |
15 |
Senate approved |
|
SBT 408 |
Evolution |
30 |
15 |
Senate approved |
|
SBT 411 |
Marine Botany |
30 |
15 |
Senate approved |
|
SBT 417 |
Advanced Taxonomy |
30 |
15 |
Senate approved |
|
SBE 430 |
Research project (Optional) |
15 |
75 |
Senate approved |
|
SBT 406 |
Ecological Monitoring |
30 |
15 |
Senate approved |
|
SBT 408 |
Evolution |
30 |
15 |
Senate approved |
|
SBT 412 |
Fresh Water Ecology |
30 |
15 |
Senate approved |
|
SBT 421 |
GIS and Remote Sensing |
30 |
15 |
Senate approved |
|
SBT 422 |
Environmental Impact Assessment and Monitoring |
30 |
15 |
Senate approved |
ZOOLOGY MAJOR
Core Courses
|
Unit code |
Course Title |
Theory Hours |
Practical Hours |
Status |
|
SBE 430 |
Research project (Optional) |
15 |
75 |
Senate approved |
|
SZL 401 |
Environmental Biology and Conservation |
30 |
15 |
Senate approved |
|
SZL 405 |
Limnology and Marine Biology |
30 |
15 |
Senate approved |
|
SZL 406 |
Applied Entomology |
30 |
15 |
Senate approved |
|
SZL 407 |
Applied Parasitology |
30 |
15 |
Senate approved |
|
SZL 411 |
Animal Breeding and Improvement |
30 |
15 |
Senate approved |
|
SZL 408 |
Environmental Physiology |
30 |
15 |
Senate approved |
Requirements for graduation
a) The curriculum for the Bachelor of Science in Biology 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
The degree award and classification shall be based on the average score of all units taken in programme.
The degree award shall be Bachelor of Science in Biology.
Classification of Degrees
A candidate who qualifies for Award of the Degree in Biology 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%