BRIEF ON THE DEPARTMENT

The Department of Biological Sciences was established in 1981 as one of the pioneer Departments in the University. It had undergone very rapid development since it was established. Today, the Department has over 40 full-time and well-trained academic staff with expertise in various fields of biological sciences. The academic staff members are well supported by technical staff either for teaching or research. As such, the Department is able to offer courses of high academic quality in Biological Sciences. In order to support its research, teaching and development activities, the Department has well-equipped laboratories which are used to give basic and advanced training in the various biological techniques. Apart from these laboratories, the Department is supported by other facilities such as Animal House, Screen House, Herbarium, and a large Botanical garden.

Research and training

The Department emphasizes interdisciplinary approach in research tapping the potentials of different areas biological sciences like microbiology, biochemistry, genetics and molecular biology, biochemical engineering and chemistry. It brings together researchers with different skills and interests in the quest for knowledge in both fundamental and applied sciences, resulting in the widening of the applications and implications of findings in related areas.

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The training of students is applied in nature and special emphasis is placed on courses related to techniques, fields and relevant laboratory practical of Biological Sciences. This aims at developing students’ minds in technology and its applications to solving biological problems.

Courses are available leading to the award of undergraduate and postgraduate degrees in the following areas:

Undergraduate Courses:

1. Tech. Applied Botany
2. Tech. Applied Ecology
3. Tech. Applied Microbiology
4. Tech. Applied Zoology

Postgraduate Courses:

1. Sc. degree in the following areas with the indicated areas of specialization under each option:
   1. General Biology
      1. Ecology
      2. Cell Biology & Cytogenetics
   2. Botany
      1. Taxonomy
      2. Medicinal Plants
   3. Microbiology
      1. Medical Microbiology
      2. Industrial Microbiology

• Food Microbiology

1. Zoology
   1. Entomology
   2. Parasitology

• Invertebrate Zoology

1. Vertebrate Zoology

2. degree programme in all the areas listed above is available in the department.
3. Postgraduate Diploma (PGD) Programme in the following areas is available:
   1. PGD Botany
   2. PGD Microbiology
   3. PGD Parasitology
   4. PGD Public health
   5. PGD Community Health & Hygiene

PGD Epidemiology and Control of Communicable Diseases