Home

Course Schedule

 

INTRODUCTION

Knowledge of physical and biological characteristics of animals helps in designing tools for their management and conservation.  The current undergraduate programme in the Department offers such basic courses as Ecology, Genetics, Entomology, Evolution, Behaviour, Physiology, Vertebrate Biology, Parasitology, Biometry and Aquatic Biology, in addition to more applied career-oriented courses like Public Health, Fishery Biology, Conservation Biology, Wildlife Management, Applied Entomology, Innovation and Business Plan for Biologists and Advanced Genetics.  The latter focuses largely on modern concepts of molecular biology and genetic engineering.

 

The programme of the Department of Animal Biology and Conservation Science comprises 5 major (thematic) areas of study and a general cross-cutting area.  The thematic areas are:  Genetics, Animal Physiology and radiation Biology, Aquatic Sciences, Conservation Sciences, Biology and Management of Animal Pests and Vectors of Medical importance.  The general area consists of courses that cut across all the five thematic areas.

 

The Department’s thematic areas offer several options for our students to make informed choices of their future careers in the life sciences.  Furthermore, the multi-disciplinary nature of the undergraduate programme enables the graduate in Animal Biology and Conservation Science to more readily identify several areas of postgraduate programmes to pursue their careers.  The student of Animal Biology and Conservation Science will be so adequately equipped with knowledge directed towards the complex interrelationships among humans, other animals, plants, and the physical environment and how to reduce the negative anthropogenic impact.  The structure of the programmes also makes them versatile to even move to other areas of endeavour.

Students offering BSc in Animal Biology and Conservation Science as Single Subject Major are expected to take all prescribed core courses (69 credits) from Levels 100 – 400 and make up their credit units from elective courses as per the instructions given.  Students offering BSc. in Animal Biology and Conservation Science as a Combined Major are expected to take the prescribed core courses (46 credits) from Levels 100 – 400 and make up their credit units from elective courses as per the instructions given.

 

LEVEL 100

FIRST SEMESTER

Core

Code

Title

Credits

UGRC 150

Critical Thinking and Practical Reasoning

3

 

ABCS 101

Introductory Animal Biology

3

CHEM 111

General Chemistry I

3

PHYS 105

Practical Physics I

1

PHYS 143

Mechanics and Thermal Physics

3

MATH 101

General Mathematics

3

                        Total

16

 

 

SECOND SEMESTER

Core

 

Code

Title

Credits

UGRC 110

Academic Writing I

3

UGRC 131 - 136

Understanding Human Society

3

BOTN 104

Growth of Flowering Plants

3

CHEM 112

General Chemistry II

3

CHEM 110

Practical Chemistry

1

PHYS 106

Practical Physics II

1

PHYS 144

Electricity and Magnetism

3

                        Total

17

 

 

SINGLE MAJOR IN ANIMAL BIOLOGY AND CONSERVATION SCIENCE

LEVEL 200

FIRST SEMESTER

Core

 

Code

Title

Credits

UGRC 210

Academic Writing II

3

ABCS 201

Zoological Techniques

2

ABCS 203

Principles of Evolution

1

ABCS 205

Vertebrate Anatomy

3

                        Total

9

Select 6 credits from other programmes

 

 

SECOND SEMESTER

Core

Code

Title

Credits

UGRC 220 - 238

Introduction to African Studies

3

BIOL 202

Introductory Cell Biology and Genetics

3

ABCS 204

Introductory Animal Ecology

3

ABCS 206

Introductory Biometry

2

                        Total

11

 

 

Select 4 credits from other programmes

 

LEVEL 300

FIRST SEMESTER

Core

Code

Title

Credits

ABCS 301

Comparative Chordate Biology

2

ABCS 303

Comparative Animal Physiology

2

ABCS 307

Venomous Animals

1

ABCS 309

Animal Ecology

2

ABCS 311

Systematics

1

BIOL 315

Principles of Genetics

3

ABCS 321

Comparative Chordate Biology Practical

1

ABCS 323

Comparative Animal Physiology Practical

1

                        Total

13

Electives (Select 2-3 credits)

ABCS 305

Behavioural Ecology

1

ABCS 313

Microbiology and Immunology

2

 

 

SECOND SEMESTER

Core

 

Code

Title

Credits

ABCS 302

General Entomology

2

ABCS 304

Public Health Zoology

2

ABCS 306

Zoogeography

1

ABCS 314

Principles of Conservation Science

2

ABCS 318

Aquatic Biology

2

ABCS 322

General Entomology Practical

1

ABCS 324

Public Health Zoology Practical

1

ABCS 330

Zoological Field Studies

2

                        Total

13

Electives (Select 2-3 credits)

ABCS 308

Terrestrial Invertebrates

1

ABCS 312

Westland Ecology

2

 

 

LEVEL 400

FIRST SEMESTER

Core

 

 

Code

Title

Credits

ABCS 401

Animal Behaviour

2

ABCS 403

Environmental Physiology

2

ABCS 409

Marine Biology

2

ABCS 411

Freshwater Biology

2

ABCS 413

Conservation Biology

2

ABCS 417

Applied Statistics for Biologists

2

ABCS 421

Research and Project Management

2

                        Total

14

Electives (Select 1-4 credits)

ABCS 405

Population Ecology

3

ABCS 407

Limnology

2

ABCS 415

Application of Evolutionary Principles

1

 

SECOND SEMESTER

Core

 

Code

Title

Credits

ABCS 410

Field Trips and Reports

2

 

ABCS 420

Projects

6

                        Total

8

Electives (Select 7-10 credits)

ABCS 402

Molecular Genetics and Biotechnology

3

ABCS 404

Epidemiology of Tropical Diseases

3

ABCS 406

Vertebrate Biology

2

ABCS 408

Wetland Ecology and Management

3

ABCS 412

Petroleum Ecology

2

ABCS 414

Fishery Biology and Marine Ranching

2

ABCS 416

Wildlife Management

3

ABCS 418

Applied Entomology

3

ABCS 422

Radiation Biology and its Applications

3

ABCS 424

Innovations and Business Plan for Biologists

2

 

 

 

 

COMBINED MAJOR IN ANIMAL BIOLOGY AND CONSERVATION SCIENCE

LEVEL 200

FIRST SEMESTER

Core

 

Code

Title

Credits

UGRC 210

Academic Writing II

3

ABCS 201

Zoological Techniques

2

ABCS 203

Principles of Evolution

1

ABCS 205

Vertebrate Anatomy

3

                        Total

9

 

 

SECOND SEMESTER

Core

Code

Title

Credits

UGRC 220 - 238

Introduction to African Studies

3

BIOL 202

Introductory Cell Biology and Genetics

3

ABCS 204

Introductory Animal Ecology

3

ABCS 206

Introductory Biometry

2

                        Total

11

 

LEVEL 300

 FIRST SEMESTER

 

Code

Title

Credits

ABCS 301

Comparative Chordate Biology

2

ABCS 303

Comparative Animal Physiology

2

ABCS 309

Animal Ecology

2

ABCS 311

Systematics

1

ABCS 321

Comparative Chordate Biology Practical

1

ABCS 323

Comparative Animal Physiology Practical

1

                        Total

9

 

 

SECOND SEMESTER

**Core

 

Code

Title

Credits

ABCS 302

General Entomology

2

ABCS 304

Public Health Zoology

2

ABCS 318

Aquatic Biology

3

ABCS 322

General Entomology Practical

1

ABCS 324

Public Health Zoology Practical

1

                        Total

11

Elective

ABCS 330

Zoological Field Studies

2

 

 

 

 

LEVEL 400

FIRST SEMESTER

Core

 

Code

Title

Credits

ABCS 401

Animal Behaviour

2

ABCS 403

Environmental Physiology

2

ABCS 413

Conservation Biology

2

                        Total

6

Electives (Select 1-3 credits)

ABCS 405

Population Ecology

3

ABCS 407

Limnology

2

ABCS 419

Applied Insect Taxonomy

1

 

 

SECOND SEMESTER

Core

 

Code

Title

Credits

ABCS 410

Field Trips and Reports

2

                        Total

2

Electives (Select 5-7 credits)

ABCS 402

Molecular Genetics and Biotechnology

3

ABCS 404

Epidemiology of Tropical Diseases

3

ABCS 406

Vertebrate Biology

2

ABCS 408

Wetland Ecology and Management

3

ABCS 412

Petroleum Ecology

2

ABCS 414

Fishery Biology and Marine Ranching

2

ABCS 416

Wildlife Management

3

ABCS 418

Applied Entomology

3

ABCS 422

Radiation Biology and its Applications

3

ABCS 424

Innovations and Business Plan for Biologists

2

ABCS 420

Project

6

 

POSTGRADUATE COURSES
 

Entry Requirements
A good first degree with adequate Biology or Zoology content. 

EXAMINATION

For each course, there is a 2-3 hour examination, and for each examination, candidates are normally required to answer three questions out of five.

COURSES
Courses are to be taken by all students in the first year of the MPhil degree programme, to be followed in the second year by research and thesis writing. A minimum of 24 credits to a maximum of 36 credits is required for the first year. For the second year, the requirement is 36 credits 

One course credit is equivalent to one hour of lectures or three hours of practical per week per semester, or a combination of lectures and practicals based on this weighting

AREAS OF SPECIALIZATION

The following three areas of specialization are available:

Entomology (Insect Science)
Parasitology
Biodiversity Studies

 

ENTOMOLOGY (INSECT SCIENCE)

Year I

Core Courses
Code                                                 Title                                                         Credits
  ENTO 601:                                     Taxonomy                                                        3
 
  ENTO 602:                                 Agricultural Pests                                                 3
 
  ENTO 603:                         Functional Morphology of Insects                                 3
 
  ENTO 604:                               Insecticide Science                                                 3
 
  ENTO 605:                          Insect Physiology & Biochemistry                                3
 
  ENTO 607:                                  Insect Ecology                                                    3
 
  ENTO 611:                             Research Methods                                                   3
 
  ENTO 612:                      Insect Pest and Vector Management                               4
 
  CROP 692:                      Biometry/Statistics for Biologists                                    3  
 
Elective Courses:
Code                                                     Title                                                 Credits
 ENTO 606:  Disease Vectors of Medical, Veterinary and Agricultural Importance  3
 
 ENTO 608:                     Stored Products Entomology                                          3 
 
 Year II
Code                                                      Title                                                 Credits
  ENTO 600:                                       Thesis Research                                        30
 
  ENTO 621:                                          Seminar   I                                               3

  ENTO 622:                                          Seminar   II                                              3

 

Biodiversity Studies

Year I

 

Core Courses:

Code                                                         Title                                                     Credits         

 
BIOS 601:                                      Environmental Studies                                             3  
BIOS 602:                                      Population Ecology                                                  3  
BIOS 603:                                 Advanced Animal Ecology                                             3  
BIOS 604:                                         Mini-Projects                                                        3  
BIOS 605:                                  Biology and Ecology of Tetrapods                                 4  
BIOS 606:                                Tetrapod Conservation Biology                                       3  
BIOS 607:                                         Field Techniques                                                    4  
CROP 692:                                           Biometry                                                             3  
   

Elective Courses

Code                                                         Title                                                      Credits

 
*ESCI 605:                                        Remote Sensing                                                  4  
*ESCI 606:                                Environmental Impact Assessment                              3  
*ESCI 612:                                  Forest Resource Management                                    3  
**BOTN 613                                     Ecological Methods                                              4  
**BOTN 616                           Conservation of Biological Resources                             4  
   
*Offered by Environmental Science Programme  
** Offered by Botany Department  
   

Year  II

Core Courses

Code                                                          Title                                                     Credits                                                    

 
BIOS 600:                                           Research and Thesis                                     30  
BIOS 621:                                               Seminar I                                                    3  
BIOS 622:                                               Seminar II                                                   3  

Parasitology

Year I

 

Core Courses:  

Code                                                       Title                                                       Credits                      

 
PARA 601:                                      Biology of Parasites                                               4  
PARA 602:                                 Epidemiology of Tropical Diseases                             3  
PARA 603:                                   Techniques & Preparations                                       3  
PARA 604:                                         Mini-Projects                                                     3  
PARA 605:                                    Immunology of Parasites                                         3  
PARA 606:                                 Histopathology of Parasites                                        3  
CROP 692:                                           Biometry                                                           3  
BCHM 611:                   Parasite Biochemistry and Host Defence Mechanisms                2  
   

Elective Courses:

Code                                                        Title                                                      Credits

 
PARA 607:                                  Physiology of Parasites                                                3  
PARA 608:                                    Zoonotic Diseases                                                     2  
PARA 609:                                  Plant Parasitic Nematodes                                           2  
PARA 610:                               Special Topics in Immunology                                        2  
BCHM 400:                                Molecular Biology                                                         2  
BCHM 613:                           Mechanisms of Action of Microbial Compounds                 2  
   
Year II  
Code                                                      Ttile                                                         Credits  
PARA 600:                                       Thesis Research                                                     30  
PARA 621:                                           Seminar I                                                             3  
PARA 622:                                          Seminar II                                                              3