The Department of Biological Sciences as approved by the Senate of the University. The following information is for the consumption of students admitted in the Department and any other person intending to be enrolled into the programme may also find the handbook useful. This handbook also contains up-to-date information on all courses run in the Department and a comprehensive list of all teaching and technical staff hence making it an invaluable document.

This list of senior staff in the Department with their areas of Specialization/Interest gives room for any student intending to carry out a research in any of the areas even at Postgraduate level to contact such a Lecturer for a detailed discussion. All our staff in their various disciplines are outstanding and experienced to give needed guidance with the cooperation of the students for a meaningful research work.

On behalf of all staff and students already in the Department, we wish every one of our new students a happy stay in the Department as we study life and Biological molecules.

Thank you.

TITLE OF DEGREE PROGRAMME:
Bachelor of Science (Honours) in Biology: (B. Sc. (Hons) Biology)

INTRODUCTION:
The Department of Biological Sciences was established in the 1992/1993 session but did not commence degree programme until the 1993/1994 academic session due to lack of students. In order to produce a reasonable number of students from the State for Science programmes, the Faculty of Science was allowed by the University to start a Remedial Science programme from 1992/1993 session. This programme was at that time the main source of students in the Department.

When the undergraduate degree programme commenced in the 1993/1994 session, the design was for two degrees, namely; B. Sc. (Hons) Botany and B. Sc. (Hons) Zoology. By the end of the 1994/1995 session, it was resolved that since the Department’s staff strength was inadequate to run the two programmes successfully, only B. Sc. (Hons) Biology should be offered. Since the fundamental philosophy behind the two earlier programmes had been the provision of broad-based training and for the fact that all 100 and 200 level courses were core to all the students, the change over to B. Sc. (Hons) Biology did not affect the students negatively. The Department hopes to start degree programmes in Botany, Microbiology and Zoology soon.

Undergraduate Programmes
Undergraduates majoring in Biological Sciences will develop a broad base of general knowledge, focused primarily in the biological sciences, and capped with in-depth knowledge specific to their particular major program.
Biological Sciences majors will also obtain broad knowledge in humanities, mathematics, social sciences, and natural sciences, coupled with analytical, oral and compositional skills, to promote good citizenship and the capacity for life-long learning.
Our students are expected to demonstrate a breadth of knowledge across the sub-disciplines that comprise Biological Sciences. The curriculum for biology majors meets the needs of students with three post-graduation ambitions: graduate school, professional school, or work in industry or government without further training.

Learning Objectives

• As Biological Sciences is an integrative discipline, students are required to demonstrate appropriate proficiency in Chemistry, Mathematics and Physics in order to apply this knowledge to the study of Biology.
• Students will acquire a breadth of knowledge in Biology (genetics, physiology, anatomy, ecology, evolution, cell- or biochemistry, and microbiology).
• Students will acquire a broad knowledge in humanities, mathematics, social sciences, and natural sciences, coupled with analytical, oral and compositional skills, to promote good citizenship and the capacity for life-long learning.
• Students will develop and apply oral and written skills, problem-solving skills in developing experimental design and analysis, and participate in individualized hands-on field and laboratory exercises.
• Students will be prepared with a sufficient depth of knowledge in their specific major program to assure their admission to graduate or professional school or be prepared for entry-level employment.

The study of biology can have a multitude of aims and objectives. Largely, it is studied to allow a person to enter a specific field of employment. Other aims for studying biology are intellectual, ethical and pragmatic: to increase knowledge about all aspects of organisms, to encourage greater benevolence in the relationship between humans and the natural environment and to implement biological factors into various technologies or management techniques.

Understanding Living Systems and Critical Thinking: 
The study of biology aims to increase understanding of living systems and to allow you to consider the systems in relationship to the self and other organisms in the natural environment. The goal is to be able to test theories developed about living things by utilizing the scientific method and then to apply the new information in a beneficial way.

Field Biology, Health Care and Education
Biology has many applications, both in the natural environment and the environment of health and education. Studying biology allows health care workers to understand the living systems of the body and to apply the knowledge in direct ways to recover and maintain the physical health of both animal and human patients. Educators rely on biology to teach the study of life to future generations. Field biologists use biology to understand relationship between living organisms and to notice what’s beneficial and what is imbalanced and dangerous.

Research
Studying biology prepares you for a career working in either an educational institution or an industry in which you can be directly involved in the research and development of drugs, food-related items and biotechnology. Also, by studying biology you can become qualified to work for the government in managing such things as environmental research of animals, river systems or biological waste.

 Computers, Business and Communications 
Another objective of studying biology is to be able to integrate the fields of technology, law and business with various aspects of biology. Also, by studying biology you learn many of skills needed to succeed in business and communications, like problem solving and project management. Biology is integrated into computers with bio-informatics and is a part of communications and business with environmental law and eco-products.

3.     PHILOSOPHY
The exposure to knowledge of Sciences, acquisition and spread of knowledge in Biological Sciences to enable the graduates play active and informed roles in their individual, social and national development strategies.
4.     OBJECTIVES
The programme indicates a general trend towards the offer of courses in Biology with an interdisciplinary approach. The objectives include the training of:
i).     Undergraduates in Biology fundamentals and specialist skills, not only to meet their intellectual demands but also to encourage the acquisition of necessary science skills for a wide range of practical applications;
ii).     Students in different allied fields so as to allow them fit into the interdisciplinary environment where they need interdisciplinary approach in the solving of complex life problems;
iii).    Students that would play active and informed roles in their individual, social and national development strategies.

Candidates seeking admission into the 100 level of the 4 years degree programme in the Department must possess a minimum of:

i).     The appropriate pass mark in University Matriculation Examination (UME).

ii).     Five (5) credit level passes in at most two sittings in Biology, Mathematics, Chemistry, English Language including one other subject that may be required by the Faculty of Science at School Certificate Level (GCE O’ Level or SSCE/WASC or NECO) or;

iii).    Passes in all the five (5) prescribed subjects at a sitting in the Preliminary Studies Programme of the Benue State University.
For direct Entry, passes in at least two (2) ‘A’ Level subjects or equivalent which must include one Biological subject (Biology, Botany or Zoology) and Chemistry is required.