Categories
Courses Advice

ZOOLOGY AND ENVIRONMENTAL BIOLOGY COURSE

The goal of the curriculum in zoology and environmental biology is to advance both general and practical education in these fields. The abiotic and biotic elements of an animal’s habitat are essential to its survival. The major focus of such developing fields as Ecotoxicology, Animal Biotechnology, Biodiversity Studies, Ecosystem Monitoring, Environmental Management, and Animal Bioinformatics is the understanding of Zoology and Environmental Biology.

The multidisciplinary field of environmental biology has grown in importance for environmental management and animal biodiversity research. Therefore, the student must receive sufficient training to enable her to fulfill the anticipated key responsibilities in these developing fields of study. Therefore, adequate knowledge of environmental biology is essential and has been incorporated into the curriculum to fulfill this duty.

Objectives of Zoology and Environmental Biology

  • Through extensive training and education in the fields of general biology, general and applied invertebrate and vertebrate zoology, animal developmental biology, histology, genetics and animal breeding, molecular biology and bioinformatics, animal biotechnology, animal ecology, systematic and evolutionary zoology, animal behavior, general physics, and general chemistry, the program’s goal is to prepare students to respond to global challenges and the needs of the Nigerian society in particular.
  • To provide students with the necessary practical knowledge so they may lead the biomedical, agro-aquacultural, petrochemical, environmental, and human development industries while remaining independent.
  • To provide students with the necessary research skills to work as research officers in the biomedical, agro-aquacultural, petrochemical, and environmental sectors of both the domestic and international economy.
  • To provide the sufficient, effective, and creative training required for the national and international production of high-quality, competent, and competitive zoologists who possess the attitude, character, and other qualities crucial to bringing Nigeria to an excellent level of societal development.

Scope of Zoology and Environmental Biology

Students receive training in a variety of subjects, including general biology, general and applied invertebrate and vertebrate zoology, animal development biology, histology, genetics, and breeding, molecular biology and bioinformatics, animal biotechnology, animal ecology, systematic and evolutionary zoology, animal behavior, general physiology, and environmental biology.

Aside from these core classes, students must also take elective courses in math, physics, agriculture, geology, computer science, microbiology, soil science, plant science, and modern languages. Complementary courses in chemistry, biochemistry, statistics, and computer science are also required. In their final year, students are expected to specialize in one of the following fields: parasitology, fisheries biology, physiology, entomology, environmental biology, genetics, and animal biotechnology. They will do this by enrolling in advanced courses that will give them more exposure to an in-depth understanding of their chosen options. Additionally, the curriculum now includes the Students’ Industrial Work Experience Scheme. It will take place in the third year’s second semester.

Fisheries biology, parasitology, entomology (pure and applied), general and comparative animal physiology, animal genetics, animal biotechnology, and molecular biology are among the areas of the Zoology and Environmental Biology program that are of particular national importance or interest. These topics are also offered in greater detail in the third and final years.

For the B.Sc. (Hons) degree, a student may combine zoology and environmental biology courses with those from other relevant fields to earn a degree in zoology and environmental biology/plant science and biotechnology, zoology and environmental biology/chemistry, zoology, and environmental biology/biochemistry, zoology and environmental biology/microbiology, ed-biology, etc.

Entry Requirements

  1. UME Entry Requirements: It is necessary to obtain a School Certificate or its equivalent, and five O-level credits—including biology, English language, mathematics, or physics and chemistry—in no more than two sittings.
  2. Direct-Entry Requirements: Principal level passes at HSC or GCE A/L in Biology or Zoology and one other Science subject, along with a credit pass in Mathematics or Physics in the School Certificate or its equivalent; a diploma in applied biology from a recognized institution, along with four credit level passes, including Chemistry and Biology, and a credit pass in the English Language in the School Certificate or its equivalent. HND and NCE credit passes, a degree in pertinent subjects, and UME requirements all count as valid documentation.

Job Opportunities

Graduates from the fields of zoology and environmental biology can work in a variety of specialized fields within the domestic and international labor markets. One of the relatively few of these sectors is the medical and biomedical one, which includes institutions for professionals in public health, parasitology, entomology, animal biotechnology, and physiology as well as hospitals, clinics, public health facilities, pharmaceutical companies, disease vector control departments, and the World Health Organization.

In agricultural establishments, pest control and crop protection units, aquaculture facilities, the Institute of Marine and Oceanographic Research, the Institute of Freshwater Fish Research, the Institute of Topical Agriculture, the Ministry of Agriculture’s fisheries unit, veterinary clinics, lab/small animal production facilities, the Food and Agricultural Organization, the Food and Drug Administration Agencies, etc. for qualified entomologists, fisheries scientists, aquaculturists, etc. Urban and municipal waste management, sewage management, sanitation projects, pollution and Environmental Protection Agencies, environmental impact assessment facilities, wildlife and recreation resorts, zoos, biodiversity prospecting projects, natural history museums, petrochemical industries (Oil and Gas industries), etc., for ecologists, hydrobiologists, mammalogists, environmental biologists, conservationists, animal biotechnologists, etc.

Additionally, they can find employment as auxiliary teachers in businesses like breweries, feed manufacturing, food processing, and educational institutions, as well as bankers in commercial and agricultural banks.

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *