Natural & Environmental Sciences
The Bachelor of Science program in Natural and Environmental Sciences provides an advanced understanding of the natural environment through interdisciplinary scientific education and research.
When majoring in Natural and Environmental Sciences, students will choose one of these concentration areas:
All these concentrations provide comprehensive foundations in natural scientific inquiry through courses in biology, chemistry, toxicology, physics, and those directly related to the environment and ecology. The concentrations prepare students for meaningful employment and for further studies at the graduate level.
The Conservation Biology concentration prepares students for positions as researchers, advisors, and administrators in such organizations as:
The Environment and Health concentration prepares students for careers in:
The Biomedical Sciences concentration provides the foundation for students wishing to continue their studies in medicine and health-related graduate programs. It will prepare students for careers in:
When majoring in Natural and Environmental Sciences, students will choose one of these concentration areas:
- Bioinformatics
- Biomedical Sciences
- Biostatistics
- Conservation Biology
- Environment and Health
- Public Health
Bioinformatics is an interdisciplinary concentration that combines the knowledge of biology and computer science to analyse and solve biological problems. In an era where massive amounts of biological data are constantly being produced, there is a pressing need to develop computer software that can adequately process and analyse vast quantities of biological data. The bioinformatics concentration trains students to be able to develop software that can be used as tools to analyse and answer biological questions in the areas of medicine and health, agriculture, conservation, and other areas of life sciences.
Biomedical Sciences provides an advanced understanding of biology with a special focus on human biology. This program is designed for students who wish to further their career in the health professions: medical practice, nursing, public health, physical therapy, pharmacy, veterinary medicine, etc. It is also the degree of choice for students wishing to further their education at the graduate level in biotechnology, molecular biology, cell biology, biochemistry, microbiology, public health, and similar health fields.
Biostatistics is a branch of sciences that applies statistical knowledge in interpreting biological data. Biostatistics in an important tool used for biological research in many important areas of the life sciences, for example clinical studies, drug testing, and disease surveillance. Biostatisticians can predict outcomes of hypothetical scenarios by developing statistical models that simulate biological processes and environmental conditions.
Conservation Biology focuses on conservation issues that affect wildlife and habitats. The protection and preservation of the natural world has become a growing concern worldwide. It is an especially urgent concern in Africa because of its high rate of human population activities that disturb the environment.
Environment and Health focuses on understanding the biological and physical world, man-made pollutants released by human activities, and the impact of contemporary societal activities on human health. Through the choice of electives, students can personalize their program to emphasize either the sources of pollution and their measurement or the biological processes within the human body affected by health and disease.
Public Health is an interdisciplinary science that is concerned primarily with promoting wellbeing of human health in the larger society. Public health personnel play an important role in safe guarding the wellbeing of a human population by implementing strategies to prevent the occurrence of diseases, responding to disease outbreaks, organising awareness programs that promote healthy lifestyles, conducting public health research, and developing public health policies. Students who choose this concentration will be exposed to various subfields of Public Health.
All these concentrations provide comprehensive foundations in natural scientific inquiry through courses in biology, chemistry, toxicology, physics, and those directly related to the environment and ecology. The concentrations prepare students for meaningful employment and for further studies at the graduate level.
The Conservation Biology concentration prepares students for positions as researchers, advisors, and administrators in such organizations as:
- Universities and research institutions
- National parks
- Ministries of forestry and wildlife
- Governmental agencies
- Non-governmental organizations, both Nigerian and international
- Eco-tourism organizations and businesses
The Environment and Health concentration prepares students for careers in:
- Universities and research institutions
- Petrochemical industry
- Environmental consulting and management firms
- National and state government agencies managing health and environmental issues
- Regulatory agencies that monitor industries for pollution
- Agrochemical industry
- Waste management
- Electrical power plants and other utilities
- Municipal waste treatment facilities
- Industries and manufacturing companies
The Biomedical Sciences concentration provides the foundation for students wishing to continue their studies in medicine and health-related graduate programs. It will prepare students for careers in:
- Universities and research institutions
- Governmental agencies
- Non-governmental organizations, both Nigerian and international
- Hospitals and health clinics
The Bachelor of Science in Natural and Environmental Sciences requires a total of 60 credit hours in courses related to the major and science subjects.
Students must achieve a grade of C or above in all of these courses for the grade to count toward both the major and total credit hours.
Requirements for Conservation Biology Concentration
Conservation Biology majors are required to complete at least twenty nine (29) credit hours selected from the following courses:
Students must complete the following 2 courses in this section (7 credit hours)
Students must complete at least 2 courses (minimum 7 credits from the following courses)
Students must complete at least 2 courses (minimum 6 credits from the following courses)
Students must complete at least 1 course (minimum 3 credits from the following courses)
Major Advised Electives (a minimum of 6 credits)
Students can take a minimum of 6 credits hours from courses related to their major in the catalog. The selection of courses for major advised electives should be done in consultation with an academic advisor.
Students must achieve a grade of C or above in all of these courses for the grade to count toward both the major and total credit hours.
- BIO 120 Introduction to Biology I (4)
- BIO 121 Introduction to Biology II (4)
- BIO 210 Communicating in the Sciences (3)
- BIO 490/NES 490 Senior Research Project I (3)
- BIO 491/NES 491 Senior Research Project II (3)
- CHE 120 General Chemistry I (4)
- CHE 121 General Chemistry II (4)
- MAT 112 Pre-calculus (3)
- STA 101 Introduction to Research and Statistical Methods (3)
- PHY 131 College Physics I (4)
- PHY 132 College Physics II (4)
Requirements for Conservation Biology Concentration
Conservation Biology majors are required to complete at least twenty nine (29) credit hours selected from the following courses:
Students must complete the following 2 courses in this section (7 credit hours)
- BIO 230 Molecular Genetics (4)
- NES 201 Introduction to Natural and Environmental Sciences (3)
Students must complete at least 2 courses (minimum 7 credits from the following courses)
- BIO 205 Animal Form and Function (4)
- BIO 206 Applied Botany (4)
- BIO 220 Animal Behavior (3)
- NES 202 Principles of Ecology (4)
- NES 310 Behavioral Ecology (3)
- NES 401 Community Ecology and Population Biology (3)
- NES 406 Plant Community Ecology (3)
Students must complete at least 2 courses (minimum 6 credits from the following courses)
- NES 300 Environmental Policy and Risk Management (3)
- NES 320 Special Topics in Environmental Science (3)
- NES 340 Pollution: Sources and Effects (3)
- NES 342 Environmental Toxicology (3)
- NES 344 Environmental Risk Assessment (3)
- NES 420 Environment and Occupational Health (3)
- NES 430 Environmental Chemistry (3)
- NES 440 Environmental Impact Assessment (3)
Students must complete at least 1 course (minimum 3 credits from the following courses)
- BIO 250 Global Health (3)
- BIO 350 Introduction to Public Health (3)
- ECO 405 Environmental and Natural Resource Economics (3)
- ICP 434 Global Environmental Politics (3)
- ICP 435 International Development (3)
Major Advised Electives (a minimum of 6 credits)
Students can take a minimum of 6 credits hours from courses related to their major in the catalog. The selection of courses for major advised electives should be done in consultation with an academic advisor.
2023/24 Annual Tuition
N2,442,000
Course Duration
Full Time: 4-year average
Visit our admissions page for full application details.
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