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Bachelor of Science in Botany With IT

Introduction 

B.Sc. Botany with IT programme students will specialise in plant sciences hence it is expected to position the agricultural sector as a key driver in achieving a sustained 10 per cent annual economic growth rate envisaged under the Government of Kenya economic pillar of Vision 2030 and to generate more resources. The Department of botany has developed this degree programme to respond to the growing market in the use of plants as natural resources which needs professional expertise to support sustainable utilization and environmental conservation. The B.Sc. Botany with IT programme is meant to equip students for future careers in agriculture, ecology, environment and horticulture by acquiring skills in plant sciences.  The course equips students with a unique perspective and critical understanding of plant biology. The program serves to broaden the academic background of students seeking employment in the interdisciplinary job market associated with the plant sciences.

 

Programme Courses

 

YEAR ONE SEMESTER ONE

 

Course Code 

Course title

SBT 101

Plant Structure and Function

SBT 103 

Introductory Plant Systematics

SZL 101

Lower invertebrates

SZL 103

Introductory genetics and evolution

SCH 101

Physical chemistry

SCH 102

Basic inorganic chemistry

UCI 101    

Foundations of Information Technology

UCI 103   

Word Processing and Design of Presentations

   

 

YEAR ONE SEMESTER TWO

 

Course code

Course title

SBT 102    

Survey of the Plant Kingdom

SBT 104   

Fundamentals of Ecology

SZL 102

Verterbrate Zoology

SCH 103

Basic organic chemistry

SCH 104

Basic analytical chemistry

PHT 112 

HIV &AIDS Determinants, Prevention and Management

UCI 102    

Computer Communication System

UCI 104

Data manipulation and analysis using spread sheet

Total

 

YEAR TWO SEMESTER ONE

Course code

Course title

SBT 201

Gymnosperm and Angiosperm Taxonomy

SBT 203

Economic Botany

SBT 205

Plant Ecology and Environmental Science

SZL 201

Cell Biology

SZL 203

Histology and cytology

SCH 201

Physical chemistry I

SCH 202

Inorganic chemistry I

SCH 203

Organic chemistry I

UCI 201

The Internet and World Wide Web

UCI 203

Desktop Publishing Techniques

 

Total

 

YEAR TWO SEMESTER TWO

 

Course code

Course title

SBT 202

Plant Mineral Nutrition

SBT 204

Introductory Biochemistry

SBE 204

Biodiversity Conservation  

SBE 202:

Tissue Culture Techniques

SZL 206

General Parasitology

SCH 205

Inorganic Chemistry

UCI 202 

Computer Based Information Systems

UCI 204

Relational Database Management Systems

 

 

YEAR THREE SEMESTER ONE

 

Course code

Course title

SBT 301

Plant Growth & Development

SBT 303

Fundamentals of Microbiology 

SBT 305

Biostatistics

SBT 307

Introductory Mycology 

SBT 309

Introduction to Paleobotany

SBT 311

Cell Biology and Genetics

SBT 313

Plant Breeding

SBT 315

Botany Field Survey

UCI 301

Management of Information Technology Projects

UCI 303 

Multimedia  and Graphic Systems and Applications

   



 

YEAR THREE SEMESTER TWO

Course code

Course title

SBT 302

Principles of genetics

SBT 304

Bryology and Pteridology

SBT 306

Seed Science and Technology

SBT 308

Plant Ecophysiology

SBT 310

Dryland Ecology and Land Use

SBT 312

Phytochemistry

SBT 316

Introduction to Agroforestry

SBT 318

Medical mycology 

UCI 302

Electronic commerce

UCI 304 

Statistical data analysis

   

 

YEAR THREE SEMESTER THREE

 

Course code

Course title

SBT 320

Industrial Attachment  

 

YEAR FOUR SEMESTER ONE

 

Course code

Course title

SBT 401

Plant Biochemistry and Physiology

SBT 403

Biosystematics and Palynology

SBT 405

Environmental Microbiology

SBT 407

Environmental Mycology

SBT 409

Medicinal & Poisonous Plants

SBT 411

Evolution

SBT 413

Research Project I

SBT 415

Biodiversity & Bio-prospecting

UCI 401

Social and Professional issues in IT

UCI 403

Information and System Security

   

 

YEAR FOUR SEMESTER TWO

 

Course code

Course title

SBT 402

Morphogenesis and Anatomy

SBT 404

History and Philosophy of Biology

SBT 406

Plant Ecology

SBT 408

Population Genetics

SBT 410

Plant Pathology

SBT 412

Phycology

SBT 414

Plant Biotechnology

SBT 416

Research project II

SBT 418:  

Ecological Monitoring

UCI 402

Human Computer Interaction

UCI 404 

Special Topics in Contemporary ICTs

   

 

 ADMISSION REQUIREMENTS

  1. Maseno University common undergraduate admission requirements shall apply.
  2. Candidates should have passed with grade C+ in biology and C in chemistry, geography, agriculture and physics or mathematics at KCSE level. Those with at least two principal passes and one subsidiary in relevant subjects at A-level are eligible.
  3.  Candidates with credit pass at ordinary Diploma in biological sciences, relevant field or degree in forestry or microbiology are eligible.

PROGRAMME DURATION

The program shall normally take eight (8) academic semesters with an additional one semester for industrial attachment.

PROGRAMME STRUCTURE

  1. Candidate shall take at least 4 Core units in each of the first 2 Years of study.  Other units are taken from other departments within the School of Physical and Biological Science. The nature of the programme requires students to take courses offered from other departments according to the School of Physical and Biological Science regulations. 
  2. The courses are offered in units, in which a course unit is defined as a 2-hour lecture and 2-hour tutorial or a three hour practical session per week per semester.
  3. The nature of BSc. Programme in botany necessitates that in a given academic year the candidates will take a minimum of 16 course units and a maximum of 18 course units, exclusive of industrial attachment.  
  4. There will be a session in between 3rd and 4th year during which students will go for industrial attachment for 10 weeks that is equivalent to 2 course units.
  5. There will be an independent student’s research project conducted in the fourth year that is worth 2 course units. 
  6. Selection of elective courses shall be done in consultation with the department and will be taken only in addition to core courses.
  7. During each semester, a student will be required to take 2 courses from the computer department as prescribed.