INTRODUCTION

The Applied Biology Programme develops in each student an appreciation for contemporary issues in Biology and an understanding of the principles governing life through a laboratory-intensive curriculum taught by academic staff dedicated to enriching the learning experience. It inculcates in students the ability to apply biological principles in solving contemporary problems.

PHILOSOPHY OF THE PROGRAMME

The basic philosophy of the Applied Biology Programme in keeping with the fundamental philosophy of the University at large is to encourage and promote the training of students in all aspects of Biology. The students are expected at the end of their programme of study to competently apply biological principles in proffering solution to prevailing national and international problems. Therefore, the programme ensures that students are grounded in the fundamental principles of Biology and at the same time have functional understanding of other disciples that could facilitate the application of Biology. The programme aims to produce graduates that are not only equipped with knowledge in all aspects of modern Biology, but that are also aware of peculiar problems of Nigeria and Africa in general in the area of their specialty and can proffer solutions to these problems. The emphasis on equipping students with competence to solve biologic problems of their immediate environment is reflected in the inclusion of Research Project on a local biological topic as one of the compulsory courses in the final year. Above all, the Program aims at producing graduates that can relate to life in general.

To this extent, the course and advising system have been well planned to give the student the broad type of education, which enables him to see Applied Biology in a wider perspective within the context of science.

OBJECTIVES
A major emphasis of our programme is to encourage critical thinking and an active engagement in the Biological Sciences. The curriculum is designed to have less emphasis on factual material, but a much greater emphasis on the understanding and application of scientific concepts and principles. This approach has been adopted in recognition of the need for students to develop skills that will be of long term value in an increasingly technological world. The courses are designed to provide, through well-designed studies of experimental and practical Biological Sciences, a worthwhile educational experience for all students, whether or not they go on to study Biology beyond this level. The students are trained to recognize the usefulness and limitations of scientific method, and to appreciate their applicability in other disciplines and in everyday life. The Biological Science transcends national boundaries and that the language of science, correctly and rigorously applied, is universal.

The Applied Biology Programme prepares students for:

1. Graduate studies in sub-specialties of Biology including Animal Behavior, Botany, Cell Biology, Conservation Biology, Developmental Biology, Ecology, Environmental Biology, Evolution, Forensic Science, Genetics, Immunology, Microbiology, Molecular Biology, Biosystematics, Biotechnology, Fisheries & Aquaculture, Plant Breeding and Physiology.
2. Professional studies in the areas of medicine, dentistry, optometry and veterinary medicine.
3. Secondary education certification in collaboration with the Education Department.
4. A variety of other careers including public health administration, Genetic Counselling, Bioinformatics and jobs in the Pharmaceutical and Biotechnology industries.

Entrepreneurship is also emphasized as graduates can establish fish, snail and mushroom farms, environmental consultancy, water treatment plants and horticultural centres.

Job Opportunities
There is a wide range of interest areas in Applied Biology, which enables people with different backgrounds, aptitudes and temperaments, to select satisfactory Biological Science based careers eg, genetics, biophysics for the mathematically inclined, taxonomy and ecology for those with a flair for outdoor activities, morphology, anatomy and cytology for those interested in crop and animal production. In Nigeria, opportunities for service at appropriate levels exist in the commodity research institutes such as the Nigeria Institute for Oil Palm Research (NIFOR) near Benin, the Rubber Research Institute of Nigeria (RRIN) at Iyanomo near Benin, The tropical stored products research institute in Lagos, National Root Crops Research Institute at Umudike, Veterinary Research Institute in Vom near Jos, the National Cereals Research Institute Pateggi near Bida, the Cocoa Research Instituteof Nigeria (CRIN) Ibadan, the National Institute for Horticultural Research (NIHORT), ministries of agriculture, forestry and fisheries, River Basin Development Authorities, the Nigeria Institute for Oceanography and Marine Research (NIOMAR) in Lagos, National Institute of Freshwater Fisheries Research (NIFFR), Environmental Protection and conservation agencies. Other possible employers of Applied Biology graduates include; Federal Quarantine service, oil and oil servicing companies, Germplasm collection centres and herbaria, museums and Archaeology Institutes, Botanical and Zoological Gardens and in various secondary tertiary institutions. In the private sector, Applied Biology graduates will find employment in chemical industries, large farms, agro-based industries, hospitals and diagnostic laboratories. In the more advanced countries, there are many more openings in industries, such as pharmaceutical, petrochemical and lumber industries, formation (including breweries), food and canning industries and biological supply houses. Furthermore, prospects for self-employment for Biologists are quite bright. The areas include floriculture business, mushroom production, fish farming and consultancy services to ministries and various bodies utilizing biological products such as paper mills. Entrepreneurship is also emphasized as graduates can establish fish farms, mushroom, farms, environmental consultancy and horticultural centres