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aims & objectives of the department
The Department is dedicated to the expansion of biological knowledge through the media of teaching and research. Teaching programmes include service teaching for students taking degree in Education (B.Sc.Ed. & B.Ed.), in line with the requirements of Negara Brunei Darussalam for locally-produced secondary and primary school teachers. With reference to this, the Department provides courses which will enable successful students to teach Biology to a prescribed level.
In addition, the Department also offers a pure Science degree programme in Biological Science (B.Sc.Hons. Biological Science) to provide students with the solid foundation, sound knowledge and relevant skills for a wide range of careers and postgraduate study options. With reference to this, the Department provides more concept-oriented, and applied courses which will enable successful students to acquire employment in different Government agencies and the private sectors or continue with higher academic studies.
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In more general terms, graduates of both programmes above will be able to appreciate the importance of Biology in the development of Brunei Darussalam. Field trips and field courses are integral parts of the curriculum, and it is hoped that through such exposure, students will be stimulated to develop an enquiring and caring attitude to the natural environment in their everyday lives. Research methods and techniques are introduced through the medium of research projects, undertaken by the B.Sc. & B.Sc. Ed. Major students in their final year.
Academic staff are expected to undertake research into biological problems of their choice and staff are encouraged to pursue projects which are of relevance and applicable to Brunei Darussalam. In view of the excellent opportunities available within Brunei Darussalam for the study of tropical ecosystems in their natural condition, the Department places great emphasis on projects in this field, and is developing expertise and an international reputation in such areas.
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A minimum of 160 ‘A’ Level points for two ‘A’ Level passes; the two ‘A’ Level passes must be in Biology at grade ‘C’ or better and one other science subject (Physics, Chemistry or Mathematics),
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A minimum of 200 A-Level points for three ‘A’ Level passes; one of three ‘A’ Level passes must be in Biology at grade ‘C’ or better and the other two A-Levels from Physics, Chemistry or Mathematics;
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An International Baccalauraeate score of 30 points with minimum of 5 points in Biology at higher level, preferably with two sciences at higher level.
- i) A minimum of 120 ‘A’ Level points; for two ‘A’ Level passes must be at grade ‘D’ or better, one of them should be in Physics, Chemistry, Biology or Mathematics (Major) with the other A-Level pass in Physics, Chemistry, Biology or Mathematics or Geography (minor)
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An International Baccalauraeate score of 28 points with minimum of 5 points in relevant subject(s) at higher level.
ii) In order to choose Biology as a major subject, a student must normally pass the main examinations in each of the semester 1 and 2 courses with a minimum of grade D.
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A course can only be taken if its specified prerequisite(s) has/have been passed.
- In order to graduate, a student majoring in Biology within the BSc Ed degree programme must have passed 44 units of Biology courses at the following levels:
| First Year |
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8 units |
| Second Year |
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10 units |
| Third Year |
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12 units |
| Fourth Year |
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14 units |
- In order to graduate, a student within the the BSc Hons Biological Science degree programme must have passed 78 units of the Biological Science courses at the following levels:
| First Year |
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8 units |
| Second Year |
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20 units |
| Third Year |
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20 units |
| Fourth Year |
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30 units |
- Students taking Biology as a Minor subject within the BSc Ed degree programme must have passed 20 units of Biology courses at the following levels:
| First Year |
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8 units |
| Second Year |
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6 units |
| Third Year |
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6 units |
All Biology Courses are assessed by both continuous assessment and by end of course examinations, which are normally held at the end of the semester in which the course is given. Continuous assessment for theory-oriented courses comprises 30% - 40% of the total mark for the course and is made up of marks obtained in assignments, tests and practicals. The examination comprises 60% - 70% of the marks for the course. A practical examination will be held for certain courses; where applicable, this examination shall form 10% of the total marks for the course, and form part of the examination component of the assessment. The marks for a supplementary examination will include the mark for the main practical examination as 10% of the final mark as well as 20% for the practical component of the continuous assessment. Practical examinations will not be repeated as part of the Supplementary examination.
course contents, textbooks & prerequisites
The Biology Department offers courses for the B.Sc.Hons. (Biological Science), the B.Sc.Ed. and the B.Ed. (General Science) programmes. The B.Ed. (General Science) students will take Biology subjects from their 3rd to the 6th semesters.
The content of these courses, together with any specified prerequisites and recommended textbooks are detailed in the following pages. A prerequisite is defined as a course that must be taken and passed to allow another course to be pursued. Students within the B.Sc. Hons. (Biological Science) programme take 78 units of Biological Science subjects spread over 4 years. This will provide them with opportunities for a wide range of careers and postgraduate study options. Major students take 44 units of Biology in their 4-year B.Sc.Ed. programme; they should be capable of teaching Biology to A-level. Minor students of the same programme take 20 units of Biology and it is intended that they should be capable of teaching Biology to O-level. Biology courses offered by the Department in its various programmes have been designed to be diverse yet be integrated. The basic modules are 2-unit courses, consisting of 14 lectures 7 tutorials & 7 practicals (or 21/7/4) over 1 semester; 3 unit courses of 28 lectures, 14 tutorials, 7 practicals; 4- unit courses of 28 lectures, 14 tutorials and 14 practicals.
Laboratories and Services Facilities.
The Department has two fully equipped general teaching laboratories, three specialist laboratories (ecology/soils, biochemistry/physiology, wet) and two research laboratories (postgraduate, staff). All laboratories have well equipped preparation rooms associated with them. Service facilities include chemical, glassware and ecology store rooms; an animal house, a plant house, a herbarium and a museum.
Laboratory and Field Equipment
The Department has basic laboratory equipment such as glassware, balances, an autoclave, ovens, incubators and teaching microscopes etc. Certain items of research-grade equipment are available, such as a Zeiss Photomicroscope III, a Wild Stereomicroscope with a fitted camera and a Lachat FIA system. Microtomes and automatic embedding & staining equipment have also been purchased, in line with the department's aim of producing teaching materials from local organisms. The Department has adequate supplies of basic field equipment, including pH meters, selective ion electrodes, oxygen meters, quantum meter and binoculars. Some advanced ecophysiological equipment, including a Licor portable IRGA, a spectroradiometer, a steady-state porometer, and bioelectric monitors and oscillographs have also been purchased. The Department has inflatable rubber dinghys suitable for use in inshore areas, a launch and a range of diving equipment for offshore studies. Four 1-ha teaching and research plots were set up in 1992 and provide the Department with enumerated plots of plants greater than 5cm dbh in mixed dipterocarp and tropical heath forest.
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