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Zoology Hod

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HOD Zoology

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Department of Zoology

The Department of Zoology, Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, which was established in 1962 currently offers both undergraduate and postgraduate degree programme in Zoology. The Department is presently equipped to offer postgraduate training in Ecology, Entomology, Genetics, Physiology, Fisheries, Limnology/Hydrobiology, Parasitology and Vertebrate Biology. To date, the Department has produced hundreds of graduates at both undergraduate and postgraduate levels who are serving this country creditably in both private and public establishment.

JUSTIFICATION

The first postgraduate programme was introduced in the late 60’s with the first set of M.Sc degree holders produced in 1968 session. The first version of the PG programme was reviewed about two decades ago with the current version of the programme. The programme has produced several M.Scs and Ph.Ds into the nation’s economy especially in the Teaching, Research, Education and Industrial Sectors. The Department, in response to the desire to continuously improve the quality of the graduates, faced with greater challenges of solving the nation’s environmental problems, decided to urgently review the current PG program. It is in this light that the Department feels encouraged to once again respond positively by fundamentally reworking the course contents of the existing courses by streamlining and reviewing them. Also, the various research options available to postgraduate students have been strengthened with new courses in line with the current national challenges.

OBJECTIVES

The main objective of the postgraduate programme is to produce postgraduate students in Zoology whose training will enable them to deal with the increasingly specialized areas of the subject and whose intellectual accomplishments and mental perspectives will prepare them to operate on a broader level outside their areas of specialization.

The specific objectives of the programme is to:

  1. Produce well equipped graduates to pursue Zoology as a career in academics and in the industry
  2. respond to the shortage of skilled Zoology graduates in academia, environment and service sectors
  3. Attract graduates with strong theoretical background in Biology, Agriculture and Environmental Sciences to a career in applied zoology.
  4. Encourage and develop interdisciplinary skills across all aspects of the biological sciences; and
  5. Provide the skills needed to undertake independent research projects both in the industry and within the university environment.

Summary of the Review

The following is the summary of the major review carried out (the details of the revision have been provided on the table provided)

  1. The existing compulsory courses in the various areas of specialization have either been reviewed in line with the needs of each area of specialization or new specialized courses introduced to cater for new trends in each research area.
  2. The units assigned to some courses have been revised as the case may be.
  3. A maximum number of course units to be offered have been introduced to prevent students from open-ended registration for courses by students.
  4. The contents of a number of courses have been reviewed and in many cases reworked
  5. New courses have been introduced to ensure flexibility and to take care of modern scientific trend in the different areas of specialization.
  6. The content of each course has been made flexible to take care of applicants that may be slightly deficient in some of the fundamental courses in view of the varying backgrounds of applicants for the programme.

DEGREE TO BE OFFERED

The higher degree programme in Zoology will be available at the M.Sc., M.Phil. and Ph.D. levels with specializations in Ecology, Entomology, Genetics, Physiology, Fisheries, Limnology/Hydrobiology Parasitology and Vertebrate Biology.

ADMISSION REQUIREMENTS

Applicants for admission into the postgraduate programme in Zoology shall satisfy the general admission requirements approved by the Postgraduate College as stated in Regulations 8,9, and 10 of the Obafemi Awolowo University’s Regulation Governing Postgraduate Studies (2005).

  1. M.Sc. Degree

    An applicant for admission into the Master programme in Zoology shall be a graduate of Obafemi Awolowo University or of any other approved University with at least a Second Class Honours (Lower Division) B.Sc. degree in Zoology, Biology, Agriculture, and other biological sciences disciplines depending on the candidate’s chosen area of specialization. In exceptional cases, a Third Class degree holder may be considered for admission. Such a candidate shall be required to pass a departmental qualifying examination.

  2. M.Phil. Degree

    A candidate with at least Second Class Honours (Upper Division) shall be eligible for admission into the M.Phil Programme. A candidate with a Masters degree from a recognized University in a relevant area of specialization but fails to meet the requirements for admission into the Ph.D. programme shall be considered for admission into the M.Phil. Programme.

  3. Ph.D. Degree

    Candidates with a M.Sc. or M.Phil. Degree of Obafemi Awolowo University or of any recognized University shall normally have obtained not less than an average of 60% (B+) in the coursework for the Masters degree to be eligible for admission to the Ph.D. degree programme.

    Candidates with a M.Sc. or M.Phil. Degree of Obafemi Awolowo University or of any recognized University shall normally have obtained not less than an average of 60% (B+) in the coursework for the Masters degree to be eligible for admission to the Ph.D. degree programme. admission after due evaluation of the certificate and thesis project based on the former supervisor’s confidential report.

    A candidate with a non-thesis M.Sc. degree is not eligible for admission into the Ph.D. degree programme. Such a candidate may however, be considered for admission into the M.Phil. Degree programme.

PERIOD OF STUDY

The programme of study for the Master of Science degree is a minimum of twenty four months continuous residence. Approximately the first 12 months are spent on coursework, research design and beginning research, while the last 12 months are devoted to intensive research, in course work, data analysis and the preparation of a thesis.

The period of study for a degree in Zoology shall be as follows

Degree Period of Study in Semesters
Full-time Part-time
Minimum Maximum Minimum Maximum
M.Sc. and Phil 3 4 4 6
Ph.D. 6 8 6 10

COURSE REQUIREMENTS

All candidates in Zoology postgraduate Programme appropriate specialized courses under the available options.

  1. M.Sc. Degree

    The minimum course requirements for the award of a Master degree shall be 24 units and a maximum of 30 units, consisting of 9 units of compulsory course, taken from the areas of specialization listed, and 6 units for thesis project and 2 units for seminar. Courses may also be taken from outside the Department or the Faculty but always upon the recommendation of the Supervisor and the approval of the Graduate Committee.

  2. M.Phil Degree

    The minimum course requirements for the award of the degree of Master of Philosophy shall be 24 units, consisting of 9 units of compulsory and specialized courses and 6 units for thesis project.

  3. Ph.D. Degree

    A Ph.D. candidate shall be required to satisfy the following minimum requirements:
    1. Obtain not less than an average of 60% (B) in the coursework for the Mater’s Degree or M.Phil degree from a recognized University.
    2. Thesis Project

Examinations

All semester course examination shall consist of 3 hour papers. The requirements for the Master’s and Doctorate programme are as follows:

  1. M.Sc. and M .Phil Degrees

    1. Written papers on courses: Completed within the first 2 semesters from the time the candidate came into residence)
    2. One Departmental Seminar on Thesis Project
    3. Thesis and Oral Examinations: Assessed by a Board of Examiners as specified in the Obafemi Awolowo University Regulations Governing Postgraduate Studies (2005) for the award of M.Sc./M.Phil in Science)

  2. Ph.D. Degree

    1. Qualifying Examination;
    2. Two Departmental Seminars on Thesis Project;
    3. Thesis and Oral Examination (As stated in the Obafemi Awolowo University Regulations Governing Postgraduate Studies (2005) for the award of M.Sc./M.Phil in Science)