The Environmental and Life Sciences programme offers the Biological Sciences stream. Completion of the major core undergradmodules and major optional undergradmodules will provide students with fundamental scientific, analytical and research skills and a deep understanding of the biological principles governing life and ecosystems. All streams will prepare students for careers in biology, environmental sciences and life sciences, and equip students to further their academic qualification in graduate studies.

Programme Structure for August 2019 cohort onwards

Programme Structure for previous cohort


GenNEXT BSc Biology – 4 years.     SB Modules offered in January, 2018/2019

Biological Sciences Stream

At the undergraduate level, students can choose to be part of our popular Biological Sciences stream, which allow students to study a range of major core undergradmodules – from molecules to ecosystems – in the first two years with the possibility of specialisation in Year 4. The exceptionally wide range of major options within the Biological Sciences stream in Year 4 allows students to choose the undergradmodules that are best suited to their personal interests and career ambitions. Students will also have the chance to undertake their own research project (supervised by an academic staff) to develop professional lab-based and field-based techniques and academic skills that are crucial for careers in the field of Biological Sciences.


All undergradmodules are offered by the Environmental and Life Sciences Stream.

Major Module requirement: not less than 72 MC with at least 24 MC of the SB-4000 undergradmodules.

Level

Module

Code

Module Title

MC

1000

Major Core

SB-1201
SB-1202
SB-1203

Diversity of Life
Organisms and Environment
Skills in Biological Sciences

4
4
4

2000

Major Core

SB-2201
SB-2203
SB-2206
SB-2207
SB-2210
SB-2211
SB-2241
SB-2242
SB-2243
SB-2244

Plant Form and Function
Animal Form and Function
Principles of Animal Physiology
Principles of Plant Physiology
Cells, Biomolecules and Microbiology
Genetics
Cell Biology
Microbiology
Introduction to Biochemistry
Molecular Biology

4
4
4
4
4
4
4
4
4
4

 

Major Option

AV-2301
AV-2308
Introduction to Spatial Information Systems
Introduction to Geomatics
4
4

4000

Major Core

SB-4201
SB-4290

Population Genetics, Systematics and Evolution
Research Project (2 semesters)

4
8

 

Major Option

SB-4301
SB-4302
SB-4305
SB-4306
SB-4309
SB-4310
SB-4311
SB-4312
SB-4313
SB-4314
SB-4316
SB-4317
SB-4319
SB-4320
SB-4321
SB-4322
SB-4323
SB-4324
SB-4330
SB-4332
SB-4333
SB-4340
SC-4327
SB-4368
SB-4381
SB-4383
HB-3241
HB-4215
AV-3301
AV-3304
AV-4302
AV-4310

Conservation and Management of Living Resources
Tropical Forest Ecology
Entomology
Biochemistry
Molecular Genetics
Seed Plant Taxonomy and Diversity
Animal Behaviour
Developmental Biology
Aquatic Biology
Biotechnology
Economic Botany
Climate Change Biology
Tropical Parasitology
Plant Ecophysiology
Mycology
Principles of Soil Science
Population, Community and Ecosystem Ecology
Herpetology
Marine Pollution and Ecotoxicology
Principles of Oceanography
Ichthyology
Nutritional Biochemistry
Bio-organic Chemistry
Biosensors, Biochips and Nanobiotechnology
Drug Design, delivery and Development
Biological and Medicinnal Chemistry
Immunology
Medical Genetics
Introduction to Remote Sensing
Integrated Coastal Management
Wetland Ecology and Management
Environment Modelling

4
4
4
4
4
4
4
4
4
4
4
4
4
4
4
4
4
4
4
4
4
4
4
4
4
4
4
4
4
4
4
4

Biochemistry and Molecular Biology Stream

(This programme is only applicable for the 14B and 15B cohorts)

The BSc in Biochemistry and Molecular Biology covers a wide spectrum of undergradmodules in the life sciences that addresses fundamental biological processes in cells and organisms. This stream was first introduced in August 2014. During the first two years, students will study basic undergradmodules in chemistry (inorganic chemistry and organic chemistry) and biology (cell biology, biochemistry, genetics, molecular biology and microbiology). In Year 4, students will concentrate on specialised undergradmodules in the field of biochemistry and molecular biology, including advanced biochemistry, laboratory techniques in biochemistry and molecular biology, molecular genetics and biotechnology. The programme is expected to equip students with the necessary theoretical and practical skills required for pursuing a challenging and exciting career in academia, research labs and industries (for example, biopharmaceuticals and drug development, gene delivery, diagnostics, forensic science and biofuels). Furthermore, the programme will prepare students to undertake graduate studies and research in the life and biomedical sciences.

 

All undergradmodules are offered by Environmental and Life Sciences Programme unless otherwise stated (SC-Chemical Sciences programme, HB-Health Sciences programme).

Major Module requirement: not less than 72 MC with at least 24 MC of the SB-4000 undergradmodules.

Level

Module

Code

Module Title

MC

1000

Major Core

SB-1201
SC-1221
SC-1211

Diversity of Life
Fundamentals of Organic Chemistry
Fundamentals of Inorganic Chemistry

4
4
4

2000

Major Core

SB-2211
SB-2241
SB-2242
SB-2243
SB-2244

Genetics
Cell Biology
Microbiology
Introduction to Biochemistry
Molecular Biology

4
4
4
4
4

 

Major Option

SB-2206

Principles of Animal Physiology

4

4000

Major Core

SB-4241
SB-4244
SB-4290

Advanced Biochemistry
Lab. Techniques in Biochemistry and Molecular Bio.
Research Project (2 semesters)

4
4
8

 

Major Option

SB-4312
SB-4314
SB-4319
SB-4321
SB-4340
SC-4327
SC-4368
SC-4369
SC-4383
HB-3241
HB-4215

Developmental Biology
Biotechnology
Tropical Parasitology
Mycology
Nutritional Biochemistry
Bio-organic Chemistry
Biosensors, Biochips and Nanobiotechnology
Clinical Biochemistry
Biological and Medicinal Chemistry
Immunology
Medical Genetics

4
4
4
4
4
2
4
4
2
2
2

Marine Sciences Stream

(This programme is only applicable for the 14B and 15B cohorts)

A Marine Science stream was introduced to the Environmental and Life Sciences programme in August 2014. This stream aims to equip students with the knowledge and skills set necessary to follow a career in marine science. Well-trained marine scientists are needed in Brunei Darussalam in view of anticipated future threats on the country’s natural biodiversity and marine resources. Employment opportunities for marine scientists should become available in the government sectors (Ministry of Industries and Primary Resources) and private sectors (oil and gas). Potential graduates could further seek employment as environmental consultants, researchers, or developers of the mariculture industry. This stream will enable students in their Year 4 to specialize by selecting only marine-related courses. The following new courses will be offered from Semester 1 in 2017: Marine Ecosystems, Marine Pollution and Ecotoxicology, Principles of Oceanography, Ichthyology.

 

All undergradmodules are offered by Environmental and Life Sciences Programme unless otherwise stated (AV - Environmental Studies programme).

Major Module requirement: not less than 72 MC with at least 20 MC of the SB-4000 undergradmodules.

Level

Module

Code

Module Title

MC

1000

Major Core

SB-1201
SB-1202
SB-1203

Diversity of Life
Organisms and Environment
Skills in Biological Sciences

4
4
4

2000

Major Core

SB-2201
SB-2203
SB-2206
SB-2207
SB-2210
SB-2211

Plant Form and Function
Animal Form and Function
Principles of Animal Physiology
Principles of Plant Physiology
Cells, Biomolecules and Microbiology
Genetics

4
4
4
4
4
4

 

Major Option

AV-2301

Introduction to Spatial Information Systems

4

4000

Major Core

SB-4232
SB-4290

Marine Ecosystems
Research Project (2 semesters)

4
8

 

 

Major Option

SB-4301
SB-4313
SB-4317
SB-4330
SB-4332
SB-4333
AV-3301
AV-4302
AV-4310

Conservation and Management of Living Resources
Aquatic Biology
Climate Change Biology
Marine Pollution and Ecotoxicology
Principles of Oceanography
Ichthyology
Introduction to Remote Sensing
Wetland Ecology and Management
Environmental Modelling

4
4
4
4
4
4
4
4
4

 

Breadth Modules

We offer 3 breadth undergradmodules to non-biology major students:

  1. SB-2401 Plants and People (4 MC)
  2. SB-2402 Discovering Science (4 MC)
  3. SB-2404 Current Trends in Life Sciences (4 MC)
  4. SB-2405 Human Life and Environment (4 MC)
 

Teaching and Assessment:

Students become involved in fundamental biological principles through quality learning in the classroom (lectures, tutorials, seminars) and hands-on activities and experiences (field trips and practical classes). Field trips and field courses complement classroom learning by providing in-depth environmental awareness and engagement with the broader community. Expertise in microbiology, biotechnology, botany, zoology, plant science, conservation and tropical ecology (terrestrial and marine), combined with excellent laboratory and outdoor field facilities, such as electron microscope, gene sequence analyzer, plant and animal houses, plant and soil analytical equipment and a field studies centre in the heart of the tropical rainforest, integrate teaching and research in the broad field of biology. Assessment methods vary depending on the undergradmodules taken but most undergradmodules involve both coursework-based assessment (such as practical reports, assignments, tests, group work and seminar presentations) and examination. In the final semester, students are expected to conduct research projects with academic staff as part of their major core requirement.

Facilities:

The Environmental and Life Sciences section is equipped with many facilities and modern scientific equipment and instruments to provide the students with hands-on experiences during practical classes, field courses and final year projects. The facilities include a herbarium (UBDH), museum (UBDM), Physiology lab, Ecology lab, Plant and soil lab, sterile lab, animal and plant houses, general teaching and research laboratories. The laboratories are equipped with Microwave digestor, Block digestor, Flow Injector Analyser, Atomic absorption Spectrometer, growth incubators and ovens, UV-visible spectrophotometer, microscopes (dissecting, compound, monocular, inverted, stereo), ultra-low freezer, centrifuge (high performance, ultra), autoclave, thermal cycler, winRHIZO, LICOR, porometer, R:FR sensor, light meter, muffle furnace, microtome, ball mill and grinders, sieve shaker, freeze dryer, DNA sequencer, PCR, microplate reader and washer, pressure bomb, leaf area meter, chlorophyll fluorescence meter, chlorophyll meter, GPS and many more field and lab equipment.

Careers:

Our BSc in Biological sciences graduates are working in either Government or Private sectors. We have our students who are working as Research, Scientific, Technical and Administrative officers and teaching staff in many ministries and government departments in Brunei, such as  Ministry of Industries and Primary Resources (Forestry, Fisheries, Halal unit, Agriculture and Agrifood, Wildlife, BioRic), Ministry of Health (hospitals, labs, clinics, Scientific Services), Ministry of Education (as teachers, lecturers, technical staff), Ministry of Development (JASTRE), Ministry of Defence (Army officer), Ministry of Home Affairs (Narcotic Control Bureau, Police officer), Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sports (Brunei Museums), Ministry of Religious Affairs (Halal Section) and many others. Some graduates prefer to work in private sectors, such as in oil and gas industries, environmental consultancy companies, pharmaceutical companies, as well as private clinics and schools. A few others become research assistants in UBD before pursuing graduate studies in UBD or overseas.

Contact:

Dr. Yasuaki Tanaka
Programme Leader (Environmental and Life Sciences)
nb.ude.dbu@akanat.ikausay