Faculty of Science, Universiti Brunei Darussalam

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

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Breadth Modules

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

SB-2401 Plants and People (4 MC)
SB-2402 Discovering Science (4 MC)
SB-2404 Current Trends in Life Sciences (4 MC)
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

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