Bachelor of Environmental Sciences

Philosophy of the Programme

Enhancing participatory approach in addressing environmental challenges for sustainable development

Rationale of the Programme

The Department seeks to provide practical and professional expertise needed for the sustainable utilization and management of environmental resources such as land, forests, water, air and minerals at present and in future. It is thus imperative to revise the courses with a view to enhancing their relevance and marketability by way of incorporating new and emerging knowledge, instructional and research methods. The revised courses address the national goals of poverty alleviation and industrialization in this millennium. They further address fundamental challenges in sustainable utilization of natural resources in Kenya. Rapid population growth, high levels of unemployment and increasing rural to urban migration will further exacerbate these challenges. To effectively rationalize and efficiently address the present and future environmental constraints and opportunities, it is essential to have trained Environmental Scientists competent in the area of Environmental Conservation, Monitoring, Auditing and Evaluation. This is in realization that highly trained manpower is critical in the implementation of Agenda 21, The Sustainable Development Goals, The Constitution (2010), provisions Environmental Management and Coordination Act (1999) – amended (2015), and other sectoral Acts capturing aspects of environmental sciences.

Goal of the Programme

The goal of the programme of Environment Sciences is to train and produce Environmental Scientists equipped with knowledge and multi-disciplinary research skills necessary for devising innovative and practical solutions to the multiple and complex environmental challenges. 

Expected Learning Outcomes of the programme

By the end of the programme it is expected that the graduate will be able to:

         1.          Utilise the imparted knowledge and skills to understand and appreciate the intricate relationships of natural and socio-cultural components of the environment.

         2.          Manage environmental resources sustainably at local, national and global levels

         3.          Develop and explore ideas of environmental science and devise solutions applicable in a complex and changing environment.

         4.          Enhance their management and leadership capabilities to facilitate change towards sustainable development in a dynamic environment

         5.          Readily undertake research and disseminate results through workshops, seminars and other fora in response to emerging environmental challenges

Mode of Delivery of the Programme

The mode of delivery includes face to face, open learning, and distance learning.

Academic Regulations for the Proposed Programme

Admission Requirements for the Proposed Programme

In addition to satisfying the University entry requirements, for admission into the Bachelor of Environmental Sciences degree programme, candidates must have attained at least C+ in KCSE or its equivalent in any three of the following: Mathematics, Geography, Biology or Biological Sciences, Physics or Physical Sciences or Chemistry, Agriculture. 

To gain admission into the Programme diploma holders: -

Must have passed KCSE or its equivalent with a minimum of C mean grade or Division 3.

Must have successfully completed an ordinary diploma course in environmental related disciplines from recognised colleges and attained a minimum Credit grade.

Mean grade of C- (Minus) at KCSE and progressed from certificate to Diploma from a recognized/accredited institution

Regulations on Credit Transfer in a programme 

a)      Credit Accumulation

As a candidate successfully complete semester units for the Bachelor in Environmental Sciences course he/she will accumulate credit. This is a formal acknowledgement of the achievement at certain levels of credit that are required to complete the award for the degree of Bachelor in Environmental Sciences.

b)     Credit Transfer

Candidates for the Bachelor in Environmental Sciences must satisfy the minimum university requirements and School of Agriculture and Environmental Sciences regulations. For those with Diploma in related field, credit waiver will be given for specific units as determined and recommended by the departmental undergraduate board.

Course Requirements

a) To qualify for the award of the degree, a student will be required to:

Attend 70% of the classes in all the courses offered

To complete an internship of three (3) months. The student will be supervised on a day to day basis by an institutional supervisor. A university supervisor will supervise the student twice during the practicum period

To undertake a research project with the guidance of a university supervisor within a period of one academic year.

Student Assessment Policy/Criteria

The Common University Regulations on Examinations shall apply. Students will be assessed through Continuous Assessment Tests (CATs) and a written examination in each course unit. Each course unit will be marked out of 100%. Continuous Assessment Tests, practicals, term papers will contribute 30%, and the final written examination 70%, except for Field Internship Course. For the field internship, the course will involve supervision by the external (field) supervisor as per the report template; supervision by the internal (university) supervisor as per the report template and submission of the completed field internship report. The research projects will be guided by an appointed lecturer for the entire group but also on an individual basis, each student will be supervised and mentored by one internal supervisor.

Grading System

The Common University Regulations on Examination grading shall apply where:

                           A – 70-100%

                           B – 60-69%

                           C – 50-59%

                           D – 40-49%

                           E – 0-39%

The pass mark for each course unit shall be 40%

Graduation Requirements

For a student to graduate they will be required to pass (with 40% and above) in all the fifty-three (53) units offered in the four years.

A student who intends to graduate should apply to the Registrar (Academic)

A student may be allowed to graduate with one failed required (elective) unit without doing retake provided the student requests for approval formally by writing to the Registrar (Academic) through the Chairman of Department and the Dean of the School

Classification of Degrees

The final classification of the degree will be based on all the required units (core and electives) taken during the degree programme. The total number of units required for degree classification will be fifty-three (53)

The total score will be based on cumulative score average to arrive at the following final classification:

70-100%                      First Class Honours

60-69%                        Second Class Honours (Upper Division)

50-59%                        Second Class (Lower Division)

40-49%                        Pass

0-39%                          Fail

Courses /Units Offered for the Programme

In addition to the University Common units, students in the first year of study (100 series) must take all the 7 core units from the Programme and the remaining three units from two other Environmental Programmes in the School of Agriculture and Environmental Sciences. In the second year of study (200 series), students shall be required to take 11 units from the Programme and the remaining two units from other Programmes in the School of Agriculture and Environmental Sciences. In the third and fourth years of study (300 and 400 series), students must take eleven units from the Programme; the units shall be all the core units and the rest from the available electives taken from the areas of specialisation.

Table 1: Courses /Units Offered for the Programme

Total credit hours, lecture hours, contact hours and course units required for graduation

The student will be expected to complete a total of fifty-three (53) units to graduate. These will comprise:

Level 100: Three (3) University core units, seven (7) Programme Core units and 3 core units from sister Programmes/Departments

Level 200: Eleven (11) Programme Core units and two (2) Core units from sister Programmes/Departments

Level 300: Nine (9) Programme Core units; three (3) Core units from sister Programmes/Departments and one elective unit

Level 400: Twelve (12) Programme Core units and (2) Elective units

Duration and Structure of the Programme

The Bachelor of Environmental Sciences degree programme is by course work and examination. The programme will take four years and to graduate in the programme the Student is expected to pass at least 56 units. Each course unit shall have a minimum of Thirty-Five (35) contact hours and shall be covered within one semester. In the fourth year, the student will be expected to carry out field research and ultimately submit a research project report for examination.