Microbiology Department was established in 1989. The department runs a five year undergraduate degree programme leading to the award of B.Tech. In Microbiology. The design of the programme is such that students take all requisite courses for 3 years in the different options of Microbiology from 300L. The first year of the programme is spent studying basic sciences and few liberal arts in order to provide sound knowledge of the basic scientific and its relationship to the society while in subsequent years; the student applies the scientific knowledge in an increasing complexity to biochemical, biological and microbiological processes. The entire Programme is flexibly structured to accommodate students with physics science background and aptitude, who are interested in various aspects of our programme. The degree structures and course programme of the Department have been based on the requirements of NUC minimum academic standards and an understating that the minimum academic standard of University of Technology in a five year degree programme must exceed the minimum academic standards for conventional Universities WITH PRACTICAL TO THEORY RATIO OF 60:40. Accordingly the programme of the Department has incorporated all the 120 Credits (Units) required of all the conventional Universities in a 4 year degree structure in addition to other applied/technology oriented courses. While the minimum course load per semester per student approved by the NUC minimum academic document is 15 Units, our Programme recommends a minimum of 16 Units semester per student, if students must graduate at the end of 5 years. The maximum load of 24 Units per semester by the NUC minimum academic standards remains the upper limit for the Programme of the Department. The Department like any other Department in the School of Life Sciences, operates a total of 10 semesters for the 5 year degree programme. Thus, the minimum of credits expected for a graduating student is our programme is 140 Units in course work only. The SIWES requirement (12 Units) is done outside the 9 semesters of the course work.

OUR PROGRAMMES

The programmes offered in the Department of Microbiology are Bachelor of Tech (B.Tech), Master of Technology (M.Tech) and Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) in Microbiology. The Bachelor of Tech (B.Tech) in Microbiology is a 5-year degree Programme designated to train competent personnel for the ever increasing demand in important private and public establishments in the Medical and Agriculture Sector, Water Resources and Environmental protection Agency, Food and Drug Industry, Quality Control Laboratory and Pharmaceutical Industries. While all aspects of medical microbiology are fully treated emphasis is placed on the applied aspect of the course. In this connection, the students are to carry out applied projects as much as possible when taking the various courses. Industrial attachments for students for a period of six (6months in the year is compulsory at 400 Level. With the acquisition of knowledge in the areas of Microbiology, the graduate of this program can be self employed if they have no desire to work for the industry or medical institutions. The Department of Microbiology offers the following options for Master of Technology (M.Tech) and Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) in Microbiology: Environmental Microbiology, Food & Industrial Microbiology, Medical Microbiology and Pharmaceutical Microbiology. Master degree programmes normally take 18 months on full time and 36 months on part time. Extension may be granted up to a maximum of 36 months for full time and 60 months for part time. Candidates are expected to complete the PhD programme in 36 months for full time and 60 months for part-time.

GOAL/AIM OF THE DEPARTMENT

To build human capacity in all fields of Microbiology ready to transform the country from its status of a third world and developing nation to that of an advanced and developed nation with research output meeting the desire and aspirations of the Nigerian society. The Department will strive to carry out research that will position it first among equals and capable of driving development. It will train high level manpower microbiologists that will create job and wealth and reduce unemployment and invariably poverty. Specifically, the Department will build capacity and develop human capital to the highest level possible in the various fields so as to create job and wealth, thereby reducing unemployment and poverty.

OBJECTIVES OF THE CURRICULUM

The objectives of the new curriculum are: i. To produce students who have comparable qualification with graduates from world from world class universities with skills and competences that meet the compelling need of the society. ii. To prepare students for professional career in Microbiology. iii. Train students to perform research that leads to practical application in all fields of Microbiology. iv. To prepare students for independent research careers in Medical, Environmental, Food and Industrial, Pharmaceutical Microbiology. v. To maintain high standards in research and scholarships so as to achieve national and international recognition for excellence. vi. Pre-requisites have be introduced to make for a more serious and holistic approach to the programme. The 200 Level students are now introduced to the Microbiology course early to give an introductory approach to the course. Soil Microbiology is a new course taken in 400 Level to better the understanding of Environmental Microbiology. These changes were brought about mainly to improve the image of vocational and technical education with the students and the society at large. The new curriculum is content driven and examination centred.

OBJECTIVES OF THE DEPARTMENT

The Microbiology programme is designed to: i. Equip the graduates with enough basic microbiological skills so that they will be able to cope with challenges of life. ii. Provides instructions and training required for graduates of Microbiology to excel both in their fields of study and industries. iii. Carry out researches that are publishable and applicable in our industries. iv. To develop links with local and foreign industries in order to help them in their efforts to solve problems by applying Microbiological and Industrial principles