Bachelor of Science Biochemistry Program Offered at Jomo Kenyatta University

Bachelor of Science Biochemistry Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology(JKUAT) is a subject in life sciences that aims at imparting on understanding the Molecular Basis of life in plants and animals. It is a multi-disciplinary subject that focuses on structure and function of molecules as well as their interplay to create the phenomenon of life.
Bachelor of Science Biochemistry Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology(JKUAT) particularly looks at how this interplay is translated into basic metabolism, energy transduction, defense and physical responses for purposes of growth and development.

The Molecular basis of the ongoing struggle between higher organisms and disease is aptly captured in subjects like Medical Biochemistry, Biochemistry of parasites and tumors as well as Immunochemistry. These areas of specialization form part of recent advances in biochemistry and are covered in this programme.

Bachelor of Science Biochemistry Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology(JKUAT) contains strategies designed to control disease and enhance food security are adequately addressed in the areas of Pharmacology, Molecular Biology and Biotechnology.

A student wishing to study Bachelor of Science Biochemistry Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology(JKUAT must satisfy the minimum University requirements and Faculty of Science regulations. A student to be admitted must satisfy any of the following minimum requirements.

Either
1.1 must have passed Biology or Biological Sciences and chemistry in KCSE at a minimum grade of C+. In addition a student must have passed either maths or physics / Physical Science.
or
1.2 have a minimum of 2 principal passes in science subjects in Kenya Advanced Certificate of Education (KACE),
or
1.3 have a diploma in relevant science subjects and with at least a credit pass from an Institution recognized by the University Senate,
or
1.4 have a diploma in Applied Sciences with at least a credit pass in relevant science subjects from an Institution recognized by the University Senate,
or
1.5 have any other qualifications accepted by the University Senate as equivalent to 1.1 to 1.4.

Students who hold any of the qualifications 1.2, 1.3 and 1.4 above may at the discretion of the Faculty of Science be admitted directly to the second year of the course in which case they may complete their course in a minimum of three academic years and a maximum of five academic years. A student who joins first year of study must take Chemistry, Zoology and Botany courses. A student wishing to take Biochemistry must have obtained an average of B in the relevant first year units.

Bachelor of Science Biochemistry Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology(JKUAT) contains the following units;
YEAR 1
HRD 2101 Communication Skills
HRD 2102 Development Studies and Social Ethics
SMA 2104 Mathematics for Science
SBH 2201 Proteins and Enzymes I
SBH 2200 Structure of Biomolecules
SBH 2203 Basic Metabolism I
SBH 2204 The Cell and its External Environment
SCH 2100 Atomic Structure, Chemical Bonding and Structure
SCH 2101 Chemical Bonding & Structure
SCH 2102 Physical Chemistry I
SCH 2103 Organic Chemistry I
SBH 2102 Plant Biochemistry I
SBH 2103 Biochemistry of Microorganisms I
SBH2102 Medical Physiology
SBH 2207 Biomembranes and Organelles
SZL 2111 HIV/AIDS
Year 2
SBH 2200 Structure of Biomolecules
SBH 2201 Proteins and Enzymes I
SBH 2202 Biochemical Techniques and Instrumentation I
SBH 2203 Basic Metabolism I
SBH 2204 The Cell and its External Environment
ICS 2240 Introduction to computer and data processing (Prerequisite for taking SMA 2241)
SMA 2250 Mathematics for Biologists
ICS 2241 Introduction to Programming

Year 3
SBH 2300 Basic Metabolism II
SBH 2301 Basic Metabolism III
SBH 2302Biochemical Techniques and Instrumentation II
SZL 2300 Biostatistics
SBH 2306 Immunochemistry I
SBH 2303 Biochemical Endocrinology
SBH 2305 Biomembranes and Organelles
SBH 2325 Biochemistry of Muscle Contraction
SBH 2326 Biochemistry of Special Organs
SBH 2327 Pharmacognosy
SBH 2328 Environmental Biochemistry
SBH 2324 Biochemistry of Parasites
SBH 2303 Biochemical Endocrinology
SBH 2322 Biochemical Pharmacology I
SBH 2403 Medical Biochemistry I
SBH 2417 Biotechnology 1

Year4
HRD 2401 Entrepreneurship Skills
SBH 2400 Metabolic Regulation and Integrated Metabolism in the Mammalian Tissues
SBH 2401 Biochemical Techniques and Instrumentation III
SBH 2404 Comparative Animal Biochemistry
SBH 2405 Plant Biochemistry
SBH 2406 Research Project (2 Units)
SBH 2407 Nutritional Biochemistry
SBH 2325 Biochemistry of Muscle Contraction
SBH 2425 Immunochemistry II
SBH 2426 Biochemistry of Special Organs
SBH 2427 Biochemistry of Tumors
SBH 2402 Biochemistry of Micro-organisms
SBH 2421 Applied Microbial Biochemistry
SBH 2422 Biotechnology II
SBH 2423 Biochemical Pharmacology II
SBH 2424 Medical Biochemistry II
SBH 2420 Recombinant DNA technology
SBH 2429 Bioinformatics
SBH 2403 Insect biochemistry
SBH 2431 Bioethics and policy in biotechnology