The Department of Biological Sciences is one of oldest departments in the University having been started in 1952 when Egerton College introduced formal diploma courses. The Department was started to offer basic life science courses that supported the professional diploma courses which were started at different periods viz. Agriculture (1952), Animal husbandry (1962), Dairy technology and Forestry (1963) Range Management (1965), Agricultural Education and Extension (1966), Farm Management (1969), Food Science and Technology (1967), Agriculture and Home Economics (1970), Horticulture and Animal Health (1978). The students enrolled in the above mentioned programmes had to go through curricula that begin with foundation biology courses in their first and/or second year of study. The University department charged with the responsibility of teaching biological Sciences was, for a long time, designated as the department of Biology up to 1989. Thereafter, the unitary department was split into separate departments of Botany and Zoology. In 2005, Botany and Zoology departments were merged into the department of Biological Sciences. The current department of Biological Sciences serves students, in particular, as a flashpoint of basic and applied scientific inspiration that contributes to academic excellence at Egerton University.

The Department of Biological Sciences is one of oldest departments in the University having been started in 1952 when Egerton College introduced formal diploma courses. The Department was started to offer basic life science courses that supported the professional diploma courses which were started at different periods viz. Agriculture (1952), Animal husbandry (1962), Dairy technology and Forestry (1963) Range Management (1965), Agricultural Education and Extension (1966), Farm Management (1969), Food Science and Technology (1967), Agriculture and Home Economics (1970), Horticulture and Animal Health (1978). The students enrolled in the above mentioned programmes had to go through curricula that begin with foundation biology courses in their first and/or second year of study. The University department charged with the responsibility of teaching biological Sciences was, for a long time, designated as the department of Biology up to 1989. Thereafter, the unitary department was split into separate departments of Botany and Zoology. In 2005, Botany and Zoology departments were merged into the department of Biological Sciences. The current department of Biological Sciences serves students, in particular, as a flashpoint of basic and applied scientific inspiration that contributes to academic excellence at Egerton University.

Our undergraduate curriculum starts with core courses that teach students the fundamentals of life sciences, both in concept and method. In addition, we offer service courses that prepare students for a wide range of career options at Egerton University.  The curriculum provides appropriate training for students seeking admission to graduate schools as well as those who wish to enter the job market directly following graduation.

The Department has a pool of highly qualified academic and technical staff that offer quality teaching and carry out many research activity as well as giving guidance to students in their project work. It also has a number of research laboratories with modern equipment both for teaching and research. One of the hallmarks of our department is the close relationship that exists between our staff and students which makes learning atmosphere to be friendly.

The Department offers a number of graduate programmes viz., MSc. Plant Pathology, MSc. Limnology, MSc. Medical Parasitology, MSc. Mycology, MSc. Animal Physiology the International joint degree MSc. Limnology and Wetlands Management that is offered between our University, BOKU University in Austria and the IHE-Delft Institute of Water Education, as well as the International Joint Degree MS in Aquatic Ecosystem and Environment Management which we offer together with the Addis Ababa University and the Bahir Dar University in Ethiopia. We also offer doctorate degrees in each of those MSc field of studies, i.e PhD in Limnology, PhD in Plant Pathology, PhD in Animal Physiology and PhD in Medical Parasitology.  
Please do not hesitate to contact me (e-mail: biologicalsciences@egerton.ac.ke) or any member of the Department should you have questions about our programmes.