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Environmental Science

BACKGROUND

The Court and Senate of the University of Sierra Leone in 1989 approved the establishment of a Faculty of Environmental Sciences to be based at Njala University College (NUC). The faculty admitted its first set of students in October 1991, and had its first graduates in 1998 (the College lost two academic years as a result of the war). In 2005, by an act of the Parliament of Sierra Leone, NUC was upgraded into University status. The Senate and Court of Njala University in 2005 approved the establishment of the School of Environmental Sciences to be based on Njala Campus. The school is firmly embedded in the development process of Sierra Leone with special roles in improving the quality and expanding the quantity of human resources necessary for development. These roles are fulfilled through the programmes offered by the school leading to the award of diplomas and degrees and by research, consultancy and information collection services of the university and affiliated institutions.

OBJECTIVES OF THE SCHOOL’S PROGRAMME

The primary objective of the School is to provide training at the undergraduate and graduate levels in environmental management and conservation issues. The short-term objectives are to:

  1. Establish a training programme in environmental Science and Management within the University of Sierra Leone leading to the provision of a cadre of personnel trained in Environmental Management issues
  2. Undertake research in a central location on various environmental issues such as:
    • Agro forestry,
    • Fuel wood,
    • Land and water Reclamation,
    • Tropical rainforest ecology and conservation,
    • Human ecology,
    • Land, water and atmospheric pollution,
    • Land degradation,
    • Fisheries exploitation,
    • Water supply and sanitation,
    • Ecological management,
    • Urban environment and
    • Renewable energy
  3. Carry out extension activities in collaboration with NGO’s, Government and other institutions involved with environmental issues and
  4. Ensure that the curricula of Primary Secondary and Tertiary institutions and the work of extension services reflect the national concern for environmental protection and sustainable development.

In the long term, the School aims at:

  1. Strengthening of environmental management and conservation issues nationally with the provision of trained staff for the public, parastatal and private institutions.
  2. Developing a national cadre of high level human resources qualified in Environmental Management and capable of contributing specialist skills to the implementation of National Policy in Environmental Management. The activities of this national cadre of trained personnel will demonstrate that one of the most effective ways of sustaining rural development is through effective environmental management.
  3. Promoting the goals of the national Environmental Policy of raising public awareness and promoting understanding of the essential linkage between environment and development, and encouraging individual and community participation in environmental improvement efforts.
  4. Developing a deeper understanding of the theoretical concepts and methods of physical, social and life sciences.
  5. Providing training that enables students to search for and process scientific information efficiently.
  6. Developing students in order to have the ability to communicate ideas and research effectively.
  7. Preparing graduates for further study and postgraduate work in the various fields of science.
  8. Provide an academic and intellectual base for graduates intending to pursue professional programmes in medicine and similar vocations not offered in the university.
  9. Helping students to become responsible members of society through their proficiency impacted by the school in the various fields of sciences.

ENTRANCE QUALIFICATIONS/REQUIREMENTS

In keeping with its mission and functions, the University’s objectives on admission are to:

  1. Provide access to University education for a wider spectrum of candidates,
  2. Ensure appropriate standards in admission to the various programmes, and
  3. Ensure transparency and fair play in the admission of students.

The specific criteria for admission of candidates into (non) degree programmes are as follows.

FOR CERTIFICATE PROGRAMMES

  • Candidates must have at least two (2) credit passes in relevant subjects in the NCTVA Tech voc certificate/GCE ‘O’Level/WASSCE.

FOR DIPLOMA PROGRAMS

  • Candidate must have at least three (3) credit passes in relevant subjects in the NCTVA/GCE O’Level/WASSCE. Holders of related Certificates and Diplomas with at least two (2) years ex-poste working experience are considered for admission.

FOR HIGHER DIPLOMA PROGRAMS

  • Candidates must have at least four (4) credit passes in relevant at WASCE/O’Level/NCTVA or successful completion of a related Diploma in with a minimum pass of Credit and evidence of one year post qualification professional practice.

FOR UNDERGRADUATE DEGREE PROGRAMME

  • Candidates must satisfy three sets of requirements:
  1. The General University requirements for matriculation.
    • Five credits at G.C.E. “O” Level or at W.A.S.S.C.E. including English Language in not more than two
    • (2) sittings. Candidates with five (5) G.C.E. “O” Levels or W.A.S.S.C.E. but without English Language will be required to take the University Matriculation English examination. Candidates with three (3) relevant G.C.E. “O” Levels or W.A.S.S.C.E. credit passes may be admitted into the twelve (12) months access programme. On successful completion of it, they would be qualified to enter the first year of the proposed degree programmes.
  2. Special School requirements
    • A candidate must have a minimum of five (5) credits at G.C.E. “O” Level or W.A.S.S.C.E. including English Language, Mathematics and three of the following subjects: Chemistry, Biology, Physics, Geography and Economics taken in not more than two sittings.
  3. Departmental requirements
    • At least a grade five (5) or better for every department at G.C.E. “O” Level or W.A.S.S.C.E. And/Or at least two/three subjects among the following: Biology, Agricultural Sciences, Economics, Geography, Mathematics and Statistics. Candidates who have studied any of geography, community development, social studies, biology, economics and agricultural sciences up to H.T.C. Level and with two years teaching or development related activities experience are also considered. Students entering with G.C.E. “A” Level with at least a “D” grade or equivalent in at least any two of the subjects in listed in this section will be admitted to the second year of the degree programmes.

FOR POSTGRADUATE TAUGHT MASTERS DEGREE

  • Candidates must have a first degree in a related subject/field.

CANDIDATES FOR THE POSTGRADUATE RESEARCH DEGREE OF MASTER OF PHILOSOPHY (M.PHIL)

  • Candidates must have Final Grade Point Average (FGPA) of 3.6 points in the taught Masters Degree programme or completed a Masters degree with thesis from a recognized University. For some degree programmes, candidate may be required to take remedial courses before proceeding with the thesis research.

FOR THE DOCTOR OF PHILOSOPHY (PHD) DEGREE

  • Candidates must have at least an FGPA of 4.2 in the taught Masters Degree programme or successfully completed the M.Phil Degree in a related field. For some degree programmes, candidate may be required to take remedial courses before proceeding with the thesis research.

ASSESSMENT, GRADING, GRADUATION AND CLASSIFICATION OF (NON) DEGREE PROGRAMMES

ASSESSMENT AND GRADING

The University’s examination policy applies to all programmes. Ideally, each module in the (non) degree programmes is assessed by continuous assessment (weighted 40%) and a final written examination (weighted 60%). The continuous assessment consists of any or a combination, of the following: written assignments, tests, practicals, projects, research exercise, objectives, short answer questions, quizzes and term papers. At the end of the semester all percentages are totaled and a single average is grade submitted for the student.

A five point letter and weighted percentage grading system shown in the table below is used to score the student. Students are required to have an average of three points or “C” to pass. Students are referred for the module when they obtain a grade of “E or F” at the certificate, Diploma, Higher Diploma and Undergraduate levels. In the case of postgraduate degrees it is ‘D, E or F’. All grades for the various subjects during the semester are used to compute the grade point average (GPA) for the semester, cumulatively and later at the end of the degree programme.

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