Overview
The Department of Biology was established in the academic year 1392/1393 A.H., as one of the departments of the College of Education at King Abdulaziz University (Makkah Al-Mukarramah Branch). In Sha`ban, 1401 A.H., the dream of the people of Makkah Al-Mukarramah came true when the royal decree establishing Umm Al-Qura University was issued, with a budget being allocated to it as of 1 Muharram, 1402 A.H. The College of Applied and Engineering Sciences was one of the first colleges to be established following the issuance of the royal decree establishing Umm Al-Qura University. When it was established, the college included the following departments:
- Biology Department
- Chemistry Department
- Physics Department
- Mathematics Department
- Civil Engineering Department
- Mechanical Engineering Department
- Electrical Engineering Department
Later, the engineering departments were transferred to an independent college (College of Engineering and Islamic Architecture).
The Department of Biology offers two programs: the Bachelor of Biology (40100), and the Bachelor of Microbiology (40101). Students earn the bachelor degree after successfully completing 138 credit hours in the biology program, and 136 credit hours in the microbiology program. In the biology program, courses include botany, zoology and microbiology. In the microbiology program, the courses include the basics of microbiology and its advanced applications.
Consequently, students explore diverse fields. Thus, if they wish to learn more and start post-graduate studies, they will have a strong foundation to continue his studies in any of the streams. Moreover, work opportunities for graduates of this department are in diverse fields, including biological labs in food factories, research and development units at pharmaceutical companies and experimental laboratories, as well as teaching after studying some courses in education.
The biology program is available for both male and female students, but the microbiology program is available only for male students.