Department of Zoology and Environmental Biology has been in existence since the inception of the University in 1983 under the broad nomenclature of Department of Biological Sciences with programmes of courses designed for the award of degrees: B.Sc. Botany, B.Sc. Microbiology and B.Sc. Zoology. This same Department was also formerly referred to as Applied Zoology Option in the then Department of Plant Science and Applied Zoology between 2004 and 2016. The Department has been graduating students annually since 1986/1987 session.
In the year 2005 the NUC accredited the Applied Zoology Programme under the Department of Plant Science and Applied Zoology with Full accreditation status. The report of 2017 accreditation exercise was Interim, hence this 2019 accreditation exercise for re-appraisal of the Zoology programme.

The Zoology programme in the Department of Zoology and Environmental Biology has been designed in line with NUC BMAS to include the manpower needs of the industries, research establishment and agricultural establishments and of a fact, the need and ability to be self-employed.

The programme consists of two types of coded courses: BIO and ZOO, and in addition field work and industrial attachment. The Industrial Training Programme (I.T) runs for a single period of 6 months in the rain semester of the 300 level.

The Department is designed for award of degrees at the end of the fourth year of study and places strong emphasis on practical works in both the field and laboratory.

At present, the Department runs postgraduate programmes in Diploma, Masters and Doctor of Philosophy (both academic and research programmes) in line with the manpower needs of the country.

LIST OF PREVIOUS HEADS OF THE DEPARTMENT

Parent Department of Biological Sciences

Prof. A. O. Fajola (Late) 1983 – 1984

Prof. A. O. Segun 1984 – 1985

Prof. J. O. Olowookere 1985 – 1988

Prof. V. W. Ogundero 1988 – 1991

Prof. Awoderu, V. A. (Late) 1991 – 1995

Prof. Z. O. Gbile (Late) 1995 – 1996

Dr. D. A. Alabi 1996 – 1998

Prof. F. A. Adeyemi 1998 – 2001

Prof. V. W. Ogundero 2001 – 2004

Prof. L. O. Adebajo 2004.

Department of Plant Science and Applied Zoology

Prof. V.A. Awoderu (Late) 2004 – 2005

Prof. S. O. Owa 2005 – 2008

Prof. N. A. Amusa 2008 – 2010

Prof. A. D. Banjo (Late) 2010 – 2013

Dr. K.B. Olurin 2013 – 2015

Prof. O.O. Fafioye 2015

Department of Applied Zoology

Prof. O.O. Fafioye 2015 – 2016

Dr. O.M. Agbolade 2016 – 2017

Department of Zoology and Environmental Biology

Prof. O.A. Lawal 2017 – 2017

Prof. O.O. Fafioye 2017 to date

The philosophy of the B.Sc. Zoology programme is to produce graduates who are well equipped in both general and practical education in Zoology, to take positions in all areas of philosophical and human understanding of animals that meet the needs of the society.