Biology-Chemistry Department

The IPA's Biology-Chemistry Department offers a three-year Bachelor's degree in Biology-Chemistry. This degree prepares future teachers and teaching specialists of the natural sciences for the Burundian and African context. The programme combines three inseparable pillars: mastery of scientific content in biology and chemistry (cell structure, biochemistry, organic chemistry, ecology, physiology), a deep understanding of experimental learning processes (scientific inquiry, critical reasoning, systematic observation), and the teaching skills to turn this expertise into effective learning that sparks pupils' curiosity.

This is not a programme in "abstract science". It is practical preparation for conducting scientific inquiry, designing and leading classroom experiments, and helping African learners discover the power of scientific thinking. Students leave the Department not only as specialists in biology and chemistry, but as reflective educators able to adapt experimental teaching to the specific context of Burundi.

The Department brings together an active scientific community that experiments, observes and debates together. Graduates work as secondary school teachers, teacher trainers and researchers in natural science didactics in Burundi.

• Master scientific content in biology and chemistry;
• Design and run experiments in the classroom and the school laboratory;
• Acquire the teaching and didactic skills to teach the natural sciences;
• Develop scientific inquiry skills in pupils.

Three principles shape the Biology-Chemistry Department and reflect the IPA's teaching approach.

Principle 1: Progressing from theory to experimentation to teaching

The six semesters are not a series of isolated courses. They form an intentional progression from scientific understanding to the ability to teach it. The first two semesters lay the foundations: cell biology, genetics, general chemistry, organic chemistry, an introduction to learner psychology and cognitive development. In the third semester, students go deeper: molecular biology, ecology, analytical chemistry, advanced chemical reactions. In the fourth semester, the teaching focus becomes explicit: students take "Pedagogy and Didactics" — theory of teaching, setting learning objectives, experimental teaching strategies, assessment. In the fifth semester: "Special Didactics of the Natural Sciences" — how to apply this theory specifically to the teaching of biology and chemistry, designing teaching experiments, managing the school laboratory. In the sixth semester: teaching placements in real schools, supported by IPA supervisors.

This progression ensures that every student first masters scientific content and experimentation, then learns how to teach them, and then practises them in a real context.

Principle 2: Integrating contextualised and applied sciences

The curriculum does not limit science to laboratory theory. Alongside the formal fundamentals, students explore applications of the natural sciences to the African context: the biology of tropical diseases, the chemistry of water sources and local agriculture, the ecology of sub-Saharan ecosystems. They discover how to teach biology and chemistry not as detached disciplines, but as tools for understanding and solving real problems. This grounding in contextual relevance makes teaching motivating and relevant for African pupils.

Principle 3: Balancing theory, experimentation and teaching at every stage

Each course combines lectures (scientific theory), tutorials (problem solving), laboratory practicals (experimentation and observation), teaching design work (designing experiments for the classroom) and group work (collaborative learning). It is not "theory first, then practice". It is a constant alternation, so that every scientific concept is immediately tested by experiment and discussed from a teaching perspective.

The Bachelor's degree in Biology-Chemistry is organised over three years (six semesters) according to the ECTS system. Each semester is worth 30 credits, i.e. 60 credits per year. The teaching load amounts to 450 hours per semester, i.e. 2,700 hours over the three years, divided between lectures (CM), tutorials (TD), laboratory practicals (TP), independent student work (TPE) and group work (TGE). At the end of the six semesters, students receive the official Bachelor's degree in Biology-Chemistry recognised by the University of Burundi.

¹ Part I: Population and Community Ecology; Part II: Population and Ecosystem Dynamics; Part III: Phytosociology and Major Terrestrial Biomes

To be admitted to the first year of the Bachelor's (BAC 1), applicants must meet the general admission conditions set by the University of Burundi:

1. Hold the Burundian State Diploma (State Examination) or a qualification recognised as equivalent;
2. Be placed in or admitted to an IPA department through the official admission procedure held each year;
3. Submit an application file within the deadlines set by the Directorate of Academic Services.

For the procedure and the programme choice platform, see the Bachelor's Admissions page.