Bachelor of Science Honours in Environmental Analysis and Management

The aim is to expose learners to disciplines within the environmental sciences. It is designed for learners who wish to obtain a background in environmental management and to acquire skills that are necessary to address specific environmental questions faced by civil society.

The (first) purpose of the qualification is to provide learners with the required research and analytical expertise to process and interpret complex and multi-dimensional environmental issues.

The (second) purpose of the qualification is to provide South Africa with a cadre of young experts in the environmental management capable of assuming leadership roles in society.

The (third) purpose of the qualification is to provide learners with real-life experience in environmental management so that they are equipped to address local, regional and national environmental issues.

The (fourth) purpose of the qualification is to provide learners with an adequate background in the complex relationships within the physical, social and built environments to allow them to pursue further qualifications in appropriate postgraduate programmes, thereby ensuring the widening of the currently internationally recognised knowledge-base and scholarly expertise in the earth sciences, particularly amongst previously disadvantaged communities, by providing access to lifelong learning and higher qualifications in the environmental sciences.

Access may be gained to the qualification through the Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL).

Entry Requirements

A relevant Bachelor of Science Degree or equivalent Qualification. Level 7.

Learning outcomes

Knowledge: Disciplinary perspectives about environmental issues.

• Established mechanisms for environmental assessment and management.
• Principles of environmental governance and diplomacy.
• Principles of univariate and multivariate statistics, ordination and spatial statistics.
• Underlying principles that govern societal and environmental dynamics.
• The underlying principles for: strategic environmental interactions during land reform.
• The underlying principles that characterise social modelling and assessment.
• The implications of environmental change and sustainable resource management for managing human-environment health.

Skills

• Environmental Impact Assessment.
• Integrated Environmental management.
• Social Impact assessment.
• Policy formulation.
• Social development and planning.
• Participatory appraisal assessments.
• Demographic pattern and trend interpretations.
• Resource appraisals.
• Resource management plans.
• Spatial statistical manipulation.
• Univariate and multivariate statistics, ordination analysis.
• EIA, GIS, remote sensing, Strategic environmental planning.
• Environmental integration.

Values

• Appreciate the environmental ethic.
• Comprehend the co-evolutionary nature of environment society economic relationships.
• Condone the value of a holistic approach towards environmental problem solving while also appreciating the inherent value contained in a reductionist scientific approach towards environmental problem solving.
• Value team-work in addressing environmental problems.
• Viewing negotiation and conflict resolution as effective tools in the environmental field.

Critical cross-field outcomes

• Identify and solve problems in a manner indicative that responsible decisions using critical and creative thinking has been applied.
• Reflecting on and exploring a variety of strategies to learn effectively.
• Collecting, analysing, organising and critically evaluating information.
• Work effectively with others as a member of a team, group, organisation, community.
• Identifying comparative differences between regions and interpreting these differences in terms of a changing and evolving environment.
• Organising and managing oneself and one's activities responsibly and effectively.
• Communicating effectively using visual mathematical and language skills during oral and written presentations.
• Exploring spatial patterns across scales.
• Exploring education and career opportunities.
• Demonstrating an understanding of the earth as a dynamic interactive entity comprising physical, social and built environments.
• Demonstrating effective and responsible decision making.
• Stimulating and developing creative thinking patterns.
• Using technology effectively and responsibly.
• Interpreting media-based information.
• Remaining receptive and responsive to emerging trends and developments.

Generating critical essays (formative and summative).

Computer-based analytical assessment (Formative and Summative).

Simulated exercises in problem solving (Formative and Summative).

Written tests (summative).

Written examinations (Summative).

Individual project report generation (Formative and Summative).

Team project report Generation (Formative and Summative).

Assessments of oral presentation of project results (Formative and Summative).

Integrated Assessment

• Simulations.
• Work-place assessments.
• Written examinations.
• Oral examinations.
• Other:
• Essay writing.
• Report writing.
• Computer-based analytical assessments.