Bachelor of Science Honours in Environmental Earth Science

Purpose

The purpose of the qualification is to produce achieving learners who will be able to operate as Natural Science Professionals and who are competent in performing specialist tasks in the Environmental Earth Science field in one of the disciplines of Geomorphology, Surface Geology, Hydrology and/or Soil Science. The graduating learners should be able to engage critically in current in-depth debates concerning development initiatives and relevant resource utilisation, including environmental rehabilitation strategies.

Rationale

This qualification is designed to produce practitioners in the Environmental Earth Sciences field. In addition, the qualification will produce graduates who will be able to eventually operate as Natural Science Professionals and who are competent in performing in the broad Environmental Earth Science field across the Geomorphology, Surface Geology, Hydrology and Soil Science arenas. These learners should be able to engage critically in current debates concerning development initiatives and relevant resource utilisation, including environmental rehabilitation strategies. The qualification also enables learners to demonstrate initiative and responsibility in an academic or professional context.

Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL)

The Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) may be used to grant admission to the qualification to learners who do not meet the minimum entry requirement in line with institutional policy.

Entry Requirements

The minimum entry requirement for this qualification is

• Relevant Bachelor's Degree, Level 7.

The qualification consists of compulsory and elective modules at Level 8 totalling 128 credits

Compulsory Modules, 64 Credits

• Earth Sciences Research Project, 48 Credits.
• Research Methods in Environmental Sciences 16 Credits.

Elective Modules, 64 Credits (Choose four or more modules totalling 64 Credits)

• Evaporation Estimation (AMET860), 8 Credits.
• Evaporation Estimation (AMET870), 16 Credits.
• Automatic Weather Station Technologies 1, 16 Credits.
• Biogeography of Invasive Species, 16 Credits.
• Analytical Geographic Information System (GIS) and Advanced Spatial Modelling, 16 Credits.
• Advanced Remote Sensing, 16 Credits.
• Air Pollution, 16 Credits.
• Advanced Global Change, 16 Credits.
• Applied Geomorphology, 16 Credits.
• Advanced Biogeography, 16 Credits.
• Coastal Geomorphology, 16 Credits.
• Environmental Modelling, 16 Credits.
• Digital Data Treatment and Representation, 8 Credits.
• Amazon Web Services (AWS) Measurement and Control Technologies, 8 Credits.
• Heat Pulse Measurement in Plants and Soils, 8 Credits.
• Environmental Temperature and Radiation, 8 Credits.
• Current Issues in Hydrology, 16 Credits.
• Integrated Water Resources Management, 16 Credits.
• Pedolochemistry in the Environment, 16 Credits.
• Advanced Hydrological Process, 16 Credits.
• Soil Productivity Management, 16 Credits.
• Soil Science Seminar, 16 Credits.
• Automatic Weather Station Technologies 1, 8 Credits.
• Contemporary Environmental Issues, 16 Credits.

On completion of the qualification the learner will be able to

1. Demonstrate extensive and systematic knowledge of the complex environmental challenges facing the South African community with reference to the development and resource utilisation strategies from the perspective of an Earth Science specialist in one of the fields of Geomorphology, Hydrology or Soil Science.
2. Demonstrate in-depth skills to undertake literature searches in obtaining relevant information in order to identify complex, practice orientated solutions in the Earth Sciences.
3. Demonstrate knowledge and critical, in-depth understanding of the principles and theories relevant to the Earth Sciences in an environmental context for individuals and communities, and evaluate and document suggested interventions from a responsible and ethical framework.
4. Work independently according to the depth and complexity of the case-specific research project undertaken.
5. Demonstrate integrated knowledge and understanding of the content of the fields which constitute the qualification.
6. Show an understanding of the related methods and procedures of enquiry to adequately and competently solve pertinent problems to gain evidence-based solutions, notwithstanding a context of theory-driven arguments.
7. Communicate own knowledge and findings to peers and lay audiences in a competent, ethical and professional manner.

• Use knowledge and skills to develop in-depth solutions to earth Science-related environmental challenges.
• Integrate knowledge across the disciplines of earth sciences.
• Deal with related questions as a consolidation and deepening of the general knowledge gained at undergraduate level in a chosen field of specialisation.
• Analyse and interpret information arising from the research project and reach conclusions through practical recommendations.
• Communicate research findings these in writing by means of Information Technology and verbally to both laymen and professional audiences.

Integrated Assessment

The qualification has been designed to allow for a range of assessment types (both formative and summative) in oral and written format, to allow the potential achieving learner to demonstrate an integrated, in-depth knowledge of sub-disciplines within the Environmental Earth Science field, and to demonstrate their understanding of the key concepts involved by applying them in the context of the capstone research module.