Bachelor of Science Honours in Geography

The aim is to expose learners to disciplines within the Geographical Sciences. It is suited for learners who wish to obtain a background in Geography and to acquire skills that are necessary to address specific 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 Geographical Sciences capable of assuming leadership roles in society and secondary schools.

The (third) purpose of the qualification is to provide learners with real-life experience in Geographical matters 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 post qualified learner qualifications, thereby ensuring the widening of the currently internationally recognised knowledge-base and scholarly expertise in Geography, particularly amongst previously disadvantaged communities, by providing access to lifelong learning and higher qualifications in the spatial, environmental and Geographical sciences.

The institution conducts RPL in terms of the policy and guidelines of the institution to recognise other forms of formal, informal and non-formal learning and experience. In cases where learners do not comply with the formal admission requirements, the institution applies its RPL policy.

Entry Requirements

The minimum entry requirement for this qualification is

• Bachelor of Science in Geography, NQF Level 7.

The student will be conversant and be able to partake in, or render advice concerning, all aspects involved in the management of human-environment interactions.

Bachelor of Science Honours.

Learning outcomes

Knowledge

• Disciplinary perspectives about geographical, environmental and societal issues.
• Established mechanisms for environmental assessment and management.
• Principles of univariate and multivariate statistics, ordination and spatial statistics.
• Underlying principles that govern spatial, population, societal, landscape and environmental dynamics.
• The underlying principles that characters social modelling and assessment.
• The implications of environmental chance and sustainable resource management for managing human-environment interactions.

Skills

• Environmental Impact assessment.
• Integrated Environmental Management.
• Strategic Environmental Assessment.
• Geomorphological field techniques.
• 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.

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.

Integrated assessment

• Simulations.
• Work-place assessments.
• Written examinations.
• Oral examinations.

Other

• Essay writing.
• Report writing.
• Computer-based analytical assessments.