Bachelor of Science Honours in Soil Science

To produce graduates with an understanding of soil science who are able to manage soil and water resources in order to (a) minimize or rehabilitate industrial environmental disturbance and contamination and/or (b) manage agricultural and horticultural production systems in a sustainable manner.

• An adequate exposure to physical science or biology.
• An adequate level of development of knowledge and skills in mathematics.
• Adequate literacy skills in English. These can be demonstrated in a number of ways.

o Matriculation exemption with at least 40% Higher Grade or at least 60 % at Standard grade for Mathematics and at least 40 % at Higher Grade or at least 60 % at standard Grade for Biology or Physical Science.

o Alternative access programmes such as the Science Foundation Programme

• Continuation in, or access into, programmes at level 7b or above presupposes completion of the exit level requirements at level 6 at the required standard.
• The SFP provides access to students who do net have a formal or adequate matric exemption.

Recognised prior learning

Students who have completed a diploma at an Agricultural College or Technikon may be admitted, provided they meet the criteria above.

• To understand soil chemical, biological and physical properties and processes and the interaction between them.
• To understand how to use existing soil resources most effectively and how to manage chemical, biological and physical soil processes for sustainable environmental management and/or sustainable agricultural production.
• To be able to implement soil management strategies to improve environmental quality and/or agricultural sustainability.
• To be able to gather, analyse, interpret and synthesize appropriate information on soil properties, processes and management.
• To effectively communicate the above both orally and in written form

• Students will demonstrate their ability and proficiency in each of the 5 learning outcomes via course examinations plus individual and group projects at 300 and 700 level courses.
• All assessments are second-examined with external examination for 300 and 700 level courses.

Integrated assessment appropriately incorporated to ensure that the purpose of the qualification is achieved

The University of Natal is currently reforming its assessment strategies to include the assessment of applied competence for each qualification. In the meantime, a combination of continuous assessment and traditional written examinations serve to assess the integration of all/most of the learning outcomes for each module in a qualification.

All level 300 and 700 Soil Science courses have project-based laboratory/field studies which are written up in report-form. At level 300 and 700, the capstone seminar modules require the studetn to present written and oral reports on selected topics.