Bachelor of Social Science in Geography and Environmental Management

An urgent need exists for expertise in environmental management, particularly in KwaZulu-Natal. Durban is one of the fastest expanding metropolitan areas in the country with concomitant growth planning and development problems. Policies, legislation and procedures need to be developed and applied in a wide range of contexts in order to ensure sustainable development. Rapid population growth in the province has led to problems that are linked to a range of resource issues. The need to foster sustainable development through the management of environmental resources and the elimination of poverty is a major regional challenge.

The qualification is a structured set of modules as learning experiences designed to develop graduates in the interdisciplinary field of environmental management who are able to approach problems with an understanding of both the social and natural world. This broad qualification requires both specialist and generalist knowledge and is structured to provide links across other qualifications in the Human Sciences, Community and Development and Science Faculties. The qualification addresses the need for graduates with expertise and skills to understand, control, prevent and manage environmental problems. The qualification therefore has a strong theoretical content related to sustainable development where issues arise at the interface of the environment and development. There is also a need for a range of management and assessment skills and techniques in order to implement changes and design and manage interventions in order to ensure environmental quality. These form part of the qualification along with the strong ethos of environmental and civic responsibility.

The Qualification is designed to straddle the sciences and the social sciences with roughly half the core courses selected from each of these realms. However, learners wishing to align their qualification towards the sciences, will select science electives within a BSc Degree qualification, while those whose interests lie in the social sciences and development will design their qualification by selecting social science electives within a qualification.

The Qualification is structured around a set of core courses at each level. At each level there is the opportunity for learners to select a range of electives in either the natural sciences, e.g. Biology, or the social sciences, e.g. Economics and Development Studies. As the qualification is a broad interdisciplinary qualification it has been designed to maximize flexibility and access.

Although the Geography and Environmental Management Qualification is aimed at the undergraduate level there is an Honours and a course work Masters Qualification in Geography and Environmental Management. This allows for vertical mobility with flexibility increasing with movement towards the postgraduate level.

Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL)

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

• Senior Certificate, NQF Level 4 with endorsement.

Or

• National Senior Certificate, NQF Level 4 granting access to Bachelor's studies.

Or

• National Certificate Vocational, NQF Level 4 granting access to Bachelor's studies.

1. Demonstrate competence in understanding specialist fields of knowledge and integrating this knowledge in applied problem solving contexts. (These fields of knowledge include the natural environment; political, economic and social environments; societal and developmental processes; the relationships between the environmental problems and development processes, and the management of environmental problems).
2. Analyse and interpret environmental problems in natural and social environments and develop solutions via a problem-solving approach.
3. Communicate effectively through the acquisition of computer literacy and information handling skills, language skills, oral and written presentation skills.
4. Produce and present knowledge via a range of research methods including numeracy and basic statistical skills as well as qualitative analysis.
5. Demonstrate interdisciplinary problem-solving based on a holistic and synthesizing mode of thinking.
6. Design and implement participatory processes for environmental decision-making.
7. Undertake spatial analysis via map and aerial photograph interpretation; Geographical Information System (GIS) applications and map production. This competency relates to the visual communication of spatial information.
8. Apply environmental management systems and procedures and tools, and undertaking environmental assessments.
9. Integrate and apply the world views of science and social science for producing knowledge and solving problems.
10. Integrate, local and indigenous knowledge of environmental issues and solutions, into environmental management and problem-solving.
11. Demonstrate responsibility towards the environment and develop an environmental ethic for sustainable development.

The following associated assessment criteria apply across all Exit Level Outcomes

• Relate the theoretical concepts and information derived in the course to empirical problems in case studies and real life situations (Outcomes 1-5, and 9-11).
• Demonstrate the ability to evaluate the applicability of a range of conceptual frameworks for explaining contemporary environmental problems and solutions (Outcomes 1-5, and 9-11).
• Demonstrate the ability to consider a range of options for the solution and management of environmental problems, select solutions and management systems and techniques and apply them in practice (Outcomes 1-11).
• Demonstrate the awareness that environmental problems occur in specific social and cultural contexts necessitating an awareness of the local understanding of such problems (Outcomes 9-11).
• Use science and technology effectively and critically, showing responsibility towards the environment and health of others (Outcomes 7-11).
• Demonstrate the ability to integrate and apply the knowledge, skills and attitudes learnt in the qualification (integrated assessment - research project) (Outcomes 1-11).
• Communicate in a coherent manner in both the oral, written mode and visual/graphic mode (Outcome 3 and 7).
• Retrieve information from the internet, books and scientific journals as well as deriving primary information from observations in the field (Outcomes 4 and 6).
• Read, evaluate and interpret information in various ways (i.e. reports, essays, assignments) (Outcomes 3, 4, 7 and 9).
• Work effectively with others as members of a team, group, organisation or community (Outcomes 9, 10).
• Organise and manage themselves and their activities responsibility and effectively-develop a professional work ethic. Complete assignments to a deadline (Outcome 8).

Integrated Assessment

The institution 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.