Bachelor of Science Degree

Prof Taro Mwabvu

Programme Description

The BSc at the University of Mpumalanga has a strong biological and geographical focus and has been carefully designed to provide very clear career paths for students. Mpumalanga, and South Africa more broadly, are characterised by competing and often conflicting demands for land for agriculture and forestry, for conservation and tourism, for mining, and for human settlement. Thus, the new generation of natural and geographical scientists must be able to work in this contested space and understand the genuine demands from all the players. This is a key aim of the BSc qualification.  

Completion of the BSc will provide an important opportunity for progression for those students who wish to continue with their studies at the University of Mpumalanga. It will also provide a route into further postgraduate studies (Honours, Masters and Doctoral studies).  

The underlying objective of the BSc programme is to enhance and facilitate creativity and promote critical thinking in the natural and geographical sciences. 

The focus of this BSc qualification will be in the biological, earth and environmental sciences. In first year, all students will take a fixed curriculum in which they do a full year of biology and earth and geographical sciences, and a semester of integrative environmental science. These modules will be supported by a semester of chemistry, a semester of end user computing and a semester of mathematics. 

In second year, there will be separate, year-long, modules in ecology (animal and plant), environmental science, geography (including GIS), entomology and integrated water studies. Students will select three of these. 

In third year, the same elective modules will be offered but at qualification level 7. Students will select two of the three modules taken in second year, which will be their major subjects. All combinations will be possible and will prepare students for further studies, or employment in a wide range of fields.  

Teaching will be by contact and will include lectures, tutorials, practicals, field trips, group work and online learning. Throughout the three years, there will be an emphasis on independent research, and third year will include 30 credits (15 per major subject) for research.