Admission requirements

A National Senior Certificate (NSC) or the school-leaving certificate from the Independent Examination Board (IEB) as certified by Umalusi with a mark of at least 4 (50%) in each of the four school subjects from the list of designated university admission subjects.

• An average final mark of 65% in the NSC or the IEB school-leaving certificate (excluding Life Orientation) for the three-year mainstream programme.
• An average final mark of 60-64,9% in the NSC (excluding Life Orientation) for the four-year Extended Degree Programme.
• Your National Benchmark Test results may be taken into consideration for placement in the Extended Degree Programme.
• Home Language – code 4 (50%).
• First Additional Language – code 3 (40%).
• Mathematics – code 5 (60%) (If you will be taking Economics 114 or 144).

OR

• Mathematics – code 4 (50%) OR Mathematical Literacy – code 6 (70%) (only if you will be taking Socio-Informatics).

Consult section 3 in this chapter for more information on the Extended Degree Programmes.

Programme content

a) The programme structure consists of five first-year subjects, four second-year subjects and two and a half third-year subjects. In all three years of study the    following three core disciplines are compulsory, except for a limited choice in the final year:

• Geography and Environmental Studies;
• Sociology/Social Anthropology; and
• Public and Development Management

b) In the final year you take two and a half subjects out of the three for a total of 120 credits.

c) You do a certain amount of work in each of the major subjects that is designed to enhance the content integration within and between the major subjects and the overall coherence of the programme. This work, that forms part of the process of integrated assessment, can take on various forms such as (interdepartmental) seminars, written assignments, various forms of practical work, etc.

d) Please note the following:

• If you comply with the admission requirements for Mathematics, you can take Economics 114 and 144 in your first year, and Economics 214 and 244 in your second year. This will give you the economic-related subject support you need in order to understand and deal with developmental realities.
• If you do not take Economics 114 and 144 in your first year, then you must take Economics 288 (no admission requirements in Mathematics) as a compulsory module in your second year.
• Note that you can only take Basic Xhosa in your first year

Presentation

The programme is presented by means of formal lectures, tutorials, practicals, group work, individual assignments, self-study and field trips. You are expected to work more independently in your third year. Tuition techniques are monitored constantly and adjusted according to experience.

Programme Composition

The subjects and modules of the programme BA (Development and Environment) are set out below. You can find the contents of these subjects and modules in the chapter “Undergraduate Subjects, Modules and Module Contents” in this Calendar part.

Your chosen subject combination depends on timetable considerations. The subjects and modules that you choose may not clash on the class, test and examination timetables. In addition, consult the schematic outline for subject combinations on the fold-out page at the back of this Calendar part.

Consult Calendar part 10 for module contents of modules that are presented by the Faculty of Economic and Management Sciences (marked with *).

First year (134 credits)

Compulsory Modules

• Geo Environmental Science 124(16), 154(16) (you take Geography and Environment Studies on second-year and third-year level)
• Information Skills 172(6)
• Public and Development Management* 114(12), 144(12)
• Sociology 114(12), 144(12)

PLUS

Elective Modules

Choose two of the following subjects.

• Afrikaans and Dutch 178(24)
• Basic Xhosa 114(12), 144(12)
• Economics* 114(12), 144(12)
• English Studies 178(24)
• History 114(12), 144(12)
• Philosophy 114(12), 144(12)
• Socio-Informatics 114(12), 144(12)

Second year (128 – 136 credits)

Compulsory Modules

• Geography and Environmental Studies 225(16), 265(16) (follows on Geo-Environmental
• Science at first-year level)
• Public and Development Management* 212(8), 222(8), 242(8), 252(8)
• Social Anthropology 212(8), 222(8), 242(8), 252(8) (Sociology at first-year level is a corequisite)

OR

• Sociology 212(8), 222(8), 242(8), 252(8)

PLUS

Elective Modules

1. You continue with one of the following subjects (32 credits, or 40 credits if you are taking Socio-Informatics).
2. You must take Economics 288 if you did not take Economics 114 and 144 in your first year.
3. If you did take Economics 114 and 144 in your first year, then you cannot take Economic 288 for degree purposes.

• Economics* 288(32)

OR

• Economics* 214(16), 244(16)
• History 214(16), 244(16)
• Philosophy 214(16), 244(16)
• Socio-Informatics 224(16), 254(16), 262(8)

Third year (120 -128 credits)

If you are taking Geography and Environmental Studies in your third year, then your credit load will be higher.

Please note

• Choose two and a half subjects from the following (2 x 48 + 1 x 24) or (1 x 48 + 1 x 56 + 1 x 24) elective modules below.
• If you are taking Sociology 3 as a major subject then 314 (first semester) and 364 (second semester) are compulsory modules. Students then follow 324 in the first semester and choose between 344 and 354 in the second semester. Please note that 344 and 354 cannot be taken together due to timetable clashes.

Elective Modules

• Geography and Environmental Studies 314(12), 323(12), 358(16), 363(16)
• Public and Development Management* 314(12), 324(12), 348(24)
• Social Anthropology 314(12), 324(12), 344(12), 354(12)

OR

• Sociology 314(12), 324(12), 364(12) AND CHOOSE ONE OF
• 344(12), 354(12) (please note that due to timetable clashes, 344 and 354 cannot be taken together)

Notes

Take note that study in a particular subject at Honours level is permitted only if you had the subject as a major for which you attained an average final mark of 60% or more.

Programme Assessment

Flexible assessment is done by means of tests, examinations and written assignments. Skills modules may also be assessed continuously by means of practical applications. The manner in which individual modules are assessed, is explained in the module framework/study guide that is handed out during the first lecture of each module. Also consult the entries of the departments concerned in the chapter “Undergraduate Subjects, Modules and Module Contents” of this Calendar part.

Enquiries

• Dr S Williams – Programme Coordinator
• 021-808 4975
• samanthawilliams@sun.ac.za

2023-ArtsAndSocialSciences.pdf (sun.ac.za)

2023-ArtsAndSocialSciences.pdf (sun.ac.za)

2023-ArtsAndSocialSciences.pdf (sun.ac.za)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6ti-AtHCvdg

Admission Requirements

• Afrikaans or English (Home Language or First Additional Language) – 4
• Physical Sciences – 4
• Mathematics – 6 (If you are planning to take Mathematics 114, 144 and Physics 114, 144)

OR

• Mathematics – 5 (If you are planning to take Mathematics (Bio) 124 and Physics (Bio) 134, 154)

Continued Study Possibilities

• This programme leads to an honours programme in GeoInformatics. If you complete this BSc and BScHons (four years in total), you will automatically be able to register as a Professional Geographical Information Science Practitioner in training.
• If applicable elective modules are taken, this programme also leads to an honours programme in Computer Science or Socio-Informatics.

For more information on admission to the honours programme you are considering, please consult the relevant honours programme’s details in the chapter “Postgraduate Programmes” of this Calendar part.

Programme composition

First year (140credits)

Compulsory modules

(44 credits)

• Geo-environmental Science 124(16), 154(16)
• Science in Context 178(12)

PLUS

Elective Modules

(96 credits)

• Computer Science 114(16), 144(16)
• Mathematics 114(16), 144(16)
• Physics 114(16), 144(16)

OR

• Biology 124(16)
• Chemistry 124(16), 144(16)
• Mathematics (Bio) 124(16)
• Physics (Bio) 134(16), 154(16)

Second year (127 credits)

Compulsory Modules

(credits = 95)

• Geographical Information Technology 211(16), 241(16), 242(16)
• Geography and Environmental Studies 214(16)
• Scientific Computing 272(5)
• Socio-Informatics 262(8)
• Statistical Methods 176(18)

PLUS

Elective Modules

(credits = 32)

Choose one of the following subjects.

• Computer Science 214(16), 244(16)

OR

• Socio-Informatics 224(16), 254(16)

Third year (minimum 133, maximum 141 credits)

Compulsory Modules

(credits = 69)

• Geographical Information Technology 311(16), 312(16), 341(16), 342(16)
• Scientific Computing 372(5)

PLUS

Elective Modules

(credits = minimum 64, maximum 72)

Choose modules to a minimum value of 64 credits and a maximum value of 72 credits from the modules below. Your choice depends on there being no timetable clashes. If you are considering an honours programme in Computer Science or Socio-Informatics, then you must take all modules for the relevant field of study.

• Computer Science 314(16), 334(16), 344(16), 354(16)
• Socio-Informatics 314(18), 334(18), 354(18), 364(18)

Enquiries

• Dr Z Munch
• 021 808 9101
• zmunch@sun.ac.za

Please note

This stream will only be implemented in 2018. If you have already completed the first year of the original Earth Sciences programme, you may request to change to this stream as from the second year. The third year of this stream will be offered as from 2019.

Admission requirements

Afrikaans or English (Home Language or First Additional Language) – 4

• Physical Sciences – 4
• Mathematics – 6 (If you are planning to take Physics 114, 144 and/or Mathematics 114, 144)

OR

• Mathematics – 5 (If you are planning to take Mathematical (Bio) 124 and Physics (Bio) 134, 154)

Continued Study Possibilities

• This programme leads to an honours programme in Earth Science.

For more information on admission to the honours programme you are considering, please consult the relevant honours programme’s details in the chapter “Postgraduate Programmes” of this Calendar part.

First year (148 credits)

Compulsory Modules

(credits = 84)

• Chemistry 124(16), 144(16)
• Earth Science Field Skills 172(8)
• Geo-environmental Science 124(16), 154(16)
• Science in Context 178(12)

PLUS

Elective Modules

(credits = 64)

Choose one of the following three subject combinations.

Subject Combination 1

• Mathematics 114(16), 144(16)
• Physics 114(16), 144(16)

OR

Subject Combination 2

• Biology 124(16)
• Mathematics (Bio) 124(16)
• Physics (Bio) 134(16), 154(16)

or

Subject Combination 3

• Mathematics 114(16), 144(16)
• Physics (Bio) 134(16), 154(16)

Second year (141 credits)

Compulsory Modules

• Chemistry 234(16), 264(16)
• Computer Skills 272(5)
• Environmental Field Skills 271(8)
• Environmental Geochemistry 214(16)
• Geographical Information Technology 241(16)
• Geography and Environmental Studies 214(16), 265(16)
• Geology 224(16), 244(16)

Third year (141 credits)

This curriculum will be offered as from 2019 and only for students who have already been registered for this stream in 2018.

Compulsory Modules

• Computer Skills 372(5)
• Environmental Field Skills 372(8)
• Environmental Geochemistry 314(16)
• Geographical Information Technology 312(16), 341(16)
• Geography and Environmental Studies 334(16), 358(16)
• Geology 324(16), 344(16), 364(16)

Contact details

Dr J Miller

021-808 3121

jmiller@sun.ac.za

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yKsv1QigGRE