SAQA All qualifications and part qualifications registered on the National Qualifications Framework are public property. Thus the only payment that can be made for them is for service and reproduction. It is illegal to sell this material for profit. If the material is reproduced or quoted, the South African Qualifications Authority (SAQA) should be acknowledged as the source.
SOUTH AFRICAN QUALIFICATIONS AUTHORITY 
REGISTERED QUALIFICATION: 

Bachelor of Arts Honours in Environmental Geography 
SAQA QUAL ID QUALIFICATION TITLE
105163  Bachelor of Arts Honours in Environmental Geography 
ORIGINATOR
Nelson Mandela University 
PRIMARY OR DELEGATED QUALITY ASSURANCE FUNCTIONARY NQF SUB-FRAMEWORK
-   HEQSF - Higher Education Qualifications Sub-framework 
QUALIFICATION TYPE FIELD SUBFIELD
Honours Degree  Field 07 - Human and Social Studies  Environmental Relations 
ABET BAND MINIMUM CREDITS PRE-2009 NQF LEVEL NQF LEVEL QUAL CLASS
Undefined  120  Not Applicable  NQF Level 08  Regular-Provider-ELOAC 
REGISTRATION STATUS SAQA DECISION NUMBER REGISTRATION START DATE REGISTRATION END DATE
Reregistered  EXCO 0821/24  2021-07-01  2027-06-30 
LAST DATE FOR ENROLMENT LAST DATE FOR ACHIEVEMENT
2028-06-30   2031-06-30  

In all of the tables in this document, both the pre-2009 NQF Level and the NQF Level is shown. In the text (purpose statements, qualification rules, etc), any references to NQF Levels are to the pre-2009 levels unless specifically stated otherwise.  

This qualification does not replace any other qualification and is not replaced by any other qualification. 

PURPOSE AND RATIONALE OF THE QUALIFICATION 
Purpose:
The purpose of this qualification is to enable students to describe, analyse and present the context, values, the paradigms, required knowledge, and research techniques associated with environmental and social sustainability at a level that will allow them to contribute to the implementation of such projects in the work place.

The following will:
  • Contributes significantly to the Nelson Mandela University's mission-one of the major values espoused by the Nelson Mandela University (NMU) is respect for the natural environmental. It also contributes to the environmental and social health of the region and the nation.
  • Maintains intellectual credibility by requiring independent learning, the interrogation of a variety of different texts, appropriate discussion, problem-solving, writing and presentation. Furthermore, it requires a project report that is a creative solution to a set of problems.
  • Demonstrates coherence in that the different modules are carefully between theory and research, but the natural and social environments.
  • Provides articulation with a research-based Master of Arts as well as providing a good foundation for acquiring employment. Over the last three years, students have acquired employment before completing the programme It thus meets the needs of the students and other stakeholders.

    Rationale:
    The rationale for this qualification is to create an opportunity for developing high level skills in the field; by producing practitioners that are able to approach environmental issues with specialised humanities or social science approach. 
    		•

    LEARNING ASSUMED TO BE IN PLACE AND RECOGNITION OF PRIOR LEARNING 
    Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL):
    All RPL applications will be considered according to (Nelson Mandela University) NMU RPL policy.

    Entry Requirements:
    The minimum requirement for admission is:
  • Bachelor's Degree. 
    		•

    RECOGNISE PREVIOUS LEARNING? 
    Y 

    QUALIFICATION RULES 
    This qualification comprises of compulsory module at Level 8 totalling 120 Credits.

    Compulsory Modules, Level, 8 120 Credits:
  • Qualitative Research Methodologies, 15 Credits.
  • Research Project, 30 Credits.
  • Analytical Perspectives in Human-Environment Interaction, 25 Credits.
  • Issues in Social Sustainability, 25 Credits.
  • Issues in Urban Geography, 25 Credits. 
    		•

    EXIT LEVEL OUTCOMES 
    1 Demonstrate knowledge through the argument links between the paradigms, concepts, processes and facts that underlie physical and social environmental issues.
    2 Present a series of argumentative, written assignments in which the student's voice can be clearly heard in the interrogation and evaluation of a variety of sources of knowledge.
    3 Present a project report that serves as a creative response to a specific set of problems and issues and which demonstrates the appropriate choice of theories, procedures, methods or research.
    4 Demonstrate the ability to solve problems by applying the knowledge and principles to the associated theory.
    5 Demonstrate an ethical approach to the economic, social and physical environments and its study of them.
    6 Demonstrate competency in independent learning.
    7 Overcome and take full responsibility for learning outcomes for plagiarism. 

    ASSOCIATED ASSESSMENT CRITERIA 
    Integrated Assessment:
    A combination of formative continuous assessment and written examinations serve to assess the integration of all or most of the learning outcomes for each module in the qualification. More importantly, the Project is used to for Integrated Assessment and draws together a student's competence in designed in integrating theory, technique and methodology from a variety of sources including other modules to solve particular research problems.

    The research project is the main vehicle to initiate the students into the research process. Assigned supervisors will work closely with the students in developing viable topics, presenting a research proposal and in the project report. Thus, the main strategy in this case is supervision of the entire research process. Therefore, the approach to assessment in this programme is characterised by variety as indicated below.
  • Assessment of verbal participation in contact sessions.
  • Assessment of written assignments.
  • Assessment of a research project.
  • Assessment of verbal presentations.
  • Written examinations.

    The assessment of verbal participation is especially relevant because contact sessions are designed as fora for the discussion of ideas rather than traditional lectures. The use of assignments allows an assessment to be made of a detailed interrogation of different texts and the process of writing which, in itself, is also a form of presentation. The assessment of verbal presentations is important in that it measures of the extent to which students have internalized their approach to problem-solving and are able to articulate this. All the assessment falls into two classes, formative and summative.

    This categorization is shown below:
  • Formative: Assessment of verbal participation in contact sessions; assessment of written Assignments, assessment of verbal presentations.
  • Summative: Assessment of the research project; Written examinations. The percentage ratio of formative to summative evaluation is 50:50 for the theory modules.
  • The project is seen as a module in itself and the assessment of the completed report out of 100 is final. 
    		•

    INTERNATIONAL COMPARABILITY 
    This qualification in terms of its theoretical and applied aspects related to social, environmental issues, is comparable with the Honours Degree in England and the fourth-year of the Bachelor's Degree in the United Stated and Canada. 

    ARTICULATION OPTIONS 
    This qualification articulates vertical.

    Vertical Articulation:
  • A Master's Degree in Environmental Geography at Level 9. 
    		•

    MODERATION OPTIONS 
    N/A 

    CRITERIA FOR THE REGISTRATION OF ASSESSORS 
    N/A 

    NOTES 
    N/A 

    LEARNING PROGRAMMES RECORDED AGAINST THIS QUALIFICATION: 
     
    NONE 


    PROVIDERS CURRENTLY ACCREDITED TO OFFER THIS QUALIFICATION: 
    This information shows the current accreditations (i.e. those not past their accreditation end dates), and is the most complete record available to SAQA as of today. Some Primary or Delegated Quality Assurance Functionaries have a lag in their recording systems for provider accreditation, in turn leading to a lag in notifying SAQA of all the providers that they have accredited to offer qualifications and unit standards, as well as any extensions to accreditation end dates. The relevant Primary or Delegated Quality Assurance Functionary should be notified if a record appears to be missing from here.
     
    NONE 


    All qualifications and part qualifications registered on the National Qualifications Framework are public property. Thus the only payment that can be made for them is for service and reproduction. It is illegal to sell this material for profit. If the material is reproduced or quoted, the South African Qualifications Authority (SAQA) should be acknowledged as the source.