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SOUTH AFRICAN QUALIFICATIONS AUTHORITY 
REGISTERED QUALIFICATION THAT HAS PASSED THE END DATE: 

Bachelor of Science Honours in Applied Science 
SAQA QUAL ID QUALIFICATION TITLE
13946  Bachelor of Science Honours in Applied Science 
ORIGINATOR
University of Pretoria 
PRIMARY OR DELEGATED QUALITY ASSURANCE FUNCTIONARY NQF SUB-FRAMEWORK
CHE - Council on Higher Education  HEQSF - Higher Education Qualifications Sub-framework 
QUALIFICATION TYPE FIELD SUBFIELD
Honours Degree  Field 10 - Physical, Mathematical, Computer and Life Sciences  Earth and Space Sciences 
ABET BAND MINIMUM CREDITS PRE-2009 NQF LEVEL NQF LEVEL QUAL CLASS
Undefined  120  Level 7  NQF Level 08  Regular-Provider-ELOAC 
REGISTRATION STATUS SAQA DECISION NUMBER REGISTRATION START DATE REGISTRATION END DATE
Passed the End Date -
Status was "Reregistered" 		 SAQA 1141/23  2021-07-01  2024-06-30 
LAST DATE FOR ENROLMENT LAST DATE FOR ACHIEVEMENT
2025-06-30   2028-06-30  

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 
The purpose of the qualification is to allow students who are currently registered for the B Sc Hons Applied Science degree to complete their studies in terms of the SAQA framework. The intention is to phase this qualification out and (with the necessary prescribe prerequisite modules accommodate students with different backgrounds (e.g. B Tech -degree) in the B Sc (Hons) (Engineering and environmental Geology) degree.

Presently, this qualification provides students with B Sc or B Tech degrees in Geology with additional knowledge in the fields of Geotechnical Engineering and Environmental Science to enable them to effectively communicate with engineers, planners and other scientists and to facilitate the investigation and research of problems related to the interaction between development/construction projects and the geological environment. The student is empower with basic applied competence in the fields of Soil Mechanics, Rock Mechanics, Hydrogeology, Environmental studies, Report writing, Project management and Business practices, further aimed at lifelong learning through upgrading of knowledge and skills. 

LEARNING ASSUMED TO BE IN PLACE AND RECOGNITION OF PRIOR LEARNING 
Matriculation degree
First degree: B Sc or B Tech in Geology
Students should have passed level 5 modules in Hydrogeology, Engineering Geology, Environmental Geology, Soil Mechanics and Rock Mechanics 

RECOGNISE PREVIOUS LEARNING? 
N 

EXIT LEVEL OUTCOMES 
B Sc (Hons) (Applied Sciences)

Learning outcomes:
Graduates should have a thorough knowledge of the following subjects:
  • Mineralogy, petrology, physical geology, sedimentology and structural geology.
  • Hydrogeology
  • Geophysics
  • Soil mechanics
  • Rock mechanics
  • Geotechnical site investigation methods
  • Rock engineering
  • Foundation engineering
  • Engineering structures
  • Geotechnical processes
  • Environmental science
  • Environmental legislation

    Graduates should have the following skills
  • Computer literate
  • Data retrieval
  • Remote sensing and air photo interpretation
  • Field mapping, soil and rock description
  • Soil, rock and water sampling
  • Soil, rock and water testing
  • Planning and design of site investigation programs
  • Three-dimensional data interpretation and extrapolation
  • Environmental assessments
  • Report writing
  • Business and marketing
  • Communication

    Graduates should have the following values/qualities
  • High ethical standards
  • Reliable and persistent
  • Enthusiastic and co-operative
  • Innovative and practical

    Critical cross-field outcomes:
  • Tasks given to students require that they must be able to identify problems, seek for solutions by literature studies, consultation with others and creative thinking and make decisions that are responsible in terms of practicality, cost and public opinion
  • Students are encouraged to work in groups to solve specific problems and to consult with practitioners in the field
  • Student tasks and projects must be carried out according to strict time tables and penalties for late submission is imposed. Development of life long awareness of the importance of time scheduling is intended
  • Student tasks and projects require collection of data (e.g. from literature, laboratory or field work), analysing and organising it (e.g. by means of sections, maps and GIS presentations) and drawing conclusions with respect to the interaction between the geological environment and human development projects
  • Communication skills of students are developed by means of regular oral and written presentations in which use is made of diagrams, mathematical formulae and text
  • Scientific methods and technological skills during the execution of projects have to be selected on the basis of their effectiveness and with due regard to their impact on the environment
  • By taking modules form other disciplines (e.g. soil mechanics, rock mechanics, soil science etc) students are made aware of other ways of thinking and analyses to enable them to utilise a wider field of knowledge and technology
  • Students are encouraged to join professional societies, to subscribe to technical journals and to attend technical meetings, lectures, workshops, courses and conferences in order to develop communication and life-long learning
  • Students are exposed to real life problems and must compete with others in proposing solutions, thereby encouraging original thinking and innovation in a competitive environment
  • Students are encouraged to always look out for new applications of engineering and environmental geology in an attempt to develop their entrepreneurial skills. 
    		•

    ASSOCIATED ASSESSMENT CRITERIA 
    Simulated exercise in problem solving (formative and summative)
    Written tests (summative)
    Written examinations (summative)
    Oral examinations (summative)
    Individual preparation of project proposals (formative and summative)
    Individual report preparation (formative and summative)
    Oral presentations of project results (summative)

    Integrated assessment:
    Written examinations
    Oral examinations
    Other:
    Project reports 

    ARTICULATION OPTIONS 
    Related qualifications:
    B Sc Hons Engineering and Environmental Geology

    B Sc Hons Engineering and Environmental Geology provides credits for the related qualification 

    MODERATION OPTIONS 
    Second external examiner
    External examiner for written examinations
    Examination panel for oral examinations 

    CRITERIA FOR THE REGISTRATION OF ASSESSORS 
    Qualifications required:
    B Sc Hons or MCs in Geology, Engineering Geology or Environmental Geology

    Career experience required:
    Engineering or Environmental Geology practitioner with at least 5 years experience 

    REREGISTRATION HISTORY 
    As per the SAQA Board decision/s at that time, this qualification was Reregistered in 2006; 2009; 2012; 2015. 

    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.
     
    1. University of Pretoria 


    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.