Bachelor of Science Honours in Geography
Human and Social Studies - General Social Science
Purpose and Rationale
Bachelor of Science Honours in Geography
Purpose
The primary purpose of the Bachelor of Science Honours in Geography is to prepare learners for research-based postgraduate studies in Geography. Geography equips learners with skills and competencies relevant to solving global and African problems such as climate change, environmental degradation, urban deterioration, and poverty. The qualification provides learners with a solid understanding of the research process and the philosophical foundations of geographical knowledge creation.
Graduates are equipped to apply advanced geographical theories and methodologies to address environmental issues of social, economic, and physical nature. The qualification enables professional and academic growth in fields like Environmental Consulting, Meteorology, Conservation, Tourism, City Planning, City/Town Management, and Mapping. Graduates can contribute to industry and society, work as consultants, or be employed in companies or government roles.
Objectives
Upon completion of the qualification, learners will be able to:
- Evaluate and apply the general principles, theories, and methodologies in Geography.
- Demonstrate critical insight into changes within human and physical environments and their complex relationships.
- Examine spatial and temporal relationships' significance on physical and human environments.
- Appraise diverse approaches to knowledge generation from natural and social sciences, humanities, and Indigenous Knowledge Systems.
- Plan, design and conduct geographical research using relevant methodologies to contribute to new knowledge generation.
- Master techniques for analyzing geographic information, including remote sensing, GIS techniques, qualitative and quantitative techniques.
Rationale
The qualification addresses pressing social and ecological challenges like urbanization, sustainability, environmental management, and climate change. Geographers are sought after across various sectors due to their world view, research skills, and ability to address current challenges. The qualification aligns with international and national frameworks like the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and the National Development Plan (NDP).
Geographers play a crucial role in promoting social and environmental sustainability, essential for sustainable economies. Graduates can find employment in diverse fields like Cartography, Climatology, Conservation, Consulting, Demography, GIS, Research, Urban Planning, Remote Sensing Analysis, Teaching, Transportation Management, and Water Resource Management. The qualification contributes to sectors such as Government, Environmental Consulting, Tourism, and Mapping.
Ultimately, the qualification serves as a pathway to postgraduate research studies, with an emphasis on addressing local challenges and contributing to research-based solutions in society.
Outcomes
- Demonstrate an advanced and current understanding of the general principles, theories and methodological approaches underpinning the scientific study of Geography.
- Demonstrate critical insight into the nature and causes of change within the human and physical environments and the complexity of the reciprocal relationships between the physical and human environments.
- Demonstrate critical insight into the significance of spatial and temporal relationships as influences on physical and human environments.
- Critically appraise the diversity of approaches to the generation of knowledge and understanding deriving from the experience of the epistemologies of the natural and social sciences and humanities, including IKS.
- Critically appraise and reflect on the use of the diversity of techniques and approaches involved in collecting geographical information including instrumentation, remote sensing, cartographic surveying, Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA), social survey, observation, and the use of textual and archival approaches.
- Demonstrate mastery of techniques and approaches involved in analysing geographic information, including remote sensing, GIS techniques, qualitative and quantitative techniques with a critical assessment of their strengths and weaknesses.
- Critically appraise and reflect on the application of quantitative and qualitative approaches for analysis of geographic data including competence in the application of a range of these approaches
- Undertake independent and original research in Geography starting from identifying a research problem, collecting data, analysing the data, through to completion of the research and preparation of the research report.
- Demonstrate an advanced understanding of professional ethics in geography and identify and apply ethical rules and conduct in practice within a South African context. Take decisions and act ethically with integrity and accountability for their work, decisions, and actions.
- Access information from a diverse range of sources to address a range of familiar and unfamiliar complex geographical problems and issues, evaluate the sources and the information, and prepare a logical response or a solution for the problem.
- Communicate and share the conclusions and views, and the geographical knowledge and rationale underpinning these, to specialist and non-specialist audiences clearly and unambiguously using appropriate discourse, suitable audio-visual tools and technology, as well as appropriate referencing conventions.
- Apply the knowledge and understanding of geographical principles, practices and methodologies, and problem-solving abilities in complex urban and natural environmental systems and can handle complexity, integrate different knowledge perspectives and interests, accommodate multiple views of reality, and manage creative tension.
- Undertake highly autonomous and well-organised learning and time management to achieve consistent proficiency and sustained achievement.
- Work in a group as a member or leader and take full responsibility for own work, and, where appropriate, that of fellow learners, as well as accountability for her/his own actions and where necessary, those of fellow learners.
Assessment Criteria
Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 1:
- Critically review and apply relevant theories, principles, procedures, practices, research methodologies, methods, and techniques in Geography to support the development of convincing arguments and positions in assignments, research reports, and examinations.
- Evaluate and apply the theories, principles, procedures, practices, research methodologies, methods, and techniques in selected sub-fields of geography in assignments, research reports, and examinations.
Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 2:
- Analyse the nature and causes of change in physical and human environments with reference to current literature and examples.
- Evaluate the complex relationships between the human and physical environments using appropriate examples.
Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 3:
- Demonstrate a detailed appreciation of spatial variation and change in written and oral submissions.
- Demonstrate a detailed understanding of temporal variation and change in written and oral submissions.
- Explore the importance of spatial and temporal scale for natural and human processes and their interaction.
Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 4:
- Demonstrate a critical awareness of relevant philosophies and research paradigms.
- Evaluate perspectives from different disciplines and IKS and manage creative tensions such that multiple voices are heard.
Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 5:
- Conduct and implement Environmental Impact Assessments (EIAs) in familiar and unfamiliar contexts
- Interpret correctly the outputs of the methods used.
- Identify and describe inherent weaknesses of an applied or recommended method.
Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 6:
- Select and correctly apply appropriate remote sensing techniques in familiar and unfamiliar contexts.
- Examine and apply appropriate GIS techniques in familiar and unfamiliar contexts.
Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 7:
- Justify in familiar and unfamiliar examples, a range of approaches to data analysis an appropriate method recommended.
- Correctly apply qualitative and quantitative research methods.
- Use software to undertake routine and more complex statistical tests.
- Correctly interpret the output of statistical tests.
- Correctly report statistical results in writing and illustrate in tables and figures.
Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 8:
- Undertake independent geographical research in the research module.
- Decide and clearly present the project question and scope.
- Conduct the literature review to support the project, use a range of information sources and critically evaluate each source.
- Allocate timeframes and budget, goals, targets, and indicators to the project plan.
- Identify appropriate methods, including statistical methods, where a range of methods, and evaluate the appropriate chosen ones.
- Consider ethical issues and apply for approval if necessary.
- Collect, collate, and analyse data successfully.
- Interpret and discuss data in the context of the available information gathered in the literature review.
- Ability to formulate recommendations and justify the data.
- Compile and present the research report in a format appropriate for the discipline and demonstrate no plagiarism.
Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 9:
- Identify ethical issues in Geography and indicate how best to address them in assignments, the research paper, and all other assignments.
- The views of multiple stakeholders are actively sought, and different views are accommodated in all activities.
Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 10:
- Critically evaluate and include information from a wide range of sources is accessed, in the research paper and all assignments.
- Critically review and analyse existing knowledge in the field of specialization.
- Manage contradictory information, examine alternative viewpoints and reach a balanced conclusion.
- Include a critical assessment of the validity of the source in the published reference work.
Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 11:
- Communicate results from the research project to both professional and lay audiences using appropriate language and technology.
- Present oral arguments in a convincing manner.
- Communicate clearly complex concepts, ideas, and theories.
- Complete clearly engaging presentations within the given time.
- Apply appropriate language in the research paper and present all assignments in the approved style and adhere to norms for academic scientific writing.
- Apply accurately and consistently a standard referencing style in the research paper.
- Present written arguments in a convincing manner.
- Present clearly statistical results in the research paper.
- Ability to paraphrase and include no plagiarism in all assignments.
Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 12:
- Analyse and apply the systems thinking approach to understand the issue at hand and to develop possible solutions.
- Critically apply the systems framework to conceptualize patterns, processes, interactions and change in the physical world.
- Analyse and apply the complex, multidisciplinary nature of geographical systems in all written and oral presentations.
- Manage the multiple, conflicting viewpoints and creative tension and incorporate them in written and oral work.
- Identify, analyse, and solve complex and advanced abstract problems by drawing on their own experience and theoretical knowledge and the experiential base of a single discipline or across interdisciplinary lines in the humanities.
- Use the knowledge and experience to offer informed suggestions, or to generate alternative strategies, for dealing with problems at a community, national, international and global level.
Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 13:
- Ability to submit all assignments on time.
- Conduct positive and constructive reflection on the research journal learning process.
- Provide feedback and successfully incorporate it into iterative drafts of work.
Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 14:
- Ability to assume and execute responsibilities within the group.
- Successfully plan, execute, and complete group assignments and research.
- Ability to submit all group work on time.
Qualification Details
- Type
- Honours Degree
- NQF Level
- 08
- Min. Credits
- 120
- SAQA Source
- More Information
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University of Mpumalanga
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