Department of Ecology and Resource Management

About Us

An overview of the Department

The Department of Ecology and Resource Management was established as an anchor for the diverse academic programmes in the School of Environmental Sciences. It offers core modules that all students in the School have to take and pass irrespective of the type of degree being pursued.

Its teaching and research activities are geared towards integrating the geographical, geological, hydrological, planning and ecological perspectives on the environment and its management. Through its teaching and research activities, the Department seeks to impart knowledge and skills, and to develop sound strategies for restoring, sustaining and enhancing environmental quality for sustainable development.

Mission

To take center stage in up-to-date, socially relevant ecological research and to equip its students with all the knowledge and skills they require to be leaders in the field of environmental science and its applications.

Vision

The Department will pursue excellence in ecology and resource management by being a community of critical and imaginative thinkers, well versed in established principles and sound research practices, and up-to-date with the latest developments in our field.

Programmes

 Admission requirements

The minimum admission requirement for the above-mentioned degree programme is as follows:

• A Matriculation Certificate or Senior Certificate endorsed for university admission.
• Mathematics, Physical Science and English– 50% on NSC level. Matric passes at D=50% (HG) or C=60% (SG).
• Life Sciences or Geography- 50% on NSC level. Matric passes at D=50% (HG) or C=60% (SG).

There is a limited number of places and therefore meeting the minimum entry requirement does not guarantee a place. Selection will be based on a student’s M score (the sum of the points) obtained on the basis of results achieved in the matriculation examination. Points are awarded for the six best symbols of the matriculation examination results (including English, Mathematics, Physical Science, Life Science but excluding Life Orientation).

Facilities

The Department is in a continuous process of acquiring necessary facilities to support high quality teaching and research activities. At the moment, it has a 60-seater Pollution teaching laboratory and with Pollution research laboratory. These are being equipped. Already a Flame Atomic Absorption Spectrometry has been donated from Anglo platinum and a Gas chromatography with both flame ionisation detector and electron capture is being purchased. The teaching laboratory is equipped with 8 PCs for students.

Career Prospects

Graduates of Ecology and Resource Management have proved to be marketable. They have been absorbed by:

• Government Departments of Environmental Affairs and Tourism; Agriculture, Conservation and Land Affairs; Forestry and Water Affairs; Local Government at both National and Provincial levels. Graduates have been employed as far as Springbok in Northern Cape and East London in Eastern Cape. Gauteng, Mpumalanga and Limpopo Province have so far absorbed the majority of ERM graduates.
• Private sector and parastatal including mining companies, ESKOM and TELKOM
• The National Parks Board
• Local Councils and Municipal Councils
• Academic and vocational institutions such as Technikons, Technical Colleges, Universities and Southern African Wildlife Colleges.
• Environmental Consultancy Companies
• Non-Governmental Organisations (NGOs) dealing with environmental issues
• Research Institutions such as the Centre for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) and Agricultural Research Centre (ARC).