Natural Sciences

Faculty of Natural Sciences

The Faculty of Natural Sciences is located at the Mthatha Campus at WSU but currently offers its programs from two delivery sites: Mthatha and Buffalo City.

The faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences is located at the Nelson Mandela Drive Campus, Mthatha. The new medical school faculty and administrative buildings are at Sissons Street, Fort Gale (next to Nelson Mandela Academic Hospital). The faculty is comprised of the School of Medicine with 11 academic departments as well as the departments of Nursing, Public Health and Rehabilitation Medicine.

The faculty offers six undergraduate programs in the following categories:

Bachelor of Health Sciences in Medical Orthotics and Prosthetics, Bachelor of Medical Sciences, Bachelor of Medicine in Clinical Practise, Bachelor of Medicine and Bachelor of Surgery, Bachelor of Nursing and Bachelor of Science in Health Promotion. Graduate opportunities in the health sector exist both in public and private sectors including medical orthotics and prosthetics practitioner, clinician scientists in physiological sciences and biochemistry, clinical associate, medical practitioner, professional nurse and health promotion practitioners. Broadly, the subject combination should include a Home Language, English, Mathematics, Life Sciences and Physical Sciences.

Qual Code	SAQA ID	Qualification Name	NQF	Credits	Duration	Delivery Site
W64001	97039	Diploma in Analytical Chemistry	6	360	3	BCC
W64002	97039	Diploma in Analytical Chemistry (ECP)	6	360	4	BCC
W64004	96787	Diploma in Consumer Science in Food and Nutrition	6	360	3	BCC
W64039	96787	Diploma in Consumer Science in Food and Nutrition(ECP)	6	360	4	BCC
W64005	112034	Diploma in Pest Management	6	360	3	MTH
W64007	101254	Bachelor of Science in Applied Mathematics	7	480	3	MTH
W64008	101254	Bachelor of Science in Applied Mathematics (ECP)	7	360	4	MTH
W64009	101255	Bachelor of Science in Applied Statistical Sciences	7	360	3	MTH
W64010	101255	Bachelor of Science in Applied Statistical Sciences (ECP)	7	360	4	MTH
W64011	112304	Bachelor of Science in Biological Sciences	7	360	3	MTH
W64012	112304	Bachelor of Science in Biological Sciences (ECP)	7	360	4	MTH
W64013	116397	Bachelor of Science in Chemistry	7	360	3	MTH
W64014	116397	Bachelor of Science in Chemistry (ECP)	7	360	4	MTH
W64015	112446	Bachelor of Science in Computer Science	7	360	3	MTH
W64016	112446	Bachelor of Science in Computer Science (ECP)	7	360	4	MTH
W64017	116190	Bachelor of Science in Environmental Studies	7	360	3	MTH
W64018	116190	Bachelor of Science in Environmental Studies (ECP)	7	360	4	MTH
W64019	101253	Bachelor of Science in Mathematics	7	360	3	MTH
W64020	101253	Bachelor of Science in Mathematics (ECP)	7	360	4	MTH
W64021	112432	Bachelor of Science in Pest Management	7	360	3	MTH
W64022	112432	Bachelor of Science in Pest Management (ECP)	7	360	4	MTH
W64023	112445	Bachelor of Science in Physics	7	360	3	MTH
W64024	112445	Bachelor of Science in Physics (ECP)	7	360	4	MTH

QUALIFICATION DETAILS

APS SCORES

SPECIFIC SUBJECT REQUIREMENTS

PROGRAMME OVERVIEW

Diploma in Analytical Chemistry

W64001 & W64002

Main Stream

3 (40-49%) for English as a Home Language or as a First Additional Language
3 (40-49%) for Mathematics
3 (40-49%) for Physical Sciences

Extended stream

As for main-stream with a reduced APS requirement of 19

Graduates of this course can apply the advanced scientific principles and techniques of quantitative and qualitative analysis, quality control of raw materials and finished products, and research and development.

Diploma in Consumer Sciences and Food Nutrition

W64004 & W64039

Main Stream

4 (50-59%) for English as a Home Language or as a First Additional Language
3 (40-49%) for Life Sciences
3 (40-49%) for Physical Sciences

Extended stream

As for main-stream with a reduced APS requirement of 19

The course is designed to train students for the food manufacturing and retail industries and small entrepreneurial food operations [SMMEs]. Students specialise in various aspects of fresh convenience food development, production, management, and marketing for the industry. It provides the educational base required for eligibility for registration as candidates practising as Food Scientists/Technologists.

Diploma in Pest Management

W64005

4 (50-59%) for English as a Home Language or as a First Additional Language
3 (40-49%) for Mathematics
3 (40-49%) for Life Sciences
3 (40-49%) for Physical Sciences

The programme provides knowledge on how to diagnose pest problems and manipulate relevant pest control equipment with minimal supervision. Students demonstrate a good understanding of agricultural pests, their damage diagnostics and control. It also capacitates students with critical communication skills with farmers on issues pertaining to the rational use of conventional approaches in an integrated manner in combatting and containing pests.

Bachelor of Science in Applied Mathematics

W64007 W64008

Main Stream

4 (50-59%) for English as a Home Language or as a First Additional Language
4 (50-59%) for Mathematics
4 (50-59%) for Physical Sciences

Extended Stream

4 (50-59%) for English as a Home Language or as a First Additional Language
3 (40-49%) for Mathematics
3 (40-49%) for Physical Sciences

The programme provides basic mathematical knowledge tailored for application in the solution of technical problems in the marketplace, and for further training at a higher level in various specialisations of Mathematical Sciences.

Bachelor of Science in Applied Statistical Science

W64009 W64010

Main Stream

4 (50-59%) for English as a Home Language or as a First Additional Language
4 (50-59%) for Mathematics
4 (50-59%) for Physical Sciences

Extended Stream

4 (50-59%) for English as a Home Language or as a First Additional Language
3 (40-49%) for Mathematics
3 (40-49%) for Physical Sciences

The programme provides statistical knowledge in Applied Mathematics, Computer Science, Mathematics and Statistics with an inclination towards application in the solution of technical problems in the marketplace, and for further training at a higher level in various specialisations needing a sound foundation in Statistical Sciences.

Bachelor of Science in Biological Sciences

W64011 W64012

Main Stream

4 (50-59%) for English as a Home Language or as a First Additional Language
4 (50-59%) for Mathematics
4 (50-59%) for Physical Sciences
4 (50-59%) for Life Sciences

Extended Stream

4 (50-59%) for English as a Home Language or as a First Additional Language
3 (40-49) for 2 of the majors below and 4 (50-59) for the third major
Mathematics
Physical Sciences
Life Sciences

Skills are developed to carry out scientific investigations on plants and animals (for example, microscopy, biochemistry, plant and animal identification, chemical analysis of plants, ecological techniques, microbiological techniques, etc.)

Bachelor of Science in Chemistry

W64013 W64014

Main Stream

4 (50-59%) for English as a Home Language or as a First Additional Language
4 (60-69%) for Mathematics
4 (60-69%) for Physical Sciences

Extended Stream

4 (50-59%) for English as a Home Language or as a First Additional Language
3 (50-59%) for Mathematics
3 (50-59%) for Physical Sciences

This programme is designed to produce graduates with solid foundations in all branches of Chemistry. The graduates also take additional Mathematics courses up to level two thereby making them capable of understanding Physical Science phenomena.

Bachelor of Science in Computer Science

W64015 W64016

Main Stream

4 (50-59%) for English as a Home Language or as a First Additional Language
4 (50-59%) for Mathematics
4 (50-59%) for Physical Sciences

Extended Stream

4 (50-59%) for English as a Home Language or as a First Additional Language
3 (40-49%) for Mathematics
3 (40-49%) for Physical Sciences

The program equips students with knowledge and skills to become computer scientists, with a focus on meeting regional and national needs. Graduates are in demand locally, nationally, and internationally in scientific, business, and computing industries. Computer science is a critical discipline that deals with the design, implementation, and maintenance of software systems.

Bachelor of Science in Environmental Studies

W64017 W64018

Main Stream

4 (50-59%) for English as a Home Language or as a First Additional Language
4 (50-59%) for Mathematics
4 (50-59%) for Physical Sciences
4 (50-59%) for Life Sciences or Agriculture or Tourism

Extended Stream

3 (40-49) for 2 of the majors below and 4 (50-59) for the third major
Mathematics
Physical Sciences
Life Sciences

Provided to students is detailed knowledge and understanding of key terminologies, principles, requirements and legislation related to Environmental Impact Assessment, Resources and Environmental Law.

Graduates will be able to identify and solve problems related to post-decision work in unfamiliar contexts, explain key terms and the significance of concepts associated with the nature of tourism and ecotourism and demonstrate understanding of the factors affecting demand in the tourism sector

Bachelor of Science in Mathematics

W64019 W64020

Main Stream

4 (50-59%) for English as a Home Language or as a First Additional Language
4 (50-59%) for Mathematics
4 (50-59%) for Physical Sciences

Extended Stream

4 (50-59%) for English as a Home Language or as a First Additional Language
3 (40-49%) for Mathematics
3 (40-49%) for Physical Sciences

The programme provides mathematical knowledge needed for placement in jobs requiring a significant amount of mathematical maturity, and for further training at a higher level in various specialisations of Mathematics.

Bachelor of Science in Pest Management

W64021 W64022

Main Stream

4 (50-59%) for English as a Home Language or as a First Additional Language
4 (50-59%) for Mathematics
4 (50-59%) for Physical Sciences
4 (50-59%) for Life Sciences

Extended Stream

4 (50-59%) for English as a Home Language or as a First Additional Language
3 (40-49) for 2 of the majors below and 4 (50-59) for the third major
Mathematics
Physical Sciences
Life Sciences

This programme provides understanding on how to initiate, plan and implement adaptive pest control programmes. Graduates will be able to among other skills manipulate technical equipment, capture and analyse field and laboratory data, write periodic technical reports, apply communication skills in relevant contexts.

Students will be able to evaluate the role of Arthropods and related fauna in conventional biodiversity conservation management and outline constraints to human population growth because of food insecurity

Bachelor of Science in Physics

W64023 W64024

Main Stream

4 (50-59%) for English as a Home Language or as a First Additional Language
4 (50-59%) for Mathematics
4 (50-59%) for Physical Sciences

Extended Stream

4 (50-59%) for English as a Home Language or as a First Additional Language
3 (50-59%) for Mathematics
3 (50-59%) for Physical Sciences

The Bachelor of Science in Physics focuses on understanding the fundamental principles governing the natural world. Students are equipped with knowledge in areas such as mechanics, electromagnetism, quantum mechanics, and thermodynamics. Through hands-on laboratory experiments and theoretical coursework, graduates of this program gain strong analytical and problem-solving skills that can be applied to a wide range of scientific fields

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