5. RULES RELATING TO COURSES OFFERED WITHIN THE SCHOOL OF GEOSCIENCES

The general rules for degree programmes in the Faculty of Science are detailed in the Faculty of Science Rules and Syllabuses Handbook, which is updated annually. This includes rules applying to courses offered within the School of Geosciences. Certain rules, which relate specifically to courses offered in the School, are reproduced here for your information, but the Faculty Handbook is the ultimate authority and should be referred to at all times.

1.1 Admission to Undergraduate Courses

1. General

If a student wants to obtain a BSc degree with a major in Geology (i.e., he/ she wants to be admitted to Geology III), he/she must complete Geology I and II and normally also have obtained 36 credits each at First Year level in Mathematics and Chemistry. From 2018, students must also complete the 12-credit course STAT2013 (Statistics for the Natural Sciences) in Second Year together with Applied Geology II. Exceptions to any of these requirements can only be made with permission of the Head of School. A student wishing to enter Geology II must have passed both Geology I and Chemistry I. A student wishing to graduate with a BSc Degree in the field of Geosciences must have successfully completed Mathematics I in addition to all other courses.

1.2 Additional requirements for undergraduate courses

1. Vacation work, field trips and excursions

The practical mapwork and fieldwork courses GEOL2019A and GEOL3037 are compulsory for students wishing to major in Geology. When a student fails to attend field visits or excursions, he/she may be refused permission to register for a subsequent course in the subject.

Course credits and exam marks

Course credits are awarded if a student achieves a final course mark of at least 50%. For each course in the School of Geosciences, an average class mark (based on work conducted in class, practical tests and on field trips during the course of the year) and an average exam mark (based on the overall average of all written examinations) is obtained. The class mark and the exam mark each contribute 50% to the final mark. The main exceptions to this are the practical skills-focused courses GEOL2019A, GEOL2021A and GEOL3037, and courses involving a strong computer component.

In addition to this, a student must obtain an average exam mark of at least 35% over the year in order to pass the course and obtain credit.

2. Satisfactory participation

In terms of Rules G.9(1), G.9(2) and X.GA, a student will not be qualified to present himself/herself for an examination if the Head of School, in consultation with the lecturer(s) responsible, decides that the student has not participated satisfactorily in the work of the class.

Criteria for assessing satisfactory performance (from Senate Standing Orders on Examinations and Tests) include:

1) Attendance:

The School requires an 80% minimum attendance at all Geosciences lectures, tutorials, practicals, and a 100% attendance of field trips. A student who misses a practical test, field excursion or assignment deadline because of illness or any other emergency is required to submit written proof (medical certificate) to the lecturer and course coordinator within 3 days of their return to the University. Failure to do this will lead to a loss of marks and possible refusal of permission to write the course exam. In cases of a family emergency or funeral attendance for a close family member, wherever possible prior arrangement should be made with the lecturer. Documentary proof may be required.

2) Levels of participation and performance in all forms of class-work: All class-work (including tutorial exercises, essays, projects, seminars, field work/assignments, practical classes, tests and any other assignments during the year) must be handed in on time and must meet suitable standards as determined by lecturer(s) in consultation with the Head of School. Late submissions without a valid excuse will not be marked and the student will receive a zero mark.

3) Any other factors the Head of School considers important: This includes misbehaviour in class or on field excursions, theft and any behaviour that might endanger other members of the School or that may bring the School and or the University into disrepute.

1.3 Admission to Honours courses

The following requirements are prescribed for admission:

1. Geology:

The applicant must have completed their BSc double major, with Geology III, and obtained credits equivalent to a full year in one course in Mathematics and Chemistry. In addition, applicants must have obtained a pass of at least 60% in Geology III. The applicant must have completed the mapping courses GEOL2019A and GEOL3042A. Exceptions to these requirements can only be made with permission of the Head of School.

2. Geophysics:

Pre-requisite courses are: Geology 2, Physics 2 and Geology 1. The student must pass any two of the following: Computational and Applied Mathematics III, Geology III, Mathematics III or Physics III. A pass of 60% in each of these courses is required. Students may enter via the Maths III + Physics III BSc programme, in which case Geology I (GEOL1000A) or an equivalent course is required. If a student has no credits in Geology I when registering for Geophysics Honours, he/she will be admitted if he/she registers concurrently for a First Year course in Geology. Subject to the approval of the Head of School, certain courses may be replaced by courses chosen from relevant courses offered by other departments.

3. Palaeontology:

The candidate must have a BSc degree with at least Zoology III or Plant Sciences III.

4. Palaeontology and Geology

The candidate must have a BSc degree with Geology III and Zoology III or Plant Sciences III.

1.4 Planning your degree

There is a large selection of courses and course and topic combinations that can lead to the award of the BSc degree. In deciding which combination is best for you, several factors need to be considered. Of prime importance are your own interests, as these will dictate the general direction in which you study and the resulting career path. It is thus imperative that you think ahead and plan your degree carefully. In addition to in-depth study in a particular area of interest, it is essential that you include in your curriculum courses and topics that will complement your major field of study. If you are in doubt about which courses these are, discuss the matter with a staff member. Avoid taking courses simply because they have a reputation of being “easy options”.

The object of attending University is not simply to obtain a degree, but to obtain an education. All graduates who have completed a particular Third-year course are not equivalent in their knowledge or skills - those who have included in their curriculum other additional, major and sub-major, courses which complement the major field of study are inevitably the more versatile and competent. Indeed, the School places such importance on this principle that certain ancillary courses are compulsory and must be taken with the major subjects if the student wishes to obtain a professional geosciences qualification. Furthermore, the teaching of several disciplines (e.g., Geophysics, Palaeontology, Mining and Exploration Geology) only commences in advanced years of study, so that the student can obtain the necessary background before commencing specialist studies. For the majority of these fields of study, the prerequisite courses are stipulated, and are listed under the Rules Section in this Handbook. In this regard, you should be aware that, whilst the School requires only a single year of study in courses like Chemistry and Mathematics, selection of auxiliary Mathematics and Physics does not allow students to continue studies in these subjects at Second-year level, and some courses, such as Chemistry II, have additional requirements than a simple pass of the First-year qualifying course. This is obviously important if students wish to proceed to, for instance, Geophysics Honours but, more immediately, in the selection of three Second-year major courses required towards the BSc degree.

Many students come to University with only a vague idea of the direction in which they wish to study. This is especially so in the Geosciences, as these subjects are generally inadequately covered at high school. In such cases, it is often advisable to select a first year curriculum that will allow the greatest choice of fields of study in subsequent years.

During this first year, students will be exposed to a variety of disciplines, and interests will undoubtedly develop in one of these areas. Some suggested course combinations in Geosciences and a summary organogram are presented below:

Geology:

This is the most popular study path within the School. Students must take at least one course in Chemistry and Mathematics, in addition to Geology I. The most recommended fourth course choice is Physics I or Geography I. The combination Geology I + Chemistry I + Mathematics I + Physics I, known as the Geological Sciences Programme, allows candidates the option of following the BSc Mining and Exploration Geology programme and also of moving into Geophysics Honours instead of Geology Honours, but it is only taken by a minority of students who meet the rigorous Maths requirements. The more popular option is to register for Auxiliary Maths I (MATH1041A). This can be combined with Auxiliary Physics I (PHYS1001A), however, as neither of these courses provides entry into related Second Year courses, most students select Geography I. The latter combination allows Geology II and Applied Geology II to be taken with either Geography II or Chemistry II.

The following are the most popular First Year course combinations with Geology I:

Chemistry I, Physics I, Mathematics I

GEOL1000A + Chemistry I, Auxiliary Mathematics I, Geography I

Chemistry I, Auxiliary Mathematics I, Life Science

In addition, numerous combinations are available with auxiliary courses in Mathematics and Physics. These courses do not allow automatic entry into second year courses in the respective Schools (see individual School websites for more information), but students may proceed with Geology II if they pass first year, subject to places being available in this restricted course.

Geophysics:

This Honours option is unique to Wits University. Studies in Geophysics commence in the Honours year. Enrolment in this course requires a minimum of credits in second year level courses in Mathematics and Physics, as well as in Geology I. Geophysics modules are also presented in the Geology III, AES III and Geology Honours courses.

Palaeontology:

This Honours option is unique to Wits University. Although topics in this discipline are included in the undergraduate Life Sciences and Geology courses, specialist studies only fully commence in Honours. A pre-requisite for advanced studies in plant or animal sciences is a strong background in the biological sciences. Majors in Plant Sciences and Zoology, or one of these together with an earth science subject, provide suitable background. Students wishing to pursue the Palaeontology and Geology Honours programme must also have completed Geology III.