ABOUT US
The Department of Geography and Environmental Studies is one of the departments that were first opened when the University of Zululand was established in 1960. It was then located within the Faculty of Arts and was initially known as the Department of Geography. In 1998 the department moved from the Faculty of Arts to the Faculty of Science and Agriculture. In 2008 the Department of Geography and Environmental Studies changed the career-focused programmes for undergraduate students and developed dual major programmes. These programmes are BSc Botany and Geography, BSc Geography and Hydrology, BSc Geography and Physics, BSc Geography and Statistics and BSc Geography and Zoology. The Department of Geography and Environmental Studies also offers degree programmes in the Faculty of Arts.
The Department of Geography and Environmental Studies has nine staff members as follows;
Dr I Moyo (HOD): Human Geography
Dr NB Mbatha: Atmospheric Physicist
Dr S Xulu: Remote Sensing
Dr ML Mdoka: Climatologist
Mrs NP Ndimande: Human Geography
Mr NG Xulu: Climatologist
Mr AT Mthembu: Human Geography
Mr LC Shongwe (Senior laboratory assistant)
Mrs D Khumalo (Secretary)
RESEARCH AND POST GRADUATE STUDIES
The Department of Geography and Environmental Studies is engaged in several research areas and also offers post graduate studies at Honours, Masters and PhD as detailed below.
Post graduate studies
HONOURS
At Honours level, the Department offers two curricula, which are;
BSc (Hons) Geography: Qualification Code SHONO7
BA (Hons) Geography: Qualification Code AHON10
MASTERS
At Maters level, there are also two curricula, MSc (Geography) and MA (Geography)
MSc: Qualification Code SMSC07
To be admitted into this qualification, students must have passed a BSc (Hons) degree in Geography and Environmental Studies or an equivalent qualification.
Curriculum
SGES 700: Dissertation on an approved topic. An oral examination on the contents of the dissertation may be required.
MA: Qualification Code AMAS 10
To be admitted into this qualification, students must have passed a BA (Hons) degree in Geography and Environmental Studies or an equivalent qualification.
Curriculum
AGES 700: Dissertation on an approved topic. An oral examination on the contents of the dissertation may be required.
DOCTORAL
At Doctoral level, there are also two curricula, Science and Arts
PhD (Geography) Science: Qualification Code SPHD07
To be admitted into this qualification, students must have passed an MSc degree in Geography and Environmental Studies or an equivalent qualification.
Curriculum
SGES 800: Dissertation on an approved topic. An oral examination on the contents of the dissertation may be required.
PhD (Geography) Arts: Qualification Code ADPHD10
To be admitted into this qualification, students must have passed an MA degree in Geography and Environmental Studies or an equivalent qualification.
Curriculum
AGES 800: Dissertation on an approved topic. An oral examination on the contents of the dissertation may be required.
RESEARCH IN THE DEPARTMENT
The Department of Geography and Environmental Studies has strong research collaborations with South African universities such as North West University, University of KwaZulu-Natal, University of Limpopo, University of Witwatersrand, University of Pretoria, and Stellenbosch among others. Similar collaborations exist internationally with institutions such as University of Eastern Finland, Nottingham Trent University, University of Reunion and Finnish Meteorological Institute in Helsinki.
Currently, there are research projects in both Physical and Human Geography as follows:
Physical Geography
- Atmospheric Physics and chemistry
- Air quality
- Space Physics
- Application of GIS in Remote Sensing
- Environmental Management
- Natural Resources Management
- Geomorphology
Human Geography
- Agricultural and rural Geography and spaces
- Borders and Borderlands
- Medical Geography
- Migration
- Political Ecology
- Populations Geography
- Political Geography
- Tourism and Recreation
- Sustainable development
- Urban Geography
- Local and Regional Economic Development
There are current research projects at Honours, Masters and Doctoral level on some of the above research areas such as Tourism and Recreation, Local and Regional Economic Development, Agricultural and rural Geography and spaces and Political Ecology.