Academic programmes and faculty information

1 Science i Accuracy, liability and changes Stellenbosch University has taken reasonable care to ensure that the information provided in the Calendar parts is as accurate and complete as possible. Take note, however, that the University s Council and Senate accept no liability for any incorrect information in the Calendar parts. The University reserves the right to change the Calendar parts at any time when necessary. The division of the Calendar The Calendar is divided into 13 parts. Part 1, 2 and 3 of the Calendar contain general information applicable to all students.

2 Make sure that you understand all provisions in Part 1 (General) of the Calendar that are applicable to you. Part 4 to 13 of the Calendar are the faculty Calendar parts. Part Calendar Part 1 General Part 2 Bursaries and Loans Part 3 Student Fees Part 4 Arts and Social sciences Part 5 Science Part 6 Education Part 7 AgriSciences Part 8 Law Part 9 Theology Part 10 Economic and Management sciences Part 11 Engineering Part 12 Medicine and Health sciences Part 13 Military Science Availability of the Calendar parts The printed versions of the Calendar parts are available at the University s information Desk in the Admin A Building.

3 The electronic versions of the Calendar parts are available at There are English and Afrikaans (Part 1 to 12) copies available. Science ii Science iii Table of Contents How to use this Calendar 1 Prospective undergraduate students .. 1 Prospective postgraduate students .. 1 Registered undergraduate students .. 2 Registered postgraduate students .. 2 General information .. 3 1. History and functions of the faculty of Science .. 3 History, structure and mission .. 3 Teaching, research and social impact .. 4 2. How to communicate with the faculty .. 5 Contact details of the faculty of Science.

4 5 Physical address and contact details of the Dean s Office .. 5 Contact details of Departments .. 6 Contact details of the Society for Science students (NSC) .. 6 3. How to communicate with the University .. 7 Using your student number .. 7 Contact details of the University .. 7 4. Language at the University .. 7 5. Qualifications offered in the faculty of Science .. 8 6. Examination, promotion and faculty provisions .. 8 7. Module requirements (Prerequisite pass, prerequisite and corequisite modules) .. 9 Condition for the granting of a qualification or degree .. 9 Subjects in the BSc degree programmes that are offered by the faculty of Science.

5 10 Department of Biochemistry .. 10 Department of Botany and Zoology .. 10 Department of Chemistry and Polymer Science .. 12 Department of Earth sciences .. 13 Department of Mathematical sciences .. 16 Department of Microbiology .. 19 Department of Physics .. 20 Department of Physiological sciences .. 21 Science iv Subjects presented in other faculties, but which can be taken as major subject for a BSc degree programme .. 22 faculty of AgriSciences, Department of Genetics .. 22 faculty of Arts and Social sciences , Department of Geography and Environmental Studies .. 23 faculty of Arts and Social sciences , Department of Psychology.

6 24 faculty of Economic and Mangement sciences , Department of Logistics .. 25 faculty of Economic and Management sciences , Department of Statistics and Actuarial Science . 25 faculty of Medicine and Health sciences : Biomedical sciences Division, Anatomy and Histology .. 26 8. Rules for the Dean s Concession Examinations .. 27 Undergraduate programmes .. 29 1. Admission requirements .. 29 School-leaving qualifications .. 29 Minimum admission requirements for BSc degree programmes .. 29 Additional requirements for all applicants .. 30 Prospective students who are already in possession of a school-leaving certificate, as certified by Umalusi, when applying.

7 31 Admission requirements for the BSc (Extended Degree programmes ) .. 31 Admission to the BSc degree programme with prior tertiary learning .. 32 Applicants from programmes ; or with qualifications obtained at Stellenbosch University .. 33 Applicants from programmes ; or with qualifications obtained from other universities in South Africa .. 34 Applicants from universities outside of South Africa .. 36 Recognition of prior learning not covered in the sections 36 Summary of undergraduate programmes and admission requirements per programme .. 37 2. The principles according to which the BSc degree programme is compiled.

8 43 3. First-year curricula for BSc degree programmes .. 44 First-year curricula for BSc degree programmes .. 44 First-year curricula for BSc (Extended Degree programmes ) .. 45 4. Curricula for all years of study in the BSc degree 46 programmes in the Biological sciences .. 46 Biodiversity and Ecology .. 46 Molecular Biology and Biotechnology .. 47 Human Life sciences .. 49 Stream: Biology .. 49 Stream: Biology with Psychology .. 51 Science v Sport Science .. 53 programmes in the Physical sciences .. 55 Chemistry .. 55 Stream: Chemistry and Polymer Science .. 55 Stream: Chemical Biology.

9 58 Stream: Textile and Polymer Science .. 59 Stream: Materials Technology .. 60 Physics .. 63 Streams: Laser Physics (Physical), Nuclear Physics, Radiation and Health Physics .. 63 Stream: Laser Physics (Biological) .. 66 Stream: Theoretical Physics .. 67 Earth Science .. 69 Stream: Applied Earth 69 Stream: Geo-environmental Science .. 71 GeoInformatics .. 73 Programme in the Mathematical sciences .. 75 Stream: Financial Mathematics .. 75 Stream: Computer Science .. 77 Option 1: Computer Science (excluding Genetics or Geographical information Technology as second major).

10 77 Option 2: Computer Science with Genetics as second major .. 80 Option 2: Computer Science with Geographical information Technology as second major .. 81 Stream: Applied Mathematics .. 81 Stream: Mathematics .. 84 Stream: Mathematical Statistics .. 86 Stream: Operations Research .. 88 Stream: Abstract Mathematics .. 91 Stream: Biomathematics .. 95 Option 1: Molecular Biology .. 95 Option 2: Ecology .. 96 Interdisciplinary BSc programme .. 97 Stream: Biomedical Mathematical sciences .. 97 Stream: Applied Medicinal Chemistry .. 99 Stream: Bioinformatics and Computational Biology.