BSc/BSc Extended in Life and Environmental Sciences University of Johannesburg

This qualification is primarily designed to provide a well-rounded, broad education that equips graduates with the knowledge base, theory, and methodology of life and environmental sciences. The purpose of the BSc in Life and Environmental Sciences is to develop qualified scientists who can identify, evaluate and solve problems associated with life, earth, and environmental sciences and be able to assume and demonstrate initiative and responsibility in related academic and professional contexts in South Africa as well as in the international world. With the focus of the program being on the principles and theory of the life and environmental sciences with the possible applications thereof, the students acquire the appropriate competence and research ability that serves as a basis for entry into the labor market and a range of professional training and practice as well as postgraduate studies opportunities.

Reasons for studying at UJ

• UJ offers not only a special program called the First Year Experience to help orientate students throughout the first year but we also offer a Senior Student Experience that gears students toward the workplace!
• Grab the opportunity to participate in a variety of sports and train alongside Olympians and Paralympians on state-of-the-art pitches, tracks, and fields, or just keep fit by joining one of the gyms on each of our 4 campuses.
• Be part of a young, vibrant, and agile university that reflects and adapts easily to our country’s aspirations, while maintaining global relevance through numerous international partnerships.
• 178 Internationally respected and accepted qualifications.
• Join a university that cares enough to have raised over R300 million since the start of 2016 in order to support the Missing Middle Campaign. UJ also ensures that more than 6 000 needy students have two healthy meals per day.
• Study in the vibrant City of Gold – the economic hub of South Africa. Join a vibrant, cosmopolitan, progressive group of students and academics on their way to re-imagining the future!
• UJ offers an amazing on-campus experience whether you live in one of UJ’s residences, belong to a day house, or whether you just want to socialize at the Student Centres on all campuses.
• We ensure the health, safety, and security of all our students through our own on-campus health services and UJ Protection Services.
• Did you know that during the first five years of UJ’s existence it doubled its targeted research output and to this day, continues to break records!

Combination of Majors

4 years

• Botany and Biochemistry
• Botany and Chemistry
• Botany and Zoology
• Geography and Environmental Management
• Biochemistry and Physiology
• Physiology and Psychology
• Sport Science (phasing out)
• Biochemistry and Zoology
• Chemistry and Zoology
• Environmental Management and Zoology
• Geography and Zoology
• Physiology and Zoology

3 years

• Botany and Biochemistry
• Botany and Chemistry
• Botany and Zoology
• Biochemistry and Zoology
• Chemistry and Zoology
• Environmental Management and Zoology
• Geography and Zoology
• Physiology and Zoology
• Physiology and Biochemistry
• Physiology and Psychology
• Geography and Environmental Management
• Geology and Environmental Management (phasing out)
• Geology and Geography (phasing out)
• Sport Science (phasing out)
• Geology and Environmental Management
• Geology and Geography

Shanghai Ranking

• World Rankings: 601-700 in the world / 5th in South Africa and 6th in Africa
• Global Ranking of Academic Subjects (GRAS):

Hospitality & Tourism Management: 18th in the world, 1st in South Africa and Africa
Sociology: Top 150 in the world, 1st and only one ranked in South Africa and Africa
Public Administration: Top 150 in the world, 1st and only one ranked in South Africa and Africa
Education: Top 300 in the world, 1st in South Africa and Africa
Earth Sciences: Top 300 in the world, 2nd in South Africa and Africa
Geography: Top 300 in the world, 2nd in South Africa and Africa
Chemical Engineering: Top 400 in the world, joint 1st in South Africa and Africa
Political Sciences: Top 400 in the world, 3rd in South Africa and Africa
Physics: Top 400 in the world, 3rd in South Africa and Africa
Management: Top 500 in the world, 1st in South Africa and Africa
Ecology: Top 500 in the world

Quacquarelli Symonds (QS)

• World Rankings: 434 in the world, in the Top 1.4% / 3rd in South Africa and Africa
• Subject Rankings:

English Language & Literature: Top 250 in the world, joint 3rd in South Africa and Africa
Chemical Engineering: Top 350 in the world, joint 3rd in South Africa, and joint 4th in Africa
Education & Training: Top 350 in the world, 5th in South Africa and Africa
Economics & Econometrics: Top 400 in the world, joint 4th in South Africa, and joint 5th in
Africa Agriculture & Forestry: Top 400 in the world, 6th in South Africa
Physics & Astronomy: Top 450 in the world, joint 2nd in South Africa, and joint 3rd in Africa
Environmental Sciences: Top 450 in the world, 6th in South Africa and Africa
Chemistry: Top 500 in the world, joint 3rd in South Africa, and joint 6th in Africa
Mechanical, Aeronautical & Manufacturing Engineering: Top 500 in the world, 5th in South Africa
Medicine: Top 650 in the world

• QS Graduate Employability Rankings:

Top 500 in the world, joint 4th in South Africa

Times Higher Education (THE)

• World Rankings: 601-800 in the world / Joint 7th in South Africa
• Subject Rankings:

Law: Top 201+ in the world, joint 4th in South Africa and Africa
Education: Top 300 in the world, joint 3rd in South Africa and Africa
Psychology: Top 400 in the world, joint 2nd in South Africa and Africa
Arts & Humanities: Top 400 in the world, joint 3rd in South Africa and Africa
Social Sciences: Top 400 in the world, 4th in South Africa and Africa
Life Sciences: Top 500 in the world, joint 4th in South Africa, and joint 5th in Africa
Business & Economics: Top 600 in the world, joint 4th in South Africa, and joint 6th in Africa
Engineering & Technology: Top 600 in the world, joint 4th in South Africa
Clinical & Health: Top 600 in the world
Computer Science: Top 800 in the world, joint 4th in South Africa
Physical Sciences: Top 800 in the world

• THE Young University Rankings: 173 among young universities, 4th in South Africa
• THE Emerging Economies University Rankings: 116 among universities in emerging economies, 7th in South Africa

US News & World Report’s Best Global Universities Rankings (BGUR)

• World Rankings: 378 in the world / 5th in South Africa and Africa
• Subject Rankings:

Geosciences: 222 in the world, 2nd in South Africa and Africa
Chemistry: 280 in the world, 1st in South Africa and Africa
Social Sciences & Public Health: 287 in the world, 5th in South Africa and Africa
Physics: 289 in the world, 3rd in South Africa and Africa
Engineering: 392 in the world, 2nd in South Africa, and 4th in Africa
Plant & Animal Science: 424 in the world
Environment/Ecology: 463 in the world

• Identify, interpret, analyze and solve routine as well as unfamiliar problems and issues using enquiry and theory-driven arguments.
• Demonstrate effectiveness in working with others in a team by taking responsibility for their own work and showing regard for the work of others.
• Identify, evaluate and address their own task-specific learning needs.
• Develop good information retrieval as well as quantitative and/or qualitative data analysis, synthesis, and evaluation skills, including the appropriate use of ICT.
• Demonstrate a well-grounded, systematic, and integrated knowledge and theory of the life and environmental sciences.
• Monitor and evaluate their own academic development and progress based on commonly applied life and environmental sciences-related criteria.
• Present and communicate information and ideas and opinions in well-structured arguments, adhering to appropriate academic/ professional discourse.
• Use science and technology reliably in variable and unfamiliar contexts and adhere to recognised professional and/or ethical standards, seeking guidance where appropriate.
• Identify, distinguish, effectively select and apply procedures, processes, methods/ techniques of inquiry, and research applicable to the life and environmental sciences related context.