Bachelor of Science Honours degree in Environmental Science and Technology (HEST)
Programme Overview
Objectives
The aim of this program is to contribute towards improved environmental quality at regional, national and global scales through teaching, research and by developing appropriate technologies to identify, control, or eliminate sources of pollutants affecting the environment and public health.
The department will accomplish its mission by:
- Developing curricula that provide appropriate theoretical knowledge and practical skills in environmental science and technology.
- Producing competitive innovative graduates to take up or create opportunities in industry, government departments and the non-governmental organizations including small and medium scale enterprises or own initiatives. The graduates will be equipped with essential technical knowledge and skills for conducting research including: Selecting data collection methods; collecting and analysing air, water and soil samples; analyzing environmental data collected by others; analysing data for correlations to anthropogenic effects; and with skills in advocacy, problem solving, report writing and presentation.
- Departmental participation in societal development through research and outreach programs
- Collaborating with industry and other relevant stakeholders.
Entry Requirements
Normal Entry
▪ At least five ‘O’ level subjects including English Language, Mathematics and Science plus: Advanced Level passes in any two of the following subjects or their recognized equivalents: Biology, Chemistry, Mathematics and Geography or a relevant National Certificate from an accredited Institution
▪ Articulation as provided by the ZNQF
▪ Recognition criteria for foreign credentials of international students
Special Entry
Special entry would be granted to students who, in the opinion of the Departmental Board, have outstanding passes in a relevant Diploma, subject to such a qualification meeting part of the requirements of the program.
PROGRAMME STRUCTURE
In the first year, learners are expected to acquaint themselves with introductory modules of the degree program. Choice of modules should be done with guidance of Departmental staff.
The degree program shall have at least 36 taught modules spread over the 6 teaching semesters.
MODULE CODE MODULE NAME CREDITS
Level 1Semester 1
EST101 Introduction to Environmental Science 12
AGRO135 Plant Biology 12
LWR135 Introduction to Soil Science 12
HORT131 Introduction to Microbiology 12
CS131 Communication Skills 12
HCS135 Introduction to Information Technology 12
Level 1 Semester 2
AGRO136 Introduction to Statistics 12
LWR131 Environmental Chemistry 12
HAWS134 Principles of Ecology 12
EST103 Air Pollution 12
EST102 Introduction to Hydrology 12
Level 2 Semester 1
ENT131 Entrepreneurship 12
AGRO239 Statistical Methods and Experimental Designs 12
EST205 Heritage Based Natural Resources Management 12
EST206 Soil Chemistry 12
AEGS231 Introduction to Gender Studies
LWR237 Geographical Information Systems and Remote Sensing 12
EST203 Environmental and Social Impact Assessment 12
EST204 Environmental Monitoring and Evaluation 12
Level 2 Semester 2
EST201 Risk and Disaster management 12
LWR245 Water Quality 12
LWR246 Climate Change Adaptation and Mitigation 12
EST202 Soil Biology and Biochemistry 12
Level 3 Semester 1
AGPR330 Work-Related Preliminary Report 30
Level 3 Semester 2
AGPR331 Work-Related Learning Report 45
AGPR332 Employer’s Assessment Report 30
AGPR333 Academic Supervisor’s Report 45
Level 4 Semester 1
EST401 Environmental Economics 12
EST403 Environmental Biotechnology and Bioremediation 12
EST404 Environmental Law 12
EST405 Life Cycle Assessment and Sustainability 12
EST406 Waste water treatment 12
EST409 Solid & Hazards Waste management 12
Level 4 Semester 2
EST407 Environmental Auditing 12
EST402 Environmental Education and Extension 12
EST408 Environmental Management Systems 12
EST410 Environmental Modeling 12
EST400 Research Project 24
MODULE SYNOPSES
EST101 Introduction to Environmental Science
The module will cover basic concepts, history, nature and scope of Environmental Science and its contribution to society. Different aspects of the environment: physical, ecological, socio-economic, ethical, and philosophical. Major components of environment: physico-chemical, biological and social, and their relationships with various environmental factors. Human environment and its problems: global, national, regional. Environmental challenges for sustainable development: current and future trends in population growth, environmental pollution, development in industry and agriculture, urbanization, poverty and resource depletion
AGRO136 Introduction to Statistics
The module covers an introduction to statistics definition and uses of statistics in research; Data types, presentation and summarization techniques; Probability and distributions: random variables, discrete, continuous, binomial distribution, and normal distribution; Measures of central tendency and dispersion; Sampling techniques; Regression and correlation: regression parameters, correlation coefficient, coefficient of determination; Simple statistical inference: hypothesis testing, confidence intervals, t-tests, chi-square tests and one-way ANOVA
LWR135 Introduction to Soil Science
The content of the module will include- Soil formation, Soil minerals, Soil classification, Soil texture and structure in relation to tillage, Soil colour, Other physical properties of soil – e.g. drainage, permeability, infiltration, Land capability classification, Soil profiling, Soil sampling.
HORT131 Introduction to Microbiology
The module will cover Characteristics of eukaryotic and prokaryotic cells and a range of micro-organisms viz. Bacteria, Fungi, Viruses, Viroid’s and Protozoa; their classification, morphology, nutrition, growth, replication and metabolism; Micro-organisms as agents of diseases (pathogens), use of micro-organisms in industrial microbiology (cheese, beer and wine making) and in silage making; Immunology; techniques of isolating and identifying micro-organisms; Microscopy
AGRO135 Plant Biology
The plant cell and organelles; Plant water relations; Photosynthesis – the ecological significance of photosynthesis in primary production of organic molecules, the Light Reaction, The Calvin Cycle, C3/C4 photosynthesis, CAM photosynthesis. Photoperiodism and vernalization. Fruit and seed formation: double fertilization and formation of seed tissues, Seed structure, chemical composition of seed, Germination: Phases in germination: seed hydration, genetic and metabolic events during germination, role of plant growth regulators in germination. Seed dormancy: Mechanisms of dormancy: Innate, induced and enforced dormancy, Significance of dormancy in attuning cycles of plant growth to seasonal changes in environment. Plant growth and development: meristems, cell expansion, cell differentiation, acid growth theory, tropisms, cell differentiation, apical dominance, bud dormancy; Plant growth regulators – synthesis and transport and physiological effects of auxins, gibberellins, cytokines, abscisic acid and ethylene on plant growth and development; Use of artificial plant growth regulators in Agriculture.
AWS134 Principles of Ecology
The module will cover the topics Biological organization; Ecosystem concept; Concept of the Biosphere; interrelationships between biotic and abiotic factors. Energy flow: nutrient cycles in ecosystems. Ecology of communities: Terrestrial Biomes and Aquatic Biomes. Plant and Animal succession. Species diversity: Measures of species diversity; Calculations of species diversity. Wildlife biology: Biological potential; Reproduction factors; Mortality; Ageing criteria; Wildlife diseases; Types of carrying capacities; Behavioral interaction: Home range; Territorialism; Dispersal; Niche selection; Guilds; Indicator species. Wildlife conservation
AGRO239 Statistical Methods and Experimental Designs
Data collection: populations and random sampling; Introduction to experimental designs, data analysis and interpretation; Statistical methods related to variances; Statistical methods related to comparison of means; Experimental designs and layout (randomized complete block designs, split plots, factorial, Latin squares); Analysis of variance for one factor, two factor experiments and multi-factor experiments; Multiple comparison of means; Partitioning of sum of squares, transformations; Analysis of covariance; Repeated measures analysis; Regression, Correlation Multi-variate regression; Tests for goodness of fit and independence; and Data entry, analysis and interpretation using statistical packages (MINITAB, GENSTAT, SAS) for all designs: Regression and Correlation.
LWR237 Geographical Information Systems and Remote Sensing
Introduction to GIS, Software and Hardware, Applications, Sources of GIS data, Global Positioning Systems, Introduction to Remote Sensing, Imagery and Photography, Acquisition and Platforms; the Electromagnetic Spectrum, Spectral Signatures/Pattern of Objects (water, soil, vegetation), NDVI. Raster and Vector, Data Input, Digitizing, Data Quality, Data Output, Geo-databases, Cartography, Map Projections, Geo-processing, Data Queries, Spatial Analysis, Cartographic Modelling
EST202 Soil Biology and Biochemistry
Methods for studying soil organisms in the environment; Components of the soil bio data: Occurrence and distribution in the soil environment; Growth and Metabolism of soil organisms; Carbon Cycling and Soil Organic Matter; Dynamics of residue decomposition; Soil biological nitrogen transformations: Nitrogen mineralization and immobilization; Nitrogen transformations: Denitrification and Nitrogen transport in soil; Symbiotic relations: Biological Nitrogen Fixation (BNF) and Mycorrhizal Symbiosis; Biological Phosphorus and Sulphur transformations in soil; Biological transformation of metals in the soil environment; Soil organisms and novel pollution problems.
EST203 Environmental and Social Impact Assessment
Concepts and issues in environmental management: Objectives of EIAs/EHIAs; terminologies etc. Statutory provisions of EIA in Zimbabwe; Brief on the Environmental and Natural Resources Act, etc. Introduction to the EIA process: Screening; Scoping; Impact identification (forms of impacts, data sources; sources of impacts etc.); Impact assessment (techniques and analysis tools); Migratory measures; EIA report; Draft EIA reviews (assessing the quality of draft Environmental Impact statement etc.); Project implementation; Decommissioning. Case Studies such as EIA of water resources, energy development, mining, paper industry etc.
EST204 Environmental Monitoring and Evaluation
The module will provide students with theoretical and practical knowledge in various aspects of environmental monitoring and an understanding of the role of environmental monitoring in environmental studies; Students develop analytical skills including defining a problem, selecting appropriate variables, and evaluating the data, as well as they can use the appropriate procedures for monitoring various environmental compartments. The course content will include Basics about monitoring (definition, tasks, scheme, types and errors of monitoring); Monitoring of chemical and physical parameters; Monitoring of biological parameters; Monitoring of air, natural waters, soil, Land treatment; Emission factors (definition, application, source of errors); Importance of sampling; quality (limit of detection, limit of quantification, linear range, precision, trueness, recovery, selectivity); Equipment for monitoring and Legislation in the field of monitoring
LWR246 Climate Change Adaptation and Mitigation
Principles of meteorology: Introduction, Meteorological measurements, Meteorological terms, the sun and the earth, and the earth’s atmosphere. Radiative transfer: electromagnetic spectrum, radiation laws, solar radiation; atmospheric influence on radiation, atmospheric windows, Beer’s law, earth’s energy budget, radiation balance. Climate variability: climate variability processes, drivers – externally induced and internally induced (variations in solar radiation, lunar tides, interaction of the atmosphere with oceans and biosphere) Climate change: definitions, causes, the science of climate change, impacts, adaptations and mitigation
EST400 Research project
Scientific report on a research project undertaken by the student during the work-related learning period. Assessed through a proposal presentation and a final presentation as well as a final written document.
EST401 Environmental Economics
Basic economic principles; Scope, nature and methodology of economics; Economics systems: traditional, planned/command; Liaise Faire enterprise/free market, mixed; Theory of price determination: definition of a market, supply and demand. Relationship between society and economic development, public and private choices, and their impact on the environment. Theories of development economics. The factors of economic growth: land labour, capital and entrepreneurship. Gross National Product; Economic growth and the environment; Paying for the privilege to pollute; Measurement of cost-benefit analysis (CBA). Comparison of cost-benefit analysis and Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) as tools for appraisal. Linkage between economic planning, development, environmental management and legislature. Risks, uncertainties, and impact on resource use.
EST402 Environmental Education and Extension
Defining the concept environment; Environmental problems, crises and emerging responses; From Stockholm to Rio: Stockholm Declaration, Tbilisi Principles, Sustainable development, Rio Declaration and Agenda 21 (particularly Chapter 36); What is environmental education; Environmental and health education theories and processes; Methods of identifying environmental and health issues; Values and benefits; Issues for the educators and facilitators; Communication and delivery tools; Social marketing; Curriculum development in environmental and health education; Evaluation and selected fieldwork (including visiting environmental education and health centres); Environmental Education in the SADC and the Gaborone Declaration, UN Decade on Education for Sustainable Development; Environmental Education in Zimbabwe (particularly the Environmental Education Policy of 2003).
EST403 Environmental Biotechnology and Bioremediation
The module will cover Molecular biotechnology revolution and biological systems: DNA, RNA and protein synthesis, recombinant DNA technology; Chemical synthesis, sequencing, and amplification of DNA, manipulation of genes in prokaryotes and eukaryotes; Protein engineering, synthesis of commercial products by recombinant microorganisms; Utilization microbial insecticides, genetic engineering of plants, transgenic animals, human gene therapy; Biotechnology and environmental applications, bio-treatment and bioremediation methods, bioremediation and biomass; Biological processes, activated sludge or biofilm in wastewater treatment, in situ and ex-situ bioremediation technologies and strategies; Environmental monitoring: bio-indicators, biomarkers, biosensors, biotechnological processes
EST404 Environmental Law
The module will cover Law, policy and ethics as keys to understanding how we use and manage our environment. An introduction to the concepts and principles which underpin environmental law from the international to the local level. Constitutional responsibilities and roles relating to the environment; Sustainable development and the law; Environmental planning through environmental impact assessment and land-use law; Environmental protection principles, climate change water resources law; Heritage issues and the protection of biological diversity
EST405 Life Cycle Assessment and Sustainability
This course is aimed at introducing basic concepts; Analytical frameworks and quantitative techniques for systematically and holistically evaluating the environmental trade ‐ offs presented by different alternatives to enable more informed decision ‐ making. Methodology of Lifecycle Analysis or Lifecycle Assessment (LCA), a well-established technique to compute the various material inputs and environmental releases from all activities associated with the lifecycle i.e. raw material extraction, processing, end-use, and disposal, of a product or service, approaches to LCA – their advantages and disadvantage; Strengths and limitations of LCA as a tool for decision‐making compared to alternative approaches such as cost-benefit analysis and cost-effectiveness analysis.
EST406 Waste Water Treatment
Sources of waste water: Waste water characteristics (Industrial, domestic and municipal), wastewater conveyance systems. Methods of treating industrial waste water: Water-borne systems without connection to sewerage systems: septic tanks, construction of septic tanks, disposal of septic tank effluent. Water – borne sewerage systems: Biological filters, activated sludge systems, biological nutrients removal systems, wetland systems, waste stabilization ponds. Advanced waste water treatment: pathogen removal, toxic substance removal. Waste water re-use: forms of waste water re-use, barriers to waste-water re-use
EST407 Environmental Auditing
Relationship between organizations and the environment, Public awareness, Sustainable development, Environmental management, Environmental auditing-Definition, terminology, history of environmental auditing, Objectives and scope, the types of audit, General EA methodology, EA Basic structure and steps, Elements of the Audi t process, Benefits and costs of environmental auditing, Role of an environmental audit within an environmental management system, Evolution of environmental audits, Waste Audits and Pollution Prevention Assessments, EA in industrials Projects, Audit of environmental management systems- audit objectives, roles &responsibilities; scoping and review, preparing the audit, conducting the audit, content of the audit report, Case studies of environmental disasters and their management
EST408 Environmental Management Systems
Environmental Management Standards (to include the British BS 7750, European Union EMAS and the ISO 14000 series), Cleaner Production; Industrial ecology; Eco-efficiency; Ecological footprints; Introduction to SHE; Sustainability indicators; Corporate Governance and Sustainability reporting (introduction to the Global Reporting Initiative, UN, King II Report and the Johannesburg Stock Exchange Sustainability Indicators); Critical Review of Corporate Reporting and Trends in Environmental Management (review of selected company reports), and Field trip to selected companies resembling good and bad practice corporate responsibility in terms of sustainability reporting.