We all live on this beautiful planet, experiencing its diverse cities and stunning landscapes. By studying geography, you will gain a deeper understanding of the world around you, learn about the natural world around us, as well as understand how people and environments interact.
Geography is the scientific study of the land and the phenomena of the Earth and all its features and inhabitants. Environmental science takes a closer look at our interaction with the environment, with the aim of, among other things solving complex environmental problems.
With society facing challenges like global warming, increasing air pollution and globalisation, geography is a very relevant subject. If you are curious about the world around you, interested in how we interact with our environment and are concerned about challenges like global warming, you would likely enjoy studying geography.
With a GES degree, you can pursue a career as a surveyor, environmental consultant, town planner, climatologist and landscape architect. As with most degrees, a Geography and Environmental Science degree will also equip you with a wealth of transferable skills, which could be used for other degrees, or you could specialise with further study in geology or oceanography.
There are several reasons why one should study Geography and Environmental Science (GES). It is an important field for all humankind for the simple reason that humanity will forever depend on the environment and its resources for survival. We depend on it for food, economic and social development, health, water and other natural resources.
Geography and Environmental Science helps us to understand the planet we call home. It is concerned with both the physical and human aspects of our environment. It involves the study of natural environments, societies, economies, human environment relations and environmental management.
The physical aspect of this discipline area emphasises the systematic study of environmental processes, climate change, landforms and geologic developments. The human aspect focuses on development, cities and communities, economic processes, human behaviour and interaction with the environment and cultural studies. You will gain an analytical and critical perception of the current state of the environment as well as global challenges such as climate change and sustainable development concepts, using state-of-the-art research methods and techniques such as geographic information systems
To study GES you can enrol for the IIE Bachelor of Social Science degree with a study area in GES, available at Emeris.
Following completion of your three-year Bachelor’s degree, you can articulate into the IIE Bachelor of Social Science Honours degree with a specialisation in GES. A IIE Postgraduate Diploma in Water Management is also available at Emeris. Subsequent to completing these, you can articulate into a IIE Master of Philosophy in Integrated Water Management, or a research IIE Master of Philosophy in Arts (specialisation in GES).
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Choose the programme that matches your goals. All include practical experience and industry exposure.
Duration: 2 years part-time
Postgraduate Diploma
NQF Level: 8
Credits: 120
Faculty: Faculty of Science and Technology
School: School of Engineering, Science and Health
Duration: 2 years part-time
Postgraduate Diploma
NQF Level: 8
Credits: 120
Faculty: Faculty of Science and Technology
School: School of Engineering, Science and Health
Duration: 2 years part-time
Masters
NQF Level: 9
Credits: 180
Faculty: Faculty of Science and Technology
School: School of Engineering, Science and Health
The Geography and Environmental Science study area in the IIE Bachelor of Social Science degree and the IIE Bachelor of Social Science Honours specialising in GES is available at Emeris.
If you are interested in applying for the IIE Bachelor of Social Science degree, more information can be found here.
If you are interested in applying for the IIE Bachelor of Social Science Honours degree, more information can be found here.
The multidisciplinary nature of geography and environmental science and the transferable skills you develop, will offer a range of opportunities. Graduates can go on to build careers as:
You can choose to specialise even further, in areas including:
An educational brand of The Independent Institute of Education
Formed by the strategic evolution of The IIE's Varsity College, IIE MSA, Vega and
the School of Hospitality and Service Management, uniting under the Emeris name.
Emeris is an educational brand of The Independent Institute of Education (Pty) Ltd which is registered with the Department of Higher Education and Training as a private higher education institution under the Higher Education Act, 1997 (reg. no. 2007/HE07/002). Company registration number: 1987/004754/07. View certificate here.
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