Qualifications

At the Conservation and Marine Sciences department, we produce graduates who cannot only find employment but also live fruitful and fulfilled lives that contribute to the development of a productive and innovative conservation society.

We aim to give students the skills to succeed in a rapidly changing nature conservation environment where innovation is critical.

On completion of a Diploma in Nature Conservation, you will be able to:

• manage biodiversity
• be a conservator
• interact with communities for biodiversity conservation
• conduct basic research and monitoring for biodiversity conservation

Some careers you can follow with a National Diploma in Nature Conservation:

• Management of natural resources/ protected areas
• Alien species control
• Environmental policy compliance
• Environmental education
• Research
• Field guiding
• Ecotourism

Why study Nature Conservation at CPUT?

• Long and excellent track record of producing graduates in nature conservation
• Experienced, highly qualified and committed staff
• Well-structured work integrated learning
• Course subjects are practical
• Opportunity to study towards postgraduate qualifications
• Affordable tuition fees.

First-year modules

Second-year modules

The Advanced Diploma in Nature Conservation course is part-time and takes two years to complete. Lectures are presented during two block sessions of two weeks each per year.

Pre-requisites

Admission for the Advanced Diploma in Nature Conservation programme will be determined by the standard of the student’s performance in the National Diploma. An average of 60% for the major subjects at the third level (NQF 6) is the minimum requirement to be considered for admission to the Advanced Diploma.

Modules

Resource Management

This course aims to provide a sound understanding of ecosystem functioning so that predictions about the impact and consequences of management actions can be made based on scientific findings. The influence of abiotic factors on the quality and abundance of forage is explored in relation to its effect on herbivores of different body sizes. The impact of predation, disturbance, and facilitation on these relations will also be considered. The main wildlife management intervention strategies (culling, fire and water point placement) are then discussed with other critical factors (e.g., poaching and invasive species) that influence today's biodiversity conservation practice.

Research Methodology

This module introduces students to the philosophy and epistemology of scientific research. It ensures students are familiar with and competent in the research process, the scientific method, and the most commonly used biostatistics. Students submit a research proposal, collect scientific data, present their research results to an academic medium, and write up their results in a scientific way. This module will ensure students are prepared to undertake a research-based Master’s degree.

Plant Studies

This course aims to equip the students with the necessary knowledge to collect, analyse, interpret, and evaluate information critically for vegetation management.

Topics which will be covered include:

• Plant-animal interactions
• Habitat fragmentation
• Veld monitoring and veld evaluation
• Fire ecology
• Alien invasive plant species management
• Restoration ecology and the restoration process

Principles of Management

The course aims to provide the student with a theoretical and practical background of business operations and the role of business as a manifestation of economic activity in the formal and informal sectors of the economy. Specific functions within business organisations will be analysed and discussed. This course aims to help students develop into successful managers/entrepreneurs, i.e., teach them to arrange resources and activities so that the organisation they work for or establish can operate as profitably as possible.

Conservation Management

Consists of three components: Geographical Integrated Systems (GIS), Project Management, Community Conservation and Urban Conservation.

Coastal and Marine Management

The aim of this course is to equip the student with knowledge to be competent in advanced management of marine resources and biodiversity and in research in this field.

The purpose of this diploma is to build on the knowledge and skills you acquired during your Advanced Diploma and equip you for working as a researcher in the field of marine science. In particular, we aim to equip you with the skills and knowledge needed to advance your career through higher qualifications such as a Master in Conservation Science.

Some key information about the course:

1. The PG Dip in Conservation Science is at NQF Level 8, equivalent to a Bachelor of Science (Honours) degree.
2. The minimum requirement for acceptance onto the course is 60% for an Advanced Diploma in a suitable field, e.g. Nature Conservation, or a relevant Bachelor of Science degree (for example, with majors in Botany, Zoology or Conservation Biology).
3. You can do the PG Dip in Conservation Science full-time (1 year) or part-time (2 years).
4. We will use the block/release system so that you do not have to be based in Cape Town to enrol for the course. However, you will need to be available on campus for all block weeks (8 weeks in total) and, if necessary, for lab work, seminars, etc.
5. You will, to a large extent, choose the specific fields you wish to study. You will need to discuss this with suitable prospective supervisors, preferably before you apply.
6. Most of the assessments will include seminars, written assignments and research reports.

Table 1: Subjects offered as part of the PG Dip in Conservation Science (all are compulsory).

This qualification intends to empower learners to acquire the knowledge, skills, attitudes and values required to operate confidently in the marine science sector.

The qualified person will have the requisite theoretical knowledge, understanding, and practical proficiency to establish a successful career in the marine and related industries/ sectors.

Graduates of this qualification will be skilled with competencies in marine science and technology, and be prepared to pursue technical careers in:

• climate change
• marine aquaculture
• oceanography
• environmental (marine and coastal) management
• fisheries management
• marine ecotourism and environmental education
• marine pollution control
• marine conservation.

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First-year modules

Second-year modules

Third-year modules

Admission into the Advanced Diploma: Marine Science programme requires a Diploma in Marine Science (or an equivalent) and an average of 60 % for subjects at NQF level 6 or higher.

This qualification intends to generally empower learners to acquire the knowledge, skills, attitudes, and values required to operate confidently in the workplace and specifically to equip the graduates with the requisite levels of theoretical knowledge, understanding, and practical proficiency needed to establish a successful career in the marine and related industries/sectors.

Graduates of this qualification will be skilled in marine science and technology. They will be able to apply this knowledge in related technical fields and in managing marine and coastal resources.

The Advanced Diploma course is offered full-time in one year or part-time over two years. It consists of six subjects, including a mini-research project. Coursework is split across four blocks, each consisting of two weeks of lectures.

Subjects

Research Methodology

Research Methodology introduces students to the philosophy of scientific research and ensures that they are familiar with and competent in the research process, the scientific method, and the most commonly used biostatistics. The student is expected to have sufficient background to explore and apply further biostatistics that may be necessary and appropriate for a specific study.

Marine Research Techniques

Marine Research Techniques aims to introduce students to sampling design, research techniques, and laboratory instruments relevant to marine research. Students will also be introduced to laboratory and field health and safety regulations and to the planning and execution of field research projects across the marine science sector.

Marine Biology 4

Marine Biology 4 consists of four components. Students will be exposed to varying aspects of Marine Biology, including behavioural ecology along rocky shores, genetics at a basic level, ecophysiology, marine invasion biology, and the status in South Africa. This will ensure that students are exposed to a broad array of knowledge across the field of marine biology, both from a theoretical and applied perspective.

Coastal and Marine Management

This subject will provide students with an integrated approach to dealing with problems in managing marine resources. The subject will examine coastal zone management in the form of Marine Protected Areas (MPA). The management of marine resources will not only be confined to the coastal zone. The subject will also examine participatory techniques and stakeholder analysis so that managers can better deal with communities involved with marine resources.

Marine Science 4

Marine Science 4 will expose students to the use and interpretation of marine charts. Students will also become familiar with the tools and applications within operational oceanography. In addition, topics such as the physics and chemistry of atmosphere/ocean interactions, the impacts of global change, and various aspects of the Southern Ocean and South Africa’s link to the Southern Ocean will be covered.

Marine Technology

This course will cover four modules: marine engineering, Marine and coastal instrumentation, Marine data management using technology, and Modelling.

The purpose of this diploma is to build on the knowledge and skills you acquired during your Advanced Diploma and equip you for working as a researcher in the field of marine science. In particular, we aim to equip you with the skills and knowledge needed to advance in your career through achieving higher level qualifications such as a Masters in Marine Science.

Some key information about the course

1. The PG Dip in Marine Science is at NQF Level 8 i.e. it is equivalent to a Bachelor of Science (Honours) degree.
2. The minimum requirement for acceptance onto the course is 60% for an Advanced Diploma in a suitable field e.g. Marine Science or Nature Conservation or a relevant Bachelor of Science degree (for example with majors in Biology or Oceanography).
3. You can do the PG Dip in Marine Science either full time (1 year) or part-time (2 years).
4. We will make use of the block/ release system so that you do not have to be based in Cape Town to enroll for the course. However, you will need to be available on campus for all block weeks (8 weeks in total) as well as if required for lab work, seminars etc.
5. You will to a large extent choose the specific fields you wish to study. You will need to discuss this with suitable prospective supervisors, preferably before you apply.
6. There are no formal examinations for this qualification. You will be required to give seminars and write assignments and research reports for assessment.

Table 1: Subjects offered as part of the PG Dip in Marine Science (all are compulsory)

Master's degrees are research-based. Students undertake in-depth research and complete a dissertation in a specialist area of either nature conservation or marine science. The Master's degrees in Nature Conservation and Marine Science equip students with the necessary knowledge and skills to conduct research in nature conservation and ocean/marine science and to contribute to knowledge production through the understanding, application, and evaluation of existing and new knowledge. The research problem, its justification, process, and outcome are reported in a dissertation.

Student name: Kevin Spiby

Supervisors: Dr Koebraa Peters and Dr Taryn Murray (SAIAB)

Title of research project: Movements of captive-released Ragged-tooth sharks (Carcharias taurus) along the South African coastline.

Project outline: The release of ragged-tooth sharks back into the wild has always been a bit of a contentious issue around whether the time spent in captivity could potentially alter their natural instincts and if they would survive in the wild. A previous study from South Africa showed that aquarium released sharks migrated and had similar movement patterns when compared to that of their wild conspecifics. Acoustic telemetry, as a method to track the movement of sharks, can provide insights into habitat use and behaviour, allowing the identification of critical habitats for protection, feeding, breeding, and nursery grounds. The movement data can also be used to determine if these sharks are spending any time inside the Marine Protected Areas within South Africa and the level of protection these areas offer to these Critically Endangered sharks.

This project looks to analyse the acoustic tag data collected over the last 11 years from 36 ragged-tooth sharks, from both sexes and across various size classes that have released back into the wild after spending multiple years on display as ambassadors for their species at the Two Oceans Aquarium.

The Extended Curriculum Programme (ECP) is a mechanism supported by the national Department of Higher Education and Training, which aims to improve graduation and throughput rates of students in South African Universities. Students in the ECP attend the same lectures as the other students for their registered subjects, but initially take a lighter academic load and have additional academic support. The support takes the form of augmented lectures, practicals and field trips, as well as various key skills needed for success at the university level.

Thus, for ECP students, the first year is spread over two years, after which they proceed with the normal programme. Although this means that the minimum time for completion is extended by one year, the students are more assured of success and, in our experience, generally graduate at the same time with the majority of their ‘mainstream’ counterparts who started off with a full academic load. All students get the same Diploma, with the same wording, regardless of whether they did the ECP or the ‘mainstream’ programme.

Students are placed on the ECP based on their performance in National Benchmark Tests or other indicators of their preparedness for university study.