BSc Honours

Admission to the Honours programme is subject to approval by the Department. A prospective candidate must have a minimum average mark of at least 60% for Botany on the third year level. The Honours programme in Botany (H2003Q) consists of the following six modules (including a research project) which must be passed individually. In addition, one or more additional modules may be required by the Head of Departmental. Participation in Departmental excursions may also be required. The examination consists of written papers or reports in each section. All sections carry equal weight and must all be passed individually.

Project (BOT8X00)
Semester 1&2 – NQF level 8 – 24 Credits
The purpose of this module as an integral part of the BSc Hons (Botany and Plant Biotechnology) programme is to provide the student with a well-rounded and broad education that equips them with a practical knowledge base in research that could serve as a basis for entry into higher postgraduate studies.

Postharvest Physiology (BOT8X01)
Semester 1 – NQF level 8 – 24 Credits
The purpose of this module as an integral part of the BSc Hons (Botany and Plant Biotechnology) programme is to provide the student with a well-rounded and broad education that equips them with a theoretical and practical knowledge base in postharvest physiology and technology that could serve as a basis for entry into the job market and into higher postgraduate studies in the field. The content covers the ripening and senescence of fruits, vegetables, fresh cuts, edible flowers as well as seeds.

Plant Biotechnology (BOT8X02)
Semester 1 – NQF level 8 – 24 Credits
The primary purpose of this module as an integral part of the BSc Hons (Botany) qualification is to provide students with a well-rounded and broad education that equips them with the scientific knowledge base, theory and methodology of Plant Biotechnology that could serve as a basis for entry into further postgraduate studies or as a research scientist in the field of biology and the life sciences. It further aims at the continuous professional development of the student’s intellectual, practical and reflective abilities as a research scientist in the field of biology and the life sciences.

Plant Systematics & Molecular Evolution (BOT8X03)
Semester 2 – NQF level 8 – 24 Credits
The primary purpose of this module, as an integral part of the BSc Hons (Botany and Plant Biotechnology) programme, is to provide students with a well-rounded and broad education that equips them with knowledge of the dynamics of evolutionary change at the molecular level, the driving forces behind the evolutionary process, and the effects of various molecular mechanisms on the long-term evolution of genomes, genes and their products as well as phylogenetic analyses. In addition, examples of how molecular phylogenies have transformed systematics are discussed in detail. Students are introduced to the classification systems of Cronquist (1988), Thorne (1992), Angiosperm Phylogeny Group (1998) and Judd et al. (1999).

Scientific Methods (BOT8X04)
Semester 1&2 – NQF level 8 – 24 Credits
The primary purpose of this module is to equip students with knowledge of basic light and electron microscopic techniques used in plant anatomical investigations, essential for any botanical studies.

Advanced Plant Taxonomy & Economic Botany (BOT8X05)
Semester 2 – NQF level 8 – 24 Credits
The primary purpose of the module is to provide the students with a well-rounded and broad education that equips them with the necessary taxonomic, nomenclatural and floristic knowledge base, theory and methodology that will allow them to do independent research in the field of taxonomy and ecology.