Welcome Message from the Head of Department

Welcome to the Department of Geography and Environmental Studies. Our Department prides itself on offering a supportive and student-centred learning environment. The department consists of dedicated academic and supportive administrative staff and approximately 3200 committed students.

Background

The Department of Geography and Environmental Studies is one of the departments that were first opened when the University of Zululand was established in 1960. It was then located within the Faculty of Arts and was initially known as the Department of Geography. In 1998 the department moved from the Faculty of Arts to the Faculty of Science and Agriculture. In 2008 the Department of Geography and Environmental Studies changed the career-focused programmes for undergraduate students and developed dual major programmes.

These programmes are BSc Botany and Geography, BSc Geography and Hydrology, BSc Geography and Physics, BSc Geography and Statistics and BSc Geography and Zoology. The Department of Geography and Environmental Studies also offers degree programmes in the Faculty of Arts.

Vision

The vision of the Department of Geography and Environmental Studies is to be in the fore front in providing quality education.

Mission

The mission of the Department of Geography and Environmental Studies is to provide globally competitive graduates for human capital needs of our country, by providing quality education which upholds high standards of research and academic excellence.

In pursuit of the vision and mission, which articulates to that of the Faculty of Science and Agriculture and the University of Zululand, the Department of Geography and Environmental Studies is committed to teaching, research and community engagement and service to the surrounding rural community, nation of South Africa, the African continent and world at large around anthropogenic and natural phenomena facing the world today and in the future. As a result, the Department of Geography and Environmental Studies offers degree programmes which respond to community, national, African and Global concerns.