Graduate Programmes by Department

• MSc(Environmental Science)
• MPhil/PhD (Environmental Science)

The Department of Environmental Science started its MSc Programme in Environmental Planning in 1990. This programme was completely revised in 1995/96 into a more multidisciplinary and integrated programme which better addressed the diverse, yet interconnected, human and biophysical environmental concerns. The new programme was therefore able to accommodate students with diverse backgrounds in the human and physical environments. In 1998, the research-based MPhil and PhD programmes in Environmental Science were introduced. During the process of changing to the semester system in 2002/03, the courses in the MSc programme were further streamlined and updated to produce graduates who would better meet the various environmental challenges posed by the changing world. At present the Department trains the highest number of postgraduates in the Faculty of Science. So far more than 50 MPhil and MSc students have graduated from this Department.

The Department offers admission on both full time and part-time bases to up to 20 candidates per academic year. The number of admissions under the MPhil/PhD Programmes may vary from year to year, depending on the availability of resources and eligible supervisors in the areas of interest of candidates.

The Department has a full-fledged GIS Laboratory, which is equipped with some of the latest hardware and software, besides a modern Water Analysis and Soils laboratory. It also houses the University's EDDI - GIS and Remote Sensing Laboratory with significant inputs from the Department's Remote Sensing and GIS specialists. Additionally, the Department provides computer laboratories separately for the MSc and MPhil/Ph. D. students.

The Department has a lively seminar series, involving presentations from both students and staff. In addition to these, sometimes special seminars from eminent visiting scholars are held for the benefit of graduate students and the University community. The department encourages application from eligible students for the UB Foundation, UB Bookstore and Kellogg Foundation scholarships as and when available.

The Department has a very well qualified and dedicated team of academic and technical staff with expertise in the diverse areas of specialization in the Physical Environment (Range Ecology, Climate, Hydrology and Water Resources, Soil Science, Geomorphology, Environmental Quality Management), Human Environment (EIA, Wildlife and Tourism Management, Economic Geography and Environmental Economics, Settlement Planning and Governance, Rural Development Natural Resources Management) and Techniques (Cartography, Remote Sensing and GIS) areas. The detailed list of staff members along with their areas of specialization can be found in the Departmental Handbook for Post-graduates (available in the Departmental office, Room 236/221).

Since research is a key element in university education, departmental staff have taken initiatives and have been involved in many sponsored research projects, which not only bear importance to the nation and the Southern African Region, but also to the International community. Some such currently ongoing projects participated in by many of our staff members and graduate students are:

LIMPOPO: Climate Change Project: This study aims to find out the effect of climate change on the water and food sectors in the Limpopo basin of Botswana and to explore the various adaptation strategies. (O.P. Dube*, B.Kgabung, S. Masike, N. N. Moswete, B.P. Parida, E. Segosebe, E.N. Toteng)

The HOORC Head Stream Project: This is a SIMDAS project initiated by the University of Botswana Harry Oppenheimer Okavongo Research Centre (HOORC).  This department and HOORC are working collaboratively in training SADC students up to the PhD level on various aspects of environmental management in the headstreams of the SADC region. Aspects covered include landuse landcover change, water quality, water resources management, watershed management, headstream livelihoods. (N.M. Moleele, F. Eckardt, J.Atlhopheng )

[ *-co-ordinator (s)]

Admission to MSc Programme: To be admitted into the Master's degree programme in Environmental Science, the applicant should have obtained at least a good second class, second division degree offered at the University or an equivalent qualification from any other recognised university with an average of C grade or better in Environmental Science or cognate subjects (Geography, Wildlife Management, Natural Resources Management, Forestry, Hydrology and Climatology). 

Admission to MPhil Programme: To be admitted into the MPhil degree programme in Environmental Science, the applicant should have obtained a Master's degree in Environmental Science or cognate subjects offered at this University or an equivalent qualification from any recognised university and must have obtained at least a Second Class (Upper Division).  Candidates whose degree is not a single major must attain an upper second grade in the portion of the degree that is relevant to Environmental Science.

Candidates securing a second class, upper division, in the first degree majoring in Environmental Science offered at the University or an equivalent qualification with cognate subjects ( Geography, Wildlife Management, Natural Resources Management, Forestry, Agriculture, Hydrology and Climatology) from any other recognised University are also eligible for admission to the programme.

Admission to Ph.D. Programme: In accordance with the General Regulation, all applicants who do not possess an MPhil in Environmental Science or a cognate discipline (e.g. Geography, Natural Resources, Wildlife Management, Forestry) from the University of Botswana or any other recognised university, or equivalent academic institution, must initially register for that degree and subsequently transfer registration from the MPhil to the PhD degree after satisfying the requirements for such a transfer in accordance with the provisions in the General Regulation of the University

Possession of the minimum qualification, however, does not guarantee admission into either the MPhil or PhD programme, and the Board of the Department of Environmental Science reserves the right not to recommend any applicant for admission. The Department may require any applicant to submit to an interview before he/she is admitted to the MPhil/PhD Programme.

• MSc: 2 Years on full time basis (3 Years on Part-time basis).
• MPhil: 2 Years (6 Years Part-Time)
• PhD: 3 Years (4 Years Part-Time)

Career opportunities for the graduates are very widespread in all the ministries, parastatals and NGO's working with environmental issues. In addition the academic profession at all levels has programmes that are expanding and require environmental scientists with analytical abilities in this discipline at the M.Sc. or higher level. The graduates of this programme, however, have a higher ability to provide leadership in the same fields.