1.1 The normal minimum entrance requirements for admission to the Master of Science Degree Programme in Hydrogeology shall be one of the following:
a) A Bachelor of Science Degree from this or any recognized university with at least a 2 (ii) or equivalent in either Geology as a Single Major, or Geology as a Combined Major with Environmental Science, Physics, Chemistry, or a cognate subject approved by the Departmental Board;
b) A Bachelor of Science Degree from this or any recognized university with at least a 2 (ii) or equivalent in either Chemistry, Mathematics, Physics, Civil Engineering, Environmental Science or any other field deemed relevant by the Departmental Board;
c) A Bachelor of Science Degree with a pass grade or equivalent in the subjects as listed above and at least 2 years relevant work experience.
1.2 In all cases, the Department reserves the right to recommend admission to the Master of Science Programme.
Candidates who do not have a background in the Geosciences will be required to take and pass an introductory level course in Geology (GEO101, refer to undergraduate programme course listings) in addition to the Master’s Degree courses.
3.1 The Master’s Degree Programme shall be by coursework and Dissertation.
3.2 The coursework shall extend over the first and second semesters and shall consist of 8 courses.
3.3 Each course shall consist of a combination of lectures and/or practical sessions.
3.4 The Dissertation shall be based on a supervised original research project extending over the third and fourth semesters and shall be equivalent to 24 credits. The research findings shall normally be presented at the end of the fourth semester of study.
3.5 All students enrolled for the Master of Science Degree Programme in Hydrogeology must take and pass the 7 core courses, 1 optional course and a supervised Dissertation.
Semester 1
Core Courses
GEO 601 Applied Hydrogeology
GEO 602 Surface Water and Vadose Zone Hydrology
GEO 603 Groundwater Geochemistry
Optional Courses
GEO 608 Geological Aspects of Groundwater Occurrence
GEO 609 Characterization of Hydrogeologic Systems
GEO 610 Stochastic Hydrology
Semester 2
Core Courses
GEO 604 Geophysical Exploration for Groundwater
GEO 605 Applications of Remote Sensing and GIS in Hydrogeology
GEO 606 Applied Groundwater Modelling
GEO 607 Integrated Water Resources Management
Semesters 3 and 4
GEO701 Supervised Research and Dissertation
3.3.6 Students who do not have a requisite background in Geology are required to take GEO608.
3.3.7 Students who have successfully completed their coursework shall enrol for GEO701.
3.4 Duration of the Programme
The normal period of study for the Master of Science in Hydrogeology shall be in accordance with General Academic Regulation 41.5.1.
5.1 A student shall be required to submit a research topic to the Head of Department before the completion of coursework. The Dissertation proposal shall be presented to the Departmental Board for consideration and approval.
5.2 Supervision and examination of the Dissertation shall be governed by General Academic Regulations 41.9 and 441.11.
6.1 The assessment of a student shall be based on continuous assessment and final examinations, which will be governed by General Academic Regulation 41.7.
6.2 There shall be a final examination of 2 hours duration for each course within the semester in which it is taken.
6.3 Continuous assessment shall be based on a combination of assignments, tests, field and/ or laboratory practical exercises, the balance of these varying with each course as determined and approved by the Departmental Board.
6.4 The ratio between continuous assessment and final examination shall be 1:1.
6.5 Passing a course and calculation of cumulative GPA shall be in accordance with the General Academic Regulations 40.532 and 40.533.