Undergraduate & honours qualifications

Advanced Diploma in Senior Phase Natural Science Education

Qualification code: 90166
NQF level: 7
Total credits: 120
SAQA ID: 115294
APS/AS: 60
Rules:
It is a requirement for students who intend on registering for this qualification to already be professionally qualified as a teacher. This Advanced Diploma is not a PGCE (Postgraduate Certificate in Education) and, therefore, is not a teaching qualification. NB: This qualification will not be recognised by the Department of Higher Education and Training should you NOT be in possession of an approved 4-year professional teaching qualification. It is a requirement that students enrolling for this qualification, should have also completed Natural Sciences at least up to 2nd year level (NQF Level 6). The Advanced Diploma in Senior Phase Natural Science Education is a further specialisation qualification. Its purpose is to further enhance an existing specialisation in Natural Science for the Senior Phase. Teachers who are already professionally qualified to teach Senior Phase Natural Science as a result of holding a Bachelor of Education degree with a Natural Science specialisation, will NOT be recognised by the employer for additional salary purposes or for an additional REQV level. It is the responsibility of the student to consult with the relevant Education Department districts or Provincial Education Departments on how to upgrade to additional REQV levels.
Purpose statement:
The Advanced Diploma in Senior Phase Natural Science Education qualification seeks to: Transcend the standard or traditional way of teaching science in a move towards more learning-and learner-centred teaching methods. Develop and consolidate in an integrated way appropriate disciplinary, practical, pedagogical and situational knowledge in the field of science education. Foster self-reflexivity and subject reflexivity to gain a deeper understanding of the teaching of natural science and the role of research in improving the teaching of natural science. Nurture commitment to the ideals of developing proficient science teachers who can solve problems independently and collaboratively. Promote and develop the dispositions and competencies to integrate subject knowledge in the various strands of school science. Promote and develop the dispositions and competencies to make appropriate use of appropriate technology to enhance the learner engagement in the science classroom. The qualification will, therefore, seek to: Provide teachers with a deeper understanding of technical and pedagogical content knowledge for the effective teaching of school natural science and technology in diverse contexts. Apply theories and action research in Natural Science Education relevant to school natural science. Expose teachers to strategies that will enable them to teach natural science in a variety of ways. Demonstrate competence to teach natural science through problem-solving. Develop the ability to integrate the various strands of natural science into a coherent, deep conceptual understanding of natural science and technology as a discipline and its role in society. Broaden teaching and learning horizons by using appropriate technology/ICT effectively. Teachers who achieve the Exit Level Outcomes will become innovative in the field of science education.
This qualification will be presented via distance learning mode.
Qualification offered until 2026, and ONLY for students previously registered for this qualification.

Who can register?

  • Applicants (new applicants & Unisa students who applied for admission to a new qualification) may only register if they have received an offer of placement from Unisa and have accepted the offer online. Unisa reserves the right to not process and / or to cancel your registration if it is found that you were incorrectly admitted to a qualification. 
  • Re-registering students may register for the 2024 academic year once the registration period opens.

Please note: Should you wish to start a new qualification, please apply online for the alternative qualification during the prescribed application period.


How to choose your modules

Each Unisa qualification is structured in such a way that you need to pass a certain number of NQF level credits within a certain amount of time in order to graduate.

  • Co-requisite: Module A is a co-requisite for Module B. You want to register for Module B, but have not yet passed Module A. You must then register for both Modules A and B simultaneously. You may NOT cancel your registration for Module A unless Module B is also cancelled.

  • Pre-requisite: If Module A is a pre-requisite for Module B, you must pass Module A before you may register for Module B.

You may not register for more than the allowed maximum number of credits / modules per academic year and / or semester: 60 credits per semester or 120 credits per academic year.

The maximum number of credits do not include supplementary and / or aegrotat examinations from a previous semester. Modules taken for non-degree / non-diploma purposes also count towards the maximum number of credits allowed.

You must take your available time into consideration when choosing your modules, as this will impact your academic performance. You need approximately

  • 6 to 8 hours per week for semester modules.
  • 4 to 6 hours per week for year modules.

Click here for more information on managing your studies.

Curriculum for this qualification

While you are deciding on the modules for which you will be registering, write down the module names and codes so that you have something to refer to when completing your registration.

Please click on the modules below to see further information (eg semester/year module, NQF level)

First level

Module (Please click on the module to see further information) Pre-requisite/Co-requisite/Recommendation
Group A. Compulsory
ADS3701 - Teaching Earth and Beyond
ADS3702 - Teaching Energy and Change
ADS3703 - Teaching Life and Living
ADS3704 - Teaching Matter and Material
ADS3705 - Teaching Science, Technology, Society and the Environment