Undergraduate & honours qualifications

Bachelor of Science

Qualification stream: Mathematics and Computer Science
Qualification code: 98801 - MCS
NQF level: 7
Total credits: 360
SAQA ID: 6059
APS/AS: 20
Rules:
Students registering for this qualification must: (a) Have access to a computer with a stable internet connection daily for teaching and learning purposes. (b) Have passed Computer Application Technology or Information Technology with a rating of 4 (new National Senior Certificate) or have passed Computer Studies (old Senior Certificate) or hold an Industry Standard qualification such as the ICDL in Computer Literacy. Students who do not satisfy this requirement are strongly recommended to register and complete EUP1501 before attempting the qualification. (c) Have completed the Unisa First-Year Experience MOOC (https://www.unisa.ac.za/sites/myunisa/default/First%E2%80%93year-experience-at-Unisa/FYE-MOOC-101)
Purpose statement:
The purpose of the qualification is, in one or more sub-fields within the physical, mathematical, computer, life, earth, and environmental sciences: To produce science graduates who have: a systematic and coherent body of knowledge and an understanding of underlying concepts and principles; the ability to access and evaluate scientific information including knowing how scientific knowledge is created; a high level of cognitive and other generic skills including problem-solving, written and spoken communication and computer literacy; and competence in applying knowledge through basic research methods and practice. To provide every graduate with a sufficient depth of knowledge and skills that give opportunities for continued personal intellectual growth, including postgraduate study, for gainful economic activity in a range of careers, and for rewarding and constructive contributions to society. To provide society with science graduates who demonstrate initiative and responsibility, who are professional and ethical in their roles within the economy and society, and who are able to be intellectual leaders within their society. To produce graduates in all scientific fields, in order to increase, widen and transform the leadership base in South Africa, both for innovation and science-based economic and research development, and for the education of future generations of scientists, technologists, engineers and other professional people.
This qualification will be presented using both online and distance learning modes.

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
COS1501 - Theoretical Computer Science I
COS1511 - Introduction to Programming I
COS1512 - Introduction to Programming II Co-requisite:COS1511
COS1521 - Computer Systems: Fundamental Concepts
EUP1501 - Ethical Information and Communication Technologies for Development Solutions
MAT1503 - Linear Algebra I
MAT1512 - Calculus A
MAT1613 - Calculus B Co-requisite:MAT1512

Second level

Module (Please click on the module to see further information) Pre-requisite/Co-requisite/Recommendation
Group A. Compulsory
APM2611 - Differential Equations Pre-requisite:MAT1512
Co-requisite:MAT1503, MAT1613
APM2613 - Numerical Methods I Pre-requisite:COS1511
Co-requisite:MAT1512, MAT1503
COS2601 - Theoretical Computer Science II Pre-requisite:COS1501
COS2611 - Programming: Data Structures Pre-requisite:COS1512
COS2614 - Programming: Contemporary Concepts Pre-requisite:COS1511 and COS1512
COS2661 - Formal Logic II Pre-requisite:COS1501
MAT2611 - Linear Algebra 2 Pre-requisite:MAT1503
MAT2612 - Introduction to Discrete Mathematics Pre-requisite:COS1501 or MAT1512 or MAT1503
MAT2613 - Real Analysis I Pre-requisite:MAT1613
MAT2615 - Calculus in Higher Dimensions Pre-requisite:MAT1512 or MAT1503
Recommendation:Students should have both MAT1512 and MAT1503 and also be registered for MAT1613 concurrently with MAT2615.
PLS2607 - Philosophy of Science

Third level

Module code MAT3706 has changed to APM3706
null

Module (Please click on the module to see further information) Pre-requisite/Co-requisite/Recommendation
Group A. Compulsory
APM3706 - Ordinary Differential Equations Pre-requisite:APM2611
APM3711 - Numerical Methods II Pre-requisite:APM2613
COS3701 - Theoretical Computer Science III Pre-requisite:COS2601
COS3711 - Advanced Programming Pre-requisite:COS2611 & COS2614
COS3721 - Operating Systems and Architecture Pre-requisite:COS2614
COS3751 - Techniques of Artificial Intelligence Pre-requisite:COS2611 & COS2661
COS3761 - Formal Logic III Pre-requisite:COS2661
MAT3701 - Linear Algebra III Pre-requisite:MAT2611
MAT3705 - Complex Analysis Pre-requisite:MAT2615, MAT2613
MAT3707 - Discrete Mathematics: Combinatorics Pre-requisite:MAT2612
MAT3711 - Real Analysis II Pre-requisite:MAT2613