Undergraduate & honours qualifications

Diploma in Nature Conservation

Qualification code:	98024
NQF level:	6
Total credits:	360
SAQA ID:	90512
APS/AS:	18
Rules: This qualification has compulsory contact modules that carry additional fees. The qualification also requires time to be spent in the industry to meet the requirements reflected in the six NCA-modules.
Purpose statement: The purpose of this qualification is to develop competent conservation officers who can provide support to conservators and resource managers or actively participate in management functions in natural resource management areas. Qualifying learners will be able to apply acquired technical and scientific knowledge, skills and attitudes, to interpret observations made and information and data gathered, regarding natural resources. This qualification aims to enhance professional competence in the field of nature conservation on local, regional and national levels by providing the conservation industry with persons who are able to participate in ecosystems' management, environmental education and ecotourism. This, in turn, will contribute to sustainable and responsible utilisation of natural resources in Africa, thus contributing to economic development. It further aims to advance social and economic transformation by providing accessible opportunities for individual, career and entrepreneurial development for people from all social and cultural groups.
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

Students who have completed EUC1501 prior to 2014 need not register for EUP1501.
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Module (Please click on the module to see further information)	Pre-requisite/Co-requisite/Recommendation
Group A. Compulsory
ANS1501 - Animal Studies I	Co-requisite:PSO1501 & COC1501
CEC1501 - Conservation Ecology I
CIN1501 - Conservation Interpretation I
COA1501 - Conservation Administration I
COC1501 - Contact Course I	Co-requisite:ANS1501 & PSO1501
CVM1501 - Conservation Resource Management I
EUP1501 - Ethical Information and Communication Technologies for Development Solutions
FOC1501 - Fundamentals of Conservation I
PSO1501 - Plant Studies I	Co-requisite:ANS1501 & COC1501 (for 98024 Nature Conservation only).
SSC1501 - Soil Science I

Second level

It is recommended that all first level Nature Conservation modules be completed before registering
second level Nature Conservation modules.

Module (Please click on the module to see further information)	Pre-requisite/Co-requisite/Recommendation
Group A. Compulsory
ANS2601 - Animal Studies II	Pre-requisite:ANS1501
CEC2601 - Conservation Ecology II	Pre-requisite:CEC1501 or CEC131S
CIN2601 - Conservation Interpretation II	Pre-requisite:CIN1501 or COM1501 Co-requisite:COC2603 or COC3602
COC2602 - Contact Course II	Pre-requisite:COC1501 Co-requisite:CEC3701 Recommendation:CVM2601
CVM2601 - Conservation Resource Management II	Pre-requisite:CVM1501 Recommendation:Should be taken together with COC2602
NCA2603 - Nature Conservation Application IA	Pre-requisite:COC1501 Recommendation:That all first level modules be completed before registering for this module.
NCA2604 - Nature Conservation Application IB	Pre-requisite:COC1501 Recommendation:That all first level modules be completed before registering for this module.
NCA2605 - Nature Conservation Application IIA	Pre-requisite:COC1501 Recommendation:That all second level modules be completed or registered for before registering for this module.
NCA2606 - Nature Conservation Application IIB	Pre-requisite:COC1501 Recommendation:That all second level modules be completed or registered for before registering for this module.
PSO2601 - Plant Studies II	Pre-requisite:PSO1501

Third level

Students who have passed NCA3701 need not register for EMP3701.It is recommended that all second
level Nature Conservation modules be completed before registering third level Nature Conservation
modules.

Module (Please click on the module to see further information)	Pre-requisite/Co-requisite/Recommendation
Group A. Compulsory
ANS3701 - Animal Studies III	Pre-requisite:ANS2601
CEC3701 - Conservation Ecology III	Pre-requisite:CEC2601 Co-requisite:COC2602
COC3601 - Contact Course III	Pre-requisite:COC1501 Co-requisite:CVM3701 & PSO3701
COC3602 - Contact Course IV	Co-requisite:CIN2601
CVM3701 - Conservation Resource Management III	Pre-requisite:CVM2601 Co-requisite:PSO3701 & COC3601
EMP3701 - Ecological Management Plan	Pre-requisite:COC3601
GGH3708 - Environmental Awareness and Responsibility
NCA3601 - Nature Conservation Application IIIA	Pre-requisite:COC1501 Recommendation:That all third level modules be completed or registered for before registering for this module.
NCA3602 - Nature Conservation Application IIIB	Pre-requisite:COC1501 Recommendation:That all third level modules be completed or registered for before registering for this module.
PSO3701 - Plant Studies III	Pre-requisite:PSO2601 or PSO281Z Co-requisite:CVM3701 & COC3601