Rhodes University - Faculty of Science

This page is aimed chiefly at prospective students who wish to find out more about what Sciences are offered at Rhodes.

While every attempt is made to ensure that the information here is comprehensive, accurate and up to date, we cannot promise that there are no errors.

Physical Sciences (return to contents)

Chemistry and Physics are usually known as physical sciences, as they concentrate on studying the inanimate physical world.

Chemistry is the study of matter, its composition and properties, and the way in which matter changes from one form to another. By studying and therefore knowing how to manipulate these changes (chemical reactions), chemists can make an enormous contribution to improving our society's quality of life. Many of the world's most urgent needs, such as food supplies, materials for housing, and cures for diseases like AIDS have answers that lie in the field of Chemistry. At Rhodes, Chemistry is one of the major subjects in the Faculty of Science, and a standard chemistry course encompasses all four main branches of the subject, organic, physical, analytical and inorganic chemistry. The basic BSc degree may be followed by an Honours course, which allows for specialization. The Rhodes department has an excellent research tradition, and offers MSc and PhD studies in a wide variety of exciting fields, ranging from studies of the thermal stability of materials to the synthesis of possible medicinal compounds. Career opportunities for graduate chemists have always been good, and include industrial plant production and control, education, research and development, and technical sales and service. Many Rhodes Chemistry graduates now hold top management positions in the chemical industry, in South Africa and internationally.

Physics is the study of the phenomena that occur in the natural universe, from the infinitesimally small realms of fundamental particles and atoms through to the almost infinitely large in the realms of astronomy and cosmology. A knowledge of physics is essential in understanding and in advancing modern technology, especially in the field of Electronics, where the Rhodes Department is unique in SA in its emphasis on Electronics - for in the undergraduate years, half of the laboratory time is spent studying Electronics. From 1998 the Department is to offer an introductory course in Electronics Literacy, open to any student in the University who wishes to learn about modern electronic devices, such as computers. At the Honours level students can choose to specialize in Physics, Electronics or Telecommunications. A wide range of exciting research is pursued, such as radio astronomy, where work is in progress on a 2326 MHz radio continuum survey of the southern sky using data collected with the 26 metre dish at the Hartebeesthoek Radio Astronomy Observatory; upper atmosphere physics and aeronomy, which focus on the ionosphere and magnetosphere surrounding the earth; magma flow and ore formation in magma chambers, in conjunction with the Geology Department; meteor physics, studying wind patterns in the mesosphere and lower thermosphere, and meteoroids in interplanetary space; material physics, studying physical properties of leather in conjunction with the Leather Industries Research Institute. The Department is well-known, too, for its innovative methods of teaching which have inspired many others at Rhodes and further afield.

Information Sciences (return to contents)

You have been born into an era that will be known in history as the age of Information Technology. Computer Science and Information Systems are probably the two fastest growing departments at Rhodes today, and this growth is due to the realization by many students that preparation for life in the IT era is an essential part of their education. They are aware that this will give them the ability to find rewarding jobs that will remain attractive in the exciting years that lie ahead of them.

Students in these disciplines study both the underlying theory and the practical applications of their subjects. In Computer Science greater emphasis is placed on the technical aspects of the field - how the machines work, how they are programmed, how the technology can be exploited in new directions like multimedia, networking, and distributed processing. In Information Systems greater emphasis is placed on management and development of information systems, and the methodologies employed, client-server processing, and human interface aspects. The packages where both subjects are combined - the specialist BSc(Information Systems) and BSc(Software Development) - are highly sought after by students and employers alike. Students are encouraged to pursue Honours degrees, and there is a flourishing postgraduate school, widely recognized as one of the very best in the country, with dynamic and expanding links to key players in industry, such as Telkom.

Earth and Environmental Sciences (return to contents)

At Rhodes the Departments of Geography and Geology are chiefly responsible for offering courses in what are known as Earth Sciences. They also have strong links with the Institute for Water Research.

Geography is concerned with understanding the nature of the earth's surface, and the nature and character of the places and people that are found on it, the interaction of people with their surroundings and the spatial organization of human activities. Geographers are faced with many important issues - is it reasonable, for example, to build massive dams to create reservoirs that will be full of sediment within a century? How can environmental management of the catchment of such reservoirs extend their life? How will human activities be affected by climatic, economic, or political change? Geographers tackle these issues using a wide variety of techniques, such as the burgeoning use of Geographical Information Systems, a tool in which Rhodes has a particular interest.

Geology is the scientific study of Earth, a dynamic, evolving planet involving constant interaction between its internal layers, its surface, and the atmosphere and oceans. Through observation, measurement and experiment, geologists work towards understanding the processes of Earth dynamism and evolution, and how these have changed with time. An understanding of Earth processes is critical in the discovery and managed exploitation of natural resources, in the mitigation of natural hazards which threaten human society, in the management of Earth's surface environments, and in planning and providing for society's infrastructural needs. The Geology Department offers academic programmes to provide students with the necessary practical and intellectual skills required to take up the wide variety of employment possibilities available to geologists. In particular, it is famous for its post-graduate courses in Exploration Geology, which attract students from countries far and wide.

Specialist training in Environmental Science is now a possibility within a BSc degree. As from 1998, a new multidisciplinary programme in this field has been administered by the Head of Environmental Science, aided by an advisory committee, and no fewer than eight departments on campus now contribute to this exciting development.

Life Sciences (return to contents)

Rhodes is particularly strong in the variety of subjects it offers in the Life Sciences - Botany, Biochemistry, Microbiology, Zoology, Marine Biology, Entomology and Ichthyology.

Botany involves the study of the plant kingdoms, which includes aquatic as well as terrestrial life forms, such as seaweeds, mosses, ferns, pteridophytes, bryophytes, gymnosperms and, the largest, most successful and widely spread of all, the angiosperms. Botany at Rhodes focuses on many aspects and includes the systematics and classification of plants, plant ecology, plant structure and plant physiology. Botany includes the disciplines of taxonomy, ecology, morphology to name but a few, and relates to human ecology, biogeography, and environmental sciences, which form important aspects of the undergraduate programme at Rhodes. Postgraduate research at Rhodes encompasses many facets - including studies of the immense diversity of the floras of Africa and Madagascar, coastal and rehabilitation ecology, specialist ultrastructural and physiological studies on transport processes in plants, as well as studies on the effects of changing environment on agriculturally important plants and natural ecosystems. The department maintains research ties with people at institutions such as the Royal Botanic Garden at Kew, and the Missouri Botanical Garden at St Louis.

Biochemistry deals with the chemistry of living cells and links many of the physical sciences with the biological sciences. It involves the study of proteins, carbohydrates, fats, nucleic acids and vitamins and the role of these in biological reactions in animals, plants and microorganisms. It also involves the application of biological systems in industry. At Rhodes, Biochemistry is a very popular two-year major course for BSc students, and the department has a very large number of Honours and postgraduate research students.

Microbiology is a study of those microscopic life forms (bacteria, viruses, fungi, algae and protozoa) that are invisible to the naked eye, but which play crucial roles in our everyday lives, and in medicine, agriculture, industry and biological research. After studying their basic structure, physiology, ecology, genetics and classification, the Rhodes course discusses the role of these organisms in other areas such as the causation and prevention of infectious diseases, their application in pollution control and bioremediation, their usefulness in industry for fermentations and fine chemical production, their exploitation as vehicles for the introduction of novel genes into plants and animals, and their usefulness in the study of basic biological processes such as gene structure and function, and cell differentiation. As with Biochemistry, with which it is often linked, Microbiology is a favourite course for undergraduate and postgraduates alike, and the Department has significant research ties with industry both in South Africa and further afield - for example, Australia.

Zoology is the study of animals but includes many different disciplines such as cell biology, physiology, entomology, marine biology and ecology, to name but a few. Zoologists study animals from the level of the cell, through whole animals, and to the level of the community or ecosystem. Potential careers for zoologists include industry, research at tertiary institutions or museums, environmental consulting, conservation, and game management and agriculture. The Rhodes department has a very strong research school, which includes the Southern Ocean Group (involved in the study of biological oceanography in the ocean stretching from South Africa to Antarctica) and the Institute for Water Research (which carries out research into fresh water ecosystems).

Marine Biology deals specifically with the biology of the teeming life found between our estuaries and the deep sea, and opens up career opportunities in several of the fields mentioned above, as well as in sea fisheries, oceanography and marine resource conservation. Marine Biology is taught only at the post-graduate level at present.

Entomology - the study of insects - is a very important sub-discipline of Zoology because of the great economic importance of of insects to man, both as valuable pollinators or control agents of problem species, and as enemies of agricultural crops and carriers of disease. Rhodes offers Entomology as a major course, and our graduates follow commercial, industrial, agricultural, veterinary, ecological, forensic and educational careers, both here and overseas.

Ichthyology deals specifically with the biology of fishes, both as found in fresh water and in the oceans. As with many other departments, Rhodes has an internationally recognized Ichthyology department, which also teaches Fisheries Science and Aquaculture - the specializations that deal with how best to manage and optimize the important food resources that inhabit our lakes, rivers and oceans. Associated with the University is the acclaimed South African Institute for Aquatic Biodiversity (formerly known as the JLB Smith Institute of Ichthyology), first made famous when Professor JLB Smith identified the coelacanth, and renowned in the world ever since for its work in researching the fishes of the southern hemisphere.

Mathematical Sciences (return to contents)

While it is true that subjects like Physics, Chemistry and Computer Science have a distinctly mathematical component to them, the two departments that specialize in things mathematical are the Department of Pure and Applied Mathematics and the Department of Statistics.

Mathematics and Applied Mathematics are subjects that are of vital importance to any serious scientist, for true science is largely characterized by the ability to quantify one's observations. The mathematician solves problems by means of logical deductions made from abstract models of concrete cases - by translating a practical problem into mathematics and solving it according to mathematical rules and systems, a mathematical scientist can interpret the solution in the context of the original problem, thereby solving it, or using the result to derive new models. Careers in the physical sciences, engineering, actuarial science and statistics are impossible without a sound preparation in Mathematics. At Rhodes, a single department offers courses in both pure and applied mathematics, concentrating at the undergraduate levels in laying essential foundations for subsequent specialization into many interesting fields. One of these, for which Rhodes has quite an international reputation, is "fuzzy set theory", which is not only of theoretical interest, but has had spectacular applications in the design of sophisticated electronic equipment.

Statistics is the science of decision making in the face of uncertainty, and finds application in such diverse fields as gambling, life insurance, the design and analysis of surveys, quality control, actuarial science, and the analysis of complex systems. Statisticians find employment in commerce and industry, research institutes and government departments, where they are in demand not only for their specialized training, but for their logical approach to diverse scientific and technical problems. Courses in statistics are a required component of several degrees at Rhodes, and an ever increasing number of students from many disciplines such as biology, computer science, and environmental science find that they need to study the subject to equip them for research and other careers in their chosen field.

Human Sciences (Back to contents)

Various departments offer subjects that concentrate on humans and their behaviour - Human Kinetics and Ergonomics, Economics and Psychology in particular.

Prior to 1997, students who wished to specialize in Human Kinetics and Ergonomics had to do so within the structure of a BA or BA(HMS) degree, but it is now possible to choose this as a major subject for a BSc degree. This exciting development opens the way for students to combine a study of Human Kinetics and Ergonomics with related subjects like Biochemistry, Zoology, Physics or Computer Science, to name but a few.

Human Kinetics and Ergonomics investigates how and why people move; how they respond under different circumstances whether it be under competitive sporting situations, or in varying work environments. In an attempt to understand the complexities of human involvement in movement it is necessary to adopt a multi-disciplinary approach; this includes biomechanical (what moves), physiological (how it moves) and psychological (why it moves) analyses of the behavioural responses.

The three broad areas of application of this academic focus are: Ergonomics (occupational performance optimization), Sports Science (competitive performance maximization) and General Health and well being as well as rehabilitation. While the undergraduate programme includes all three areas, at the postgraduate level the focus is primarily (but not exclusively) on Ergonomics. The department is acknowledged as the "Ergonomic nerve centre of South Africa" with a growing outreach to the rest of Africa. We are also developing international interactions with collaborative research projects and postgraduate student exchange.

Economics and Psychology are usually regarded as Social Sciences, but they may be taken as major subjects in a Science degree.

Other possible major subjects (return to contents)

At Rhodes University it is possible to study for a science degree that combines traditional science subjects with some that are not usually regarded as scientific at all. In fact, as from 1999 it has been possible to major either in any two traditionally "science" subjects, or in one "science" and one "non-science" subject! This exciting option aims to provide maximum flexibility, and to supplement the other career-oriented BSc that has been established for some time - the BSc (Information Systems), which combines Information Systems and Computer Science as major subjects in a package ideally suited to preparing students for careers in Information Technology.

If a subject outside the traditional list of Science subjects is chosen as a major, then the other major subject, as well as all the ancillary subjects for the full complement needed for such degrees must be selected from the traditional "core" sciences. In addition, a student exercising this option is required to obtain 20 semester credits in all, rather than the 18 semester-credits needed for a double-science-major degree.

As examples of the sorts of choices that have already been exercised in this way, consider that:

It is not widely enough known that Rhodes offers a unique opportunity in South Africa to combine one of the possible majors in Music with, for example, Mathematics, Computer Science or Physics to give a BSc degree ideally suited to people who want to further their careers in the music recording or production industry.

Have you thought of becoming a scientific journalist, patent lawyer, ecological and environmental lawyer, computer lawyer, computer manager or environmental planner? If so, then you should know that at Rhodes, BSc degrees have been obtained with Legal Theory (Law) or Journalism or Management as one of the major subjects.

Another intriguing possibility, unique to Rhodes University, is to be able to specialize in Linguistics, a discipline which combines well with subjects like Computer Science.

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