UNIVERSITY OF THE WITWATERSRAND, JOHANNESBURG

Undergraduate Studies

Every year the School of Geography, Archaeology and Environmental Studies hosts around 300 undergraduate students from a range of university faculties. There are three years of study in Geography and Archaeology. The courses are wide-ranging, exciting and relevant to contemporary issues in South Africa and the world.

The course coordinators for the various years are:

Geography I: Cheryl Chamberlain
Archaeology I: Alex Schoeman

Geography II: Zarina Patel
Archaeology II: Mandy Easterhuysen

Geography III: Julia Mambo
Archaeology III: Munyaradzi Manyanga

General notes for all courses


Referencing and plagiarism

The geography department has strict requirements with regard to layout and referencing styles. If you do not have a copy, the GUIDE TO ESSAY WRITING AND REFERENCING can be obtained from Cheryl Chamberlain. Incorrect essay layout and/or referencing will result in a substantial reduction in essay marks. The referencing traditions of other departments may not be the same as those of the Geography department, please ensure that you are acquainted with our essay requirements, we do not accept those of other departments. Please be reminded that plagiarism is a disciplinable offence. Please fill in a plagiarism declaration and hand in with essay. Please also ensure that you place your essay in the correct submission box at the correct time. Submission dates will be advertised in the first lecture of each course.

Absence from Examinations and Tests

Students who are prevented from writing any examination for medical or other unavoidable reasons must apply within two days of the examination to their faculty office for permission to write a deferred examination. Please do not approach any members of staff for the deferral of any examinations. Applications must be made on a prescribed form obtainable from the faculty office. The form can be collected by a relative or friend and then presented to your medical practitioner. The decision on the application is made by the Dean.

Further, students applying for a deferred exam must make certain that they can attend an oral and/or written examination at short notice.The onus is therefore on the student to make certain that she/he can be contacted at a correct postal or telephone address. Students who are notified of the date of the examination by letter, telephone, or by notice on the course notice board in the Department, but who are absent from the oral/written examination will be deemed to have scored zero and failed the examination.Please note that this examination may fall within the vacation period. Students who miss examinations for medical or other unavoidable reasons can be required to present themselves for an oral and/or written examination at very short notice, or they may be allowed to write a deferred examination at a later date. Deferred examinations/ tests will not be further deferred. Note that misreading of the examination/ test timetable is never condoned and absence from an examination/ test because of misreading a timetable results in automatic failure of the paper that should have been written.

Noticeboards
  • It is important that you regularly check the noticeboards relevant to the course that you are studying. It is in your own interest to check that the class marks allocated to you are correct.
  • Class Representatives
  • Please nominate and elect two class representatives. If you have a query, request or complaint, please approach the lecturer directly or ask your class representative to discuss the issue with the lecturer.
  • Code of Practice
  • All students are expected to be familiar and adhere to the School's Code of Practice.