UNISA Geography Course Module 2025-2026
General information: Students are advised to enrol for module GGH2603, either simultaneously or prior to registration for GGH3703. Contact the Department of Geography for details of this requirement.
Students registering for any Geography module are required to have regular access to a computer and internet in order to download and read essential study material from the myUnisa module site and the World Wide Web. All modules require a level of compulsory online learning activities and group work.
GGH1501, GGH1502, GGH1503, GGH2605, GGH2606, GGH3701, GGH3705, GGH3707 are partially offered online. Study material will be printed and available online. Online learning activities and group work on myUnisa might be compulsory for these modules. Students registering for these modules are required to have regular access to a computer to download or read essential study material and to complete online activities on the myUnisa module site. For GGH1501, the ability to download and watch video clips on the internet (i.e. via Youtube) is required as part of the learning experience.
All study material for the following modules will be available online: GGH2601, GGH2603, GGH3701, GGH3702, GGH3703, GGH3708, GGH4802, GGH4804, GGH4805, HPGGH80 and HRGGH82. Online learning activities and group work will be compulsory for these modules. Regular access to myUnisa and the World Wide Web is essential.
Major combinations:
NQF Level: 5: GGH1501, GGH1502, GGH1503 (BSc major students must complete all three modules, while BA major students must complete GGH1501 and GGH1502).
NQF Level: 6: Select any FOUR of GGH2601, GGH2602, GGH2603, GGH2604, GGH2605 or GGH2606.
NQF Level: 7: Select any FIVE of GGH3701, GGH3702, GGH3703, GGH3704, GGH3705, GGH3707 or GGH3708.
Major combinations: honours level
NQF Level: 8: HRGGH81, HRGGH82, GGH4802, GGH4804, and GGH4805.
| People and the Natural Environment: Use and Impact – GGH2604 |
| Under Graduate Degree |
Semester module |
NQF level: 6 |
Credits: 12 |
| Module presented in English |
|
| Purpose: The current environmental dilemma and reasons for it; the development of environmental awareness; use and exploitation of the natural environment by people with reference to the: biosphere, atmosphere, pedosphere, hydrosphere and lithosphere; transformation towards sustainability. |
| Environmental Politics – GGH2605 |
| Under Graduate Degree |
Semester module |
NQF level: 6 |
Credits: 12 |
| Module presented in English |
|
| Purpose: Environmental politics explores the various international and national actors and organisations that shape and promote environmental cooperation on a globallevel. Transboundary and global environmental harms such as climate change present great challenges to our generation. The aim of this module is to expose students to the various political perspectives and issues relating to environmental matters as well as the movements, organisations and policies involved in these environmental matters. Students who complete this module should therefore be able to explain the concepts employedin the study and analysis of environmentalpolitics as well as identify the characteristics of those concepts. |
| Geography of Tourism – GGH2606 |
| Under Graduate Degree |
Semester module |
NQF level: 6 |
Credits: 12 |
| Module presented in English |
Module presented online |
| Purpose: Global, national and local tourism resources (natural, human and cultural); spatial patterns of tourism resources; spatiotemporal interactions in the tourism system; environmental, economic and socio-cultural impacts of tourism; sustainable tourism development; strategic importance of tourism for South Africa; destination image of South Africa. Students registering for this module are required to have regular access to a computer to download or read essential study material and to complete online activities on the myUnisa module site. |
| State of the Environment in Southern Africa – GGH3701 |
| Under Graduate Degree |
Semester module |
NQF level: 7 |
Credits: 12 |
| Module presented in English |
Module presented online |
| Purpose: Sustainable development in Southern Africa. Geographical phenomena underlying this challenge are climate, vegetation, soil and water resources, people, and the evolution of the social and economic landscapes. Issues which are addressed are: the constraints, problems and management of the natural and human environments, the conservation of Southern Africa’s ecological and cultural heritage linked to sustainability. Students registering for this module are required to have regular access to a computer to download or read essential study material from the myUnisa module site. |
| Spatial Economic Development – GGH3702 |
| Under Graduate Degree |
Semester module |
NQF level: 7 |
Credits: 12 |
| Module presented in English |
Module presented online |
| Purpose: To provide leaners with the ability to critically analyse, explain and evaluate the spartial patterns of economic development in South Africa and the processes responsible for these patterns. Students will furthermore be required to focus on possible present and future sustainable local economic development that will contribute to the reduction of poverty and the levels of inequality in South Africa. |
| Introduction to Geographical Information Systems – GGH3703 |
| Under Graduate Degree |
Semester module |
NQF level: 7 |
Credits: 12 |
| Module presented in English |
Module presented online |
| Purpose: Origin, nature and theoretical foundations of GIS; generic GIS applications; collection, input, storage, retrieval and management of spatial data; data analysis and modeling; output, display and communication of geo-referenced data; spatial decision support systems; applying basic GIS functionalities. Students registering for this module are required to have regular access to a computer to download or read essential study material from the myUnisa module site and the World Wide Web. Formative assessment must be completed online and summative assessment for this module comprises a non- venue based portfolio. |
| Development of Urban Space – GGH3704 |
| Under Graduate Degree |
Semester module |
NQF level: 7 |
Credits: 12 |
| Module presented in English |
|
| Purpose: More than half of the world’s population is living in cities and even those who do not live in a city are influenced by urban lifestyle to some degree. This module explores the development of cities and focuses on urban structural and social morphologies, urban processes, environmental issues, mobility within urban areas and urban development. Students who comnplete this module should be able to apply a geographical perspective to cities and their development. The geographical perspective is essentially spatio-tempral which implies that one needs to be able to identify spatial patterns in cities, how they change over time, interpret these and provide solutions to developmental problems in cities globally and locally. |
| Know Your World: Introduction to Geography – GGH1501 |
| Under Graduate Degree |
Semester module |
NQF level: 5 |
Credits: 12 |
| Module presented in English |
|
| Purpose: This module introduces students to the nature and scope of geography as a science and what it entails to view the world on a global scale from a geographical perspective. Students will be exposed to the nature, sources and representation of geographic data in order to interpret real world phenomena, with reference to contemporary geographical tools. Phenomena will be studied from a geographical perspective in order to enhance geo-literacy include a selection of themes such as climates, biomes, landforms, soils, resources, population, culture, development and making a living. |
| Assessing Environmental Impacts – GGH3705 |
| Under Graduate Degree |
Semester module |
NQF level: 7 |
Credits: 12 |
| Module presented in English |
Module presented online |
| Purpose: Overview of environmental assessment; South African case studies; approaches to and a framework for impact assessment; the role of legislation, stakeholders and interest groups; procedures and techniques for impact assessment; application in terms of practical examples; future and critical perspectives. This module is presented online. Students registering for this module are required to have regular access to a computer to download or read essential study material from the myUnisa module site. |
| World Issues: a Geographical Perspective – GGH1502 |
| Under Graduate Degree |
Semester module |
NQF level: 5 |
Credits: 12 |
| Module presented in English |
|
| Purpose: Global change and global problems, resource use and exploitation in both the physical and human resource systems; the conservation and sustainable development of the human resource base; techniques used for environmental monitoring. A selection of issues from the following: population problems, poverty, quality of life, urban problems, food, conflict and war, the energy crisis, air pollution, water pollution, land degradation, biodiversity, and the problem of waste. |
| Ecotourism – GGH3707 |
| Under Graduate Degree |
Semester module |
NQF level: 7 |
Credits: 12 |
| Module presented in English |
Module presented online |
| Purpose: Ecotourism in terms of the following: concepts; sustainable (responsible) tourism; specialist travel markets; resources (also in South Africa); environmental impacts; policy and regulation; planning, development and management of ecotourism destinations; the ecotourism business; communities and ecotourism destinations; ecotourism projects in South Africa. Students registering for this module are required to have regular access to a computer to download or read essential study material from the myUnisa module site. |
| Our Living Earth – GGH1503 |
| Under Graduate Degree |
Semester module |
NQF level: 5 |
Credits: 12 |
| Module presented in English |
|
| Purpose: Provide learners with sufficient knowledge, skills and attitudes that will enable them to identify and explain the impact of human activities on the physical environment on the global, regional and local scales and measures that can be taken to reduce environmental degradation. Key themes explored in the course include environmental worldviews, ecosystems, biodiversity, waste, renewable and non-renewable energy. |
| Environmental Awareness and Responsibility – GGH3708 |
| Under Graduate Degree |
Semester module |
NQF level: 7 |
Credits: 12 |
| Module presented in English |
Module presented online |
| Purpose: Environmental principles are presented in a generic fashion to encourage the development of a value system in terms of their environmental awareness and responsibility. The module uses a strong interdisciplinary focus and will make use of a variety of global case studies to enable students to understand how human activities impact on the environment. Students must reflect constructively on these impacts, and develop a value system and a sense of responsibility in this regard. Students registering for this module are required to have regular access to a computer and the Internet in order to download or read essential study material from the myUnisa module site and the World Wide Web. This module will be presented online, and no study material will be posted for this module. Formative assessment must be completed online and summative assessment for this module comprises a non-venue based e-portfolio. |
| Know Your World: Introduction to Geography (Extended) – XGH1501 |
| Under Graduate Degree |
Year module |
NQF level: 5 |
Credits: 12 |
| Module presented in English |
Module presented online |
| Purpose: This module introduces students to the nature and scope of geography as a science and what it entails to view the world on a global scale from a geographical perspective. Students will be exposed to the nature, sources and representation of geographic data in order to interpret real world phenomena, with reference to contemporary geographical tools. Phenomena will be studied from a geographical perspective in order to enhance geo-literacy include a selection of themes such as climates, biomes, landforms, soils, resources, population, culture, development and making a living. |
| The Geography of Everyday Living in Human Settlements – GGH4802 |
| Honours |
|
NQF level: 8 |
Credits: 24 |
| Module presented in English |
Module presented online |
| Purpose: The purpose of this module is to guide students to explore various factors that impact life in human settlements to enable them to make informed contributions related to everyday living in human settlements. The module forms part of an honours programme that provides learning experiences and opportunities to develop capacity to investigate various geographical problems related to how resource use and environmental change could impact on quality of life in various contexts. This module is presented online. Students registering for this module are required to have regular access to a computer and the Internet in order to download or read essential study material from the myUnisa module site and the World Wide Web. Formative assessment must be completed and/or submitted online and summative assessment for this module comprises a non-venue based portfolio. |
| World Issues: a Geographical Perspective (Extended) – XGH1502 |
| Under Graduate Degree |
Year module |
NQF level: 5 |
Credits: 12 |
| Module presented in English |
Module presented online |
| Purpose: Global change and global problems, resource use and exploitation in both the physical and human resource systems; the conservation and sustainable development of the human resource base; techniques used for environmental monitoring. A selection of issues from the following: population problems, poverty, quality of life, urban problems, food, conflict and war, the energy crisis, air pollution, water pollution, land degradation, biodiversity, and the problem of waste. |
| Geographic Perspectives of Environmental Change – GGH4804 |
| Honours |
|
NQF level: 8 |
Credits: 24 |
| Module presented in English |
Module presented online |
| Purpose: In this module, a student’s capacity to deal with environmental change from a geographical perspective will be developed. A holistic approach will be followed that acknowledges the spatio-temporal patterns and interrelationships of natural and anthropogenically-induced phenomena. This module contributes to the Honours Program in Geography by elucidating the landscape responses to environmental change and how these responses impact the natural and built environments. This module is presented online. Students registering for this module are required to have regular access to a computer and the Internet in order to download or read essential study material from the myUnisa module site and the World Wide Web. Formative assessment must be completed and/or submitted online and summative assessment for this module comprises a non-venue based portfolio. |
| Our Living Earth (Extended) – XGH1503 |
| Under Graduate Degree |
Year module |
NQF level: 5 |
Credits: 12 |
| Module presented in English |
|
| Purpose: Provide learners with sufficient knowledge, skills and attitudes that will enable them to identify and explain the impact of human activities on the physical environment on the global, regional and local scales and measures that can be taken to reduce environmental degradation. Key themes explored in the course include environmental worldviews, ecosystems, biodiversity, waste, renewable and non-renewable energy. |
| The Geography of People-Resource Interactions in the Global South – GGH4805 |
| Honours |
|
NQF level: 8 |
Credits: 24 |
| Module presented in English |
Module presented online |
| Purpose: This module guides students in developing their own voice on issues related to the interaction between people and resource use in different regions of the Global South. They should develop the capacity to make informed contributions to future resource use in a variety of local contexts. The Honours in Geography is supported by this module with its unique regional perspective on resource use and the implications thereof, with a strong focus on people and their roles in different spatiotemporal contexts. This module is presented online. Students registering for this module are required to have regular access to a computer and the Internet in order to download or read essential study material from the myUnisa module site and the World Wide Web. Formative assessment must be completed and/or submitted online and summative assessment for this module comprises a non-venue based portfolio. |
| The African Challenge: People and Environment – GGH2601 |
| Under Graduate Degree |
Semester module |
NQF level: 6 |
Credits: 12 |
| Module presented in English |
Module presented online |
| Purpose: The challenge for development against the background of the natural and human environment in Africa. Distribution, growth and diversity of the population; impacts of HIV-AIDS; geopolitical evolution; economic development; urbanization; food production and agriculture; the use and exploitation of land and natural vegetation; climate and drought; desertification. This module is presented online. Students registering for this module are required to have regular access to a computer and the Internet in order to download or read essential study material from the myUnisa module site and the World Wide Web. Formative assessment must be completed and/or submitted online and summative assessment comprises a non-venue based port folio. |
| The Geographer as a Researcher – HRGGH81 |
| Honours |
|
NQF level: 8 |
Credits: 24 |
| Module presented in English |
Module presented online |
| Purpose: To guide students to, undertake the research on their chosen geographical scenario, and to report on their research findings. Learners can provide personal reflections on how the research experience has contributed to their own sense of citizenship and employability. This module is presented online. Students registering for this module are required to have regular access to a computer and the Internet in order to download or read essential study material from the myUnisa module site and the World Wide Web. Formative assessment must be completed and/or submitted online and summative assessment for this module comprises a non-venue based e-port folio. |
| The Geography of Services Provision – GGH2602 |
| Under Graduate Degree |
Semester module |
NQF level: 6 |
Credits: 12 |
| Module presented in English,Afrikaans |
|
| Purpose: The provision of services has become an enormous challenge, as the growing needs of people need to be accommodated within the context of limited resources. The purpose of this module is to show students how the geographical perspective can contribute to the dealing with the challenges we are facing regarding complex real-world problems, especially related to services provision which often have to be met within a context of limited resources. Students completing this module should thefore have the required knowledge and skills to apply a geographical perspective on basic services provision, be able to geographically evaluate basic services provision and finally apply geographical methods to the analysis of patterns in the basic services provision. |
| The Geographer as a Researcher – HRGGH82 |
| Honours |
|
NQF level: 8 |
Credits: 48 |
| Module presented in English |
Module presented online |
| Purpose: To develop a student’s ability to identify a real life geographical scenario that justifies research and to present an acceptable research proposal on the identified scenario and to guide students to, undertake the research on their chosen geographical scenario as well as report their research findings. Students can provide personal reflections on how the research experience has contributed to their own sense of citizenship and employability. |
| The Interpretation of Maps, Aerial Photographs and Satellite Images – GGH2603 |
| Under Graduate Degree |
Semester module |
NQF level: 6 |
Credits: 12 |
| Module presented in English |
Module presented online |
| Purpose: The nature of geographical data; map types; map elements; fundamentals of the use of aerial photographs and satellite images; measurements on maps and aerial photographs; the analysis of point, line and area patterns; the identification and interpretation of topographical features, landscapes and cultural phenomena; thematic mapping; the basics of Geographical Information Systems (GIS). |
