FACULTY OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY
FACULTY REGULATIONS FOR UNDERGRADUATE AND POSTGRADUATE DEGREES
1. INTRODUCTION
1.1 These regulations shall be read in conjunction with the General Academic Regulations for undergraduate Degrees hereinafter referred to as General Regulations.
1.2 These Regulations are in respect of programmes for the following degrees offered by the Faculty of Science and Technology:
Bachelor of Science Biological Sciences Honours Degree [HBZ]
Bachelor of Science Chemical Technology Honours Degree [HCT]
Bachelor of Science Computer Science Honours Degree [HCSC]
Bachelor of Science Food Science and Nutrition Honours Degree [HSFN]
Bachelor of Science Information Systems Honours Degree [HINFO]
Bachelor of Science Mathematics Honours Degree (HMT)
Bachelor of Science Physics Honours Degree (HPHY)
Bachelor of Science Surveying and Geomatics Honours Degree (HSVG)
Bachelor of Science Telecommunications Honors Degree (HTEL)
1.3 The Faculty of Science and Technology also offers the following Masters programmes:
Master of Science in Ecological Resources Management (MERM)
Master of in Science Information Systems Management (MISM)
Master of Science in Food Science and Nutrition ( MFSN)
Master of Science in Materials Physics (MSMP)
Master of Science in Materials Chemistry (MSMC)
1.4 The appropriate Degree will be awarded to a student who has successfully completed an approved programme.
2. DEFINITION OF TERMS
2.1 A Practical theory module is a module which contains both practical and theory components in the formal examination.
2.2 A Practical module is a module in which a student is required to carry out, under the direction and supervision of a member of staff in a laboratory, a series of practical exercises related to particular topics within a subject.
2.3 A Field Trip is an excursion outside University Campus under the supervision of academic and/or technical staff of the University. It may last for part of a day or be conducted over a longer period. The Field trip can form part of a module or if it is of sufficient duration, form a 4-credit module in its own right.
2.4 A Project module is a module in which a student is required to carry out under the direction and supervision of a member of the academic staff, private studies or investigations related to a particular topic within a module. Each Project module shall be weighted based on the amount of time it occupies compared with a theory module.
2.5 A pre-requisite is a module the departmental board requires the student to pass prior to the student registering for any other related higher- level modules.
3. ENTRY REQUIREMENTS
3.1 Normal Entry
For one to qualify for normal entry to an Undergraduate Degree programme in the Faculty of Science and Technology, a prospective student must satisfy the entry Regulations specified in the General Regulations and in so doing, must also meet the following Faculty requirements:
3.1.1 have obtained a pass at `A' Level in at least two of the following subjects or their equivalents: Biology, Mathematics, Chemistry,Physics, Computer Science, Management of Business, Accounting and Economics
3.1.2 have obtained a pass at `O' level in a third subject chosen from those listed in section 3.1.1.
3.1.3 have obtained a pass at `O' Level in Mathematics and English Language.
3.2 Special Entry
Refer to Section 3.2 of the General Regulations.
3.3 Mature Entry
Refer to Section 3.3 of the General Regulations.
4. GENERAL PROVISIONS
4.1 In level 1, normally a student shall register for at least 12 modules from at least two subjects of which a maximum of 4 modules shall be from other Faculties.
4.2 For level 2 and higher modules, all pre-requisites that apply to the modules shall be listed in the special regulations for the subject to which the modules form a portion. A student shall not be admitted to level 2 or higher level modules unless he/she has passed all pre-requisites for the module prior to the start of the semester in which he intends to study that module.
4.3 A student may include in his/her programme, modules offered by other Faculties up to a total equivalent of at most 8 modules.
4.4 A student's section of modules of a Degree programme is subject to the approval of the Dean of Science and Technology and the Chairpersons of all relevant Departments and to the following conditions:
4.4.1 The student shall register for at least 12 modules at any time during the academic year.
4.4.2 The module combination is feasible in terms of timetable,
4.4.3 The student may change his/her registration for modules to be taken in the second semester during the last week of the first semester or the first two weeks of the second semester and
4.4.4 A student may apply for exemptions during the first four weeks of the semester.
4.5 The Departmental Board responsible for a programme may designate, in the special regulations for the programme, certain modules as core modules for that programme. Core modules are the modules, which are considered to be essential for qualification in a particular programme. A department shall not designate more than 8 modules as core modules per level.
4.6 A student may be exempted from studying modules that have been passed in programmes similar or equivalent to those on offer. However, the student has to apply for a credit transfer. In his/her application the following should be attached:
- A transcript of the module[s] to be credit transferred,
- A synopsis of the module[s] from the University /College where the module was studied,
- A support letter from the Registrar's office of the institution where the credits were attained.
5. ASSESSMENT
5.1 The assessment of a practical module shall be based on either written reports submitted during the semester or according to a schedule laid down by the appropriate Departmental Board.
5.2 The assessment of a Field module or a Project module shall be based on either the written reports or a dissertation submitted at a date determined by the Departmental Board and the students shall be notified of this date at the start of the module.
5.3 The assessment of a Practical-Theory module shall be based on a formal theory examination, a formal practical examination and continuous assessment.
5.4 All other modules shall be assessed by continuous assessment and formal theory examination.
5.5 Each formal examination shall normally be held during an examination period at the end of a semester, in which the module is completed.
5.5.1 The formal theory examination for a module shall normally be of two hours duration.
5.5.2 A Practical-Theory module shall contain a practical component in the continuous assessment. The continuous assessment may be entirely practical or contain theory and practical components, but the relative weightings shall be stated in the special Regulations for the programme.
5.5.3 In Level 3 the student will be on Work Related Learning for a minimum period of 10 months.
5.6 For each module that contains a theory and a practical component the Departmental Board of Examiners shall determine for each student a theory continuous assessment mark, a practical continuous assessment mark, a formal examination mark, a formal practical examination mark (where appropriate), and a final mark for the module. If a student obtains a final mark of at least 50%, an overall continuous assessment mark of at least 45%, and an overall practical mark of at least 40%, that student passes the module.
5.7 In a module other than Project module, Practical module and Practical- Theory module, if a student obtains less than 40% in the practical continuous assessment the student may at the discretion of the Departmental Board of Examiners, be assessed by a special practical examination, which must be held before the end of the formal examination period of the semester in which the module is completed.
5.8 For each practical module, field work and project module the Departmental Board of Examiners shall determine a final mark, for that student, for that module based on the assessment of the written reports or the dissertation submitted by that student. The Board shall determine whether the student has passed or failed the module.
5.9 The Departmental Board shall submit, for each module under its control and for each student enrolled in that module, the final mark to the Faculty Board of Examiners. For each student it shall indicate the results of the modules under its control.
5.10 The final mark will be calculated as follows:
Final mark = (60% to 75%) examination mark + (25% to 40%) continuous assessment.
6. FAILURE TO SATISFY THE EXAMINERS
Refer to Section 9 of the General Regulations.
7. PROVISION FOR PROGRESSION
7.1 In order to proceed from level 1 to level 2 a student must have attained at least 32 credits.
7.2 To proceed from level 2 to level 3 the student must have attained at least 40 credits from the modules in that level including the core modules of the subject.
7.3 To proceed from level 3 to level 4 the student must have passed Work Related Learning or fulfilled the requirements for proceeding in the Faculty of Education of studying for a Bachelor of Science with Education degree.
8. WORK-RELATED LEARNING PROGRAMME GENERAL GUIDELINES
8.1 The student is subject to Section 10 of the General Academic Regulations and the company regulations during the Work Related Learning period.
8.2 Once a student is on Work Related Learning with an organization approved by the Department/Faculty, he/she is not allowed to change/ move to another organization without the approval of the Department/ Faculty.
8.3 The student is expected to;
8.3.1 conform to the company's regulations, working time and discipline,
8.3.2 fulfill the supervisor's instructions concerning the training process and carrying out of the work related research project.
8.3.3 write a log book on a daily basis and submit a report after finishing the training in a given department (or training unit).
8.3.4 take part only with educational purpose in mind according to the ultimate instructions of the supervisor.
8.3.5 put his/her best effort to acquire extensive knowledge and skills in order to achieve the required standard of training.
8.3.6 keep good relations with all staff of the company and
8.3.7 promote the good image of Midlands state University.
8.4 The student is expected to always bear in mind that his/her conduct during Work Related Learning will reflect not only on him/her but also on Midlands State University and that it may also affect considerably, future placements and the relationship between the University and that particular company.
9. REMARKING OF EXAMINATIONS
Refer to Section 11.10 of the General Regulations.
10. GRADING AND DEGREE CLASSIFICATION
10.1 To be awarded a Bachelor of Science with Education Degree a student must pass each core module listed in that programme and must have accrued at least 160 credits, 128 of the 160 credits should be at level two and higher.
10.2 To be awarded a Bachelor of Science Honours degree a student must pass each core module listed in that programme and must have accrued at least 120 of the 152 credits which should be at level two and higher.
10.3 The classification of all modules and degree programmes shall be as stated in Section 5 of the General Regulations.
11. DEGREE WEIGHTING
For the purpose of degree classification, weighting of the results of the different levels shall be:
Level 1 10%
Level 2 20%
Level 3 30%
Level 4 40%
12. MASTERS AND DOCTORATE DEGREES AWARDED `HONORIS CAUSA'
12.1 The Faculty may award Degrees, honoris causa' to individuals who have distinguished themselves in the field of Science and Technology:
12.1.1 Master of Science (MSc)
12.1.2 Doctor of Science (DSc) and
12.1.3 Doctor of Science (honoris causa) DSc
