The Department is one of the most vibrant departments in the Faculty of Natural Sciences offering undergraduate and postgraduate programmes in Biological and Environmental Sciences, situated in First and second floors of the science building extending into the Teaching Mall. It comprises four programmes: Botany, Zoology, Pest Management, and geography with specializations in Developmental Biology, Physiology, Ecology, Evolution, Systematics, Rural Development, Tourism and Eco-tourism, Climate Change, Geographic Information Systems, Environmental Impact Assessment, Conservation and Management of Natural Resources and Biodiversity, particularly in relation to the flora and fauna of the Eastern Cape, South Africa. The Department houses the National Pollution Laboratory, and the DST/NRF/ SAIAB Food security research program, and the Sustainable Marine and Freshwater Economic Development (SMAFED) research Niche Area. Staff members in BES undertake intensive research in terrestrial, freshwater and marine specialties, and belong to professional bodies e.g., the Society of South Africa Geographers (SSAGs) and the Entomological Society of Southern Africa (ESSA). BES develops graduates that can be employed in various government, NGO organisations locally and internationally. Graduates with a Diploma or Degree in Pest Management can work as agricultural technicians and/or extension agents, Pest Control Officers/Consultants.

Graduates in Botany/Zoology may work as conservation biologists or managers, ethno-botanists, taxonomists, plant biotechnologists, fisheries and aquatic scientists, behavioural ecologists, animal physiologists, biomedical scientists, toxicologists, academics, marine botanists or zoologists and ecologists. Graduates in Geography/Environmental Sciences may work as Environmental and/or Social Impact Analysts/Practitioners, Environmental Officers/Managers, Environmental Planners/Consultants and Researchers, Land Surveyors, Foresters, Hydrologists, Cartographers, Geologists, Geographers, Water Resources Management experts, Soil Scientists, Policy Planners, Tourism and Ecotourism Planners, Urban and Regional Officers and Planners, GIS Technicians/Managers and Remote Sensing Technicians/experts, Lecturers/Teachers.

The following are all the qualifications that are offered by the department of Biological and Environmental Science:

1.1        Undergraduate qualifications

1.2        Postgraduate Qualifications