Bachelor of Arts in Disaster and Safety Management

The role of disaster and safety management in society cannot be underestimated. Major catastrophes across the globe have underscored the critical importance of disaster management in safeguarding human lives and protecting property. Similarly, Occupational Health and Safety (OHS) remains a vital area of concern, addressing the risks posed by increasingly industrialised environments and their potential negative impact on communities and economies.

The primary responsibility of agencies and individuals specialising in disaster and safety management is to respond effectively to disasters within a predetermined framework. These professionals engage in strategic planning and coordination for both natural and human-induced disasters. This requires close collaboration with a range of stakeholders, including public sector departments and non-governmental organisations, across national, provincial, and local levels.

Developing competent, professional practitioners in the field of disaster and safety management is essential to ensure national resilience and preparedness for crises and industrial incidents. As disasters become more frequent and complex on a global scale, the need for a skilled and responsive workforce is greater than ever.

Workplace safety holds equal importance, as failures in this area can have far-reaching consequences for a country’s health, productivity, and economic stability. This programme has been designed with these challenges in mind, aiming to equip learners with the knowledge, skills, and critical thinking necessary to contribute meaningfully to disaster and safety management in a modern context.

Minimum – 3 years of study

Maximum – 6 years of study

Students can potentially pursue a career in:

• Local government disaster management

• Local government emergency services

• Private industry specialising in disaster and safety management

• Building industry and construction sites

• Airports and aviation companies

• Mining

Upon successful completion of your qualification, you will receive a certificate depicting: Bachelor of Arts in Disaster and Safety Management and an academic transcript. These documents will be issued at a graduation ceremony provided that your account is in order.

NB: Certificates cannot be issued to the students before a graduation ceremony.

The minimum entry requirements for the Bachelor of Arts in Disaster and Safety Management are:

• A National Senior Certificate (NSC) with bachelor’s degree endorsement, or
• A National Certificate Vocational (NCV) at NQF Level 4 with bachelor’s degree endorsement, or
• Amended Senior Certificate (ASC), with bachelor’s degree endorsement, or
• A Senior Certificate (SC), with University Exemption (bachelor’s degree endorsement), or
• Foreign School leaving Certificate that complies with minimum admission requirements for bachelor’s degree study as gazetted by the Matriculation Board (The Matriculation Board will do equivalency evaluation)

Alternative admission requirements:

• A Diploma or Advanced Diploma in a cognate discipline
• Senate discretionary admission
• Mature Age (45 years of age): conditions apply*
• Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL)
• Candidates over the age of 23 at registration or during their first year of attendance who have attained a Senior Certificate with at least 40% in at least four Higher Grade or Standard Grade subjects, at least three of which were passed simultaneously, one of which is a Higher-Grade subject, and one is English. Conditions apply*.

Additional Requirements:

• Foreign applicants whose first language is not English, may be required to provide proof of proficiency in English prior to admission to the programme.

*Age exemption certificates must be attained from the Matriculation Board before admission can be granted.

Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) processes and Credit Accumulation and Transfer (CAT) are articulation mechanisms. The institution reserves the right to conduct a formal assessment for purposes of CAT. An evaluation will be conducted to recognise prior learning. This evaluation may or may not be based on a form of formal assessment and can include a portfolio of evidence submission. These mechanisms are in line with the HEQSF as envisaged in the NQF Act 67 of 2008 and the CHE “Policies on the Recognition of Prior Learning, Credit Accumulation and Transfer, and Assessment in Higher Education” published by the CHE in August 2016. The final approval for applications in respect of CAT and RPL is subject to academic vetting in terms of applicable legislation and institutional policies.

Enquire at your nearest Lyceum Branch Office for more information regarding the awarding of subject credits (Credit Accumulation and Transfer – CAT) towards Lyceum Qualifications.

Study materials are supplied in digital format only.