SAQA

All qualifications and part qualifications registered on the National Qualifications Framework are public property. Thus the only payment that can be made for them is for service and reproduction. It is illegal to sell this material for profit. If the material is reproduced or quoted, the South African Qualifications Authority (SAQA) should be acknowledged as the source.

SOUTH AFRICAN QUALIFICATIONS AUTHORITY

REGISTERED QUALIFICATION THAT HAS PASSED THE END DATE:

Master of Science: Mammalogy

SAQA QUAL ID	QUALIFICATION TITLE
14378	Master of Science: Mammalogy
ORIGINATOR
University of Pretoria
PRIMARY OR DELEGATED QUALITY ASSURANCE FUNCTIONARY			NQF SUB-FRAMEWORK
CHE - Council on Higher Education			HEQSF - Higher Education Qualifications Sub-framework
QUALIFICATION TYPE	FIELD		SUBFIELD
Master's Degree	Field 10 - Physical, Mathematical, Computer and Life Sciences		Life Sciences
ABET BAND	MINIMUM CREDITS	PRE-2009 NQF LEVEL	NQF LEVEL	QUAL CLASS
Undefined	200	Level 8 and above	NQF Level 09	Regular-Provider-ELOAC
REGISTRATION STATUS		SAQA DECISION NUMBER	REGISTRATION START DATE	REGISTRATION END DATE
Passed the End Date - Status was "Reregistered"		SAQA 091/21	2021-07-01	2023-06-30
LAST DATE FOR ENROLMENT		LAST DATE FOR ACHIEVEMENT
2024-06-30		2027-06-30

In all of the tables in this document, both the pre-2009 NQF Level and the NQF Level is shown. In the text (purpose statements, qualification rules, etc), any references to NQF Levels are to the pre-2009 levels unless specifically stated otherwise.

This qualification does not replace any other qualification and is not replaced by any other qualification.

PURPOSE AND RATIONALE OF THE QUALIFICATION

To provide graduates who already have a four-year degree background in biology with the opportunity to specialize as mammalogists. This is the only Masters degree course in South Africa that is specifically designed for this purpose.

To provide recent graduates with the advanced biological knowledge and skills required to proceed into research and management careers that involve wild animals

To provide employers in the wildlife sector with an opportunity for the professional advancement of their staff at a senior level. Being a one-year intensive course, of which the five-month research component could be conducted it eh learner's working environment, this minimises off-station time and maximises relevance and efficiency in the training process.

To build the skills capacity of South Africa and the region for research on, and the conservation and management of, our diverse and valuable indigenous mammal fauna

LEARNING ASSUMED TO BE IN PLACE AND RECOGNITION OF PRIOR LEARNING

Honours degree

RECOGNISE PREVIOUS LEARNING?

EXIT LEVEL OUTCOMES

Learning outcomes:
A M Sc (Mammalogy) graduate is able to:
Knowledge

Natural factors influencing mammalian population dynamics

Interactions between mammalian species within communities and between mammals and other organisms and abiotic factors at the ecosystem scale

Mammalian reproductive biology

Mammalian taxonomy with a specialisation on African mammals

The effect of body size variation on the way in which mammals use resources at various spatial and temporal scales

Morphological, physiological and behavioural adaptations of marine mammals

Impacts of disease and anthropogenic disturbances in mammal populations

Conservation biology, involving an understanding of the problems associated with small and/or declining mammal populations

Community-based wildlife management and the involvement of rural people in the conservation of mammals through sustainable utilisation.

Skills

Research design and experimental methodology;

Scientific writing;

Oral and visual presentation of research results;

Field research techniques for small and large mammals including radio telemetry, distribution mapping, assessment of habitat preferences, home range, diet composition, trapping, population census methods, etc.

Laboratory techniques for small mammals including captive breeding, endocrinology assays, thermoregulation and respirometry studies, etc.

Development of decision support tools for the adaptive management of large mammal populations;

Participatory approaches to providing appropriate technical support to rural communities.

Assessment of research and management proposals.

Values

Comprehension of the importance of indigenous mammals in contributing to the maintenance of ecosystem processes, thereby sustaining the flows of goods and services from ecosystems to people

Appreciation of the economic value of indigenous mammals and the role of sustainable utilisation of wild mammals in rural development;

Appreciation of a professional scientific approach to emotive problems involving the management and conservation of wild species;

Recognition of the importance of controlled, documented and peer-reviewed research in building a cumulative understanding of our indigenous fauna

Recognition of the value of interdisciplinary team-work in addressing environmental problems;

Respect for the rights of stake-holders with regard to the management and equitable use of indigenous mammalian resources.

Critical cross-field outcomes:
Identifying and solving problems in which responses display that responsible decisions using critical and creative thinking have been made
Working effectively with others as a member of a team, group, organisation, community
Organising and managing oneself and one's activities responsibly and effectively
Collecting, analysing, organising and critically evaluating information
Communicating effectively using visual, mathematical and/or language skills in the modes or oral and or written persuasion
Using science and technology effectively and critically, showing responsibility towards the environment and health of others.
Contributing to the full personal development of each learner and the social and economic development of the society at large, by making it the underlying intention of any programme of learning to make an individual aware of the importance of:

reflecting on and exploring a variety of strategies to learn more effectively

exploring education and career opportunities

developing entrepreneurial opportunities

ASSOCIATED ASSESSMENT CRITERIA

Integrated assessment:
Written examinations
Oral examinations
Other:
Written project report (dissertation)
Written scripts on seminars and projects

ARTICULATION OPTIONS

Related qualifications:
Ph D Zoology
Ph D Entomology

Ph D Zoology serves as an entry point to the related qualification
Ph D Entomology serves as an entry point to the related qualification

MODERATION OPTIONS

Summative assessment: External additional examiner
Student access to al final test/examination answer books
Project assessment (external evaluation of dissertation)

CRITERIA FOR THE REGISTRATION OF ASSESSORS

Qualifications required:
Ph D Zoology

Career experience required:
Outstanding research experience

Other criteria:
Postgraduate educational experience

REREGISTRATION HISTORY

As per the SAQA Board decision/s at that time, this qualification was Reregistered in 2006; 2009; 2012; 2015.

LEARNING PROGRAMMES RECORDED AGAINST THIS QUALIFICATION:

NONE

PROVIDERS CURRENTLY ACCREDITED TO OFFER THIS QUALIFICATION:

This information shows the current accreditations (i.e. those not past their accreditation end dates), and is the most complete record available to SAQA as of today. Some Primary or Delegated Quality Assurance Functionaries have a lag in their recording systems for provider accreditation, in turn leading to a lag in notifying SAQA of all the providers that they have accredited to offer qualifications and unit standards, as well as any extensions to accreditation end dates. The relevant Primary or Delegated Quality Assurance Functionary should be notified if a record appears to be missing from here.

1.	University of Pretoria