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: Agriculture: Animal Science 
SAQA QUAL ID QUALIFICATION TITLE
14489  Master of Science: Agriculture: Animal Science 
ORIGINATOR
University of North West 
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 01 - Agriculture and Nature Conservation  Primary Agriculture 
ABET BAND MINIMUM CREDITS PRE-2009 NQF LEVEL NQF LEVEL QUAL CLASS
Undefined  240  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 2663/05  2006-07-01  2009-06-30 
LAST DATE FOR ENROLMENT LAST DATE FOR ACHIEVEMENT
2010-06-30   2013-06-30  

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 South Africa with a significant number of graduates with post-graduate-level knowledge, research skills, and applied specialised competence in the various disciplines of animal science.
  • To provide qualifiers with opportunities for personal intellectual development and gainful economic activity, with a view to making a rewarding contribution to society.
  • To prepare qualifiers for NQF level studies. 
    		•

    LEARNING ASSUMED TO BE IN PLACE AND RECOGNITION OF PRIOR LEARNING 
    To be admitted to this programme, a student should normally be in possession of a BSc Agric Honours degree with specialisation in Animal Health or Animal Science. 

    RECOGNISE PREVIOUS LEARNING? 
    N 

    EXIT LEVEL OUTCOMES 
    Exit Level Outcomes:

    1. Competence in applying appropriate principles to solve animal health or animal science problems.
    2. Conduct supervised research in various aspects of animal health and animal science which has direct applications to the rural livestock farmer and report on the results.


    Specified Outcomes:

    1.1 Learners will be competent in conducting a situational analysis.
    1.2 Learners will be able to apply animal health or animal science principles to practical agriculture.
    1.3 Learners will be able to comprehend and interpret scientific literature related to animal health or animal science.

    2.1 Learners will be able to conduct a well documented literature review and write up their findings in an organised and concise way.
    2.2 Learners will be able to prepare a research proposal.
    2.3 Learners will be able to present the materials and methods of their research.
    2.4 Learners will be able to describe the statistical analysis to be used in the research.
    2.5 Learners will be able to conduct a comprehensive research project that has applications for rural farmers.
    2.6 Learners will be able to report on a comprehensive research project that has applications for rural farmers. 

    ASSOCIATED ASSESSMENT CRITERIA 
    1.1.1 Learners will be able to identify the cause of a given problem.
    1.1.2 Learners will be able to take appropriate action to solve the problem.
    1.1.3 Learners will be able to recommend corrective action.

    1.2.1 Learners will be able to apply genetic principles in general animal health or animal science improvement programs.
    1.2.2 Learners will be able to describe and deal with deficiencies in animals.
    1.2.3 Learners will be able to advise on sound managerial practices.

    1.3.1 Learners will demonstrate their ability to prepare a well structured paper on selected topics in animal health or animal science.
    1.3.2 Learners will be able to present seminars on selected topics.
    1.3.3 Learners will be able to engage in scientific debate on specific topics in animal health or animal science.

    2.1.1 Learners will demonstrate their ability to conduct a search of the literature by locating a required number of journal articles on a given subject.
    2.1.2 Learners will be able to review the required number of journal articles and write the literature review in a comprehensive and concise way.
    2.1.3 Learners will be able to prepare a bibliography based on the articles reviewed.

    2.2.1 Learners will demonstrate their ability to conduct a search of the literature in order to prepare a research proposal.
    2.2.2 Learners will be able to prepare a proposal for their research based on sound scientific principles.
    2.2.3 Learners will be able to present a seminar on their proposal for their research.

    2.3.1 Learners will demonstrate their ability to organize the way they will conduct their research.
    2.3.2 Learners will be able to demonstrate an understanding of the methods they will use in their research.
    2.3.3 Learners will be able to do the methods described in the laboratory independently.

    2.4.1 Learners will demonstrate a knowledge of the statistical analysis to be used in the research.
    2.4.2 Learners will be able to organize the data for analysis statistically.
    2.4.3 Learners will be able to statistically analyze the data.

    2.5.1 Learners will demonstrate their ability to plan their research project.
    2.5.2 Learners will be able to conduct the field portion of the research collecting the necessary samples for analysis, recording all necessary data and information and keeping accurate records.
    2.5.3 Learners will be able to analyze the samples in the laboratory.
    2.5.4 Learners will be able to capture the data emanating from the analysis of the samples.

    2.6.1 Learners will demonstrate their ability to report on their research project by writing a thesis which reports on the research in a comprehensive way.
    2.6.2 Learners will be able to present a seminar on the research which has been completed.
    2.6.3 Learners will be able to prepare an article for submission in a referred journal.


    Integrated Assessment:

    The MSc Agric degree will be based on field and/or laboratory research that eventually leads to the submission of a thesis. However, during the research process, the learner's progress will be assessed, from time to time, through seminar presentations. The final thesis will be assessed by both internal and external examiners. 

    ARTICULATION OPTIONS 
    A person with MSc Agric qualification will be able to pursue Ph.D studies in any branch of Animal Science. 

    MODERATION OPTIONS 
    There are presently no statutory bodies in South Africa in this area of specialisation. However experts at relevant institutions will be consulted whenever the need arises. 

    CRITERIA FOR THE REGISTRATION OF ASSESSORS 
  • Internal assessors will be made up of appropriate internal members of a supervisory committee.
  • External assessors (at least two)will be people qualified in the learner's field of specialisation. 
    		•

    REREGISTRATION HISTORY 
    As per the SAQA Board decision/s at that time, this qualification was Reregistered in 2006. 

    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.
     
    NONE 


    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.