SAQA

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SOUTH AFRICAN QUALIFICATIONS AUTHORITY

REGISTERED QUALIFICATION THAT HAS PASSED THE END DATE:

Master of Speech-Language Therapy

SAQA QUAL ID	QUALIFICATION TITLE
16592	Master of Speech-Language Therapy
ORIGINATOR
Stellenbosch University
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 09 - Health Sciences and Social Services		Preventive Health
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 0695/12	2012-07-01	2014-12-31
LAST DATE FOR ENROLMENT		LAST DATE FOR ACHIEVEMENT
2015-12-31		2018-12-31

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 is replaced by:

Qual ID	Qualification Title	Pre-2009 NQF Level	NQF Level	Min Credits	Replacement Status
96562	Master of Speech-Language Therapy	Not Applicable	NQF Level 09	180	Complete

PURPOSE AND RATIONALE OF THE QUALIFICATION

The purpose of the qualification is:

1. To equip students with the necessary critical insight, maturity, judgement and experience to undertake independent research in a specialised field of knowledge in the profession of Speech - Language Therapy

2. To deepen the knowledge base of the chosen field of specialisation by generating new knowledge or insight.

3. To enable students to participate in or contribute to the pursuit of knowledge and in so doing to advance and develop the profession of Speech - Language Therapy nationally and internationally

4. To contribute towards the development of a culture of continuous learning in the profession in South Africa.

5. To develop the practice of the profession in South Africa on a scientific basis and thereby also to contribute to better practice for persons with communication disorders

LEARNING ASSUMED TO BE IN PLACE AND RECOGNITION OF PRIOR LEARNING

First degree: BSpLangTher, BSc (Log), BSp H Th, BComm Path.

Other qualification:

An appropriate Honours degree or qualification approved by the Senate for this purpose. Depending on the chosen field of study, additional work and or proof of competency may be required.

RECOGNISE PREVIOUS LEARNING?

EXIT LEVEL OUTCOMES

1). GENERIC / CRITICAL CROSS FIELD OUTCOMES

The MSp-LangTher graduate will:

1. Demonstrate an ability to identify relevant research questions and resolve them in a manner consistent with creative and critical thinking.

2. Organise and manage all aspects of the research process in an efficient and responsible manner.

3. Participate effectively and collaborate in team activities for research purposes

4. Use appropriate technology to obtain, analyse and utilise the relevant information.

5. Communicate effectively in a variety of media and disseminate acquired knowledge through appropriate channels

6. Explore further options for ongoing basic and applied research as a means of achieving life long learning

7. Ensure that the outcomes of research contribute to the development of the profession and are implemented in clinical practice in the best interests of persons with communication disorders.

2). GENERAL OUTCOMES

The MSp-LangTher graduate will be able to:

1. Identify problems in the fields of Speech-Language, voice and fluency disorders and locate them within the conceptual framework of a research question.

2. Review the literature and critically evaluate related research

3. Identify a suitable research design to investigate the research question(s) at issue

4. Write a research proposal and submit it to the appropriate national bodies for financial and other support

5. Plan and conduct a research project, analyse the data and correctly interpret the findings

6. Publish the findings in a research report, for submission also to peer reviewed journals

3). SPECIFIC OUTCOMES

The MSp-LangTher graduate will be competent to perform the professional function of research into speech, language, voice and fluency disorders

ASSOCIATED ASSESSMENT CRITERIA

1).

The evidence for the successful achievement of the desired outcomes is derived from the following;

1. Theoretical and oral examinations by internal and external examiners

2. Collaboration with researchers nationally

3. Participate in national and international conferences

4. Publications

5. Peer review of suitable activities

2).
The outcomes will be assessed as follows:

1. Written and oral examinations

2. Oral presentations of seminar papers based on in-depth literature surveys of relevant and related areas of communication science and communication disorders.

3. Written analyses of current research questions in relevant and related areas of communication science and communication disorders

4. A thesis

3).
These functions will be measured against the following criteria for competence:

1. Recognising local, regional and national research needs

2. Responding to the need for further investigation into a particular area of focus

3. Critically evaluating pertinent literature

4. Selecting a suitable method of investigation for the research purpose

5. Executing the research

6. Recording and analysing the results

7. Publishing findings in peer-reviewed journals

INTEGRATED ASSESSMENT

Candidates should submit a thesis that contains the report of the research. The thesis should meet the standards and requirements of research design and reporting through an integration of all the necessary analyses, arguments and evidence in support of the hypothesis.

ARTICULATION OPTIONS

This qualification serves as an entry point to the related qualification(s)

PhD

DPhil

MODERATION OPTIONS

The university of Stellenbosch utilises a system of external peer review and evaluation of departments. One of the aspects of the system is an evaluation of the standards and assessment practices within a department by the Professional Board for Speech, Language and Hearing Professions of the Health Professions Council of Sout Africa.

The reports of the internal and external examiners are considered at the level committee and or faculty board meetings for ratification.

CRITERIA FOR THE REGISTRATION OF ASSESSORS

The academic staff of the univesity of Stellenbosch will be used in a manner that is consistent with the quality assurance system of the university.

Additional information

The university of Stellenbosch appoints two internal examiners. In addition an external examiner with a national or international reputation for scholarly research or excellent practise of the profession is appointed to assess the thesis in terms of accepted norms for research in the profession of Speech-Language Therapy.

REREGISTRATION HISTORY

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

NOTES

N/A

LEARNING PROGRAMMES RECORDED AGAINST THIS QUALIFICATION:

When qualifications are replaced, some of their learning programmes are moved to being recorded against the replacement qualifications. If a learning programme appears to be missing from here, please check the replacement.

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.	Stellenbosch University