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SOUTH AFRICAN QUALIFICATIONS AUTHORITY 
REGISTERED QUALIFICATION: 

Master of Science in Zoology 
SAQA QUAL ID QUALIFICATION TITLE
19153  Master of Science in Zoology 
ORIGINATOR
University of Fort Hare 
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  Environmental Sciences 
ABET BAND MINIMUM CREDITS PRE-2009 NQF LEVEL NQF LEVEL QUAL CLASS
Undefined  180  Level 8 and above  NQF Level 09  Regular-Provider-ELOAC 
REGISTRATION STATUS SAQA DECISION NUMBER REGISTRATION START DATE REGISTRATION END DATE
Registered-data under construction  EXCO 0324/24  2024-07-01  2027-06-30 
LAST DATE FOR ENROLMENT LAST DATE FOR ACHIEVEMENT
2028-06-30   2031-06-30  

Registered-data under construction

The qualification content is currently being updated for the qualifications with the status “Registered-data under construction” or showing “DETAILS UNDER CONSTRUCTION” to ensure compliance with SAQA’S Policy and Criteria for the registration of qualifications and part-qualifications on the National Qualifications Framework (NQF) (As amended, 2022). These qualifications are re-registered until 30 June 2027 and can legitimately be offered by the institutions to which they are registered.

 

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.  

PURPOSE AND RATIONALE OF THE QUALIFICATION 
The first purpose of the Master of Science (Zoology) qualification is to provide qualifiers with mid post-graduate-level knowledge, specific skills and applied competence in a number of fields of zoological science that provide for continued personal intellectual growth, gainful economic activity and rewarding contributions to society.

Its second purpose is to provide the nation with Masters graduates in the zoological sciences in order to ensure that the local leadership base of innovative and knowledge based economic and scholarly activity is consolidated, strengthened and widened. Such graduates can feed into the country 's needs for higher-level scientists and managers in the spheres of fisheries, nature conservation, museum collections, environmental management, pest control, ethnobiology, biodiversity utilization, taxonomy, game farming and ecotourism as well as specialists in sub-fields therein.

The qualification 's third purpose is to provide South Africa with a body of higher-level teachers at the tertiary level who will have gained a clear and continuously growing understanding of the methods and progress of biological sciences and environmental education in general and zoological science in particular prior to acquiring specific postgraduate teaching qualifications. 

LEARNING ASSUMED TO BE IN PLACE AND RECOGNITION OF PRIOR LEARNING 
Recognition of Prior Learning:

Prior accredited learning in the form of a Bachelor of Science (Honours)-level degree in the form of a B. Sc (Hons) (Entomology), B. Sc (Hons) (Biological Sciences), B. Sc (Hons) (Ecology) or B. Sc (Zoology )or equivalent where these include a mix of courses and outcomes deemed appropriate for accreditation.

Where such can be demonstrated and assessed, additional and relevant prior learning may also be recognised. 

RECOGNISE PREVIOUS LEARNING? 
Y 

EXIT LEVEL OUTCOMES 
Exit level outcomes:

The M. Sc (Zoology) graduate:

1. will demonstrate an in depth understanding of the fundamentals, and major principles and theories of Zoology and allied sciences as well as the more specialized principles and theories;

2. Will demonstrate a knowledge and understanding of the relevant and pertinent fields as a foundation for the sciences of these fields and will demonstrate an appropriate understanding of cross-disciplinary applications of this knowledge;

3. Will demonstrate a knowledge and understanding of the practical techniques and applications appropriate to the major and specialized course fields;

4. Will demonstrate competence in identifying, seeking, retrieving, synthesising and communicating information of publication quality;

5. Will develop and demonstrate appropriate attitudes, values and an appropriate sense of responsibility as relevant to the component courses and modules. 

ASSOCIATED ASSESSMENT CRITERIA 
Assessment Criteria:

The MSc (Zoology) graduate:

1. Will select and use fundamentals, key concepts and specialized principles in the analysis and interpretation of Zoological problems;
  • Will be able to explain fundamentals, key concepts and specialized Zoological principles

    2. Will use the laws and knowledge of the relevant and pertinent fields in solving problems within those fields and will be able to pursue applications across disciplinary boundaries;

    3. Will be able to identify and utilize the appropriate techniques and applications in solving basic and specialized Zoological problems;
  • Will be able to independently design, plan and execute basic and more advanced experimental investigations and undertake surveys and collections to a level appropriate to the degree;

    4. Will be able to interpret their investigations in terms of relevant, comparative background information;
  • Will be able to present in verbal, graphic and written forms, clear, concise reports on their investigations;
  • Will be able to prepare manuscripts for submission to peer-review publications;

    5. Will conduct all investigations and surveys in a professional manner;
  • Will adhere strictly to the principles of unbiased investigation using the appropriate scientific method.

    Formative assessment:

    background knowledge evaluation
    on-going evaluation throughout
    regular reporting
    review of drafts
    learner attitude appraisal

    Summative assessment:

    examination of dissertation 
    		•

    ARTICULATION OPTIONS 
    Recognition of prior learning towards either core and/or fundamental credits appropriate and/or towards elective credits.

    Certain horizontal articulation possibilities may exist M .Sc( Entomology), M .Sc (Biological Sciences) and M .Sc (Ecology) qualifications.

    In terms of vertical articulation, learners will be able to proceed to a Doctoral degree in Ecology, Biological Sciences, Zoology and Entomology as well as environmentally-Doctoral degrees or equivalent both at Fort Hare, other South African universities and other tertiary institutions elsewhere. 

    MODERATION OPTIONS 
    One internal and two external examiners (relevant peers at teaching and/or research institutions). 

    CRITERIA FOR THE REGISTRATION OF ASSESSORS 
    Minimum Criteria: M.Sc degree or equivalent in the relevant subject matter and a minimum of five years research experience in the appropriate field. 

    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 Fort Hare 


    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.