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SOUTH AFRICAN QUALIFICATIONS AUTHORITY 
REGISTERED QUALIFICATION: 

Doctor of Philosophy in Zoology 
SAQA QUAL ID QUALIFICATION TITLE
3443  Doctor of Philosophy 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
Doctoral Degree  Field 10 - Physical, Mathematical, Computer and Life Sciences  Environmental Sciences 
ABET BAND MINIMUM CREDITS PRE-2009 NQF LEVEL NQF LEVEL QUAL CLASS
Undefined  360  Level 8 and above  NQF Level 10  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 Doctor of Philosophy (Zoology) qualification is to provide qualified learners with higher, expert Postgraduate 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 Doctoral qualified learners in the Zoological sciences in order to ensure that the local leadership base of innovative and knowledge-based economic and scholarly activity and expertise is consolidated, strengthened and widened. Such qualified learners can feed into the country's needs for high-level scientists and managers in the spheres of fisheries, nature conservation, museum collections, environmental management, pest control, ethno biology, biodiversity utilization, taxonomy, game farming and eco-tourism as well as specialists and experts in sub-fields therein.

The qualification's third purpose is to provide South Africa with a body of high-level teachers at the post-graduate tertiary level who will give gained a clear and continuously growing understanding of the methods and progress of the zoological sciences prior to or after acquiring specific postgraduate teaching qualifications or certification. 

LEARNING ASSUMED TO BE IN PLACE AND RECOGNITION OF PRIOR LEARNING 
Entry Requirements:
The minimum entry requirement for this qualification is:
  • Master of Science in Zoology, NQF Level 9. 
    		•

    RECOGNISE PREVIOUS LEARNING? 
    Y 

    EXIT LEVEL OUTCOMES 
    Exit Level Outcomes:
    1. Will demonstrate an in-depth understanding of the underlying principles and theories of zoology and allied sciences as well as the more specialised principles and theories;
    2. Will demonstrate a knowledge and understanding of the relevant and pertinent fields as a foundation of 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 specialised 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:
    1. Will select and use appropriate key concepts and specialized principles in the analysis and interpretation of zoological problems;
  • Will be able to develop or contribute to new theory 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;
  • Will demonstrate the ability to contribute original knowledge to a particular field.

    3. Will be able to identify and utilize the appropriate techniques and applications and possibly develop new ones in solving basic and specialised Zoological problems;
  • Will be able to independently design, plan and execute advanced experimental investigations and undertake comprehensive surveys and collections;
  • Will be able to interpret their investigations in terms of the relevant theoretical framework and comparative background information.

    4. Will be able to present in verbal, graphic and written forms, clear, concise reports on their investigation;
  • Will be able to prepare manuscripts for submission to peer-reviewed 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;
  • Will demonstrate the capacity to possibly make original contributions to the values and attitudes in a given field.

    Formative Assessment:
  • Background knowledge evaluation.
  • On-going evaluation throughout.
  • Regular reporting.
  • Review of drafts.
  • Learner attitude appraisal.

    Summative assessment:
  • Examination of thesis. 
    		•

    INTERNATIONAL COMPARABILITY 
    This qualification compares with the following international qualifications in terms of the range of competencies in the learning content offered. 

    ARTICULATION OPTIONS 
    This qualification offers possibilities of horizontal articulation.

    Horizontal Articulation:
  • Doctor of Philosophy in Education in Zoology, NQF Level 10. 
    		•

    MODERATION OPTIONS 
    N/A 

    CRITERIA FOR THE REGISTRATION OF ASSESSORS 
    N/A 

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

    NOTES 
    N/A 

    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.