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 Philosophy: Optometry

SAQA QUAL ID	QUALIFICATION TITLE
3679	Master of Philosophy: Optometry
ORIGINATOR
Rand Afrikaans University
PRIMARY OR DELEGATED QUALITY ASSURANCE FUNCTIONARY			NQF SUB-FRAMEWORK
Was CHE until Last Date for Achievement			HEQSF - Higher Education Qualifications Sub-framework
QUALIFICATION TYPE	FIELD		SUBFIELD
Master's Degree	Field 09 - Health Sciences and Social Services		Promotive Health and Developmental Services
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 is replaced by:

Qual ID	Qualification Title	Pre-2009 NQF Level	NQF Level	Min Credits	Replacement Status
74016	Master of Philosophy in Optometry	Level 8 and above	NQF Level 09	180	Complete

PURPOSE AND RATIONALE OF THE QUALIFICATION

The primary purpose of this qualification is to provide qualifying learners with the ability to:

Perform independent scientific research with an original component

Contribute to knowledge of and insight into optometry as well as the specific discipline of research

Display skills in related research methodologies and in proper formulation through a Master's dissertation

Reflect upon decision-making, self-directedness and contributions to optometric science.
.

LEARNING ASSUMED TO BE IN PLACE AND RECOGNITION OF PRIOR LEARNING

Learners accessing this qualification should demonstrate ability to:

Understand the relevant literature of typical level 7 (NQF) qualifications and transmit the acquired knowledge.

Apply theory in the laboratory, scientific field and everyday life.

Perform scientific research.

120 credits on level 7 in the field of Optometry, Vision Science and/or other fields appropriate to the proposed research.
The appropriate competencies must be satisfied

Recognition of prior learning:

A learner who claims to have achieved entry requirements through experiential learning will be assessed. If the learner is found to be competent the learner may gain access to the programme but, where necessary, additional studies, for example, in fields including statistics, may be required.

RECOGNISE PREVIOUS LEARNING?

EXIT LEVEL OUTCOMES

The learner should be able to:

1. Identify and solve research problems through critical and creative reasoning.

2. Work in a team with peers, advisors and lecturers.

3. Persevere and execute a research project at the appropriate scientific level.

4. Collect, organise, analyse and critically evaluate information (under guidance).

5. Communicate in writing and verbally with advisor/s, fellow learners and health care providers.

6. Apply science and technology in the context of research, the environment and public health.

7. Visualise one's research project in the broader context of society and the environment at large.

8. Acquire learning abilities in the research context, including the ability to assess scientific literature critically.

9. Conceptualise the research project within the context of the community, local, national and global.

10. Recognise and be sensitive to cultural differences in various communities and population groups.

11. Identify and explore employment opportunities in research and other environments.

12. Show the ability to recognise and create opportunities.

ASSOCIATED ASSESSMENT CRITERIA

The learner can:

1. Identify and solve research problems through critical and creative reasoning.

2. Work in a team with peers, advisors and lecturers.

3. Persevere and execute a research project at the appropriate scientific level.

4. Collect, organise, analyse and critically evaluate information (under guidance).

5. Communicate in writing and verbally with advisor/s, fellow learners and health care providers.

6. Apply science and technology in the context of research, the environment and public health.

7. Visualise one's research project in the broader context of society and the environment at large.

8. Acquire learning abilities in the research context, including the ability to assess scientific literature critically.

9. Conceptualise the research project within the context of the community, local, national and global.

10. Recognise and be sensitive to cultural differences in various communities and population groups.

11. Identify and explore employment opportunities in research and other environments.

12. Show the ability to recognise and create opportunities.

Formative assessment practices that will be implemented:
Learners will be assessed continually through discussions with the advisor/s and through attendance at and presentation of seminars.

Summative assessment practices that will be implemented:
The dissertation, seminars and related publication/s produced, will be assessed.

ARTICULATION OPTIONS

Access to qualifications on a lower level:
Learners wanting to switch to another qualification or other subjects at this institution, may do so within a period of three weeks after the start of the semester where applicable. They will retain full credit for modules that have been passed.

Access to qualifications on the same level:
The following possibilities for continuation of studies within other higher education programmes exist:
*Other Master's degree programmes at any other higher education institution.

Access to qualifications at a higher level:
Having obtained this qualification, the following possibilities for further study of higher education programmes exist:
*A doctoral degree (level 8) programme at any higher education institution.

MODERATION OPTIONS

The dissertation should be assessed by at least one external examiner.

CRITERIA FOR THE REGISTRATION OF ASSESSORS

Assessors of the Master's qualification should at least have a D.Phil of PhD degree and recent peer-reviewed publications to their credit. Assessors should have been themselves guided learners through Master's degrees.

REREGISTRATION HISTORY

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

NOTES

Old qualification.

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.

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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.

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