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 in Zoology 
SAQA QUAL ID QUALIFICATION TITLE
6997  Master of Science in Zoology 
ORIGINATOR
University of Pretoria 
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  Life 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
Passed the End Date -
Status was "Reregistered" 		 SAQA 1141/23  2021-07-01  2024-06-30 
LAST DATE FOR ENROLMENT LAST DATE FOR ACHIEVEMENT
2025-06-30   2028-06-30  

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 expose graduates who have previously studied towards a four-year degree qualification in zoological sciences to conceptual problem solving using scientific methodology.
1. To provide learners with the required research and analytical skills to process and interpret biological and environmental phenomena relating to the study organisms.
2. To provide South Africa with a cadre of zoological experts capable of assuming leadership roles and who possess the required skills for addressing zoological problems.
3. To provide learners with an adequate background in the complex relationships between organisms and their environments to allow them to pursue further qualifications in appropriate Ph D programmes 

LEARNING ASSUMED TO BE IN PLACE AND RECOGNITION OF PRIOR LEARNING 
Honours Degree
Other:
B Sc Hons Zoology
B Sc Hons Entomology 

RECOGNISE PREVIOUS LEARNING? 
N 

EXIT LEVEL OUTCOMES 
Learning outcomes:
A M Sc (Zoology) graduate is able to:
Knowledge
  • Fundamental principles of research methodology
  • Disciplinary perspectives about biological issues
  • Established mechanisms for biological research
  • Principles of univariate and multivariate statistics
  • Underlying principles of environmental issues
    Fundamental principles of biological ethics

    Skills
  • Project planning and execution
  • Research capability
  • Knowledge transfer
  • Appropriate technical skills
  • Statistical skills
  • Data generation and analysis
  • Written scientific reporting
  • Oral scientific reporting
  • Popularisation of science

    Values
  • Appreciate scientific responsibility
  • Appreciate animal ethics
  • Understand the responsibilities of researchers to the community
  • Understand the role of the organism in the environment
  • Appreciate the environmental ethic
  • Value of science in contributing to human and animal welfare.

    Critical cross-field outcomes:
    Identifying and solving problems in which responses display that responsible decisions using critical and creative thinking have been made
    Working effectively with others as a member of a team, group, organisation, community
    Organising and managing one's activities responsibly and effectively
    Collecting, analysing, organising and critically evaluating information
    Communicating effectively using visual, mathematical and/or language skills on the modes of oral and or written persuasion
    Using science and technology effectively and critically, showing responsibility towards the environment and health of others
    Contributing to the full personal development of each learner and the social and economic development of the society at large, by making it the underlying intention of any programme of learning to make an individual aware of the importance of:
  • reflecting on and exploring a variety of strategies to learn more effectively
  • exploring education and career opportunities
  • developing entrepreneurial opportunities. 
    		•

    ASSOCIATED ASSESSMENT CRITERIA 
  • Generating critical essays (formative and summative)
  • Computer based analytical assessment (formative and summative)
  • Biological problem solving (formative and summative)
  • Project report generation (formative and summative)
  • Oral presentation of project results (summative)

    Integrated assessment:
    Other:
    Internal and external evaluation of dissertation 
    		•

    ARTICULATION OPTIONS 
    Related qualifications:
    Ph D Zoology
    Ph D Entomology

    Ph D Zoology serves as an entry point to the related qualification
    Ph D Entomology serves as an entry point to the related qualification 

    MODERATION OPTIONS 
    Internal and external evaluation of dissertation. 

    CRITERIA FOR THE REGISTRATION OF ASSESSORS 
    Qualifications required:
    Ph D Zoology

    Career experience required:
    Excellent research experience

    Other criteria:
    Postgraduate guidance 

    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 Pretoria 


    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.