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SOUTH AFRICAN QUALIFICATIONS AUTHORITY 
REGISTERED QUALIFICATION: 

Bachelor of Science Honours in Community Nutrition 
SAQA QUAL ID QUALIFICATION TITLE
96591  Bachelor of Science Honours in Community Nutrition 
ORIGINATOR
University of Venda 
PRIMARY OR DELEGATED QUALITY ASSURANCE FUNCTIONARY NQF SUB-FRAMEWORK
CHE - Council on Higher Education  HEQSF - Higher Education Qualifications Sub-framework 
QUALIFICATION TYPE FIELD SUBFIELD
Honours Degree  Field 09 - Health Sciences and Social Services  Preventive Health 
ABET BAND MINIMUM CREDITS PRE-2009 NQF LEVEL NQF LEVEL QUAL CLASS
Undefined  120  Not Applicable  NQF Level 08  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 
Purpose:
The qualification provides comprehensive education in Food and Nutrition. This enables graduates who are already health professionals to function in a multi-sectoral, interdisciplinary, collaborative and participatory approach in solving problems of health, food and nutrition in the community and/or public.

Rationale:
The qualification is responsive to the developmental needs of the Southern African region. The qualification trains health professionals who will be able to address nutrition problems in the rural area (i.e. undernutrition amongst children under five years while addressing problems of over nutrition amongst adult population). The Limpopo Province is faced with double burden of malnutrition, poverty and high unemployment rate among women. The qualification will produce graduates who will contribute in the development of nutrition intervention strategies which will help in addressing nutrition related problems. 

LEARNING ASSUMED TO BE IN PLACE AND RECOGNITION OF PRIOR LEARNING 
Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL):
Access to this Honours Degree will be granted to candidates not in possession of a relevant 3-year qualification but who meet the admission requirements through the Recognition of Prior Learning, at the discretion of the institution and in agreement with the relevant quality council.

Entry Requirements:
Bachelor's Degree at Level 7 in Health, Natural, Food Sciences or Agricultural Sciences. 

RECOGNISE PREVIOUS LEARNING? 
Y 

QUALIFICATION RULES 
The candidate should satisfy the requirements for Bachelor of Science Honour in Community Nutrition.

The candidate must accumulate 120 Credits in the required modules:

Compulsory:
  • Community Nutrition and Social Development RCN 5541, 10 Credits.
  • Nutritional Epidemiology RNE 5541, 10 Credits.
  • Nutritional Assessment RNA 5541, 10 Credits.
  • Nutrition Intervention Strategies and Project Planning and Management RCN 5641, 20 Credits.
  • Research in Human Nutrition Mini-Project RNP 5741, 20 Credits.
  • Social perspectives of Public Health Nutrition RPH 5541, 10 Credits.
  • Advanced topics in Public Health Nutrition RPH 5641, 10 Credits.
    Total credits: 80.

    Elective Modules (Choose to make 40 Credits):
  • Micronutrients and Disease Prevention RMP 5521, 10 Credits.
  • Maternal Nutrition, Early Development and Aging RMN 5521, 15 Credits.
  • Nutrition and Sports RSN 5641, 10 Credits.
  • Special topics in Human Nutrition and Seminar RSP 5621, 15 Credits.
  • Nutrition Management of Chronic Diseases RNT 5621, 10 Credits.
  • Food Laws and Policy Making RFL 5621, 10 Credits.
  • Nutrition Computing RNC 5621, 5 Credits. 
    		•

    EXIT LEVEL OUTCOMES 
    1. A comprehensive understanding of principles of nutrition particularly as applied to community-based, integrated nutrition programmes.
    2. A comprehensive understanding of methodologies used in nutrition assessment.
    3. A demonstrable ability to design, implement and evaluate intersectoral programmes aimed at addressing nutritional problems at all levels.
    4. A demonstrable capacity for project management in the context of health programming as a competent programme manager at any level.
    5. A demonstrable ability to apply innovative programmatic approaches in solving community nutrition related problems.
    6. A demonstrable ability to disseminate health and nutrition information for purposes of nutrition awareness and health promotion.
    7. A demonstrable ability to participate in research project development and implementation. 

    ASSOCIATED ASSESSMENT CRITERIA 
    Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 1:
  • Critical analytic skills are applied in the evaluation of the effectiveness of the nutrition integrated programmes.
  • Critical analysis of the impact of nutrition intervention programmes on health and development.

    Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 2:
  • Nutritional assessment techniques are demonstrated and applied.
  • Dietary analysis utilising computer software is demonstrated.
  • An understanding of methods for assessing nutritional status of an individual.

    Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 3:
  • Critical analytic thinking in interpretation of policy in terms of the health and nutritional; status impact on community.
  • Clear understanding of policies and regulations in food and agricultural products.

    Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 4:
  • Critical analytic skills are applied in the evaluation of management and control systems of nutritional services at district and community level.
  • Management development and quality assurance skills are demonstrated in the planning and management of nutrition projects.
  • Team work in project design and management is demonstrated.

    Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 5:
  • Analyse the relationship between management and organisational theories.
  • Analyse impact of nutrition intervention strategies on the nutritional status of community.
  • Critical analytic skills are applied in the evaluation of the nutrition intervention.

    Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 6:
  • Demonstrate ability to develop and use the teaching material.
  • Demonstrate ability to communicate nutrition and health messages to different communities.
  • Demonstrate different communication techniques.

    Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 7:
  • Skills in proposal writing are applied in the preparation of the proposal.
  • Critical analysis of nutrition research results and how it relates to good health.
  • Applied research skills are demonstrated during data collection.

    Integrated Assessment:
    For this qualification, candidates are assessed through test, assignment, presentation, project report as well as written examination at the end of each semester. However, research project is assessed by internal and external examiners end of the year (summative assessment). 
    		•

    INTERNATIONAL COMPARABILITY 
    This Bachelor of Science Honours in Community Nutrition qualification is comparable to other Honours qualifications around the world (Australia and New Zealand) with regards to outcomes, degree of difficulty and notional learning time. The standard is assured, inter alia, by a requirement for assessment by external examiners who hold a university academic position. 

    ARTICULATION OPTIONS 
    This qualification has both horizontal and vertical articulation possibilities. The qualification articulates horizontally with other Honours Degree. The qualification articulates vertically to Master's Degree in related field. 

    MODERATION OPTIONS 
    N/A 

    CRITERIA FOR THE REGISTRATION OF ASSESSORS 
    N/A 

    NOTES 
    N/A 

    LEARNING PROGRAMMES RECORDED AGAINST THIS QUALIFICATION: 
    When qualifications are replaced, some (but not all) of their learning programmes are moved to the replacement qualifications. If a learning programme appears to be missing from here, please check the replaced 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 Venda 


    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.