Bachelor of Medical Science Honours in Exercise Science

The combination of various modules which are available as 'fundamental learning' 'core learning' and 'elective learning' will mean that the qualification will serve as a passport to higher Degrees at any of the universities in South Africa. The programme provides candidates with the option of selecting from a compendium of modules which are most likely to supplement their academic and career development. The didactic modules provide the candidates with a concentrated study of current subjects in human biology and disease mechanisms, with obligatory modules in 'Techniques', 'Principles of good scientific investigation', 'Scientific writing and platform presentation' and 'Ethics in Research'. The candidates have the option of mainstreaming along predominant themes e.g. Infectious Diseases and Immunology, Human Genetics, Cell Biology, Pharmacology and Radiobiology. Candidates will need to select fairly early on the 'discipline' within which their research project will be conducted and will need to select the 'fundamental', 'core' and 'elective' modules to suit this.

The first purpose of the qualification is to provide qualifiers with an integrated and effective mix of specialist subject modules, technologies and skills that build on graduate level knowledge in a wide range of biological and medical sciences in such a way that continued personal intellectual growth, gainful economic activity and rewarding contributions to society are facilitated.

The second purpose of the qualification is to add to the skills base of university graduates who would be able to enter into a higher Degree programme with confidence and strong background or to seek employment with confidence in science at both theoretical and practical level.

The third purpose of the qualification is to provide a hub of skills and background which will facilitate qualifiers with adaptability to the rapidly growing areas in the medical/biological sciences.

Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL)

N/A.

Entry Requirements

The minimum entry requirement for this qualification is

• Bachelor of Science (BSc).

Other qualifications

• Successful completion of 3rd or 4th year Bachelor of Medicine and Bachelor of Surgery (MBChB) curriculum, or a BSc Agriculture (Agric) Degree, in some cases.

N/A

1. Demonstrate proficiency in specific contextual research methodologies and technology towards application in a problem-based setting.
2. Organise and manage oneself and one's activities responsibly and effectively, as demonstrated in effective maintenance of laboratory records.
3. Use science and technology effectively and critically, showing responsibility towards the environment and health of others.
4. Understand and apply ethics of using genetic information and understand the basics of confidentiality.

Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 1

• Define a problem and formulate a hypothesis.
• Describe ways to test the hypothesis.
• Design an experiment that will lead to meaningful results.
• Conduct experiments, with reasonable technical competence in a range of techniques appropriate to the disciplines.
• Recognise the importance of lab safety issues.
• Show ability to work independently and produce meaningful results.
• Interpret results at Honours level study.
• Discuss and integrate data with general scientific literature.
• Present research results to scientific audiences at Honours Degree level, both orally and in written dissertation.

Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 2

• Access literature, review and summarise progress in specific fields using combinations of library and informatics resources.
• Communicating effectively using visual and language skills in the modes of oral and/or written persuasion.
• Identify and solve problems in which responses display reasoning with evidence of critical and creative thinking.

Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 3

• Write essays on the application of specialist topics in the medical field concerned.
• Critically evaluate scientific literature on specialist topics-this will be assessed during journal club presentations and in exams and tests.
• Communicate acquired specialist knowledge and insight both orally and in written form.
• Access and utilise electronic information in the discipline concerned.

Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 4

• Understand and apply the ethics of animal use in research, if this applies to the discipline concerned.
• Understand and comply with laws of copyright protection.
• Take responsibility within own limits of competence.
• Demonstrate ability to work as a team and to show sensitivity to colleagues and demonstrate tolerance in the workplace.

Integrated Assessment

Integrated Assessment is designed to collect evidence from the candidate to demonstrate that the purpose(s) of the programme as a whole has been achieved and that the Exit Level Outcomes have been attained. It is often used to assess, at the exit point from a programme, the integration and application of knowledge, skills (and values/attitudes) learnt from across all the component courses in a programme.

Inevitably, Integrated Assessment demands a variety of assessment methods such as portfolios, simulations, workplace assessment, written examinations, oral examinations. The combination of these methods provides evidence that the learner has achieved the applied competence at the exit point of a programme that the programme claims as its purpose.

Assessment to ensure that the purpose of the Degree is achieved

An Integrated Assessment of the competence of the learner occurs on a continual basis through the course of the Honours programme. Each module is examinable and the final assessment will be aimed at determining whether the student has achieved the requisite level of knowledge required at this level, as well as the ability to critically review current literature in selected fields, to apply skills to practical problems towards carrying out a research project, to report on such a project and to present a comprehensive overview of a research project in the form of a written paper and as a platform presentation.

Assessment methods will include formal examination, review of essays and/or oral presentations or other written assignments where appropriate, and a review of a mini-dissertation on the laboratory research module.

Integrated Assessment will take into account elements of scientific literacy, numeric and computer literacy relevant to the study area.

Module examination of a two-hour examination

• Two literature reviews (essays) on current topics relevant to the module.
• Submission of a mini dissertation, e.g. covering the laboratory project, written as a scientific paper, a week before the final examination.
• An oral examination that will involve questions on the theoretical and practical aspects of the Honours programme; conducted by three examiners, one of whom is external to the university.
• The overall pass mark is 50%.