Doctor of Philosophy in Animal Health

Purpose

The primary purpose of the Doctor of Philosophy in Animal Health is to provide training for an academic career in the field of Animal Health. It requires a learner to research the most advanced academic levels culminating in the submission, assessment and acceptance of a thesis. A learner may also present peer-reviewed academic articles and papers in partial fulfilment of the research requirements. The Doctor of Philosophy in Animal Health provides learners with the opportunity to undertake independent research and advanced study under the guidance of a supervisor. In the particular subject area of Animal Health, they build on knowledge normally gained at Masters or an equivalent level. The thesis presented must constitute a substantial contribution to the national and international advancement of knowledge and understanding in the field of Animal Health through original research that meets international standards.

Rationale

The rationale of the qualification is to provide qualifiers with highly advanced knowledge, specific skills and applied competence in the field of Animal Health. This provision presents opportunities for continued personal intellectual growth, as well as the pursuit of gainful economic activity and the ability to make rewarding contributions to society. The qualification provides Southern Africa with highly qualified animal scientists, with a clear and continuously growing understanding of specialised principles relating to the breeding, nutrition, physiology and management of domesticated and wild animals. They then contribute to the development of new knowledge frameworks for the expansion of the field of Animal Health in general.

Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL)

• Where learners do not meet the minimum admission requirements, RPL grants access to the qualification according to the Recognition of prior learning, credit accumulation and transfer, and assessment (CHE 2016) and the institution's RPL policy. The Faculty of Natural and Agricultural Sciences manages the RPL process.
• The Faculty of Natural and Agricultural Sciences of the institution ensures that quality assurance processes address the specificities of the RPL process and that administrative and support systems, are in place.
• The institution ensures that learners NQF meet Level 9 competencies.

Entry Requirements

The minimum admission requirement for this qualification is

An appropriate Master's qualification, NQF Level 9 in the discipline.

This qualification consists of a compulsory module(s) at NQF Level -10 totalling 360 Credits.

Compulsory Modules at Level 10, 360 Credits

• Thesis, 360 Credits.

After completion of the Doctor of Philosophy in Animal Health, learners should be able to demonstrate the achievement of the following specific and critical cross-field outcomes:

Specific outcomes

• Demonstrate a depth of knowledge and high levels of theoretical understanding in a complex and specialised area of Animal Health.
• Demonstrate intellectual independence and advanced research skills through the ability to apply sophisticated knowledge and research methodologies for the solution of complex, unfamiliar problems in the field of Animal Health and the competence to integrate and apply theoretical knowledge and research findings within relevant local and global contexts as well as across disciplines.
• Demonstrate knowledge and understanding of the specialised skills regarding the production, breeding, nutrition, physiology and management of domesticated and wild animals in different production systems.
• Demonstrate the ability to provide innovative solutions regarding the production, breeding, nutrition, physiology and management of domesticated and wild animals, as well as the factors influencing the quality of animal products.
• Question and create responses to problems that expand or redefine existing knowledge and extend the boundaries of Animal Health knowledge.
• Deal with complexity, lacunae and contradictions in the knowledge base of Animal Health.
• Autonomously generate, synthesise and evaluate information and concepts at highly abstract levels and make sound evaluations based on independently generated criteria.
• Show mastery of the literature and state of research in a specific area.
• Demonstrate research leadership within a field or across disciplines, including the ability to plan, resource, manage and optimise all aspects of research processes engaged in, within complex and unpredictable contexts.
• Demonstrate high levels of responsibility, self-reflexivity and adaptability, concerning the ethical implications of research, the determination of socially relevant issues and research needs in South Africa, and the ability to relate these issues to international contexts.

The following Associated Assessment Criteria will be used in an integrated manner across Exit Level Outcome

• Generate and display specialised knowledge and high levels of theoretical understanding in a complex and specialised area within the field of Animal Health and across specialised or applied areas and make an original contribution to the knowledge society in the discipline they are researching on;
• Apply and develop intellectual independence and advanced research skills, sophisticated knowledge and research methodologies to the solution of complex, unfamiliar problems in the field of Animal Health;
• Apply and develop competence to integrate and apply theoretical knowledge and research findings within relevant local and global contexts as well as across disciplines in the field of Animal Health;
• Generate, synthesise and evaluate information and concepts at highly abstract levels and make sound evaluations based on independently generated criteria;
• Show mastery of the literature by producing original insights into new and complex ideas, information and issues in a specific area of the field of Animal Health;
• Plan, resource, manage and optimise all aspects of research processes within complex and unpredictable contexts in the field of Animal Health.

Integrated Assessment

Research proposal defence and feedback from the Research Committee and other feedback from the promoter (supervisor) forms part of Formative Assessment. For Summative Assessment, learners present a thesis in the form of integrated research findings, interpreted and linked to the existing literature but with a level of novelty, across the entire area of investigation.