Doctor of Philosophy in Entomology

The first purpose of the PhD (Entomology) qualification is to provide qualifiers with higher expert post-graduate-level knowledge, specific skills and applied competence in a number of fields of entomological science that provide for continued personal intellectual growth, gainful economic activity and rewarding contributions to society.

Its second purpose is to provide the nation with Doctoral graduates in the entomological sciences in order to ensure that the local leadership base of innovative and knowledge-based economic and scholarly activity and expertise is consolidated, strengthened and widened. Such graduates can feed into the country's needs for high - level scientists and managers in the spheres of entomology, agriculture, nature conservation, museum collections, biodiversity management and utilization, pest control, and ethnobiology as well as specialists and experts in sub-fields therein.

The qualification's third purpose is to provide South Africa with a body of high-level teachers at the post-graduate tertiary level who will have gained a clear and continuously growing understanding of the methods and progress of the entomological sciences prior to or after acquiring specific postgraduate teaching qualifications or certification.

Recognition of Prior Learning

Prior accredited learning in the form of a Master of Science-level degree in the form of a M.Sc (Entomology), M.Sc (Botany), MSc (Biological Sciences), MSc (Ecology), MSc (Agriculture) or M.Sc (Zoology) or equivalent where these include a mix of courses, content and/or outcomes deemed appropriate for accreditation.

Where such can be demonstrated and assessed, additional and relevant prior learning may also be recognised.

Exit Level Outcomes

The Ph.D (Entomology) graduate

1. Will demonstrate an in depth understanding of the underlying principles and theories of Entomology and allied sciences as well as the more specialized principles and theories;
2. Will demonstrate a knowledge and understanding of the relevant and pertinent fields as a foundation for the sciences of these fields and will demonstrate an appropriate understanding of cross-disciplinary applications of this knowledge;
3. Will demonstrate a knowledge and understanding of the practical techniques and applications appropriate to the major and specialized course fields;
4. Will demonstrate competence in identifying, seeking, retrieving, synthesising and communicating information of publications quality;
5. Will develop and demonstrate appropriate attitudes, values and an appropriate sense of responsibility as relevant to the component courses and modules;

Assessment Criteria

The Ph.D (Entomology) graduate

1. Will select and use appropriate key concepts and specialized principles in the analysis and interpretation of Entomological problems;

• Will be able to develop or contribute to new theory and specialized Entomological principles;

1. Will use the laws and knowledge of the relevant and pertinent fields in solving problems within those fields and will be able to pursue applications across disciplinary boundaries;

• Will demonstrate the ability to contribute original knowledge to a particular field;

1. Will be able to identify and utilize the appropriate techniques and applications and possibly develop new ones in solving basic and specialized Entomological problems;

• Will be able to independently design, plan and execute advanced experimental investigations and undertake comprehensive surveys and collections;

1. Will be able to interpret their investigations in terms of the relevant theoretical framework and comparative background information;

• Will be able to present in verbal, graphic and written forms, clear, concise reports on their investigations;
• Will be able to prepare manuscripts for submission to peer-reviewed publications;

1. Will conduct all investigations and surveys in a professional manner;

• Will adhere strictly to the principles of unbiased investigation using the appropriate scientific method.
• Will demonstrate the capacity to possibly make original contributions to the values and attitudes in a given field;

Formative Assessment

• background knowledge evaluation
• on-going evaluation throughout
• regular reporting
• review of drafts
• learner attitude appraisal

Summative assessment

• examination of thesis