Doctor of Philosophy in Public Health

• To provide learners with in-depth knowledge, advanced skills and applied competence in Public Health that provide opportunities for continued personal intellectual growth, gainful economic activity and rewarding contributions to society.
• To provide South Africa with a critical mass of highly skilled person power in Public Health to ensure that the country attains a competitive edge in Public Health Knowledge and innovation.
• To enhance the capacity of learners to act as change agents in the health system, to promote public health and prevent disease, to develop improved public health policies and practices, to develop improved public health research capacity.

Rationale

The main aim of the qualification, established at this institution in 1992 is to contribute to the transformation of the health sector, from a curative, hospital-based service to quality, comprehensive, community-based system, through developing and strengthening public health practice. Public Health is rightly emerging as one of the key pillars of the health system in South Africa. However, at present, there is a dearth of health professionals trained in Public Health. There is a clear need to fill this void.

Recognition of Prior Learning

Access to the qualification can also be provided in terms of the institution's Recognition of Prior Learning policy and its admission criteria stipulated by Senate. In the Recognition of Prior Learning process learners have to undergo a Portfolio Development Course to support the learner's admission. The Portfolio Development Course will focus on written submission explaining the reasons for the learner's interest in Public health as an adjunct to their existing professional competencies and indicating the nature of a possible research project.

Entry Requirements

The minimum entry requirement for this qualification is

• Master of Arts in Public Health, NQF Level 9.

Minimum credits required at specific levels

• 240 credits for the research thesis are at NQF Level 8 of the National Qualifications Framework.

Duration: 2 years.

Total credits: 240.

1. Display expert, highly specialised scholastic and advanced research skills in Public Health and be able to perform complex and highly advanced procedures across health disciplines in highly specialised and unpredictable contexts.
2. Possess in-depth knowledge in a complex and specialised area of Public Health, be capable of information processing at the level of generation, evaluation and synthesis of highly abstract information and concepts; and be capable of creating responses to abstract problems that expand or redefine existing knowledge.
3. Communicate effectively, in both oral and written modes, with peers and the broader community using the appropriate structure, style and graphic support.

Integrated Assessment

Learners will present a formal research proposal for the qualification by the end of their first year. This will be assessed by a committee of at least three professors, one of which must be external. Learners will complete a research project to be presented as a thesis.