Doctor of Philosophy in Public Health Nutrition

Purpose

This Doctor of Philosophy: Public Health Nutrition encourages advanced intellectual achievement in the form of productive scholarship and research in the field of Public Health Nutrition. The aim is to promote the application of nutritional knowledge and research for the improvement of the health of the population. Perspectives will be gained in:

• How public policy affects health and how to effect policy change.
• The design of national programmes/projects to improve the nutritional status of the population as a whole and those at risk in particular.
• The social and behavioural factors that impact on health in general and nutritional factors, specifically.
• The design and implementation of programmes/projects to improve the institutional status of the population as a whole, or that of subgroups within various populations.

Rationale

No doctoral programme exists in the discipline of Public Health Nutrition in Limpopo, as is found in the Provinces of Gauteng, KwaZulu-Natal, Free State and Western Cape. This qualification will offer opportunities to address problems specific to Limpopo in the area of nutrition and health. Limpopo Province is mostly rural and has high rates of malnutrition and a proportionately higher population of women; (54% as per Stats SA, 2003), with high levels of unemployment and poverty, particularly amongst women. The research to be conducted in areas such as Child and Maternal Nutrition, will contribute greatly to the solving of regional and, by implication, national problems. The institution is engaged in the production of knowledge through engagement in research. This qualification will also contribute to improvement of the research output and capacity-building for the institution.

It is assumed that learners have mastered the required research methods and techniques, are able to carry out independent research and have the required language skills to write a doctoral thesis.

Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL)

Access to this Doctoral Degree could be granted to learners not in possession of a relevant Master's Degree 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.

Access to Qualification

An appropriate Master's Degree in the field of Public Health Nutrition is required. Alternatively, conferment of status may be granted through an internal evaluation process in alignment with institutional policies; or recognition of prior learning granted through an internal process.

The Doctoral Degree is awarded on production and submission of an original thesis that has been assessed, suitably published and accepted by relevant peers.

1. Demonstrate in-depth knowledge in a nutritional science area.
2. Demonstrate competence in intellectual creativity.
3. Demonstrate visionary skills in research.
4. Show leadership in nutrition and research education.
5. Utilise basic science skills to analyse nutrition related problems.
6. Acquire technical and theoretical competencies to establish a research programme.
7. Critically analyse nutrition research results and indicate how these relate to good health.
8. Critically analyse the impact of nutrition intervention strategies on the public's health status.
9. Critically analyse the role of the World Health Organisation (WHO) and the Food and Agricultural Organisation (FAO) Position Statements on nutrition as a science and its relevance with regard to South Africa.
10. Introduce an original thesis bases on own independent research findings that meets the international academic requirements.

Critical Cross-Field Outcomes

All the Critical Cross-Field Outcomes are addressed in this qualification.

The following Assessment Criteria are generic and each applies to some or all of the Exit Level Outcomes

• Expertise and critical knowledge in the field of Public Health Nutrition is demonstrated.
• New research initiatives are conceptualised and new knowledge or practice in Public Health Nutrition is created.
• Intellectual independence, research leadership and management of research and research development in an ethical and accountable manner in Public Health Nutrition is demonstrated.
• New methods, techniques, processes, systems or technologies are developed in original, creative and innovative ways appropriate to specialised and complex contexts within Public Health Nutrition.
• Specialist knowledge and theory is applied in critically reflexive, creative and novel ways to address complex practical and theoretical problems in Public Health Nutrition.
• Substantial, independent, in-depth and publishable work that meets international standards is considered to be new or innovative by peers and makes a significant contribution to Public Health Nutrition, is produced and disseminated.

Integrated Assessment

For this qualification, only summative assessment of the end-product, which is a thesis, will apply, whereby the examiners grade the thesis in accordance with the assessment criteria set for the qualification.