Doctor of Philosophy in Zoology

The first purpose of the Doctor of Philosophy (Zoology) qualification is to provide qualified learners with higher, expert Postgraduate level knowledge, specific skills and applied competence in a number of fields of zoological 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 qualified learners in the Zoological 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 qualified learners can feed into the country's needs for high-level scientists and managers in the spheres of fisheries, nature conservation, museum collections, environmental management, pest control, ethno biology, biodiversity utilization, taxonomy, game farming and eco-tourism 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 give gained a clear and continuously growing understanding of the methods and progress of the zoological sciences prior to or after acquiring specific postgraduate teaching qualifications or certification.

Entry Requirements

The minimum entry requirement for this qualification is

• Master of Science in Zoology, NQF Level 9.

Exit Level Outcomes

1. Will demonstrate an in-depth understanding of the underlying principles and theories of zoology and allied sciences as well as the more specialised principles and theories;
2. Will demonstrate a knowledge and understanding of the relevant and pertinent fields as a foundation of 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 specialised course fields;
4. Will demonstrate competence in identifying, seeking, retrieving, synthesising and communicating information of publication 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

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

• Will be able to develop or contribute to new theory and specialized zoological 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 specialised Zoological problems;

• Will be able to independently design, plan and execute advanced experimental investigations and undertake comprehensive surveys and collections;
• Will be able to interpret their investigations in terms of the relevant theoretical framework and comparative background information.

1. Will be able to present in verbal, graphic and written forms, clear, concise reports on their investigation;

• 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.