Master of Science in Agriculture

Purpose

• The purpose of the degree is to educate and train researchers who can contribute to the development of knowledge in agricultural fields, at an advanced level, through supervised research.
• Graduates should be able to undertake rigorous research and to communicate the results by means of a dissertation and scientific paper that meets internationally acceptable standards.

Rationale

• Typical learners will be people employed in the agricultural sector with an agricultural qualification who wish to further their qualifications with and advanced degree, through research within the field of Agriculture.
• Learners who complete the degree will be able to conduct independent research in the agricultural sector.
• Agriculture has been identified as one of the major areas for growth in South Africa (Comprehensive Africa Agriculture Development Programme-NEPAD -July 2003 ISBN 0-620-30700-5).
• Agriculture is seen as an area that can help reduce poverty in South Africa (National Skills Development Strategy draft document NSDS 2005-09 (18-19 march 2004)).
• Sustainable livelihoods has been identified by the NRF as one of their focus areas (www.nrf.ac.za).
• This is a research Master's in agricultural fields.
• Qualified learners will be able to enter a doctoral programme.
• The learner will be able to think critically and help solve problems together with communities.
• Learners who qualify will be part of the poverty reduction and household food security initiative in this country.
• There is a need to develop new researchers in agriculture to ensure the relevance of the discipline in addressing South African needs.
• The Agricultural Research Council has identified training of it's researchers at Master's level as a priority.

• Learning is assumed to be in place when a student has been assigned supervisor(s), has developed a research proposal and the proposal has been accepted as the guideline towards the research outcomes.

Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL)

• UNISA has clear RPL policy guidelines (see attachment).
• Formal prior learning requires an appropriate NQF Level 7 qualification and is recognized. Admission to the programme through Non-formal prior learning and informal prior experiential learning will be through rigorous academic evaluation and approved by Senate.

Access to the Qualification

An NQF Level 7 qualification is the minimum requirement for a Masters degree at NQF Level 8. Therefore a prospective student for the Masters of Science in Agriculture must have:

• A Bachelor of Science (Honours) in Agricultural Sciences - NQF Level 7 or Bachelor of Technology in Agricultural Sciences - NQF Level 7 or equivalent degree at NQF Level 7, as approved by the Senate.
• However, a prospective student who has a Bachelor of Technology or any other equivalent will be required to do additional modules as a pre-requisite or co-registration requirement.

This includes level, credits, minimum credits required at specific level and learning components assigned to the qualification:

• This qualification is Masters Degree by research only.
• The student will be required to develop a research proposal, do literature review, conduct research, collect data, process the data, write and present a thesis/dissertation.

1. The graduate will submit a Masters Dissertation on or before the expiry of the 3 year period set for the qualification.
2. Graduates from this programme can:

> Demonstrate a comprehensive and systematic grasp of the discipline's body of knowledge, with specialist knowledge in the area of specialisation.

> Demonstrate an in-depth understanding of research methodologies, technologies and techniques, pertaining to the area of specialisation.

> Demonstrate mastery of the application of research methods technologies and techniques.

> Undertake a research project and write a dissertation and paper under supervision.

> Demonstrate information retrieval and processing skills as well as identification, analysis, synthesis and independent evaluation of qualitative or quantitative data.

> Undertake a study of literature and current research in the area of specialization.

> Effectively present and communicate research findings.

Critical Cross-Fields Outcomes (CCFOs)

• The Masters Degree in Agriculture articulates with other qualifications in other tertiary institutions in South Africa and elsewhere in the world.
• The Qualification Framework Level is recognised as 8 whether it is completed inside or outside Unisa.
• Graduates from this programme may enrol for Doctoral programmes or postgraduate diplomas and certificates, which have a more professional orientation.

Learners will demonstrate their ability and proficiency in each of the outcomes through regular progress research reports approved by the school, a comprehensive externally examined dissertation and successful acceptance of a research paper to an accredited journal. Criteria for evaluating a dissertation will be developed and approved by the Senate. The criteria will show that:

1. The candidate is informed of current literature in the field.
2. The candidate has demonstrated ability to plan and conduct a theoretical and/or experimental investigation.
3. The candidate's attitude to their own work and to current literature in the field is critical, perceptive and constructive.
4. The candidate has adequate skill in scientific writing and knows how to marshal information into a thesis.
5. The candidate's use of English and technical terms is accurate.
6. The candidate's interpretation and analysis of data is accurate.
7. The candidate's presentation of results is clear and accurate.
8. The candidate's has demonstrated the ability to use the relevant methodology, technology and techniques.

Integrated Assessment

• UNISA has the Assessment Policy and related procedures which specify clearly the mechanisms, such as team approach and the use of moderators and second examiners.
• The learner will demonstrate the integration of learning through the submission of the dissertation and scientific paper.
• The research dissertation will be examined by two examiners and provision is made for more examiners in case of a dispute.
• The learner will demonstrate the ability to identify and solve a problem and link research findings to current literature in the field of specialization.