Master of Science in Anatomy

Purpose

Human Anatomy is a highly specialised field, with many research opportunities, such as Physical Anthropology, the Anatomy of Human Anatomical Variation, Comparative Anatomy, Surgical and Radiological Anatomy, to name but a few.

The explosive development of new technologies during the past few years has created a growing demand in academia, the public sector, the private sector, and industry for suitably trained scientists who are skilled in conducting research and development in specialised fields such as Applied and Surgical Anatomy, Comparative Anatomy, Physical Anthropology, Preservation Techniques, Histological Techniques, Laser Microdissection; Microphotography; and Flow Cytometry.

The Master of Science in Human Anatomy (MSc HA) builds on the Bachelor of Science Honours in Human Anatomy and will equip the learner for further studies towards a professional and/or academic career as a medical scientist.

Rationale

There is a world-wide shortage of appropriately qualified Anatomists. The Division of Anatomy and Histology in the Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences at Stellenbosch University has a Bachelor of Science in Histology Degree in place with 2 - 4 students per year. Since 2011 the division has offered Anatomy as a major Bachelor of Science direction (35 students) and is only one of two institutions in South Africa currently educating Anatomists. A significant number of current students (15 out of a class of 35) has expressed interest in pursuing Human Anatomy as a Postgraduate discipline, which has necessitated in the development of Postgraduate programmes in Human Anatomy.

Since 2010 the Division has developed partnerships with 12 international manufacturers of surgical equipment, inter alia, Accumed, Medtronic, Johnson and Johnson, Kyhpomed, Zimmer, Smith and Nephew, Stryker, Storz, Customed, Adcock-Ingram and Bicifix as a venue of preference for cadaver workshops for the weekly retraining of Specialists in Orthopaedics (shoulders, hips, knees, ankles and elbows), Neurosurgery (brain and spinal reconstruction), Obstetrics and Gynaecology (laporoscopic Hysterectomy), Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery (skin flap reconstruction of the nose). The common denominator in all the workshops is that surgeons need to know their anatomy. Graduates in the MSc H A (and later PhD) are in acute demand by the aforementioned companies and interdepartmental co-operation with clinical departments, e.g., Radiodiagnosis.

This qualification will also appeal to a wide spectrum of graduates with an interest in the anatomical sciences and its specific applications in basic and applied research in the health sciences.

Specific outreach activities including an interactive museum for morphological sciences, public awareness projects and recruitment and marketing strategies have been initiated so that learners, including under-graduates, are given exposure to the scope of activities and career opportunities in the morphological health sciences.

It makes provision for learners with specific learning support requirements. Such learners will be identified for extra tutorials and/or devoted personal attention and relevant support in learning and writing skills and computer literacy.

Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL)

The Master of Science in Human Anatomy conforms to the University's Policy for the Assessment and Recognition of Prior Learning (ARPL) as well as the ARPL policy of the Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences.

The policy defines the process that must be followed in the assessment of an application for Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) at Postgraduate level and provides information pertaining to assessment tools that can be used in the assessment of RPL applications. The APRL process is subjected to the Faculty's quality assurance process.

Entry Requirements

The applicant must be in possession of a suitable Bachelor Honours Degree, such as a Bachelor of Science Honours in Human Anatomy, that has the appropriate number of credits at NQF Level 8.

Applicants with other major subjects in sciences at Honours level may be admitted based on a motivation and/or successful completion of an admission examination.

This Master of Science in Histology and Anatomy requires the successful completion of a single advanced research project culminating in the production and acceptance of a thesis worth 180 Credits at NQF Level 9.

1. Demonstrate advanced application of concepts, ethics, theories and analytical processes and access, analyse, organise and critically evaluate existing knowledge.
2. Engage in independent research and produce findings in the form of a research report from a range of appropriate research designs, methods, techniques and technologies in the chosen focus area.
3. Demonstrate in-depth understanding of own position in relation to major debates within the chosen field.
4. Demonstrate specialist forefront knowledge and expertise in the chosen field and the competency to apply these creatively within the chosen field.
5. Critically analyse and evaluate the outcomes of interventions, techniques, strategies or processes in the chosen field.

The following Assessment Criteria may be applied to individual, several or all of the Exit Level Outcomes

• Personal self-development with emphasis on insight, responsibility, accountability, continued learning, self-criticism, acceptance of criticism from others, and the ability to work independently is consistently demonstrated.
• The ability to work as part of a team and to add value to the larger group through constructive collaboration and cooperation is applied throughout all associated activities.
• Effective communication is demonstrated through competent presentation of information and data by means of oral, audio-visual and written skills and the demonstrating of appropriate graphical, statistical, linguistic and computer proficiency.
• A holistic approach within the context of respect and sensitivity for all other people and the environment is developed and consistently applied.
• Members of the community are regularly educated through the communication of knowledge and results pertinent to health sciences in general and laboratory medicine in particular.
• Familiarity with the opportunities, challenges, requirements and ethical principles that apply to research and good laboratory practice in the health science professions is developed and consistently applied.

Integrated Assessment

Formative assessments are performed on a monthly basis via a monthly discussion between the programme committee, supervisor and each individual learner, where the following issues are discussed:

• Objectives for the period under review.
• Candidate's self-assessment of the learning experience.
• Supervisor's assessment of the learning experience.
• Progress with research project.
• Head of Division's comments.
• Candidate's activity plan for the next month.

Learners must complete the research project at the appropriate level - to the satisfaction of the programme committee

• The initial research protocol must be approved by the relevant Divisional and/or Departmental Research Committee.
• The progress of the experimental work must be continuously monitored by the supervisor(s).
• The learner must make an oral presentation of the completed research project.

This process helps to identify specific weaknesses in the student's knowledge before engaging in a formal assessment process.