Master of Science in Zoology

The first purpose of the Master of Science (Zoology) qualification is to provide qualifiers with mid post-graduate-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 Masters graduates in the zoological sciences in order to ensure that the local leadership base of innovative and knowledge based economic and scholarly activity is consolidated, strengthened and widened. Such graduates can feed into the country 's needs for higher-level scientists and managers in the spheres of fisheries, nature conservation, museum collections, environmental management, pest control, ethnobiology, biodiversity utilization, taxonomy, game farming and ecotourism as well as specialists in sub-fields therein.

The qualification 's third purpose is to provide South Africa with a body of higher-level teachers at the tertiary level who will have gained a clear and continuously growing understanding of the methods and progress of biological sciences and environmental education in general and zoological science in particular prior to acquiring specific postgraduate teaching qualifications.

Recognition of Prior Learning

Prior accredited learning in the form of a Bachelor of Science (Honours)-level degree in the form of a B. Sc (Hons) (Entomology), B. Sc (Hons) (Biological Sciences), B. Sc (Hons) (Ecology) or B. Sc (Zoology )or equivalent where these include a mix of courses and outcomes deemed appropriate for accreditation.

Where such can be demonstrated and assessed, additional and relevant prior learning may also be recognised.

Exit level outcomes

The M. Sc (Zoology) graduate

1. will demonstrate an in depth understanding of the fundamentals, and major principles and theories of Zoology and allied sciences as well as the more specialized principles and theories;
2. Will demonstrate a knowledge and understanding of the relevant and pertinent fields as a foundation for 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 specialized 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

The MSc (Zoology) graduate

1. Will select and use fundamentals, key concepts and specialized principles in the analysis and interpretation of Zoological problems;

• Will be able to explain fundamentals, key concepts 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;
2. Will be able to identify and utilize the appropriate techniques and applications in solving basic and specialized Zoological problems;

• Will be able to independently design, plan and execute basic and more advanced experimental investigations and undertake surveys and collections to a level appropriate to the degree;

1. Will be able to interpret their investigations in terms of relevant, comparative background information;

• Will be able to present in verbal, graphic and written forms, clear, concise reports on their investigations;
• Will be able to prepare manuscripts for submission to peer-review 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.

Formative assessment

background knowledge evaluation

on-going evaluation throughout

regular reporting

review of drafts

learner attitude appraisal

Summative assessment

examination of dissertation