Sefako Makgatho Health Sciences University

Advanced Diploma in Community Dentistry

Health Sciences and Social Services - Curative Health

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Purpose and Rationale

Primary Purpose:

  1. To equip qualifiers with specialized knowledge, skills, and competence in the field of Community Dentistry, enabling them to qualify for managerial positions within the Public Health services.

  2. To supply the public health services of South Africa with auxiliary personnel who are capable of functioning both administratively and clinically at an advanced level.

Subsidiary Purpose:

  • To cultivate individuals who can potentially serve as teaching staff in dental schools across South Africa.

Outcomes

  1. Know how and be able to determine the prevalence and incidence of diseases and abnormalities in a well-circumscribed community.
  2. Know how and be able to identify the factors involved in the natural history of diseases and abnormalities in that community.
  3. Know how and be competent to use the above knowledge and skills to develop a preventive programme that will prevent diseases and abnormalities to that community to the maximum extent possible.
  4. Know how and be competent to manage public health services in that community within the mission and mode of the primary health care systems in the public health services in South Africa.
  5. Know and be able to evaluate the efficiency, effectiveness and cost-effectiveness of the public health services in that community.
  6. Be able to maintain continued competence and to keep abreast of up to date techniques and procedures.
  7. Know the laws and ethical rules and regulations controlling the practice of the health professions in South Africa, with specific reference to the scope and nature of dentistry as set out by the Medical and Dental Professional Board of the Health Professions Council of South Africa.
  8. Know how to engage in lifelong learning through well-developed learning skills.

Assessment Criteria

Integrated Assessment

In order to assess whether the exit-level outcomes have been achieved, a range of formative and summative assessments are conducted throughout the two years of study. These assessments include:

  • Seminars
  • Research projects
  • Practical work in public oral health services
  • Portfolios
  • Written and oral tests and examinations

For knowledge assessment, samples of the qualifier's knowledge are tested for depth and breadth of knowledge. The qualifier must demonstrate, through the above assessment procedures, that they have achieved the NQF level 7 standards.

Qualification Details

Type
Advanced Diploma
NQF Level
07
Min. Credits
120
SAQA Source
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Sefako Makgatho Health Sciences University
Sefako Makgatho Health Sciences University
Description
Sefako Makgatho Health Sciences University (SMU) is a public university located in Pretoria, South Africa. It was established in 2014 and is named after Sefako Makgatho, a former president of the African National Congress. SMU specializes in health sciences education and research, offering a range of undergraduate and postgraduate programs in fields such as medicine, dentistry, nursing, pharmacy, and allied health sciences. The university is committed to producing competent healthcare professionals who can contribute to the improvement of healthcare in South Africa and beyond. SMU places a strong emphasis on community engagement and strives to address the healthcare needs of underserved populations. The university collaborates with various healthcare institutions and organizations to provide practical training opportunities for its students and to conduct research that addresses local health challenges. With its state-of-the-art facilities and dedicated faculty, SMU aims to be a leading institution in health sciences education and research in Africa. It is committed to promoting excellence, innovation, and social accountability in healthcare education and practice.
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This page includes information from the South African Qualifications Authority (SAQA) . Builtneat Pty Ltd trading as Study Start, has modified all or some of this information. SAQA has not approved, endorsed, or tested these modifications.