Bachelor of Medical Science Honours in Exercise Science
Health Sciences and Social Services - Preventive Health
Purpose and Rationale
The qualification offered is designed to act as a gateway to higher Degrees at South African universities by combining various modules categorized as 'fundamental learning', 'core learning', and 'elective learning.' The program allows candidates to choose from a selection of modules that align with their academic and career goals to supplement their development. Didactic modules focus on current topics in human biology and disease mechanisms, including mandatory modules on 'Techniques', 'Principles of good scientific investigation', 'Scientific writing and platform presentation', and 'Ethics in Research.'
Candidates can specialize in themes such as Infectious Diseases and Immunology, Human Genetics, Cell Biology, Pharmacology, and Radiobiology. They are required to choose their research project discipline early on and select appropriate modules from 'fundamental', 'core', and 'elective' categories accordingly.
The primary objective of the qualification is to provide graduates with a comprehensive mix of specialized subject modules, technologies, and skills that leverage their existing knowledge in biological and medical sciences. This aims to support their personal growth, economic activity, and societal contributions. Additionally, the qualification aims to enhance the skill set of university graduates, enabling them to confidently pursue higher Degree programs or pursue science-related employment at both theoretical and practical levels.
Lastly, the qualification aims to equip graduates with the necessary skills and knowledge to adapt to the evolving landscape of medical and biological sciences effectively.
Outcomes
- Demonstrate proficiency in specific contextual research methodologies and technology towards application in a problem-based setting.
- Organise and manage oneself and one's activities responsibly and effectively, as demonstrated in effective maintenance of laboratory records.
- Use science and technology effectively and critically, showing responsibility towards the environment and health of others.
- Understand and apply ethics of using genetic information and understand the basics of confidentiality.
Assessment Criteria
Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 1:
- Define a problem and formulate a hypothesis.
- Describe ways to test the hypothesis.
- Design an experiment that will lead to meaningful results.
- Conduct experiments, with reasonable technical competence in a range of techniques appropriate to the disciplines.
- Recognise the importance of lab safety issues.
- Show ability to work independently and produce meaningful results.
- Interpret results at Honours level study.
- Discuss and integrate data with general scientific literature.
- Present research results to scientific audiences at Honours Degree level, both orally and in written dissertation.
Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 2:
- Access literature, review and summarise progress in specific fields using combinations of library and informatics resources.
- Communicating effectively using visual and language skills in the modes of oral and/or written persuasion.
- Identify and solve problems in which responses display reasoning with evidence of critical and creative thinking.
Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 3:
- Write essays on the application of specialist topics in the medical field concerned.
- Critically evaluate scientific literature on specialist topics-this will be assessed during journal club presentations and in exams and tests.
- Communicate acquired specialist knowledge and insight both orally and in written form.
- Access and utilise electronic information in the discipline concerned.
Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 4:
- Understand and apply the ethics of animal use in research, if this applies to the discipline concerned.
- Understand and comply with laws of copyright protection.
- Take responsibility within own limits of competence.
- Demonstrate ability to work as a team and to show sensitivity to colleagues and demonstrate tolerance in the workplace.
Integrated Assessment:
- Integrated Assessment is designed to collect evidence from the candidate to demonstrate that the purpose(s) of the programme as a whole has been achieved and that the Exit Level Outcomes have been attained.
- Assessment methods will include formal examination, review of essays and/or oral presentations or other written assignments where appropriate, and a review of a mini-dissertation on the laboratory research module.
- Integrated Assessment will take into account elements of scientific literacy, numeric and computer literacy relevant to the study area.
- Module examination of a two-hour examination.
- Two literature reviews (essays) on current topics relevant to the module.
- Submission of a mini dissertation, e.g. covering the laboratory project, written as a scientific paper, a week before the final examination.
- An oral examination that will involve questions on the theoretical and practical aspects of the Honours programme conducted by three examiners, one of whom is external to the university.
- The overall pass mark is 50%.
Qualification Details
- Type
- Honours Degree
- NQF Level
- 08
- Min. Credits
- 120
- SAQA Source
- More Information
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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.