| Code | Faculty | Department |
|---|---|---|
| 08251030 | Faculty of Veterinary Science | Department: Veterinary Tropical Diseases |
| Credits | Duration | NQF level |
|---|---|---|
| Minimum duration of study: 2 years | Total credits: 180 | NQF level: 09 |
Also consult the General Academic Regulations G30 – G41 and Faculty regulations.
This 2-year master programme is offered by the Department of Veterinary Tropical Diseases of the University of Pretoria (South Africa) in collaboration with the Institute of Tropical Medicine in Belgium.
This degree is offered as a combination of e-learning, face-to-face teaching and a compulsory collaborative induction/field-workshop. It has the following components:
According to the Bologna Bachelor-Master structure, a master’s degree is required to register at ITM. (Note: A four-year BSc degree in the South African context is equivalent to a master’s degree in the Bologna system). Two years of professional experience might be required in certain cases. It remains the prerogative of the head of department (UP) or course director (ITM) to require, in addition to the entrance requirements already mentioned, the successful completion of an admissions test before registration. A student may also be required to pass a proficiency test in English (TOEFL) at an acceptable level. The web-based/online nature of the modules requires basic computer skills in order to successfully participate in the degree programme.
Students are required to confirm whether a module will be presented in any particular year.
A minimum examination mark of 50% is required in each of the modules where a semester or year mark is not required. However, where a semester or year mark is required, the latter will contribute 50% to the final mark. A subminimum of 40% is required in the examination and a final mark of at least 50 % to pass the module. Instructions regarding requirements for semester, year or examination marks are published in the study guides, for the specific attention of candidates.
The MSc coursework degree is conferred by virtue of the successful completion of examinations on the coursework modules and a mini-dissertation.
If a student fails a module, the student will have to repeat the module the following year. A module cannot be repeated more than twice.
Also consult the General Academic Regulation G39.
The coursework master’s degree consists of coursework modules as well as a mini-dissertation which is divided equally between the research and coursework as 90 credits each. It should be emphasized that a mini-dissertation is not a complete research-based master’s dissertation and is of limited scope and extent. The content should cover enough work for a case report or short communication. The basic requirements and Faculty expectations of a coursework master’s degree mini-dissertation are:
Candidates must submit a mini-dissertation which deals with an applied field of study. The topic is determined in consultation with the supervisor and the relevant head of department, and must be approved according to Faculty guidelines. The mini-dissertation is based on an applied research project or related research projects which need not be original), planned and reported by the candidate. Assistance with statistical processing, applied specialised procedures, etc. is allowed, but must be acknowledged.
Research undertaken is conducted in accordance with the University’s Code of ethics for scholarly activities. All research proposals must be submitted for ethics clearance/approval/exemption to the relevant faculty research and/or research ethics committee. Faculty research ethics committees have the authority to consider and approve or reject research proposals within the guidelines of the general policy.
Examinations and pass requirements
The MSc coursework degree is conferred by virtue of the successful completion of examinations on the coursework modules and a mini-dissertation.
The Faculty does make provision for supplementary and special examinations as per General Academic Regulations G37.4 and G37.5.
For the coursework, a minimum examination mark of 50% is required in each of the modules where a semester or year mark is not required. However, where a semester or year mark is required, the latter will contribute 50% to the final mark. A subminimum of 40% is required in the examination and a final mark of at least 50 % to pass the module. Instructions regarding requirements for semester, year or examination marks are published in the study guides, for the specific attention of candidates.
In addition to what is set out above, the following also applies to the coursework modules:
Examinations and pass requirements related to mini-dissertations
Also consult the General Academic Regulation G39 for Preparation and submission of dissertation, Technical editing of the dissertation, Evaluation of the dissertation, Appointment of the examination panel, Criteria for evaluation, Examiners’ reports, Finalisation of reports.
A mini-dissertation is submitted to the Head: Student Administration, before the closing date for the relevant graduation ceremonies as announced annually (i.e. 30 October or 31 March to qualify for the Autumn or Spring graduation, respectively), after permission is granted by the supervisor and co-supervisor(s). (Also consult the General Academic Regulation G39 with regard to the submission and technical editing of the thesis).
If a mini-dissertation is submitted after the due date specified above, the student takes the risk that the examination of the dissertation may be delayed and the student will not be considered for the graduation concerned. A student will only be allowed to graduate if the student has successfully complied with all the requirements for the particular programme.
In addition to what is set out above, the mini-dissertation will include an oral examination conducted face to face or via video conference. The oral examining panel will include an examiner from each institute (excluding the supervisor). A mark constituting a maximum of 10% of the final mini-dissertation mark must be granted. The dissertation will be examined by one internal and one external examiner as stipulated by the UP regulations; this mark will constitute 90% of the final mini-dissertation mark.
The minimum pass mark is 50%. The Dean, on the recommendation of the relevant head of the department, may permit a candidate who has failed, to submit an amended mini-dissertation for final adjudication.
Retention and preservation of research data
Also consult the General Academic Regulations G39.
The data generated through the research conducted must be managed in accordance with the University of Pretoria’s Research Data Management policy and the related Research Data Management procedure.
Non-disclosure of the contents of a study (Embargo): Where part or all of the contents of the master’s study must remain confidential, the supervisor will be required to submit an application in writing to Faculty Postgraduate and Research committee setting out the grounds for such a request and indicating the duration of the period of confidentiality. This period would normally not exceed 2 (two) years. The committee considers the application and either approves it or refers it back to the supervisor. The faculty must keep record of the decisions and the embargo, and the information must be shared with the Department of Library Services.
Compliance with degree requirements and degree privileges
Also consult the General Academic Regulations G40.
Qualification with distinction: A coursework master’s degree is awarded with distinction if a student meets the following requirements:
Module content:
A web-based introductory module in research methodology that includes planning and undertaking a research project or clinical trial, collecting and analysing data, scientific writing, and enabling preparation and presenting of a research protocol.
Module content:
This module deals with the concepts and principles of field and laboratory diagnosis of infectious and parasitic diseases of livestock and wildlife including aspects of specimen collection and shipment, interpretation of laboratory results and basic laboratory management.
Module content:
Compulsory module.
A web-based introductory module in epidemiology that includes general concepts, quantification of disease prevalence and incidence, interpretation of diagnostic test results, basic sampling designs and basic statistics.
Module content:
This module will introduce students to the philosophy and practice of "One Health", an approach that recognises that the health and well-being of humans, domestic animals, wildlife and the ecosystems in which they live and function and intrinsically connected.
Module content:
(elective)
This module will provide students with an understanding of health in particular social-ecological systems, with a focus on understanding the relationship between ecosystem health and infectious diseases of animals and humans, in order to improve disease control policies, ecosystem sustainability, food security and rural development.
Module content:
(elective)
This module will focus on the human dimension of One Health. It introduces an approach to formulate a zoonotic disease control programme. After the module students should be able to explain the disease burden of a particular zoonosis, to develop an epidemiological model, to analyse its broader determinants, to appraise and prioritise possible interventions based on effectiveness, cost, feasibility and acceptability and to identify implementation challenges in a specific public health system’s context.
Module content:
(elective)
This module deals with the concepts and principles of basic animal health management for livestock production and trade in livestock and livestock commodities. There will be a special focus on the management of infectious diseases that have a high impact in terms of international trade because of their detrimental effects on livestock production and health and/or human health. The module will also examine the drivers for emerging and re-emerging diseases with special reference to the livestock/wildlife/human interface.
Module content:
(elective)
Policy is generally defined as a plan of action on the part of a government, business or other organisation intended to influence decisions and actions in a particular direction. This module introduces the key principles in policy making in regard to animal health and trade in livestock or livestock products. It will consider the essentials of “effective” policy creation, the role of science and uncertainty in policy, policy analysis and the role of government versus the private sector in animal health.
Module content:
(elective)
This module deals with the concepts and principles of terrestrial animal (livestock and wildlife) health surveillance; including the design; implementation and evaluation of surveillance system; the data sources; tools and methods available to perform effective surveillance; and the evaluation and analysis of surveillance data. This module will also provide an introduction to geographic information systems (GIS) and provide basic skills on how to use GIS in epidemiological studies.
Module content:
Skills training
The module will enable delegates to develop proficiency in procedures in veterinary immunology and serology, and to implement and standardize different serological techniques with special emphasis on ELISA and FA techniques.
Module content:
Skills training
This module provides an introduction to the basic concepts of veterinary bacteriology, from sampling and handling of specimens to the methods and tools used for isolation and identification of bacteria of veterinary significance in the laboratory.
Module content:
Skills training
This module provides an introduction to the control of helminth infections of economic or public health importance in the tropics. The focus is on transmission of helminths of livestock and on sustainable methods to break the lifecycles. Practical study includes common parasitological techniques and interpretation of parasitological parameters.
Module content:
Skills training
Theoretical and practical study of the use of cell cultures and embryonated chicken eggs for the isolation and identification of viruses.
Module content:
This module builds on the subjects dealt with in the ‘Basic Epidemiology’ module. It includes advanced statistical models (generalised linear model, mixed models, survival analysis) and introduces quantitative risk assessment.
Module content:
Skills training
This module is a hands-on theoretical and practical introduction to epidemiological modelling, including simulation modelling. It assumes successful completion of the basic and applied epidemiology modules.
Module content:
The module gives an overview of the most important vectors and vector borne diseases, their importance and insight on the importance of the biology of the vectors on the transmission of the micro-organisms they transmit.
Module content:
(elective)
This module gives an overview of the economically important ticks and tick-borne parasites of domestic and wild animals, their importance and insight the biology of the vectors on the transmission of the micro-organisms they transmit.
Module content:
Skills training (elective)
The objective of this module is to provide the basic knowledge of the biology, ecology, life-cycles, and importance of ticks. There will be a practical session to acquire the necessary laboratory skills to identify ticks of companion animals, equids, ruminants and wildlife.
Module content:
Skills training
Theoretical and practical study in the principles and applications of PCR, cloning and DNA sequencing techniques.
Module content:
A mini-dissertation must be submitted on an appropriate topic depending on the field of interest of the student. A research project of limited scope must be undertaken and written in the format of a mini-dissertation to fulfil the requirements of the MSc. The research topic is determined in consultation with the supervisor and head of department and the research project must be approved according to Faculty guidelines. Before or together with the mini-dissertation, a student must submit at least one draft article for publication in an acknowledged journal to the Faculty Administration, failing which the degree will not be conferred. The draft article must be based on the research for the mini-dissertation and must be acceptable to the supervisor and meet subsidy requirements.
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