| Code | Faculty | Department |
|---|---|---|
| 08251032 | 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's 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 emphasised 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 cosupervisor(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:
Induction: A two-week orientation at DVTD and Hans Hoheisen. Will include sessions on key computing, library, study and research skills. Aspects of the Research Methodology and Introduction to One Health (2 of the 4 ECTS) modules will also be presented (face-to-face) during this time.
Elective modules: Choose modules to the minimum value of 35 credits from the list of elective modules below ensuring that the following is adhered to:
Theory-based elective modules:
Choose two modules from the following list of theory-based modules: AHE 812, AHE 813, AHE 814, AHE 815, AHE 816, EPL 803,GVD 815, OHB 815, OHB 816 and TBD 815.
Skills-based elective modules:
In consultation with the HED and study leader, a maximum of two skills-based elective modules be may selected from the following: ASR 813, AVB 820, AVH 815, AVV 820, EPL 804, TCK 815 and VMB 820.
Module content:
This module deals with basic concepts and principles of zoonoses with a clear focus on wildlife/livestock/human interactions. Key drivers, contributing underlying factors as well as impacts of zoonoses will be investigated against the background of socio-economic determinants, the environment, animal husbandry practices; integrated intervention tools and strategies; integrated medical and veterinary data collection, cultural perceptions and advocacy and policy development.
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:
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:
(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:
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:
(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:
The module is organised in 3 learning blocks including an assessment at the end of the 3rd week.
In the first block ‘Introduction to the globalisation and health nexus’, students will be familiarised with practical and theoretical debates about processes of globalisation, the global political economy, power and how these processes impact on health and people’s access to health services in very different settings.
In the second block ‘Global health governance and its paradigms’ we examine in detail the respective approaches, actors and their interrelations that are most prominent in global health policy and cooperation. These approaches (paradigms) include trade; security, economic development; public health; humanitarian aid and poverty reduction; human rights and equity; planetary boundaries and climate change.
In the second and third block ‘Persistent problems, new challenges’ we will focus on specific case studies such as, commercial determinants of NCD’s, health workforce migration; the adaptation in communities to innovation and the introduction of modern diagnostics; urban health and environmental pollution; different perspective on sexual and reproductive health rights. Deconstructing the different paradigms, learning from the different case-studies will deepen the understanding of the globalisation and health nexus, including pathways, the governance and actions to overcome/tackle them.The role of (global) civil society and local actors in reducing global health equity will also be discussed.
Module content:
A set of interdisciplinary sessions will assist the students to gain new insights in outbreak investigation and research which can support outbreak control.
In the first part of the module, emphasis will be on introducing the different theoretical and operational concepts, using exercises to practice hands-on skills, such as
In the second part, we will go more in depth by unravelling research opportunities and discussing the challenges, the specificities and impact of investigations and research during outbreaks through disease-specific examples. We will discuss infectious disease outbreaks of rare pathogens (e.g. Ebola), often neglected outbreaks (e.g. Cholera), nosocomial outbreaks (e.g. Antimicrobial resistance -related), vector-borne disease outbreaks (e.g. Chikungunya), as well as discuss Covid-19 related investigations and research. In all examples we will focus on multi- and interdisciplinarity in outbreak investigation, control and research.
Module content:
MID is a module for molecular biologists on the implementation of molecular techniques, and more specifically the use of molecular data in tropical lowresource settings. In MID, molecular techniques and data are discussed in the context of clinical and epidemiological field studies on infectious diseases.
Pathogen and vector identity, dynamics, and transmission often form an integral part of such studies. These phenomena can be documented using DNA and RNA techniques. Despite rapid advancements in molecular methods, their implementation in low-resource environments often remains cumbersome due to logistic, financial, and human resource constraints. MID focusses on the selection and analysis of appropriate assays and their implementation in a particular research setting.
Participants work in small groups to critically discuss peer-reviewed papers and to develop their own protocol and implementation plan. The focus of the module is to select and validate an appropriate molecular method in the study context, and to implement that method in the given setting for optimal qualitative data acquisition and analysis.
Module content:
Skills training
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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