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SOUTH AFRICAN QUALIFICATIONS AUTHORITY 
REGISTERED QUALIFICATION: 

Master of Science in Anatomy 
SAQA QUAL ID QUALIFICATION TITLE
118490  Master of Science in Anatomy 
ORIGINATOR
Stellenbosch University 
PRIMARY OR DELEGATED QUALITY ASSURANCE FUNCTIONARY NQF SUB-FRAMEWORK
-   HEQSF - Higher Education Qualifications Sub-framework 
QUALIFICATION TYPE FIELD SUBFIELD
Master's Degree  Field 09 - Health Sciences and Social Services  Promotive Health and Developmental Services 
ABET BAND MINIMUM CREDITS PRE-2009 NQF LEVEL NQF LEVEL QUAL CLASS
Undefined  180  Not Applicable  NQF Level 09  Regular-Provider-ELOAC 
REGISTRATION STATUS SAQA DECISION NUMBER REGISTRATION START DATE REGISTRATION END DATE
Reregistered  EXCO 0821/24  2021-07-01  2027-06-30 
LAST DATE FOR ENROLMENT LAST DATE FOR ACHIEVEMENT
2028-06-30   2031-06-30  

In all of the tables in this document, both the pre-2009 NQF Level and the NQF Level is shown. In the text (purpose statements, qualification rules, etc), any references to NQF Levels are to the pre-2009 levels unless specifically stated otherwise.  

This qualification replaces: 
Qual ID Qualification Title Pre-2009 NQF Level NQF Level Min Credits Replacement Status
93693  Master of Science in Human Anatomy  Not Applicable  NQF Level 09  180  Complete 

PURPOSE AND RATIONALE OF THE QUALIFICATION 
Purpose:
Human Anatomy is a highly specialised field, with many research opportunities, such as Physical Anthropology, the Anatomy of Human Anatomical Variation, Comparative Anatomy, Surgical and Radiological Anatomy, to name but a few.

The explosive development of new technologies during the past few years has created a growing demand in academia, the public sector, the private sector, and industry for suitably trained scientists who are skilled in conducting research and development in specialised fields such as Applied and Surgical Anatomy, Comparative Anatomy, Physical Anthropology, Preservation Techniques, Histological Techniques, Laser Microdissection; Microphotography; and Flow Cytometry.

The Master of Science in Human Anatomy (MSc HA) builds on the Bachelor of Science Honours in Human Anatomy and will equip the learner for further studies towards a professional and/or academic career as a medical scientist.

Rationale:
There is a world-wide shortage of appropriately qualified Anatomists. The Division of Anatomy and Histology in the Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences at Stellenbosch University has a Bachelor of Science in Histology Degree in place with 2 - 4 students per year. Since 2011 the division has offered Anatomy as a major Bachelor of Science direction (35 students) and is only one of two institutions in South Africa currently educating Anatomists. A significant number of current students (15 out of a class of 35) has expressed interest in pursuing Human Anatomy as a Postgraduate discipline, which has necessitated in the development of Postgraduate programmes in Human Anatomy.

Since 2010 the Division has developed partnerships with 12 international manufacturers of surgical equipment, inter alia, Accumed, Medtronic, Johnson and Johnson, Kyhpomed, Zimmer, Smith and Nephew, Stryker, Storz, Customed, Adcock-Ingram and Bicifix as a venue of preference for cadaver workshops for the weekly retraining of Specialists in Orthopaedics (shoulders, hips, knees, ankles and elbows), Neurosurgery (brain and spinal reconstruction), Obstetrics and Gynaecology (laporoscopic Hysterectomy), Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery (skin flap reconstruction of the nose). The common denominator in all the workshops is that surgeons need to know their anatomy. Graduates in the MSc H A (and later PhD) are in acute demand by the aforementioned companies and interdepartmental co-operation with clinical departments, e.g., Radiodiagnosis.

This qualification will also appeal to a wide spectrum of graduates with an interest in the anatomical sciences and its specific applications in basic and applied research in the health sciences.

Specific outreach activities including an interactive museum for morphological sciences, public awareness projects and recruitment and marketing strategies have been initiated so that learners, including under-graduates, are given exposure to the scope of activities and career opportunities in the morphological health sciences.

It makes provision for learners with specific learning support requirements. Such learners will be identified for extra tutorials and/or devoted personal attention and relevant support in learning and writing skills and computer literacy. 

LEARNING ASSUMED TO BE IN PLACE AND RECOGNITION OF PRIOR LEARNING 
Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL):
The Master of Science in Human Anatomy conforms to the University's Policy for the Assessment and Recognition of Prior Learning (ARPL) as well as the ARPL policy of the Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences.

The policy defines the process that must be followed in the assessment of an application for Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) at Postgraduate level and provides information pertaining to assessment tools that can be used in the assessment of RPL applications. The APRL process is subjected to the Faculty's quality assurance process.

Entry Requirements:
The applicant must be in possession of a suitable Bachelor Honours Degree, such as a Bachelor of Science Honours in Human Anatomy, that has the appropriate number of credits at NQF Level 8.

Applicants with other major subjects in sciences at Honours level may be admitted based on a motivation and/or successful completion of an admission examination. 

RECOGNISE PREVIOUS LEARNING? 
Y 

QUALIFICATION RULES 
This Master of Science in Histology and Anatomy requires the successful completion of a single advanced research project culminating in the production and acceptance of a thesis worth 180 Credits at NQF Level 9. 

EXIT LEVEL OUTCOMES 
1. Demonstrate advanced application of concepts, ethics, theories and analytical processes and access, analyse, organise and critically evaluate existing knowledge.
2. Engage in independent research and produce findings in the form of a research report from a range of appropriate research designs, methods, techniques and technologies in the chosen focus area.
3. Demonstrate in-depth understanding of own position in relation to major debates within the chosen field.
4. Demonstrate specialist forefront knowledge and expertise in the chosen field and the competency to apply these creatively within the chosen field.
5. Critically analyse and evaluate the outcomes of interventions, techniques, strategies or processes in the chosen field. 

ASSOCIATED ASSESSMENT CRITERIA 
The following Assessment Criteria may be applied to individual, several or all of the Exit Level Outcomes:
  • Personal self-development with emphasis on insight, responsibility, accountability, continued learning, self-criticism, acceptance of criticism from others, and the ability to work independently is consistently demonstrated.
  • The ability to work as part of a team and to add value to the larger group through constructive collaboration and cooperation is applied throughout all associated activities.
  • Effective communication is demonstrated through competent presentation of information and data by means of oral, audio-visual and written skills and the demonstrating of appropriate graphical, statistical, linguistic and computer proficiency.
  • A holistic approach within the context of respect and sensitivity for all other people and the environment is developed and consistently applied.
  • Members of the community are regularly educated through the communication of knowledge and results pertinent to health sciences in general and laboratory medicine in particular.
  • Familiarity with the opportunities, challenges, requirements and ethical principles that apply to research and good laboratory practice in the health science professions is developed and consistently applied.

    Integrated Assessment:
    Formative assessments are performed on a monthly basis via a monthly discussion between the programme committee, supervisor and each individual learner, where the following issues are discussed:
  • Objectives for the period under review.
  • Candidate's self-assessment of the learning experience.
  • Supervisor's assessment of the learning experience.
  • Progress with research project.
  • Head of Division's comments.
  • Candidate's activity plan for the next month.

    Learners must complete the research project at the appropriate level - to the satisfaction of the programme committee:
  • The initial research protocol must be approved by the relevant Divisional and/or Departmental Research Committee.
  • The progress of the experimental work must be continuously monitored by the supervisor(s).
  • The learner must make an oral presentation of the completed research project.

    This process helps to identify specific weaknesses in the student's knowledge before engaging in a formal assessment process. 
    		•

    INTERNATIONAL COMPARABILITY 
    The Master of Science Histology and Anatomy was compared to the following qualifications:

    Master of Science in Human Anatomy, University of Edinburgh, Scotland:
    This qualification aims to improve theoretical and practical knowledge of human anatomy and to develop skills as an effective teacher of this subject.
    Learners require a relevant undergraduate Degree in biological, veterinary or medical sciences to access the qualification.

    This qualification has two main strands, viz.:
  • The in-depth study of the anatomy of the human body which involves the dissection of a human body.
  • The development of different methods for teaching human anatomy.

    Complementing these strands will be:
  • A lecture-based embryology course which provides an understanding of normal, human development and how it can go wrong, as manifested in commonly observed congenital abnormalities.
  • Health, safety, and legal aspects of handling the body.
  • An introduction to the ethics of using bodies in medical education.

    Programme structure includes lectures, seminars and tutorials. The dissection component will be largely self-directed, with regular lectures to complement the practical work.

    Opportunity will be given to put into practice what is being learned in the teaching module by teaching learners on the Medical Degree course.

    Guest lectures by experts in their specific field will also be offered to complement the lecture course.

    To gain the Master's Degree, a project that can be library-based, practical, or laboratory-based must be completed.

    Master of Science in Human Anatomy, University of Dundee, Scotland:
    This qualification aims to provide a thorough understanding of all aspects of human anatomy.

    The qualification covers all aspects of human anatomy, including gross anatomy, through whole body dissection, human embryology, neuro-anatomy, histology and cell biology.
    There is also an introduction to anatomical variation and clinical/surgical anatomy.

    Each learner also completes a dissertation or small project.

    Conclusion:
    It is evident that there is a similarity between this qualification and those chosen for comparison purposes.

    In terms of the required research component and theoretical knowledge of this qualification, it complies with the international practice for a Master's Degree. 
    		•

    ARTICULATION OPTIONS 
    Horizontal Articulation:
    This qualifications articulates horizontally with cognate Masters' Degrees at NQF Level 9.

    Vertical Articulation:
    This qualification articulates vertically with a Doctor of Philosophy in Human Anatomy at NQF Level 10. 

    MODERATION OPTIONS 
    N/A 

    CRITERIA FOR THE REGISTRATION OF ASSESSORS 
    N/A 

    NOTES 
    N/A 

    LEARNING PROGRAMMES RECORDED AGAINST THIS QUALIFICATION: 
    When qualifications are replaced, some (but not all) of their learning programmes are moved to the replacement qualifications. If a learning programme appears to be missing from here, please check the replaced qualification.
     
    NONE 


    PROVIDERS CURRENTLY ACCREDITED TO OFFER THIS QUALIFICATION: 
    This information shows the current accreditations (i.e. those not past their accreditation end dates), and is the most complete record available to SAQA as of today. Some Primary or Delegated Quality Assurance Functionaries have a lag in their recording systems for provider accreditation, in turn leading to a lag in notifying SAQA of all the providers that they have accredited to offer qualifications and unit standards, as well as any extensions to accreditation end dates. The relevant Primary or Delegated Quality Assurance Functionary should be notified if a record appears to be missing from here.
     
    NONE 


    All qualifications and part qualifications registered on the National Qualifications Framework are public property. Thus the only payment that can be made for them is for service and reproduction. It is illegal to sell this material for profit. If the material is reproduced or quoted, the South African Qualifications Authority (SAQA) should be acknowledged as the source.