Students will enrol (and pay fees) for both courses BIO5007H and BIO5008W in their first year of registration; where the minor dissertation is not submitted by the February deadline of the subsequent year, the student will be required to enrol (and pay fees) for the minor dissertation component in the subsequent year/s. A handbook of postgraduate studies is available from the Percy Fitzpatrick Institute's website: www.fitzpatrick.uct.ac.za.
90 NQF credits at HEQSF level 9
Convener: Dr Sally Hofmeyr
Course entry requirements: A relevant honours degree or equivalent: students with an honours degree from another discipline may be required to register for an MPhil in Conservation Biology.
Course outline:
This course deals with the conservation and biologically sustainable use of biodiversity. It provides the education and training necessary to identify threatened species, ecosystems and ecological processes, and to develop appropriate measures to reduce the effects of threats to biodiversity. This course is intended for students concerned with both the theory and practice of conservation. The coursework consists of a series of compulsory modules that run from January to August and cover a range of fields of conservation biology: biodiversity basics, philosophy of science and conservation ethics, population ecology and viability analysis, conservation genetics, community ecology, ecosystem/aquatic ecology, invasive species, landscape ecology, GIS and conservation planning, climate change and conservation, resource economics, societies and natural resources, conservation leadership.
Assessment: Each student receives a mark for each of the modules, and the modules are examined in groups during 'open-book' examinations.
Students will enrol (and pay fees) for both courses BIO5007H and BIO5008W in their first year of registration; where the minor dissertation is not submitted by the February deadline of the subsequent year, the student will be required to enrol (and pay fees) for the minor dissertation component in the subsequent year/s. Those students already in possession of a Master's degree, or in exceptional cases those who wish to upgrade to a PhD, may expand a project in accordance with the normal pursuit of that degree at UCT.
90 NQF credits at HEQSF level 9
Convener: Dr Sally Hofmeyr
Course entry requirements: BIO5007H
Course outline:
The research component must be submitted as a minor dissertation for formal examination. It should be completed by the first day of the first semester, which is mid-February.
Assessment: The minor dissertation must be presented for formal examination. The coursework and minor dissertation each count 50% towards the degree; each must be passed separately for the award of the degree.
180 NQF credits at HEQSF level 9
Course outline:
This course consists of an investigation of an approved topic chosen for intensive study by the candidate (student), culminating in the submission of a dissertation. The dissertation shall demonstrate the successful completion of a programme of training in research methods, a thorough understanding of the scientific principles underlying the research and an appropriate acquaintance with the relevant literature. It must be clearly presented and conform to the standards of the department and faculty. The dissertation will usually consist of a report detailing the conduct, and analysis of the results of, research performed under the close guidance of a suitably qualified supervisor/s. The dissertation should be well-conceived and acknowledge earlier research in the field. It should demonstrate the ability to undertake a substantial and informed piece of research, and to collect, organise and analyse material. General rules for this degree may be found at the front of this handbook.
180 NQF credits at HEQSF level 9
Course outline:
This course consists of an investigation of an approved topic chosen for intensive study by the candidate (student), culminating in the submission of a dissertation. The dissertation shall demonstrate the successful completion of a programme of training in research methods, a thorough understanding of the scientific principles underlying the research and an appropriate acquaintance with the relevant literature. It must be clearly presented and conform to the standards of the department and faculty. The dissertation will usually consist of a report detailing the conduct, and analysis of the results of, research performed under the close guidance of a suitably qualified supervisor/s. The dissertation should be well-conceived and acknowledge earlier research in the field. It should demonstrate the ability to undertake a substantial and informed piece of research, and to collect, organise and analyse material. General rules for this degree may be found at the front of the handbook.
Students will enrol (and pay fees) for both courses BIO5012W and BIO5015W in their first year of registration; where the minor dissertation is not submitted by the February deadline of the subsequent year, the student will be required to enrol (and pay fees) for the minor dissertation component in the subsequent year/s.
0 NQF credits at HEQSF level 9
Convener: Associate Professor M Vichi and Dr L Gammage
Course entry requirements: A relevant Honours degree (or equivalent). Students with backgrounds in scientific and engineering disciplines are encouraged to apply.
Co-requisites: The relevant dissertation code from those proposed in the handbook.
Course outline:
This course is convened between the Departments of Biological Sciences and Oceanography. The code BIO5012W represents the overall coursework component and will reflect the overall coursework result. This full time taught master’s course is offered over 13 months, beginning in January each year. It provides interdisciplinary vocational training in applied aspects of oceanography and marine biology for future ocean professionals. The course is designed for both recent graduates as well as those with several years’ work experience and who wish to gain skills to operate in the ocean services sector, focussing on operational and conservational activities, food, water quality and recreation preservation and other aspects of the Blue Economy. The curriculum offers a choice of two streams: Applied Marine Biology (BIO5014F) and Operational Oceanography (SEA5011F), with a common course in Foundations of Applied Ocean Sciences (BIO5013F). In addition, students will choose at least two elective courses, chosen from a range of modules offered in both disciplinary streams. The list and details of the offered courses will be available at registration. Students can choose to register for the minor dissertation in a number of disciplines.
Assessment: Students must pass all coursework components with a subminimum of 40% for the fundamental course BIO5013F and the disciplinary courses (BIO5014F and SEA5011F); an aggregate coursework mark of 50% is required. A composite grade of the performance on the coursework component as a whole will be reflected against the assessment course code BIO5012W. The minor dissertation component is 50% of the degree. The choice of project for the minor dissertation will be determined by prior qualification with the course conveners and supervisors from other Departments. Students may register for a minor dissertation in a range of Departments across the University.
40 NQF credits at HEQSF level 9
Convener: Dr L Gammage
Course entry requirements: A relevant Honours degree (or equivalent). Students with backgrounds in scientific and engineering disciplines are encouraged to apply.
Co-requisites: BIO5014F or SEA5011F depending on the chosen stream. A minor dissertation code chosen from the ones described in the handbook.
Course outline:
The course is composed of 5 separate modules covering the foundational aspects of applied ocean sciences. The first 3 modules provide an intermediate introduction to numerical skills and statistics, scientific computing and data management as well as scientific writing and project management. The last 2 modules give an introduction to descriptive oceanography and marine ecology, including a presentation of marine sampling techniques and data processing in conjunction with a field trip.
Assessment: Every module is assessed independently either with a class test or individual project assignments. The syllabus and the relative weight for each module are described in a handbook that will be made available on the BIO5012W website (hosted by the Marine and Antarctic Research Centre for Innovation and Sustainability).
50 NQF credits at HEQSF level 9
Convener: Dr L Gammage
Course entry requirements: A relevant Honours degree (or equivalent). Students with backgrounds in scientific and engineering disciplines are encouraged to apply.
Co-requisites: BIO5013F and minor dissertation code chosen from the ones listed in the handbook. Changes in the dissertation code are allowed according to the student background and prior to consultation with the course conveners.
Course outline:
The course in Applied Marine Biology focuses on conservation, ecosystem-based management, sustainable utilization and alternative livelihoods such as aquaculture.
Assessment: Every module is assessed independently either with a class test or individual project assignments. The syllabus and the relative weight for each module are described in a handbook that will be made available on the BIO5012W website (hosted by the Marine and Antarctic Research Centre for Innovation and Sustainability).
Students will enrol (and pay fees) for both courses BIO5012Wand BIO5015W in their first year of registration; where the minor dissertation is not submitted by the February deadline of the subsequent year, the student will be required to enrol (and pay fees) for the minor dissertation component in the subsequent year/s.
90 NQF credits at HEQSF level 9
Convener: Associate Professor M Vichi and Dr L Gammage
Course entry requirements: A relevant Honours degree (or equivalent). Students with backgrounds in scientific and engineering disciplines are encouraged to apply.
Co-requisites: BIO5012W, BIO5013F, BIO5014F/SEA5011F
Course outline:
The minor dissertation, which forms 50% of the overall degree, is based on a six-month supervised research project. The choice of project will be determined by the student's prior qualification and in agreement with the course conveners and supervisors. The dissertation should be submitted by mid-February of the following year.
Assessment: The minor dissertation must be presented for formal examination. The coursework and minor dissertation each count 50% towards the degree; each must be passed separately for the award of the degree.