Universities and Online Degrees Guide

Stellenbosch University

Master of Philosophy in Emergency Medicine

The Master of Philosophy in Emergency Medicine in Health Professions is offered by Stellenbosch University.

Program Length: 2 YEARS.

Master of Philosophy in Emergency Medicine offered by Stellenbosch University at the Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences

Non-communicable diseases are claiming ever bigger health tolls, especially in sub-Saharan Africa. Emergency Medicine is still a relatively new speciality with very few specialists in South Africa, and even fewer on the rest of the continent. In addition, the Emergency Centre is the entry point of the sickest individuals into the health care system, resulting in the bulk of the care currently being delivered by non-specialised staff. This MPhil programme is aimed at improving the skills of doctors, paramedics and nurses to optimise care in the emergency environment.

The programme is completed by means of coursework and a research assignment/thesis.

There are three main streams:

• Clinical Emergency Care for doctors, nurses and paramedics in emergency care, including a 60-credit assignment;
• African Emergency Care for qualified doctors, including a 90-credit thesis; and
• Patient Safety and Clinical Decision-making for doctors, nurses and paramedics. Two options are available: Option A (with a 60-credit assignment) and Option B (with a 90-credit thesis).

Programme content
Main stream A - Clinical Emergency Care

First year

Compulsory modules

Clinical Research Methods I (15)
Clinical Emergency Care I (15)
Clinical Emergency Care II (15)

Elective modules

Choose two of the following modules.

Disaster Medicine (15)
Education and Training in Emergency Care (15)
Ambulatory Care and Travel Medicine (15)
Management and Leadership (15)
Disaster Medical Response Training (15)

Second year

Compulsory modules

Clinical Research Methods II (15)
Health Care Systems (15)
Resuscitation and Critical Care (15)
Assignment (Emergency Medicine) (60) *
* The research assignment is completed over the course of the two years.

Main stream B - African Emergency Care

First year

Compulsory modules

Clinical Research Methods I (15)
African Emergency Care (15)

Elective modules

Choose two of the following modules.

Disaster Medicine (15)
Education and Training in Emergency Care (15)
Management and Leadership (15)
Disaster Medical Response Training (15)

Second year

Compulsory modules

Clinical Research Methods II (15)
Health Care Systems (15)
Thesis (Emergency Medicine) (90) *
* The thesis is completed over the course of the two years.

Main stream C - Patient Safety and Clinical Decision-making (Option A)

First year

Compulsory modules

Clinical Research Methods I (15)
Health Care Systems (15)
Patient Safety and Flow (15)
Critical Thinking in Emergency Care (15)

Second year

Compulsory modules

Clinical Research Methods II (15)
Continuous Quality Improvement (15)
Education and Training in Emergency Care (15)
Management and Leadership (15)
Assignment (Emergency Medicine) (60) *
* The research assignment is completed over the course of the two years.

Main stream C - Patient Safety and Clinical Decision-making (Option B)

First year

Compulsory modules

Clinical Research Methods I871(15)Health Care Systems871(15)Patient Safety and Flow871(15)Critical Thinking in Emergency Care871(15)

 

Second year

Compulsory modules

Clinical Research Methods II (15)
Thesis (Emergency Medicine) (90) *
* The thesis is completed over the course of the two years.

Elective modules

Choose one of the following modules.

Education and Training in Emergency Care (15)
Continuous Quality Improvement (15)
Management and Leadership (15)

Assessment and examination

• Satisfactory completion of a self-reflection portfolio of clinical experience submitted to the Division at specified times, as outlined in portfolio guidelines.
• Depending on the module combinations, you may be required to pass certain first-year modules before being allowed to enrol in second-year modules.
• Assessment is done by means of assignments, skills sessions, tests and examinations, among others.
• Flexible assessment is applicable to all modules.
• You must pass each module with a minimum mark of 50% for both formative and summative assessment.
• You must submit a satisfactory research assignment demonstrating your ability to conduct an independent scientific investigation, to interpret the results and to make deductions from the results.
• The research assignment is assessed according to the guidelines of Stellenbosch University and a minimum of 50% must be achieved to pass.
• The final mark is calculated according to the credit weights of the individual modules.
• You must obtain a final mark of at least 50% to pass the programme.