Duration:     1½ years

Actual Credit Load   324 credits

Minimum Credit Load:    270 credits

Maximum Credit Load: 330 credits

Total MBKS Credit Load:     234 credits

ZNQF Level: 9

 PURPOSE OF THE PROGRAMME

To prepare highly specialised Chemistry Educators for Higher Education, government departments and non-governmental organisations (NGOs) who have research and innovation skills.

2.0   ENTRY REQUIREMENTS

Normal Entry:

BSc Education, Bachelor of Education, or BSc with Post Graduate Diploma in Education, Graduate Diploma in Education, Grad CE, PGDTE or equivalent from accredited and recognized institutions.

Programme Characteristics

Areas of Study:

Chemistry Education

Specialist Focus:

Chemistry Teaching and learning, research

Orientation:

Pedagogical issues, Research and innovation

CAREER OPPORTUNITIES AND FURTHER EDUCATION

Employability:

Graduates can be employed as teachers, lecturers, education inspectors, training officers, consultants, research assistants etc.

Further Studies:

Doctoral studies in Chemistry Education

 PROGRAMME STRUCTURE

 

Level 1 Semester 1

Code            Module Description                                                                        Credits

MICT732     Advanced Information Communication Technology in Education 18

MED741      Advanced Research Methods and Statistics                                        18                                                                                     

MSECH701 Advanced Physical Chemistry                                                           18

MSECH702 Advanced Inorganic Chemistry                                                         18

MSECH705  Current Trends in Chemistry Education                                             18

Level 1 Semester 2 

MED743      Gender Discourse in Education                                                          18                                                                      

MSECH703 Advanced Synthetic Organic Chemistry                                             18

MSECH704 Advanced Chemical Instrumentation and Analytical Techniques 18

MSECH706 Curriculum and Pedagogical Issues in Chemistry Education                18

FMED732    Financial Management in Educational Institutions                             18

Level 2 Semester 1 

MSECH707 Measurement, and Evaluation in Chemistry Education                     18

MSECH708 Nano Science and Nanotechnology                                                    18

MSECH709 Sustainable Industrial and Environmental Chemistry                          18

MED744      Dissertation                                                                                      90

Module Synopses

MICT732: Advanced Information Communication Technology in Education

This module helps students acquire advanced specialist theoretical and practical knowledge of ICTs in educational environments. The topics covered include Models of ICT curriculum integration, educational ICT policy development, current and emerging issues in digital learning, contemporary learning design theories and frameworks, and framing assessment within 21st-century contexts, ICT in educational research, among others.

MED741: Advanced Research Methods and Statistics

The module develops postgraduate students’ knowledge in the following areas of educational research: the different philosophical orientations in research; research paradigms; theoretical and conceptual frameworks; research designs; data collection methodologies; advanced quantitative and qualitative data analysis techniques; as well as discussion of findings and making conclusions. The module also introduces students to significant educational research problems whose resolution have the potential to contribute to knowledge in educational areas such as pedagogy and assessment, as well as in sustainable development issues such as health, poverty eradication, environmental awareness, etc.

MSECH701: Advanced Physical Chemistry

This module covers advanced aspects of physical chemistry relevant to industry and the environment. Topics to be covered include green chemistry, catalysis, surface chemistry, photochemistry electrochemical methods and computational chemistry.

MSECH702: Advanced Inorganic Chemistry

This module shall cover selected topics in inorganic chemistry at an advanced level, with an emphasis on the recent primary literature. Topics may include aspects of transition metal chemistry; coordination compounds of the transition elements, including the lanthanides and actinides; aspects of organometallic; bioinorganic and solid-state chemistry.

MED743: Gender Discourse in Education

The module explores fundamental perspectives in Gender Studies to address historical gender inequalities in society and Education in particular. It inculcates a critical analysis of the concept of gender, its historical development and ideologies that perpetuate gender differences. The module explores implications for sustainable development goals on gender, education and development. It also explores gender inequalities in STEM as one of the pillars of development.

MSECH703: Advanced Synthetic Organic Chemistry

The module deals with a range of advanced topics in organic chemistry such as free radical chemistry in organic synthesis, solid phase synthesis, and supramolecular chemistry. The module blends a theoretical knowledge of advanced concepts in organic synthesis and spectroscopic analysis with a focus on applying these skills in industry. It provides training, knowledge and a perspective of a broad range of chemical industries reliant upon organic chemistry.

MSECH704: Advanced Chemical Instrumentation and Analytical Techniques

This module enables students to gain an in-depth understanding of concepts and principles of advanced chemical instrumentation applied for a wide variety of advanced chemistry disciplines (such as catalysis, synthetic chemistry, materials & biomaterials chemistry, analytical & bio-analytical sciences, computational chemistry, environmental chemistry and chemical biology). A selection of rapidly evolving instrumental technologies significant to the chemical industry and chemical research shall be presented with specific reference to what is currently state-of-the-art.

MSECH705: Current Trends in Chemistry Education

The module examines trends in emerging chemistry education research.It provides an in-depth examination and analysis of current chemistry education literature and research and its implications for improving the quality of chemistry teaching.

MSECH706: Curriculum and Pedagogical Issues Chemistry Education

This module provides an opportunity for students to engage in discussion and critical analysis of contemporary issues in chemistry education. Students will analyze the current chemistry curricula in Zimbabwe for relevance and consistency with trends in the field of chemistry and explore strategies to build 21st-century competencies in learners.

MSECH707: Measurement, and Evaluation in Chemistry Education

This module introduces basic concepts in educational testing, measurement and evaluation in chemistry education, and the application of measurement and evaluation principles to a range of contemporary assessment issues in chemistry education. Students shall acquire knowledge and dispositions on designing, developing, administering, analyzing and interpreting a variety of assessment measures in chemistry education. Emphasis is on the design and use of educational assessment procedures to improve and support the quality of teaching and learning.

MSECH708: Nanoscience and Nanotechnology

This module shall focus on nanomaterials, chemical synthesis and characterization techniques. Emphasis is on how nanomaterials and nanotechnology can be used to develop new materials and products. Current and future applications of nanostructured materials will be reviewed with respect to their impact in commercial products and technologies. Particular emphasis will be placed on biomedical, environmental, Nano sensing, food and engineering applications.

MSECH709: Sustainable Industrial and Environmental Chemistry

This module aims to provide an overview of industrial and environmental chemistry, with a focus on industries relevant to Zimbabwe’s current and future chemical industry. Students shall gain competencies for the development and management of industrial processes for the production of chemicals, with particular attention to aspects related to the improvement of sustainability in the chemical industry. Extra emphasis will be placed on trends in sustainable development.

MED744: Dissertation

The Dissertation is a research study carried out over two semesters by each postgraduate student under the guidance of a supervisor. Students apply their knowledge and skills in conducting research on contemporary educational and social issues in their area of specialisation. Students are encouraged to conduct research which has the potential to contribute to knowledge and policies in education, and in social issues such as poverty, disaster and risk management, environmental conservation, etc. Students are expected to produce and submit a dissertation that meets the standards of research work at the Masters Level.

FMED732: Financial Management in Educational Institutions

The module introduces financial management practices followed in schools and other educational institutions. It considers basic accounting concepts and conventions, including the double entry system of recording business transactions, preparation of general-purpose financial statements, bank reconciliation statements, and skills of budgeting and budgetary control as well as accounting requirements of Treasury Instructions.