SAQA 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.
SOUTH AFRICAN QUALIFICATIONS AUTHORITY 
REGISTERED QUALIFICATION: 

Bachelor of Administration Honours in Public Administration 
SAQA QUAL ID QUALIFICATION TITLE
105741  Bachelor of Administration Honours in Public Administration 
ORIGINATOR
University of South Africa 
PRIMARY OR DELEGATED QUALITY ASSURANCE FUNCTIONARY NQF SUB-FRAMEWORK
CHE - Council on Higher Education  HEQSF - Higher Education Qualifications Sub-framework 
QUALIFICATION TYPE FIELD SUBFIELD
Honours Degree  Field 03 - Business, Commerce and Management Studies  Public Administration 
ABET BAND MINIMUM CREDITS PRE-2009 NQF LEVEL NQF LEVEL QUAL CLASS
Undefined  120  Not Applicable  NQF Level 08  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   2033-06-30  

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 does not replace any other qualification and is not replaced by any other qualification. 

PURPOSE AND RATIONALE OF THE QUALIFICATION 
The Bachelor of Administration Honours in Public Administration prepares students for research based Postgraduate study. The qualification also serves to consolidate and deepen the student's expertise in the field of Public Administration and to develop capacity in the methodology and techniques of research in Public Administration. It will also prepare students for a career, either as academics or in practice, in Public Administration. Qualifying students can demonstrate: systematic knowledge, specialised skills and theoretical competence focusing on or within the context of Public Administration or within an interdisciplinary framework in preparation for learning at an advanced level. 

LEARNING ASSUMED TO BE IN PLACE AND RECOGNITION OF PRIOR LEARNING 
Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL):
This qualification recognises formal and Non-formal and informal prior experiential learning:

Formal prior learning:
  • Students need a Bachelor of Administration (BAdmin) Degree to register for the Hons BAdmin.
  • Students' prior accredited learning at tertiary level in relevant domains which constitute credit-bearing units is recognised.

    Non-formal and informal prior experiential learning:
  • Students may be given RPL for individual modules if they can produce a portfolio of evidence or undergo any other recognised means of assessment that shows that they meet the outcomes and associated assessment criteria specified for that module.

    Entry Requirements:
    An appropriate Bachelor's Degree in the relevant discipline or a discipline closely associated with it, with an average of 60% or more. 
    		•

    RECOGNISE PREVIOUS LEARNING? 
    Y 

    QUALIFICATION RULES 
    This qualification comprises compulsory and elective modules at Level 8 and totalling 120 Credits.

    Compulsory Modules, Level 8, 48 Credits:
  • Research Report: Public Administration, 24 Credits.
  • Research Proposal: Public Administration, 12 Credits.
  • Research Methodology, 12 Credits.

    Elective Modules, Level 8, 72 Credits:
  • Politics in the Public Sector, 24 Credits.
  • Management and the Public Sector, 24 Credits.
  • Study of Organisations and the Public Sector, 24 Credits.
  • Labour Relations and the Public Sector, 24 Credits.
  • Governmental Planning and Policy Analysis in the Public Sector, 24 Credits.
  • Public Financial Management, 24 Credits.
  • Public Human Resource Management, 24 Credits.
  • Management of Public and Municipal Finance, 24 Credits. 
    		•

    EXIT LEVEL OUTCOMES 
    1. Engage in critical thinking and problem solving in studying topics of a complex and specialised nature.
    2. Reflect on their own knowledge and practice in the light of the theory and practice in Public Administration.
    3. Conduct research.
    4. Communicate research results. 

    ASSOCIATED ASSESSMENT CRITERIA 
    Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 1:
  • Identify significant problems and problem-areas in Public Administration.
  • Describe and analyse the main issues involved.
  • Assess the impact of public sphere policy (including legislation) on society.
  • Apply management theories to practical situations in the public and non-governmental spheres.

    Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 2:
  • Contextualise problems studied within their own experience.
  • Take cognisance of divergent viewpoints and critically evaluate their relative merits to arrive at own viewpoint.
  • Formulate sustained and coherent arguments in response to a variety Public Administration-related issues.
  • Formulate responses to resolve concrete and abstract problems in public and non-governmental contexts.
  • Apply learning from individual experience and academic disciplines to political, social, cultural, technological and economic realities, locally and globally.

    Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 3:
  • Document researchable problems.
  • Demarcate the scope of research, for a limited project, under supervision.
  • Conceptualise research topic within existing field of discourse and literature.
  • Compile a research design in relation to a research problem.
  • Conduct an independent search for relevant sources such as the relevant journals, specialist bibliographies, websites, official publications, file systems and archives.
  • Review and integrate the most important literature.
  • Identify, define and distinguish between the various research methods in the social sciences (e.g. quantitative, qualitative and participatory action).
  • Choose and apply the most applicable research methods and strategies for research problems in their field of research.
  • Apply theories and models in the analysis and interpretation of collected data.
  • Make reasoned theoretical judgements.

    Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 4:
  • Use an acceptable subject-related academic style.
  • Communicate material according to standard academic conventions of presentation (e.g. structuring, referencing, bibliographies).

    Integrated Assessment:
    Formative Assessment is done by means of activities in study guides, self-assessment questions in study guides and self-assessment assignments as well as written assignments that have to be submitted for assessment. The assignments are either in the form of multiple-choice questions (MCQs), short questions, essays, or a combination, depending on the level of study. MCQs are largely used at first level. Students must submit assignments for each module. The marks obtained for these assignments contribute a minimum of percentage towards the final mark for the module. The remaining mark is made up of the examination mark. Feedback on activities and self-assessment questions are provided in study guides and tutorial letters. Individual feedback on assignments is provided by assessors in marked assignments while general feedback on these assignments is provided in tutorial letters.

    Summative Assessment is conducted by means of a two-to three-hour examination per module. Feedback on summative assessment (examinations) is provided to individual students upon request. 
    		•

    INTERNATIONAL COMPARABILITY 
    University of South Africa (Unisa) forms part of an internationally recognised accreditation system whereby university qualifications are evaluated against international comparators and accredited accordingly; for example, Unisa's qualifications are accredited in the International Handbook of Universities and in the Commonwealth Universities' Yearbook. 

    ARTICULATION OPTIONS 
    Horizontal Articulation:
  • The qualification articulates with qualification of other tertiary institutions.

    Vertical Articulation:
  • Upon completion of the Bachelor of Administration Honours (Hons BAdmin) students may proceed to Postgraduate study at Master of Administration (MAdmin) level. 
    		•

    MODERATION OPTIONS 
    N/A 

    CRITERIA FOR THE REGISTRATION OF ASSESSORS 
    N/A 

    NOTES 
    N/A 

    LEARNING PROGRAMMES RECORDED AGAINST THIS 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.
     
    1. University of South Africa 


    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.