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: 

Master of Social Science in Economic History 
SAQA QUAL ID QUALIFICATION TITLE
110267  Master of Social Science in Economic History 
ORIGINATOR
University of KwaZulu-Natal 
PRIMARY OR DELEGATED QUALITY ASSURANCE FUNCTIONARY NQF SUB-FRAMEWORK
-   HEQSF - Higher Education Qualifications Sub-framework 
QUALIFICATION TYPE FIELD SUBFIELD
Master's Degree  Field 07 - Human and Social Studies  Public Policy, Politics and Democratic Citizenship 
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
81351  Master of Social Science in Economic History  Level 8 and above  NQF Level 09  128  Complete 

PURPOSE AND RATIONALE OF THE QUALIFICATION 
Purpose:
The purpose of the qualification is to develop skills capacity amongst postgraduates in a manner that makes them relevant to national skills needs and requirements.

Rationale:
Presently, issues of economic growth, economic development and economic change, are major challenges for African countries. The market needs researchers in these areas to empower decision-making, it needs people with the requisite knowledge to analyse. Economic change over time to inform future trends. The Master's qualification deepens the level of critique and analysis and prepares learners for future academic achievements as well as industry related careers or career paths in civil society organisations, Non-Governmental Organisations (NGOs) and government. The Master's qualification is to enhance the Political Science understanding of development as a practice and process steeped in economic history with a strong emphasis on Africa and the connections with other places and how Africa is situated within the global economy. 

LEARNING ASSUMED TO BE IN PLACE AND RECOGNITION OF PRIOR LEARNING 
Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL):
The institution accepts the principle underlying outcomes-based, source-based and life-long learning, in which considerations of articulation and mobility play a significant role, and subscribes to the view that Recognition of Prior Learning, whether acquired by formal education curricula at this or another institution or informally (by experience) is an indispensable element in deciding on admission to and awarding credits in an explicitly selected teaching-learning qualification of the institution.

An applicant who falls outside of the formal qualifications system, but who can demonstrate (through the production of substantial and satisfactory evidence) experiential or work-based learning or a non-formal qualification (or a combination), may be considered for admission and/or for the Recognition of Prior Learning for the achievement of the qualification in part or in full. An applicant who after such assessment, is deemed to have sufficient potential, but is in need of further academic development, must be directed to other suitable learning qualifications prior to admission or to parallel qualifications after admission.

Entry Requirements:
The minimum entry requirement for this qualification is:
  • Bachelor of Social Science Honours in Economic History, National Qualifications Framework (NQF) Level 8. 
    		•

    RECOGNISE PREVIOUS LEARNING? 
    Y 

    QUALIFICATION RULES 
    This qualification consists of the following compulsory modules at National Qualifications Framework Level 9 totalling 192 Credits.
    Compulsory Modules, Level 9, 192 Credits:
  • Social Research Design and Practice, 16 Credits.
  • Environmental History/Policy, 32 Credits.
  • Global Governance and African Political Economy, 32 Credits.
  • Issues in Economic History, 16 Credits.
  • Short Diss: Economic History, 96 Credits. 
    		•

    EXIT LEVEL OUTCOMES 
    1. Analyse economic change over time at a macro and micro scale through the application of theories of development and social change.
    2. Analyse in detail the developmental context of African and other societies.
    3. Demonstrate critical thinking and reading through understanding the economic history of development trends.
    4. Identify important impediments to economic growth as well as see possibilities beyond them.
    5. Critically analyse paradigms of economic change and development and their usefulness in changing the economic fortunes of African countries.
    6. Identify the measures of economic growth.
    7. Think creatively and productively about the past, present and the future of economic growth and development.
    8. Design and undertake a more substantial independent research project. 

    ASSOCIATED ASSESSMENT CRITERIA 
    The following Associated Assessment Criteria will be used in an integrated manner across the Exit Level Outcomes:
  • Engage with and become familiar with the critical reviews of recent literature on relevant topics within the national and international context of policy and development studies.
  • Access, outline, evaluate and synthesise the current state of critical/theoretical debate, demonstrating their personal engagement with the literature.
  • Demonstrate an understanding of the fundamentals of research, including research design, methods, research processes and methods of data analysis, apply this knowledge and skills by conceptualising a research problem and developing a cogent research proposal, design (and where applicable to the Degree requirement conduct) applied quantitative or qualitative research, acquire basic skills to analyse, summarise, present and interpret qualitative and/quantitative data.
  • Demonstrate their knowledge of the theoretical material covered in class and demonstrate their ability to apply this to practical examples in a limited time period.
  • Develop a research proposal, identify, collect, analyse, organise and critically evaluate information, implement different research styles, present data, reference material correctly, communicate effectively in written presentation, undertake independent research projects.

    Integrated Assessment:
    All the modules have both a formative and summative assessment. The assessment will come in the form of pieces of work given to learners by lecturers in the duration of each course. Each assignment is designed to be research driven, have maximum feedback through seminar- based presentations, and peer interaction. Assessment is centred on real world research driven problems to ensure skills transfer and real-world relevance to content and to ladder into dissertation topics and methodologies. 
    		•

    INTERNATIONAL COMPARABILITY 
    This qualification is comparable with similar qualifications offered in various higher education institutions internationally. 

    ARTICULATION OPTIONS 
    This qualification allows possibilities for both vertical and horizontal articulation.

    Horizontal Articulation:
  • Master of Social Science, Level 9.
  • Master of Social Science in Community and Development Studies, Level 9.

    Vertical Articulation:
  • Doctor of Social Science, Level 10.
  • Doctor of Philosophy in Social Science, 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.