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SOUTH AFRICAN QUALIFICATIONS AUTHORITY 
REGISTERED QUALIFICATION THAT HAS PASSED THE END DATE: 

Master of Social Science 
SAQA QUAL ID QUALIFICATION TITLE
110992  Master of Social Science 
ORIGINATOR
University of the Free State 
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  General Social Science 
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
Passed the End Date -
Status was "Registered-data under construction" 		 SAQA 06120/18  2018-07-01  2021-06-30 
LAST DATE FOR ENROLMENT LAST DATE FOR ACHIEVEMENT
2022-06-30   2025-06-30  

Registered-data under construction

The qualification content is currently being updated for the qualifications with the status “Registered-data under construction” or showing “DETAILS UNDER CONSTRUCTION” to ensure compliance with SAQA’S Policy and Criteria for the registration of qualifications and part-qualifications on the National Qualifications Framework (NQF) (As amended, 2022). These qualifications are re-registered until 30 June 2027 and can legitimately be offered by the institutions to which they are registered.

 

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.  

PURPOSE AND RATIONALE OF THE QUALIFICATION 
Purpose:
The general purpose of this qualification is to deepen and encourage specific social scientific investigation in the knowledge base, theory and methodology of the social sciences, in order to deliver graduates that are equipped to use their knowledge in a professional or academic context and in so doing contribute knowledge development to the management of society in the interest of the common good.

More specifically this entails:
  • Providing an opportunity for in-depth knowledge in one of the social sciences fields.
  • Learners being able to weigh the significance of various ideas and points of view and synthesise these views to provide a critical and significant insight into the challenges in the field and recommend solutions.
  • Providing an opportunity for social science leaners to apply the ontology, epistemology and methodology of social research in order to create insight into a specific field of study.
  • Delivering learners who are able to use their knowledge, theoretical understanding and research skills in order to improve society.
  • Delivering leaners who have been given the opportunity explore values (their own included) and who have been given the opportunity to internalise what it means to be an ethical social scientist.

    Rationale:
    The institution believes that Social Science (as part of a Faculty of Humanities), rests on the premise that humans comprise a community and this community should be jointly shared and managed for the common good. A healthy democracy (a fundamental cornerstone of the common good) demands citizens who are informed, interested in the welfare of individuals and society and who are committed to the realisation of the common good. An understanding that a better world is possible is crucial to the long term wellbeing of individuals and society.

    This qualification emphasises:
  • The need to manage society for the common good.
  • The need to build a healthy democracy and belief that the world can be a better place.
  • The cultivation of knowledge that explores the history and reality of power imbalances and that fosters the understanding that exclusion compromises the common good.
  • The appreciation of various view of reality (including views of what the common good, identity and community is) and that these views and concepts are socially constructed and, therefore, contestable.
  • That in-depth understanding of individuals and society stems from honest, rigorous, scientific analysis that presumes that the identification and resolution of social challenges (threats to the common good) should be based on balanced, in-depth scientifically grounded considerations.

    This qualification with its various specialisations will deliver on these aims. 
    		•

    LEARNING ASSUMED TO BE IN PLACE AND RECOGNITION OF PRIOR LEARNING 
    Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL):
    Where learners do not meet the minimum admission requirements, RPL may be used to grant access to the qualification. RPL will be applied according to the Recognition of Prior Learning, Credit Accumulation and Transfer, and Assessment policy. This will relate to both access to the qualification as well as for credit recognition or exemption towards achieving the qualification.

    The institution will ensure that quality assurance processes that address the specificities of the RPL process (including applications, assessment, and reporting and management systems) are implemented; and that administrative and support systems, both prior and subsequent to RPL assessment, are in place.

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

    RECOGNISE PREVIOUS LEARNING? 
    Y 

    QUALIFICATION RULES 
    This qualification consists of the following elective modules at National Qualifications Framework (NQF) Level 9 totalling 180 Credits.

    Learners are to choose one module worth 180 Credits:
  • Dissertation: Political Science (Research Masters), 180 Credits.
  • Two related publishable Articles on Sociology (Research Masters), 180 Credits.
  • Dissertation: Sociology (Research Masters), 180 Credits.
  • Dissertation: Criminology, 180 Credits.
  • Two related, publishable Articles: Anthropology (Research Masters), 180 Credits.
  • Dissertation: Anthropology (Research Masters), 180 Credits. 
    		•

    EXIT LEVEL OUTCOMES 
    1. Demonstrate specialist knowledge to enable engagement with and critique of current research or practices, as well as advanced scholarship or research in a particular field, discipline or practice.
    2. Demonstrate a command of and the ability to design, select and apply appropriate and creative methods, techniques, processes or technologies to complex practical and theoretical problems.
    3. Take responsible and ethical decisions consistent with the appropriate guidelines and procedures for responsible research.
    4. Apply knowledge, skills, principles and methods to identify and analyse the needs and causes of problems relating to individuals, groups and societies. 

    ASSOCIATED ASSESSMENT CRITERIA 
    Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcomes:
  • Express arguments and ideas clearly, both orally and in writing to demonstrate a systematic understanding of theory and methodology at the forefront of the discipline.
  • Draw the relationships between knowledge, problems and practices outside the field of study by recognising its potential contribution to existing theory and methodology.
  • Use established research practices to form judgements in support of an academic argument, or to ask new research questions.
  • Undertake a research project independently.
  • Communicate research objectives, arguments and interpretations with confidence.
  • Take responsible and ethical decisions consistent with the appropriate guidelines and procedures for responsible research.

    Integrated Assessment:
    Learners are assessed by means of the submission of a research dissertation. The learner is required to work independently to design the study, perform a literature review, collect and analyse data and report the findings. An experienced academic in the selected field of study supervises the learners research. The research is presented in the form of a dissertation that is submitted for internal and external evaluation. 
    		•

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

    Horizontal Articulation:
  • Master of Arts, National Qualifications Framework (NQF) Level 9.

    Vertical Articulation:
  • Doctor of Philosophy in Social Sciences, NQF 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.