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SOUTH AFRICAN QUALIFICATIONS AUTHORITY 
REGISTERED QUALIFICATION: 

Master of Arts 
SAQA QUAL ID QUALIFICATION TITLE
112035  Master of Arts 
ORIGINATOR
Walter Sisulu University 
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
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
80149  Master of Arts  Level 8 and above  NQF Level 09  120  Complete 

PURPOSE AND RATIONALE OF THE QUALIFICATION 
Purpose:
The Master of Arts is designed to enable graduates to be become specialists in a specific field. The purpose of the qualification is to deepen learner's knowledge and provide South Africa with scholars who can demonstrate leadership capabilities.

Rationale:
The Master of Arts is designed to enhance and deepen learner's knowledge in specific disciplines and enable learners to acquire practical skills in research design, statistics and computing. The qualification is designed to produce qualified researchers whose knowledge and skills can contribute to both national and international enhancement of the humanities and the social sciences. Successful learners will be able to demonstrate their research skills and to further their studies, thus promoting life-long learning. 

LEARNING ASSUMED TO BE IN PLACE AND RECOGNITION OF PRIOR LEARNING 
Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL):
Learners who do not meet the minimum entry requirements may be admitted to the qualification through RPL.

The minimum entry requirement is:
  • A relevant Bachelor of Arts Honours, Level 8.
  • A relevant Postgraduate Diploma, Level 8.

    Entry Requirements:
    The minimum entry requirement is:
  • Bachelor Honours Degree, Level 8. 
    		•

    RECOGNISE PREVIOUS LEARNING? 
    Y 

    QUALIFICATION RULES 
    This qualification consists of compulsory and elective modules at Level 9 totalling 180 Credits.
    The qualification may be completed in two ways:
    1. Through the completion of a research project culminating in a dissertation worth 180 Credits,
    Or
    2. The completion of coursework and a mini research project culminating in a dissertation, which together total 180 Credits.

    Compulsory Modules at Level 9:
  • Dissertation (POP5000), 180 Credits
    Or,
  • Masters Dissertation (LIS6211), 40 Credits
    Or,
  • Dissertation (POP5006), 180 Credits
    Or,
  • Master of Arts Police Science (Course Work & Mini-dissertation) (MPL5000), 180 Credits
    Or,
  • M A Industrial Psychology (Dissertation) (IPY 5000), 180 Credits
    Or,
  • Mini Dissertation (POP5005), 60 Credits
    Or,
  • M A Anthropology (dissertation) (MAN5001), 180 Credits
    Or,
  • Dissertation (SOC5006), 180 Credits
    Or,
  • Mini Dissertation (PHE5070), 60 Credits
    Or,
  • M A Psychology (Dissertation) (PSY 5000), 180 Credits.

    Elective Modules at Level 9:
    Should learners choose to do the qualification through a mini research project and course work, the learner must choose the appropriate research dissertation module, (that is one with fewer than 180 Credits) plus course work modules from the list below so that the qualification totals 180 Credits. The institution will advise on the applicable course work modules for the specialisation chosen:
  • Punishment and the State, 20 Credits.
  • Criminological Perspective on Social Problems, 20 Credits.
  • Sociology of the Environment, 16 Credits.
  • Political Economy of Southern Africa, 24 Credits.
  • Sociology of Development, 16 Credits.
  • Rural Development, 24 Credits.
  • Issues in Industrial Sociology, 16 Credits.
  • Foreign Policy Analysis, 24 Credits.
  • Individual Study, 16 Credits.
  • Medical and Information Technology Ethics, 24 Credits.
  • International Political Economy, 24 Credits.
  • Public Administration Ethics, 24 Credits.
  • International issues in Information Science, 16 Credits.
  • Police Ethics, 24 Credits.
  • Strategic issues in Community Safety, 20 Credits.
  • International Law and Human Rights, 24 Credits.
  • The Sociology of Media, 24 Credits.
  • Race Thinking and Thinking about Race, 24 Credits.
  • Population and Sustainable Rural Development, 24 Credits.
  • Police Management Approaches and Issues, 20 Credits.
  • Mini-Dissertation, 60 Credits.
  • Environment and Sustainable Development Studies, 20 Credits.
  • Police Ethics and Integrity, 20 Credits.
  • Sociology of Africa, 24 Credits.
  • Sociology of Crime and Deviance, 24 Credits.
  • Crime Investigation in Context, 20 Credits.
  • Rural and Development Sociology, 16 Credits.
  • Research Methodology, 20 Credits.
  • Urban Sociology: Employment, Unemployment, 16 Credits.
  • Biomedical Ethics, 24 Credits.
  • Social Statistics for Social Sciences, 16 Credits.
  • Information Processing and Dissemination, 16 Credits.
  • Business Ethics, 24 Credits.
  • Adv Population Policies and Dev Strategies, 24 Credits.
  • International Relations Theory, 24 Credits.
  • Development Ethics, 24 Credits.
  • Adv Demographic and Population Studies Issues, 16 Credits.
  • Adv Social Research Methods for Social Science, 16 Credits.
  • Adv Social Theories (Classical, Modern and Post, 16 Credits.
  • National and International Information Systems, 16 Credits.
  • Advanced Techniques in Demography, 20 Credits.
  • Adv Population Change and Dev: Africa, 24 Credits.
  • Social Research Methods, 24 Credits.
  • Use of Statistical Packages for Research, 16 Credits.
  • Africa and World Politics, 24 Credits.
  • Feminist Ethics, 24 Credits.
  • M A Criminology (Dissertation), 180 Credits.
  • Work Integrated Learning (WIL), 20 Credits.
  • Library Practical, 16 Credits.
  • Research Methods and Statistics, 24 Credits.
  • Public Policy Analysis, 24 Credits.
  • Mini Dissertation, 60 Credits.
  • Ethics in Education, 24 Credits.
  • Advanced Topics in Ethical Theory, 24 Credits.
  • General Case Studies, 24 Credits. 
    		•

    EXIT LEVEL OUTCOMES 
    1. Demonstrate appropriate skills to engage with and critique current research or practice, as well as advanced scholarship in a particular field or discipline related to social sciences and/or humanities.
    2. Access, process and manage information, in order to conduct a comprehensive review of leading and current research in a field of specialisation related to social sciences and/or humanities.
    3. Assess and evaluate current processes of knowledge production and choose an appropriate process of enquiry.
    4. Use academic resources to communicate and defend substantial ideas that are a product of research.
    5. Show sensitivity to the multi-cultural and multi-lingual nature of South African society.
    6. Identify, analyse, formulate and use critical and creative thinking to solving problems related to individuals, groups, families, and people with special needs within communities as well as the work place.
    7. Take responsibility for own work, decision-making and use of resources and full accountability for the decisions and actions of others where appropriate. 

    ASSOCIATED ASSESSMENT CRITERIA 
    The following Associated Assessment Criteria are used in an integrated manner for the Exit Level Outcomes:
  • Design and implement research.
  • Research is conducted.
  • An original, critical contribution to chosen field of choice is made.
  • Demonstrate competent understanding of research models and strategies.
  • Empirical work constitutes a substantial contribution to knowledge.
  • Evidence of originality is demonstrated by the discovery of new facts by the exercise of independent critical judgments.

    Integrated Assessment:
    Formative and summative assessment are implemented for both the dissertation and, where applicable, the coursework. 
    		•

    ARTICULATION OPTIONS 
    This qualification allows for vertical articulation.

    Vertical Articulation:
  • An approved Doctor of Philosophy. 
    		•

    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.