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SOUTH AFRICAN QUALIFICATIONS AUTHORITY 
REGISTERED QUALIFICATION: 

Bachelor of Arts Honours in History 
SAQA QUAL ID QUALIFICATION TITLE
115395  Bachelor of Arts Honours in History 
ORIGINATOR
University of Zululand 
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 07 - Human and Social Studies  Traditions, History and Legacies 
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  2019-12-17  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 does not replace any other qualification and is not replaced by any other qualification. 

PURPOSE AND RATIONALE OF THE QUALIFICATION 
Purpose:
The purpose of the Bachelor of Arts (BA) Honours in History is to produce qualified and skilled people in the field of history. These are people who will have the requisite skills of imparting historical knowledge to others. Also, the purpose of the qualification is to produce learners who are skilled in research and can efficiently generate knowledge that could lead to a better understanding of economic, political, and social structures.

A Bachelor of Arts Honours in History allows learners to be more grounded in the subject through modules that broaden the knowledge base of learners. It also offers an opportunity for those who follow the field to be introduced to historical skills revolving around the generation of historical knowledge through research.

Rationale:
History undergraduates of the institution have been enquiring about opportunities for further study within the Department of History, but such an outlet has not been available. It is partly in an attempt to meet this demand that a request made to offer this qualification.

The need comes from history graduates of the institution who want to pursue their study of the subject beyond an undergraduate qualification. To a large extent, these are people who identified a need for further self-skilling in certain aspects of history. To efficiently do this, they need B.A. Honours qualification in the field.

The typical learners for the qualification are learners who majored with history and intended progressing to a Postgraduate qualification in the field. The majority of learners have just completed their undergraduate studies. However, some of them are school teachers, college teachers, archivists, and foreign affairs, practitioners.

The qualification will significantly benefit the learners in that they will attain a more advanced level qualification with associated skills that will make them better compete in the job market. They will also gain research skills that will assist the country in the generation of knowledge that is concerned with social developments and economic trends and how they have changed over time. Also, the state will benefit in that it will have a pool of graduates who can effectively teach on historical developments that continue to influence present economic, political and social structure.

The BA Honours in History is a pre-requisite entry into the Master of Arts in History qualification; it, therefore, provides the first step in the progression to the higher levels of Postgraduate studies. 

LEARNING ASSUMED TO BE IN PLACE AND RECOGNITION OF PRIOR LEARNING 
Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL):
The Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) is following the Policy and Procedures for Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) of the University. RPL is one of the critical mechanisms for achieving redress and equity and accelerating access in the university.

This policy and set of procedures have the following purposes:
  • Transfer of credits from one institution to another institution, or from another qualification with similar credit-bearing modules and NQF Level.
  • Where the minimum admission requirements are not evident, admission to the qualification is possible through RPL, but the learner must produce evidence of the admission requirements.

    Entry Requirements:
    The minimum entry requirement for this qualification is:
  • Bachelor of Arts in History, NQF Level 7.
    Or
  • An appropriate Advanced Diploma, NQF Level 7. 
    		•

    RECOGNISE PREVIOUS LEARNING? 
    Y 

    QUALIFICATION RULES 
    This qualification consists of the following compulsory at National Qualifications Framework Level 8 totalling 120 Credits.

    Compulsory Modules, 60 Credits:
  • Research Project in History, 40 Credits.
  • Philosophical Theories of History, 20 Credits.

    Elective Modules, NQF Level 8, 60 Credits (Choose three):
  • History of KwaZulu-Natal, 20 Credits.
  • History of South Africa, 20 Credits.
  • History of Africa, 20 Credits.
  • History of Europe, 20 Credits.
  • History of Major world powers, 20 Credits. 
    		•

    EXIT LEVEL OUTCOMES 
    1. Define and describe the different research methods and their relevance to the subject of history.
    2. Identify elements of a research proposal and use them to construct an academically acceptable research proposal.
    3. Identify historical parallels between their history and that of other societies.
    4. Relate historiographical trends in the writing of either South African, European or African history.
    5. Produce a critical analysis of either South African, European or African history developments.
    6. Demonstrate research skills in solving history of either South African, European or African history.
    7. Critically analyse theoretical approaches used to explain different historical developments in Africa and other parts of the world.
    8. Analyse the international system as well as knowledge about the history of the superpowers of the world. 

    ASSOCIATED ASSESSMENT CRITERIA 
    Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 1:
  • Define and describe various research methods in research in history and other related disciplines.
  • Use and select appropriate research method in a study in history and other related subjects.

    Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 2:
  • Define and describe aspects of the research proposal.
  • Develop a research proposal indicating all the elements of a research proposal.

    Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 3:
  • Identify existing historical parallels in the development of different societies.

    Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 4:
  • Analyse and identify historiographical trends in the interpretation of either South African, European or African history.

    Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 5:
  • Adopt a critical analysis of events using different pieces of work of either South African, European or African history.

    Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 6:
  • Produce an academically acceptable research paper in which demonstrate a high level of research skills of either South African, European or African history.

    Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 7:
  • Show a thorough knowledge of critically analysing philosophical theories of either South African, European or African history.

    Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 8:
  • Utilise and analyse the essential data and main historiographical issues.
  • Describe, identify and recognise the knowledge of the world system and the role of the major world powers.
  • Acquire the skills and knowledge to operate effectively within the international system.

    Integrated Assessment:
    The following assessment methods will apply in the Honours' Papers:

    Research Paper Assessment:
    The submission of a research module constitutes the research component to fulfil the requirements for obtaining an Honours qualification. It is a project of defined scope and limited length and is not required to be an original contribution to a particular field of knowledge, though it may be. The research component of this Honours qualification will comprise 25% of the overall assessment for the qualification.

    Taught Modules Assessment:
  • One major Assignment.
  • Class Presentation.
  • Mid-year Test.
    All of the above constitutes 50% of the formative assessment.

    All modules except the research module have a final exam at the end of the year, which carries 50% of the summative assessment.

    Then the final mark is calculated by integrating all assessments as an average of the formative plus summative assessment plus the research paper. 
    		•

    INTERNATIONAL COMPARABILITY 
    The University of Toronto in Canada and Ohio University in the United States of America offer "Graduate Studies in History," separate from their Masters and Doctoral Programmes, referred to in South Africa as "Honours Degree in History."

    Comparison with international qualifications:
    The Bachelor of Arts Honours in History offered at the South African institution compares with international qualifications in respect of African, European and American/Canadian/South African Histories explained as follows:
    African History:
    The African History content in all three universities is designed in a manner that challenges Western notions of geographical boundaries, concepts of modernity, ideas of difference and questions of centre and periphery. They present fascinating surprises about the depth and variety of pasts in Africa, disturbing realizations about how Africa has been portrayed by outsiders and stimulating paradoxes about the significance and relevance of African history.

    In all three institutions the approach to the field is thoroughly interdisciplinary. They employ the methodological and theoretical insights of related disciplines, such as anthropology, religion, politics, and literature.

    European History:
    The three universities commonly interrogate the history of Europe from every angle - geographically, chronologically and conceptually. They have particular strengths in political, social, cultural, gender and intellectual histories.

    Their approaches range from regional to transnational and emphasis entail colonialism, formal and informal empires and the inter- and multi-national processes of migration, dislocation, language and state-formation, war, genocide, memory and justice.

    Common among the three institutions is that they explore Europe as a dynamic construct, rooted in specific places yet reaching far beyond them in complex and often surprising ways. This makes South Africa part of a vibrant, interdisciplinary global network.

    American/Canadian/South African Histories:
    The Universities of Toronto in Canada, Ohio in the United States and Zululand in South Africa offer learners a large concentration of United States historians. Together, these scholars contribute to a two-fold effort:
  • Intensive study of the distinctive features of the U.S. national experience.
  • The on-going project of considering the U.S. in a transnational frame, working with colleagues to de-provincialize the study of the U.S. by conceptualizing its history across national borders.
    1.3 Choice Justification of foreign countries and institutions:
    The two chosen foreign countries and institutions, like this institution, still have History as a discipline. They still have Departments of History, while most South African universities have history programmes hidden in Social Sciences or Humanities in what is commonly known as 'Schools.' The United States and Canada have leading scholars in the field of History world-wide.

    Graduate learners at the South African institution, Toronto and Ohio are familiarized with important questions about historical knowledge (epistemology), analytical tools (theory: gender, sexuality, biopolitics, economy, etc.) and the difference between academic and cultural representations of the past. 
    		•

    ARTICULATION OPTIONS 
    This qualification allows possibilities for vertical articulation.

    Horizontal Articulation:
  • Bachelor of Arts Honours in Development Studies, Level 8.
  • Postgraduate Diploma in Public Management, Level 8.

    Vertical Articulation:
  • Master of Arts in History, NQF Level 9. 
    		•

    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 Zululand 


    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.