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SOUTH AFRICAN QUALIFICATIONS AUTHORITY 
REGISTERED QUALIFICATION: 

Bachelor of Social Science 
SAQA QUAL ID QUALIFICATION TITLE
116425  Bachelor of Social Science 
ORIGINATOR
University of Cape Town 
PRIMARY OR DELEGATED QUALITY ASSURANCE FUNCTIONARY NQF SUB-FRAMEWORK
-   HEQSF - Higher Education Qualifications Sub-framework 
QUALIFICATION TYPE FIELD SUBFIELD
National First Degree  Field 07 - Human and Social Studies  General Social Science 
ABET BAND MINIMUM CREDITS PRE-2009 NQF LEVEL NQF LEVEL QUAL CLASS
Undefined  360  Not Applicable  NQF Level 07  Regular-Provider-ELOAC 
REGISTRATION STATUS SAQA DECISION NUMBER REGISTRATION START DATE REGISTRATION END DATE
Registered-data under construction  EXCO 0324/24  2024-07-01  2027-06-30 
LAST DATE FOR ENROLMENT LAST DATE FOR ACHIEVEMENT
2028-06-30   2033-06-30  

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 purposes of this qualification include:
  • Familiarity with the content and basic theories of several disciplines in the humanities and social sciences, at the intermediate level;
  • Provide them with a deeper grasp of one or more of these disciplines taken at NQF Level 7;
  • Enable them to place new knowledge in context and to use appropriate methods for seeking resolution of problems;
  • Provide learners with a variety of scholarly and intellectual competencies, including the ability to question the assumptions of a limited range of theories and authorities critically;
  • Develop an understanding of elementary research methods used within one or more disciplines;
  • Equip learners with the ability to give an accurate account of scholarly positions and the competence to express their own opinions clearly and coherently, both in written and oral communication.

    Rationale:
    The Bachelor of Social Science prepares learners for postgraduate study, provides learners with a well-rounded and broad education across several disciplines, thus preparing them for a wide range of professions crucial to the welfare of society. The qualification produces learners who can think laterally, critically and creatively. The qualification also prepares learners for life-long learning, and produces learners who understand the principles of, and are capable of critical citizenship. 
    		•

    LEARNING ASSUMED TO BE IN PLACE AND RECOGNITION OF PRIOR LEARNING 
    Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL):
    Prior accredited learning of a learner at the TVET or UOT level in relevant domains which constitute credit-bearing units or modules will be recognised. Learners need to produce that shows that the learner has achieved, at a satisfactory level, the outcomes and associated assessment criteria specified for admission to qualifications of study leading to the BSocSc qualification.

    Entry Requirements:
    The minimum entry requirement for this qualification is:
  • A National Senior Certificate, NQF Level 4 granting access to Bachelor's studies. 
    		•

    RECOGNISE PREVIOUS LEARNING? 
    Y 

    EXIT LEVEL OUTCOMES 
    1. Have a systematic and well-rounded knowledge and understanding of important theories, scholarly positions and basic methodologies.
    2. Act innovatively and pro-actively within a career.
    3. Be using his/her critical attitude and communication skills to participate and contribute to the economy and general society.
    4. Have the capacity to interact effectively with others, operate in variable and unfamiliar contexts with responsibility, and become increasingly self-directed. 

    ASSOCIATED ASSESSMENT CRITERIA 
  • Demonstrate familiarity with and have an informed outline knowledge and understanding of the content, theories, and scholarly positions of the critical core disciplines at a basic and intermediate level.
  • Demonstrate a systematic and well-rounded knowledge, and the ability to critically question the basic assumptions of the most important theories, scholarly positions and basic methodologies of one or more disciplines.
  • Show competence with the basic and elementary modes of inquiry of at least one or more core disciplines to specified, less complex problems (both concrete and abstract).
  • Analyse and locate her/his work in contemporary contexts (such as the South African and African contexts) regarding specific issues and problems.
  • Interpret topical issues using different perspectives in the disciplines included at NQF Level 7.
  • Interpret, explain and develop an argument around and an understanding of newly-encountered material and demonstrate an ability to marshal an approach used in one or more disciplines included at the exit-level.

    Integrated Assessment:
    There will be an integration of learning and assessment into this qualification. Continuous formative assessment will ensure that learners get feedback on their progress towards the achievement of specific learning outcomes. Summative assessment is concerned with the judgement of the learning concerning the learner attributes of the qualification. Such judgement will include 'integrated assessments' which assess the learners' ability to integrate the larger body of knowledge, competencies and attitudes that are represented by the learners' attributes, either as a whole or as components of the qualification. Assignments designed to meet the requirements of integrated assessment will be such as to achieve an integration of the achievement of learner attributes in a way that demonstrates that the purpose of the qualification.

    Evaluation of learner performance is to determine if the learner can demonstrate applied competence. There will be an integration of a wide range of knowledge, skills, competencies and attitudes will use innovative methods - and in the assessment of outcomes due to recognition will be given to criteria and methods of assessment that assess these appropriately and adequately. 
    		•

    INTERNATIONAL COMPARABILITY 
    This Bachelor of Social Science qualification standard is comparable to similar qualifications from around the world concerning outcomes and assessment criteria, the level of depth and complexity involved in the study process, and with due regard to notional learning time. International comparability, there was a comparison of these Level Descriptors and the standards and norms contained in the qualifications frameworks developed for Scotland, England and Northern Ireland, New Zealand and Australia. This qualification standard was constructed using the qualification descriptors for the general, formative, first Bachelor's qualification in the arts, humanities and social sciences. 

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

    Horizontal Articulation:
  • Bachelor of Applied Social Science, NQF Level 7.
  • Bachelor of Arts, NQF Level 7.

    Vertical Articulation:
  • Bachelor of Social Science Honours, NQF Level 8. 
    		•

    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.
     
    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.