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 THAT HAS PASSED THE END DATE:

Master of Social Science: Linguistics

SAQA QUAL ID	QUALIFICATION TITLE
14941	Master of Social Science: Linguistics
ORIGINATOR
University of Natal
PRIMARY OR DELEGATED QUALITY ASSURANCE FUNCTIONARY			NQF SUB-FRAMEWORK
CHE - Council on Higher Education			HEQSF - Higher Education Qualifications Sub-framework
QUALIFICATION TYPE	FIELD		SUBFIELD
Master's Degree	Field 04 - Communication Studies and Language		Language
ABET BAND	MINIMUM CREDITS	PRE-2009 NQF LEVEL	NQF LEVEL	QUAL CLASS
Undefined	128	Level 8 and above	NQF Level 09	Regular-Provider-ELOAC
REGISTRATION STATUS		SAQA DECISION NUMBER	REGISTRATION START DATE	REGISTRATION END DATE
Passed the End Date - Status was "Reregistered"		SAQA 2663/05	2006-07-01	2009-06-30
LAST DATE FOR ENROLMENT		LAST DATE FOR ACHIEVEMENT
2010-06-30		2013-06-30

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 is replaced by:

Qual ID	Qualification Title	Pre-2009 NQF Level	NQF Level	Min Credits	Replacement Status
81360	Master of Social Science: Linguistics	Level 8 and above	NQF Level 09	128	Complete

PURPOSE AND RATIONALE OF THE QUALIFICATION

Linguistics is an academic and broadly vocational discipline, which aims to equip learners with an understanding of the structure, acquisition and use of language, and the application of this knowledge in professions/vocations where language is important. Students will be provided with an understanding of the vision and limitations of linguistics as a discipline. Students will also be provided with the skills required to conduct linguistics analysis and research. Such education is crucial in South Africa given the multiplicity of social and educational issues that hinge on questions of language, and the centrality of multilingualism in the constitution. This is especially important in that, to achieve the nation's developmental and empowerment goals, we require a fuller understanding of how language contributes to human life.

LEARNING ASSUMED TO BE IN PLACE AND RECOGNITION OF PRIOR LEARNING

Appropriate Honours degree. Entry is also possible through University of Natal's Rule 33 for postgraduate study.

RECOGNISE PREVIOUS LEARNING?

EXIT LEVEL OUTCOMES

Understand the structure, function, acquisition and use language;

Understand the practical and academic importance of Linguistics as a discipline;

Demonstrate a knowledge of current linguistic issues in relation to theory, method and contextually sensitive applications;

Understand the role of language in human activities and, especially, its importance in enhancing a person 's life chances;

Undertake data-based linguistic research;

Present arguments and perspectives both orally and in written form;

Demonstrate self-directed study;

Summarise and evaluate ideas relevant to the language professions;

Engage at an advanced level with the theoretical and practical issues faced in these professions;

Work individually and as a member of a group;

Understand linguistic issues arising in seeking to develop complex, multilingual and multiethnic communities;

Conduct research and write a dissertation which demonstrates a degree of originality and creativity;

Demonstrate familiarity with the identified area of study through a survey of the relevant literature and field research or other analytical activities.

ASSOCIATED ASSESSMENT CRITERIA

Demonstrate knowledge of the field of linguistics appropriate for the particular exit level;

Demonstrate appropriate knowledge of specific areas of inquiry in the programme;

Understand the interrelationships amongst various areas of the field;

Analyse linguistic data and linguistic issues;

Grasp the theoretical and philosophical underpinnings of the various areas of study;

Demonstrate knowledge of current critical debates;

Construct a sustained argument, formulate questions and work towards solutions;

Demonstrate command of the conceptual discourse of the field;

Locate the study of linguistics within the social and historical context;

Understand the nature and effects of linguistic diversity;

Demonstrate a capacity for individual study;

Work efficiently within groups;

Present findings both orally and in writing;

Demonstrate a command of academic English at an appropriate level;

Demonstrate familiarity with information technology at an appropriate level;

Carry out a substantial independent research project conforming to acknowledged scholarly protocols.

Integrated assessment appropriately incorporated to ensure that the purpose of the qualification is achieved:

The University of Natal is currently reforming its assessment strategies to include the assessment of applied competence for each qualification. In the meantime, a combination of continuous assessment and traditional written examinations serve to assess the integration of all/most of the learning outcomes for each module in a qualification.

ARTICULATION OPTIONS

Vertical -Below: recognised Honours degree
Above: Masters

Horizontal - Within the University: with the approval of the programme directors, modules from other approved disciplines may be incorporated into this qualification and modules from this discipline may be incorporated into other approved qualifications.

Outside the University: Subject to University recognition of qualification and/or credits obtained at other institutions.

MODERATION OPTIONS

The ETQA system for HE is not yet fully developed. Until such time as it is, procedures described under assessors criteria suffice.

CRITERIA FOR THE REGISTRATION OF ASSESSORS

Until the HEQC establishes a registration system for assessors in the HET Band, the University of Natal assumes that, on the basis of its rigorous selection criteria for the appointment of academic staff (who also have opportunities for staff development in assessment), staff are competent to assess students on the modules they teach. This assessment is quality assured via a university system of internal moderation and external examination. External examiners are appointed for their teaching and disciplinary expertise and subject to the approval of faculty Boards. The University of Natal ruling is that 66 % of all assessments at exit level, i.e. leading to qualifications are externally examined.

REREGISTRATION HISTORY

As per the SAQA Board decision/s at that time, this qualification was Reregistered in 2006.

LEARNING PROGRAMMES RECORDED AGAINST THIS QUALIFICATION:

When qualifications are replaced, some of their learning programmes are moved to being recorded against the replacement qualifications. If a learning programme appears to be missing from here, please check the replacement.

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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.

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