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:

Bachelor of Social Science Honours: Generic

SAQA QUAL ID	QUALIFICATION TITLE
15258	Bachelor of Social Science Honours: Generic
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
Honours Degree	Field 07 - Human and Social Studies		General Social Science
ABET BAND	MINIMUM CREDITS	PRE-2009 NQF LEVEL	NQF LEVEL	QUAL CLASS
Undefined	128	Level 7	NQF Level 08	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 does not replace any other qualification and is not replaced by any other qualification.

PURPOSE AND RATIONALE OF THE QUALIFICATION

To achieve proficiency in both scholarship and professional training at all undergraduate and postgraduate levels within the general field of the social sciences.

The aim is to realize graduates who are equipped with generic skills and have acquired substantial knowledge in a range of disciplines, that will enable them not to have an enhanced understanding of their society and the world, but will also prepare them to embark on a career and to create opportunities for themselves.

LEARNING ASSUMED TO BE IN PLACE AND RECOGNITION OF PRIOR LEARNING

At least a good second class level (more than 60%) record of achievement in obtaining a Bachelors degree from a recognized university; or a substantial equivalent deemed adequate by the University of Natal.

RECOGNISE PREVIOUS LEARNING?

EXIT LEVEL OUTCOMES

To gain a thorough understanding of issues, problems, ideas, discourses, structures and trends pertaining to the social sciences, especially in relation to South Africa and comparable societies.

To comprehend different qualitative and quantitative research methods, techniques and methodologies applicable to the social sciences.

To have achieved an acceptable level of proficiency in key basic and generic skills: information literacy; written and spoken English.

To have acquired a critical awareness and capacity for research so as to be able to investigate and understand issues, problems and trends in the social sciences. Independent and original research that can advance scholarship would be the ideal here.

To present research findings that meet appropriate academic and professional standards.

To become a scholar: to inculcate a passion for learning, and to appreciate the necessity for accuracy, honesty, fairness, generosity, and integrity.

To appreciate the virtues of being an independent learner, as well as the value in cooperating and collaborating with others.

To respond to the challenges of democracy and development in South Africa.

ASSOCIATED ASSESSMENT CRITERIA

Knowledge of issues, problems, ideas, discourses, processes, structures, and trends pertaining to the social science.

Competence in presenting arguments, data analysis, reports and other written and oral assignments.

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

Exercises (research methods, policy designs)
Visual material
Oral presentation
Essays
Reports
Portfolios
Research project, dissertation, thesis
Examinations

These are the various methods that will be deployed. Different assignments are assessed differently in a system of continuous assessment. The final examination of modules is holistic, seeking to see how learners are able to integrate content and skills more generally.

ARTICULATION OPTIONS

Entry and Exit
Exit points:
Bachelor's degree; Postgraduate diploma; Honours degree; Masters degree; PhD

Credits obtained for modules could readily be granted in other programmes; and qualifications acquired could be used as a means of entry to another programme.

Entry to the programme at any level is possible, provided the requirements for admission have been met. In some instances, it will be possible for learners to given the opportunity to attain the entry requirements should their prior qualifications not have enabled them to do that.

Other programmes

On the Pietermaritzburg campus, links at various levels with other programmes in:

General Studies (Arts)
Government, Business and Ethics
Heritage Studies
Information Studies
P and Development Studies
African Studies
Environment and Development
Nutrition
Food Security
Education
Business
Psychology
Rural Community (Systems) Development

MODERATION OPTIONS

Internal and external examining, which is supplemented by a review process of higher degrees carried out by the Faculty of Human Sciences.

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), staffs 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 diplomacy 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:

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.

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