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: African Studies

SAQA QUAL ID	QUALIFICATION TITLE
15280	Bachelor of Social Science Honours: African Studies
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		Traditions, History and Legacies
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 is replaced by:

Qual ID	Qualification Title	Pre-2009 NQF Level	NQF Level	Min Credits	Replacement Status
81149	Bachelor of Social Science Honours: African Studies	Level 7	Level N/A: Pre-2009 was L7	128	Complete

PURPOSE AND RATIONALE OF THE QUALIFICATION

1. To enable students to acquire an advanced understanding of the main lines of contemporary thinking in specific fields in the human and social sciences on African issues.
2. To enable students to develop further to capacity to think critically about African issues.
3. To enable students to acquire further experience in doing independent and original research into African issues
4. To equip students with an advanced level of information and skills which enable them to pursue careers in a wide range of fields in which knowledge of African affairs is important.

LEARNING ASSUMED TO BE IN PLACE AND RECOGNITION OF PRIOR LEARNING

Students must have obtained a good pass in a bachelor's degree in the African Studies Programme, or an equivalent qualification as recognized by the Faculty of Human Science (and, in the case of students from other universities, by the University of Natal).

RECOGNISE PREVIOUS LEARNING?

EXIT LEVEL OUTCOMES

Understand the main academic discourses relating to African issues in the particular disciplines, which they study in the programme.

Locate and make effective use of, a wide range of sources of information on African issues.

Engage effectively, both verbally and in writing, in debates on African issues.

Produce coherent essays, written in good English and presented according to recognized academic standards, on defined research topics

Do independent and original research towards clearly defined goals, using primary sources.

Adapt the academic knowledge and skills acquired in the programme to the world of work.

Appreciate the importance for society, both in Africa and in the wider world, of the advanced academic study of African issues.

ASSOCIATED ASSESSMENT CRITERIA

1. Demonstrate a thorough knowledge of the general field of enquiry.
2. Demonstrate a detailed knowledge of specific areas of inquiry in the programme
3. Understand the interrelationships amongst various areas of the field of knowledge
4. Analyze components/issues/factors/structure etc.
5. Grasp the theoretical and philosophical underpinnings of the area of study
6. Demonstrate a thorough knowledge of current critical debates
7. Summarize, compare and evaluate a substantial body of knowledge
8. Construct a sustained argument, formulate questions and work towards solutions
9. command the conceptual discourse of the field of study
10. Solve problems, both theoretical and applied
11. Demonstrate an appropriate understanding of the discipline
12. Contextualize this study within the social environment and the historical understanding
13. Develop a clear understanding of the historical and contemporary state and possible future of the disciplinary areas in which she/he is working
14. Command academic English at an appropriate level
15. Demonstrate familiarity with information technology at an appropriate level
16. Understand diversity
17. Manage individual study
18. Work efficiently with groups
19. Present findings at n appropriate level, both orally and in writing
20. Integrate information, conduct research, and conceptualize aspects of language, literature and/or culture and understand what is needed for social
21. Development, with values consistent with social responsibility and the redress of disadvantage.

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.

Essays

Tutorials

Seminars

Tests

Examinations

Long essay

Students will undergo a set of written examinations to assess whether they have attained the necessary knowledge and capacities indicated in outcomes and can express their knowledge clearly as required.

ARTICULATION OPTIONS

Master of SoScience (African Studies)

PhD

MODERATION OPTIONS

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