SAQA

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SOUTH AFRICAN QUALIFICATIONS AUTHORITY

REGISTERED QUALIFICATION THAT HAS PASSED THE END DATE:

Master of Arts: Social Work

SAQA QUAL ID	QUALIFICATION TITLE
15403	Master of Arts: Social Work
ORIGINATOR
University of Potchefstroom
PRIMARY OR DELEGATED QUALITY ASSURANCE FUNCTIONARY			NQF SUB-FRAMEWORK
Was CHE until Last Date for Achievement			HEQSF - Higher Education Qualifications Sub-framework
QUALIFICATION TYPE	FIELD		SUBFIELD
Master's Degree	Field 09 - Health Sciences and Social Services		Promotive Health and Developmental Services
ABET BAND	MINIMUM CREDITS	PRE-2009 NQF LEVEL	NQF LEVEL	QUAL CLASS
Undefined	140	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
72799	Master of Social Work	Level 8 and above	NQF Level 09	180	Complete

PURPOSE AND RATIONALE OF THE QUALIFICATION

Overall competency:

The learner will be competent in:

contributing to the enhancement of social work`s knowledge base by utilising appropriate research methods, techniques and procedures,

providing leadership in the various fields of social work practice, and

managing and providing a full range of needed client services in a wide spectrum of practice settings.

Motivation for the program:

A five-year strategic plan of action for the reconstruction and rationalisation of the social welfare delivery system was adopted in 1997 in terms of the White Paper on Social Welfare. According to this policy statement a holistic, developmental approach was adopted whereby services to individuals, families, groups and communities have to be rendered on a multi-professional level. Specially trained personnel, such as social workers, are needed for this purpose. This does not only include entry level practitioners (i.e. social workers with a BA (Social Work) degree), but also highly qualified personnel with post-graduate training that could provide leadership in the various fields of social work practice.

Nature of qualification:

An academic, career-orientated qualification.

LEARNING ASSUMED TO BE IN PLACE AND RECOGNITION OF PRIOR LEARNING

Entrance requirements:

NQF level 7 Baccalaureate degree in Social Work, as well as

Registration as a social worker with the SA Council for Social Service Professions.

Selection:

As an entrance requirement, a selection procedure will be implemented by which the potential learner`s academic comprehension and interpersonal skills will be assessed. The learner`s intended research topic should also be in line with the School for Psychosocial Behavioural Science`s research focus.

RECOGNISE PREVIOUS LEARNING?

EXIT LEVEL OUTCOMES

Shared exit level outcomes

The learner will be capable of:

demonstrating an understanding of the eco-systems approach and its use in researching and solving a variety of social problems and needs,

organising and managing him/herself and his/her activities and services responsibly and effectively,

communicating effectively using visual, mathematical and language skills in the modes of oral and written persuasion within the sphere of especially social work research and services

using science and technology effectively and critically, showing responsibility towards the environment and the health and welfare of others,

contributing to the full development of him/herself and the social and economic development of the society at large, by being aware of the importance of:

reflecting on and exploring a variety of strategies to learn more effectively,

participating as responsible citizens in the life of local communities and regions,

being culturally and aesthetically sensitive across a range of social contexts,

exploring education and career opportunities, and

developing entrepreneurial opportunities.

Exit level outcomes for stream 1 (Dissertation)

The learner will be capable of:

identifying a research problem in the social work field that is in line with the research focus area of the School.

formulating a research design and procedure,

collecting data by means of various procedures,

organising, analysing and interpreting data,

presenting and reporting on the research data in the form of a dissertation of high quality, and, in this process,

working effectively with co-researchers and research teams, respondents, organisations and communities regarding research related issues.

Exit level outcomes stream 2 (Coursework)

The learner will be capable of:

identifying individual, family, group and community social problems, needs and issues of a complicated nature that will require a high degree of critical thinking,

collecting, analysing, organising, interpreting and critically evaluating information as far as social problems and needs are concerned,

identifying trends in the occurrence of social problems, needs and issues within a community or within an organisation`s field of service,

conceptualising and developing strategies for addressing the identified problems and needs,

managing other social workers` implementation of these strategies,

evaluating the intervention strategies, processes and results, and, in this process,

working effectively with other social workers and members of the multi-professional team as far as especially macro service provision is concerned, and

completing a practice related research project of a more limited scope than in the case of the research masters.

ASSOCIATED ASSESSMENT CRITERIA

Shared assessment criteria:

The learner should provide evidence of a specialised and high level of competency, knowledge and a professional attitude through his/her:

ability to identify a relevant, original and viable research theme

formulation of a clear, concise and focused statement of the research problem, research question(s), objectives and hypotheses,

formulation of an appropriate research design and procedure,

formulation and implementation of appropriate data collection procedures,

integration of theoretical and empirical data in order to arrive at scientifically verifiable and transferable knowledge, and

writing of a research report of a high quality and standard.

Additional assessment criteria for stream 2

The learner should provide evidence of a specialised and high level of knowledge, skills and a professional attitude through his/her:

ability to apply the scientific social work processes in a variety of practice settings and situations.

Integrated Assessment:

Assessment will be continuous and integrated, using a range of formative and summative methods according to the PU for CHE`s assessment policy. It will cover the following.

Integrated assessment re stream 1 (Dissertation)

Course unit aims is arrived at through the assessment of the research report (dissertation) by:

at least two examiners attached to the PU for CHE (one being the research supervisor), as well as

at least one external examiner that meets the set requirements.

Integrated assessment re stream 2 (Coursework)

Course unit aims is arrived at through:

written assignments,

written tests and exams, and

a research report.

In a case where part of the research falls outside the direct ambit of social work and use is made of an assistant research supervisor, such a person may also function as an examiner.

The following quality assurance procedures are part of the qualification`s overall evaluation and accreditation system:

at least two internal examiners,

at least one external examiner, and

SAQA accreditation.

ARTICULATION OPTIONS

Vertical:

The qualification provides access to Doctoral level studies at all South African universities, as well as various training institutions overseas.

Horizontal:

No specific articulation to other qualifications.

MODERATION OPTIONS

Shared moderation options:

The following moderation options and quality control measures will be used:

external examiners that possess at least a Master of Arts (Social Work) degree, are registered with the SA Council for Social Service Professions as social workers and are nationally viewed as experts in the field that will be covered by the learner, and

a professional supervisory committee.

Additional moderation options re. Stream 2 (Coursework)

A moderator will be appointed to evaluate the contents and presentation of each of the programme`s study unit`s.

These moderators will have to comply with the same requirements that apply to external examiners.

CRITERIA FOR THE REGISTRATION OF ASSESSORS

Assessors must:

possess at least a Magister Artium (Social Work) degree, and

be registered with the SA Council for Social Service Professions as a social worker.

REREGISTRATION HISTORY

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

NOTES

In order to meet the diverse needs of learners in social work, the Master`s Degree is presented in two streams. They are (A) a research master`s degree (dissertation) and (B) a coursework master`s degree.

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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