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SOUTH AFRICAN QUALIFICATIONS AUTHORITY 
REGISTERED QUALIFICATION THAT HAS PASSED THE END DATE: 

Master of Arts in African Languages 
SAQA QUAL ID QUALIFICATION TITLE
15885  Master of Arts in African Languages 
ORIGINATOR
University of Pretoria 
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  180  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 1141/23  2021-07-01  2024-06-30 
LAST DATE FOR ENROLMENT LAST DATE FOR ACHIEVEMENT
2025-06-30   2028-06-30  

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 
The general purposes of the qualification are:
  • To provide qualifiers with Master's level knowledge, specific skills and applied competence in one or more sub-fields of Communication Studies, Language and Literature, which will provide opportunities for continued personal intellectual growth, gainful economic activity and rewarding contributions to society;
  • To provide South Africa with significant numbers of experts in Communication Studies, Language and Literature to ensure that the local and international leadership base of innovative and knowledge-based scholarly activity is widened;
  • To provide South Africa with a cadre of specialists in the field of research, facilitation, development, management and service provision, who will contribute to a continuously growing understanding of their chosen field of expertise.

    The specific purposes of the qualification are:
  • To enable learners to acquire detailed, in-depth and comprehensive knowledge of the origins, linguistic structure and literature of at least one of the following African languages: isiNdebele, isiZulu, siSwati, Sepedi or Setswana;
  • To provide qualifiers with the requisite skills and competence which will enable them to communicate effectively and efficiently in the oral as well as in the written medium of the language(s) of specialisation;
  • To provide learners with opportunities to acquire applied competence in the chosen African language(s) in various professional domains within the multilingual and multicultural context of South Africa;
  • To facilitate the confident deployment of well developed research skills in order to plan, implement and conduct a problem-based research project and to produce a mini-dissertation on one area of specialisation within the fields of either African linguistics or literature. 
    		•

    LEARNING ASSUMED TO BE IN PLACE AND RECOGNITION OF PRIOR LEARNING 
    Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL):
    The institution conducts RPL in terms of the policy and guidelines of the institution to recognise other forms of formal, informal and non-formal learning and experience. In cases where learners do not comply with the formal admission requirements, the institution applies its RPL policy.

    Entry Requirements:
    The minimum entry requirement for this qualification is:
  • Bachelor of Arts Honours in African Languages, NQF Level 8. 
    		•

    RECOGNISE PREVIOUS LEARNING? 
    Y 

    EXIT LEVEL OUTCOMES 
    Various competencies and applied competencies such as:
    1. Identifying and solving problems in which responses display that responsible decisions using critical and creative thinking have been made concerning solutions for problems related to communication, language and literature, and their applications within the multicultural and cross-cultural contexts of South Africa as well as internationally.
    2. Working intersectorally with other disciplines as a member of a team, group, organisation, community in both the public and private sectors.
    3. Demonstrating an understanding of the interaction between systems from an ecological approach by understanding needs, problems and resource capacity within an international, national and local context.
    4. Developing holistic, integrated strategies and qualifications for communication, language and literature founded on the collection, analysis, organising, implementation and critical evaluation of theory, information and processes.
    5. Demonstrating effective utilisation of technology within the domain of communication, language and linguistics, as well as across relevant disciplines.
    6. Organising and managing their work load responsibly and effectively using a scheduled qualification, allowing for a learning environment such as reading scientific journals in the field, becoming a member of professional bodies, attending seminars and conferences, doing research and rendering voluntary services to facilitate professional growth and development.
    7. Communicating effectively with people of all target groups, including literate/illiterate persons, children and the youth, using visual and language skills in the modes of oral and/or written persuasion.
    8. Contributing to the full personal development of each learner regarding strategies for learning, such as furthering a culture of life-long learning, scientific involvement, expressing a non-discriminating attitude across a range of social contexts based on the value of social justice and a sensitivity for linguistic and cultural diversity and exploring and developing career opportunities such as entrepreneurial initiatives to promote social and economic independence and opportunities for personal development. 

    ASSOCIATED ASSESSMENT CRITERIA 
  • To meet the general requirements of the African Languages qualification, the knowledge, skills, values and attitudes of the learner are assessed continuously over the period of study and in various realistic contexts to meet the criteria of reliability, validity, comprehensiveness, objectivity, discrimination, meaningfulness, and the appropriate level of difficulty.
  • The assessment will be criteria-based and norm-based, and both internal and external moderation will ensure reliability.
  • Apart from general assessment criteria, specific criteria are developed for each module within the qualification in order to determine the learner's applied competence. The assessment will be done by way of a range of continuous, formative and summative practices such as self-assessment, peer assessment, written work, oral work, tests, portfolios, simulations, observations and work-place assessments.
  • A research report in the format of a mini-dissertation is also required.
  • To meet the general requirements of an Honours degree in African Languages, the knowledge, skills, values and attitudes of the learner are assessed continuously over the period of study and in various realistic contexts to meet the criteria of reliability, validity, comprehensiveness, objectivity, discrimination, meaningfulness, and the appropriate level of difficulty.
  • The assessment will be criteria-based and norm-based, and reliability will be ensured by both internal and external moderation.
  • Apart from general assessment criteria, specific criteria are developed for each module within the qualification in order to determine the learner's applied competence. The assessment will be done by way of a range of continuous, formative and summative practices such as self-assessment, peer assessment, written work, oral work, tests, portfolios, simulations, observations and work-place assessments.

    Integrated Assessment:
  • Portfolios.
  • Simulations.
  • Work-place assessments.
  • Written examinations.
  • Oral examinations.

    Other:
    Mini-dissertation. 
    		•

    INTERNATIONAL COMPARABILITY 
    This qualification compares with the following international qualifications in terms of the range of competencies in the learning content offered. 

    ARTICULATION OPTIONS 
    This qualification offers both possibilities of horizontal and vertical articulation.

    Horizontal Articulation:
  • Master of Arts in Applied Linguistics and African Languages, NQF Level 9.
  • Master of Arts in Comparative African Languages and Literature, NQF Level 9.

    Vertical Articulation:
  • Doctor of Philosophy in African Languages, NQF Level 10. 
    		•

    MODERATION OPTIONS 
    N/A 

    CRITERIA FOR THE REGISTRATION OF ASSESSORS 
    N/A 

    REREGISTRATION HISTORY 
    As per the SAQA Board decision/s at that time, this qualification was Reregistered in 2006; 2009; 2012; 2015. 

    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.
     
    1. University of Pretoria 


    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.