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 Arts in Applied Language Studies

SAQA QUAL ID	QUALIFICATION TITLE
15888	Master of Arts in Applied Language Studies
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		Communication Studies
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 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.

To contribute to widening the local and international leadership base of innovative and knowledge-based scholarly activity in Communication Studies and Language.

The specific purposes of the qualification are:

To enable learners to acquire in-depth, comprehensive theoretical knowledge and understanding of various contexts in one or more of the following areas within the field of Applied Language Studies: cross-cultural communication, document/text design, language planning, language development, lexicography, second language acquisition, terminology and translation.

To provide learners with the practical skills, techniques, attitudes and values required for the effective and appropriate application of this knowledge and understanding in the context of a multilingual and multicultural South Africa.

To equip learners with research skills and the ability to plan, implement and conduct a problem-based research project, and to produce a mini-dissertation in one area of specialisation within the field of Applied Language Studies.

To enable learners to engage effectively, efficiently and appropriately in debate in the oral as well as in the written medium in a professional manner and context.

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 Applied Language Studies, NQF Level 8.

Postgraduate Diploma in Applied Language Studies, NQF Level 8.

RECOGNISE PREVIOUS LEARNING?

EXIT LEVEL OUTCOMES

Various competencies and applied competencies such as:

Identifying and solving problems (using critical and creative thinking) in a responsible way in the field of communication and language, noting, specifically, the multicultural and cross-cultural contexts of South Africa as well as internationally;

Working intersectorally with other disciplines as a member of a team, group, organisation, community in both the public and private sectors;

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;

Developing holistic, integrated strategies and programmes for communication and language founded on the collection, analysis, organisation, implementation and critical evaluation of theory, information and processes;

Demonstrating effective utilisation of technology within the domain of communication, language and linguistics, as well as across relevant disciplines;

Organising and managing work load responsibly and effectively by means of a scheduled programme which promotes access to scientific journals in the field, becoming a member of professional bodies, participating in seminars and conferences, doing research and rendering services to facilitate professional growth and development;

Communicating effectively with people of all target groups, including literate/illiterate persons, using visual and language skills in the modes of oral and/or written persuasion;

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 to explore and develop 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 a 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.

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 required.

To meet the general requirements of an Honours Degree in Applied Language Studies, 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.

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.

Vertical Articulation:

Doctor of Philosophy in Language and Literacy Studies, 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