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 Social Science: Historical Studies 
SAQA QUAL ID QUALIFICATION TITLE
15955  Master of Social Science: Historical 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
Master's 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 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
81357  Master of Social Science: Historical Studies  Level 8 and above  Level N/A:Pre-2009 was L8+  128  Complete 

PURPOSE AND RATIONALE OF THE QUALIFICATION 
All the major issues, which must be addressed today in South Africa - education, land, reform, urban and rural development, effective democracy, economic reform, in short transformation - require an understanding of how they came about - that is their history. The MA in Historical Studies prepares students for this.

Students are introduced to many of the most pressing issues of our age-the legal character of land tenure, the emergence of race as a source of conflict, the reasons for imbalance in the distribution of wealth and power in contemporary world, the impact of nationhood and nationalism, the place of women in society, the cultural manifestations of conflict around which so much public debate and difference takes place, and the manner in which the written, oral and visual arts have commented on social development in a multi-cultural environment, form major themes in the History Programme and its qualifications.

The study of history is dependent on the development of effective communication skills and a purpose of the programme is to develop these skills, paying particular attention to new developments in information technology. This is based on the identification of information, in oral, printed and digital form, the assimilation of this information and the ability to assess this information critically, the effective communication of this information. These skills are developed incrementally throughout the Programme and address an urgent requirement for tertiary learners.

Learners will be able to take employment in the fields of education, print and electronic media, tourism and heritage, in museums, library and archives. 

LEARNING ASSUMED TO BE IN PLACE AND RECOGNITION OF PRIOR LEARNING 
Postgraduate - Masters
Appropriate Honours degree. Entry is also possible through University of Natal's Rule 33 for postgraduate study. 

RECOGNISE PREVIOUS LEARNING? 
N 

EXIT LEVEL OUTCOMES 
  • Demonstrate an understanding of the world's interlinked social, economic and political processes.
  • Understand the way in which the above processes have developed through time.
  • Understand the way in which South Africa has been both embedded, and impacted on by these processes.
  • Demonstrate an awareness of the particular interlinked social, economic and political processes, which have created the specific set of conjunctures, which determine the problems, challenges, and achievements of the African continent.
  • Understand the specific features that have developed in South Africa as a part of the African continent.
  • Demonstrate an understanding of the specific factors that have created the unique South African political, cultural economic and social matrix.
  • Use the most recent developments in print and digital information technology to acquire and communicate information.
  • Assess information critically.
  • Communicate an understanding more effectively in a learning situation.
  • As a result of increased understanding of social development in the past, and the breadth of social experience, react to social difference on a local, national and global scale with greater creativity, tolerance and sympathy.
  • Deal with intellectual and practical challenges at a local national and global level with greater confidence and effectiveness.
  • Understand the world's interlinked social, economic and political processes both in the national African and Global context.
  • Assess information critically and communicate this creatively.
  • Understand the problems inherent in the creation of global knowledge systems as applied to an understanding of the past in its impact on selected local, national and global contexts.
  • Work independently with the most recent developments in information technology as research and communication tools.
  • Demonstrate an understanding of global knowledge systems in the time perspective and an ability to communicate this by using the most recent developments in information technology.
  • Retrieve information from a global range of sources by effectively using the latest developments in information technology by means of the production of a piece of original research, or a piece of original research in combination with selected areas of study.
  • Critically examine information and utilise it effectively in an examination of historical topic.
  • Communicate this information effectively. 
    		•

    ASSOCIATED ASSESSMENT CRITERIA 
  • Demonstrate a thorough knowledge of the general field of enquiry
  • Demonstrate a detailed knowledge of specific areas of enquiry in the programme.
  • Demonstrate an understanding of the interrelationships amongst various areas of the field of knowledge.
  • Analyse components, issues, factors, structures, etc.
  • Grasp the theoretical and philosophical underpinnings of the area of study.
  • Demonstrate a thorough knowledge of current critical debates.
  • Summarise, compare, and evaluate a substantial body of knowledge.
  • Construct a sustained argument; formulate questions and work towards solutions.
  • Command the conceptual discourse of the field of study.
  • Solve problems, both theoretical and applied ones.
  • Demonstrate an appropriate understanding of the discipline.
  • Contextualise this study within the social environment and the historical understanding.
  • Develop a clear understanding of the historical and present state and possible future of the disciplinary areas in which they are working.
  • Demonstrate a command of academic English at an appropriate level.
  • Demonstrate familiarity with information technology at an appropriate level.
  • Understand diversity.
  • Demonstrate a capacity for individual study.
  • Work efficiently within groups.
  • Present findings at an appropriate level, both orally and in writing.
  • Carry out a substantial independent research project conforming to acknowledged scholarly protocols (only for MSocSc).


    Integrated Assessment

    Undergraduate: Learners will be assessed by class work, including oral presentations, computer based multiple choice tests and written work; and by examination in accordance with the rules pertaining to the modules and level at which they are studying. All outcome levels will follow a process of in-class assessment (as described above) and exams will be conducted on the completion of each module. Postgraduate: Students at the Honours and Masters outcome level will also be required to complete a dissertation (see section 10 above for more information). 
    		•

    ARTICULATION OPTIONS 
    MSocSc
  • Vertical - below: Recognised Honours degree
  • Vertical - above: PhD
  • Horizontal - Within the University: with the approval of the programme directors, coursework modules from other approved disciplines may be incorporated into this qualification and modules from this discipline may be incorporated into other approved qualifications.
  • Horizontal - Outside the University: subject to University recognition of qualifications and/or credits obtained at other institutions. 
    		•

    MODERATION OPTIONS 
    The programme will make use of both internal and external assessors/examiners, and will be subject to Faculty and Graduate School requirements and rules. 

    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 a qualification, 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.
     
    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.
     
    NONE 


    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.