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: Public Affairs and Administration 
SAQA QUAL ID QUALIFICATION TITLE
19871  Bachelor of Social Science Honours: Public Affairs and Administration 
ORIGINATOR
University of Cape Town 
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 03 - Business, Commerce and Management Studies  Public Administration 
ABET BAND MINIMUM CREDITS PRE-2009 NQF LEVEL NQF LEVEL QUAL CLASS
Undefined  120  Level 7  Level N/A: Pre-2009 was L7  Regular-Provider-ELOAC 
REGISTRATION STATUS SAQA DECISION NUMBER REGISTRATION START DATE REGISTRATION END DATE
Passed the End Date -
Status was "Reregistered" 		 SAQA 06120/18  2018-07-01  2018-12-31 
LAST DATE FOR ENROLMENT LAST DATE FOR ACHIEVEMENT
2019-12-31   2022-12-31  

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 
This Honours programme is the first year of postgraduate study in Public Affairs and Administration. It is designed to provide the opportunity for further intensive study in Public Affairs and Administration and training in concepts and research methods that equip the candidate with the skills necessary either of employment in the field of Public and Development Management generally (including the civil service, national and international NGOs, research or consultancy positions in public policy analysis, strategic management, public project management, public financial management, public personnel management etc) or for further study at Masters and Doctoral level in Public Affairs and Administration or a related subject area. 

LEARNING ASSUMED TO BE IN PLACE AND RECOGNITION OF PRIOR LEARNING 
A degree of Bachelor or its equivalent with a better than average pass in the major in the discipline or a cognate discipline.

Senior certificate with Matriculation Exemption or Equivalent university admission qualification.

First degree:
BA/BSocSc

Recognition of Prior Learning:

Non-graduates who have shown by examination or publication or a record of appropriate training that they have reached a level in the subject equivalent to a bachelors degree may be permitted to register for the degree. 

RECOGNISE PREVIOUS LEARNING? 
Y 

EXIT LEVEL OUTCOMES 
(a) The Honours graduate is competent to:

i) understand and manipulate qualitative and quantitative data within the area of specialisation;
ii) design and conduct research in his or her area of specialisation;
iii) produce academic papers that reflect an ability to interrogate the professional literature and engage in critical debate;
iv) find information of professional relevance efficiently and independently;
v) use information-technology efficiently and independently;
vi) embark on an Honours level research study under supervision.

b) General Outcomes (contextually demonstrated general knowledge, skills and values of the programme)

The BSocSc (Hons) graduate is competent to:

i) Demonstrate an understanding of the established literature, main theoretical approaches and methodologies in the area of specialisation;
ii) Demonstrate an ability to identify key debates in the literature generally, on specific thematic areas, between theoretical approaches and methodologies;
iii) Demonstrate an ability to make informed and intellectually defensible choices in deciding on appropriate theories to apply to chosen questions of study;
iv) Demonstrate an ability to adequately apply conceptual frameworks to specific empirical cases and topics;
v) Demonstrate an awareness of the limitations of research and ability to make claims with appropriate conditions
vi) Independently apply discipline related knowledge to specific and practical problems facing a transitional society like South Africa;
vii) Draw on discipline base knowledge to identify appropriate cases to draw hypothesis creating and answering comparisons;
viii) Independently conduct secondary literature research and practical research to persuasive support stated arguments;
ix) Effectively present research in readable form conforming to established academic standards;
Demonstrate an oral ability to present research questions and findings to academic and professional audiences.

(c) Specific Outcomes, (including professional outcomes, contextually demonstrated)

The Honours in Public Affairs and Administration graduate is able to:

(i) Identify, interpret and apply Public and Development Management-related literature;
(ii) Identify and apply the most important methodological approaches and key research techniques in Public and Development Management;
(iii) Identify and solve more complex Public and Development Management problems in a critical and constructive way so as to ensure sustainable developmental outcomes;
(iv) work effectively with others as a member of a senior management team in the developmental and public sectors;
(v) display an ability to conduct independent research, write it up and present it in academic form;
(vi) present and communicate complex Public Management-related issues effectively to professional and lay audiences. 

ASSOCIATED ASSESSMENT CRITERIA 
a) The learner`s achievement of critical cross-field outcomes is assessed formatively during the course through a range of activities, and summatively in the capstone activity outlined under Integrated assessment.

b) The learner`s achievement of general programme outcomes is assessed through a range of formative and summative assessments throughout the course, and particularly in the capstone activity outlined under Integrated assessment.

c) Assessments include theoretical papers, applied case studies, simulations and oral presentations of research projects. Formative assessment includes a variety of written assignments as well as the preparation of extended papers written under supervision. Summative assessments take the form of unseen and take-home examination papers and of the capstone literature review, research proposal (including an oral presentation) and pilot project report (see Integrated assessment).

Integrated assessment:

The integrated assessment of the Public Affairs and Administration Honours graduate includes measurement of foundational, reflective, technical and practical competencies. Learners are required to combine and apply the disciplinary knowledge and research skills acquired in coursework to a supervised independent Honours project. This serves both to integrate skills learnt during the Honours year, and to prepare for the Masters dissertation in the case of those learners who wish to continue to an MSosSc in Public Affairs and Administration.

Assessment of the Honours project is based on criteria which include the following:
  • A focused literature survey including the use of a variety of secondary sources, and that informs a potential research question in the area of Public Affairs and Administration.
  • Formulation of a research question, and the development of a research proposal for policy analysis / case study / normative and theoretical analysis in Public Affairs and Administration.
  • Presentation of the research proposal and project (including the identification of ethical implications of the research, if any) to peers for discussion and critique;
  • A pilot research report (written in a manner that accords with the publication conventions of the discipline), designed to be the first stage of the research to be conducted for the Masters degree. 
    		•

    ARTICULATION OPTIONS 
    Title(s) of related qualification(s)

    1. MSocSc in Public Affairs & Administration
    2. MPubAd
    3. Interdisciplinary coursework masters programmes (MPhil)

    This qualification serves as an entry point to the related qualification(s).

    Entry to this qualification in mid-stream:
    Not possible.

    Exit from qualification in mid-stream:
    Credit is given for modules of the course completed.

    Other higher education programmes which articulate with the qualification without "going back to square one:"
    Subject to the provisions of the Joint Statute, this work may be recognised by another institution in part fulfilment towards a similar degree of honours bachelor. 

    MODERATION OPTIONS 
    The University of Cape Town has a system of external peer review and evaluation of each course. One of the aspects of the system is an evaluation of the standards and assessment practices of the department. 

    CRITERIA FOR THE REGISTRATION OF ASSESSORS 
    The academic staff of the University of Cape Town will be used in a manner which is consistent with the quality assurance system of the University. 

    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 Cape Town 


    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.