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

Master of Social Science: Social Development 
SAQA QUAL ID QUALIFICATION TITLE
21446  Master of Social Science: Social Development 
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
Master's Degree  Field 07 - Human and Social Studies  General Social Science 
ABET BAND MINIMUM CREDITS PRE-2009 NQF LEVEL NQF LEVEL QUAL CLASS
Undefined  192  Level 8 and above  Level N/A:Pre-2009 was L8+  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 
The degree provides advanced training in the field of study including techniques of research, data analysis and scholarly presentation appropriate to Social Development. The degree will equip the candidate with the knowledge and the skills necessary either for employment at a senior level in the field of social development or for further independent research towards the degree of PhD in Social Development.

Further, the programme will educate critical practitioners for positions of leadership in the transformation of social services in order to provide effective and efficient programmes which can respond to social development needs and poverty in South Africa. 

LEARNING ASSUMED TO BE IN PLACE AND RECOGNITION OF PRIOR LEARNING 
A degree of Honours Bachelor or its equivalent, in the discipline or a cognate discipline recognised by the Faculty.

Senior Certificate with Matriculation Exemption or equivalent university admission qualification.

First degree:
BA / BSocSc

Honours degree:
BA (Hons) / BSocSc (Hons)

Recognition of prior learning:

People / Non-Honours graduates who have shown by examination or publication or a record of appropriate training that they have reached a level in the subject or a cognate subject equivalent to an Honours Bachelor's degree, may be permitted to register for the degree. 

RECOGNISE PREVIOUS LEARNING? 
Y 

EXIT LEVEL OUTCOMES 
a). Critical cross-field outcomes (generic to all teaching and learning):
  • The Masters graduate is able to demonstrate mastery in depth of a theoretically sophisticated subject matter;
  • The Masters graduate is equipped with proficiency in research methodology sufficient to proceed to a Ph.D. Graduates have mastered the skills of critical thinking, problem solving, collection and analysis of data and effective professional written communication.

    b). General outcomes (contextually demonstrated general knowledge, skills and values of the programme):

    The Masters graduate is able to:

    1. Conduct independent research in the discipline of Social Development.
    2. Communicate verbally and orally with professional audiences.
    3. Apply in-depth and specialised disciplinary knowledge and research skills to discipline-based problems.
    4. Analyse and critique communications of an academic and popular nature.
    5. Appreciate the ethical issues associated with research and knowledge production in the discipline.
    6. Understand the processes whereby knowledge in the Humanities is constructed


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

    The MSocSc in Social Development graduate will be competent to:

    1. Engage critically with contemporary theoretical issues in social development.
    2. Apply theoretical insights to social problems.
    3. Analyse existing national social programmes and policies within an international context.
    4. Integrate theoretical and conceptual understanding demonstrated through the application of theory to specific policies and programmes.
    5. Formulate policies and programmes to address social problems and issues within a human centred theoretical framework.
    6. Evaluate the impact of social policies and programmes on the local level.
    7. Be aware of the various impacts that group dynamics exert on organisational performance and be able to improve such performance by identifying, analysing and facilitating improved group and leadership functioning.
    8. Be able to analyse and diagnose organisational problems and to develop an appropriate organisational development strategy.
    9. Apply a range of advanced research methods to the study of social problems.
    10. Conduct advanced literature searches to inform reviews of specialised literature.
    11. Prepare professional papers for peer review.
    12. Apply professional values and ethics for development practitioners consistent with a human centred development model.
    13. Write professional reports for a variety of clients and stakeholders. 
    		•

    ASSOCIATED ASSESSMENT CRITERIA 
    a). The achievement of these outcomes is assessed in the integrated assessment of the programme

    b). The achievement of these outcomes is assessed in the integrated assessment of the programme.

    c). The outcomes of the learning will be assessed by means of:
  • Project papers for the various courses
  • The research dissertation
  • An internship


    INTEGRATED ASSESSMENT

    The integration of skills learnt in the MSocSc degree in Social Development, is assessed by means of foundational, reflexive, technical and practical competencies. Learners are required to complete a series of professional assignments which serve to integrate skills learnt during the programme.

    At the Masters level, learners will be assessed through both formative and summative methods.
    These include:

    1. Completion of term papers in the competence areas.
    2. Oral presentation of seminar papers on selected social development themes.
    3. The completion of an internship programme under supervision.
    4. The submission of a comprehensive report at the conclusion of the internship.
    5. Written and oral examinations of theory and practice components.
    6. Completion of a research dissertation.

    All modules are subject to external examination.

    The outcomes will be assessed through the following capstone sites:
  • A research dissertation on an aspect of Social Development
  • A Social Development internship

    This will capture the full spectrum of the specific learning and the specific assessment criteria of the Masters in Social Development.

    Learners' performance will be assessed on their ability to:

    1). Complete a dissertation of a word length stipulated by the faculty. The dissertation must demonstrate competence in the following areas, all of which are assessed in the examination of the dissertation:

    1. Precise research problem formulation.
    2. Competence in the integration of the specialised literature that informs the research question.
    3. Appropriate design and execution of the research.
    4. Use of appropriate methods of measurement and data analysis.
    5. Integration of findings.
    6. Ability to address the ethical problems that might attend the research.
    7. Appreciation of the methodological limitations of the study.
    8. Use of the publication and style conventions of the discipline.

    2). Complete an internship in a Social Development organisation in which students must demonstrate the ability to:

    1. Clearly identify, critically analyse and articulate an advanced understanding of central concepts related to key social theories, demonstrated through the ability to apply these to current social realities in South Africa
    2. Critically analyse existing national social programmes and policies within an international context
    3. Conceptualise and strategically plan innovative and appropriate social development policy and programme interventions, demonstrating understanding of social and economic theory and processes at micro and macro level
    4. Assess the functioning and impact of such programmes on various levels including at a national, intermediate and local level
    5. Critically evaluate, at an advanced level, the impact and outcomes of policies and programmes within a given context
    6. Assess competently and critically the functioning of an organisation, as demonstrated by an ability to relate policy and programme objectives to outcomes
    7. Self-reflexivity and adaptability, with demonstration of appropriate values and awareness of ethical dilemmas in professional practice 
    		•

    ARTICULATION OPTIONS 
    This qualification serves as an entry point to the related qualification

    PhD

    Entry to this qualification in mid-stream is not possible.

    Exit from this qualification in mid-stream:
    The coursework components completed may be recognised by another institution

    Other higher education programmes that articulate with this qualification without "going back to square one":

    The Masters degree articulates with the Ph.D in the Faculty of Social Science and Humanities. When dissertation progress is reviewed at the end of each academic year, the Faculty Board, on the recommendation of the supervisor and the Head of the Department, may recommend that the candidate's registration be upgraded to a Ph.D and that the period of Masters registration beyond the minimum period of one year be recognised towards the two year minimum period of study for the Ph.D. 

    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 that 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. 

    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.