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SOUTH AFRICAN QUALIFICATIONS AUTHORITY 
REGISTERED QUALIFICATION: 

Master of Arts in Communication Science 
SAQA QUAL ID QUALIFICATION TITLE
22213  Master of Arts in Communication Science 
ORIGINATOR
University of the Free State 
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  120  Level 8 and above  NQF Level 09  Regular-Provider-ELOAC 
REGISTRATION STATUS SAQA DECISION NUMBER REGISTRATION START DATE REGISTRATION END DATE
Registered-data under construction  EXCO 0324/24  2024-07-01  2027-06-30 
LAST DATE FOR ENROLMENT LAST DATE FOR ACHIEVEMENT
2028-06-30   2031-06-30  

Registered-data under construction

The qualification content is currently being updated for the qualifications with the status “Registered-data under construction” or showing “DETAILS UNDER CONSTRUCTION” to ensure compliance with SAQA’S Policy and Criteria for the registration of qualifications and part-qualifications on the National Qualifications Framework (NQF) (As amended, 2022). These qualifications are re-registered until 30 June 2027 and can legitimately be offered by the institutions to which they are registered.

 

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.  

PURPOSE AND RATIONALE OF THE QUALIFICATION 
Apply educational knowledge, skills, principles and methods General communication practitioner, Public relations officer, Advertising practitioner, Journalist, Radio announcer, Television presenter, Media practitioner, Communication consultant, Communication operational manager, Marketing communication consultant, Promotion manager, Media annalist and planner, Multi media manager, Communication manager or audiovisual production manager practicing a specialized communication profession within the contexts of profit and non-profit organizations, optimising and managing communication and industrial communication related processes. Qualifiers will demonstrate knowledge, skills and applied competence in the field of study that provide opportunities for continued personal growth, gainful economic activity and rewarding contributions to society. 

LEARNING ASSUMED TO BE IN PLACE AND RECOGNITION OF PRIOR LEARNING 
Learners who register for this qualification can

  • Learn from predominantly written material;
  • Communicate what they have learnt comprehensively in the medium of instruction
  • Learn and take responsibility for their own progress

    The qualification recognizes formal and non-formal prior learning (incorporating experiential learning) at a Higher Education and Training Certificate Level 7. 
    		•

    RECOGNISE PREVIOUS LEARNING? 
    Y 

    EXIT LEVEL OUTCOMES 
    The planned combination of learning outcomes are integrated with critical cross-field outcomes for this Qualification:

    Practical Competency

    The demonstrated ability/skill to achieve the major Skills/Applied Competency of the qualification.

    Foundational Competency

    The demonstrated understanding, by the Learner, of the embedded knowledge that underpins the end result/outcome.

    Reflective competency

    The demonstrated ability/skill to integrate or connect our performances and to reflect on, evaluate and adopt the above competencies.

    The Learner will be capable of:

    1. Performing specialised functions in the communication and industrial communication environments and

    2. Undertaking specialised research in the field of communication and/or industrial communication.

    The Learner will be able to:

    1. Understand and indicate the relevance of particular fundamental aspects of communication for the different sub-disciplines (advertising, journalism, organisational, audio- and audio-visual and persuasive comm.. etc.) of communication;

    2. Demonstrate specialised knowledge, analysis and application of processes related to a selection of the following:
  • Audio- and audio-visual communication (radio, TV, film and video)
  • Public relations
  • Organisational communication
  • Advertising
  • Journalism
  • Intercultural and developmental communication
  • Speech communication
  • Persuasive communication
  • Public and political communication
  • Educational communication;

    3. Integrate and apply specialised knowledge and advanced skills in the selected cluster of sub-disciplines in the field of communication and industrial communication;

    4. Evaluate the relevance of potential research projects within the field of communication and/or industrial communication;

    5. Collect, analyse, synthesize, integrate, systematize and interpret relevant factual material;

    6. Design and apply a scientifically based research methodology;

    7. Present research data systematically and explanatory;

    8. Interpret research data scientifically; and

    9. Make well-substantiated conclusions and recommendations. 
    		•

    ASSOCIATED ASSESSMENT CRITERIA 
    Learners will demonstrate their knowledge and skills through

    1. Compiling a feature programme;
    2. Conducting a critical analysis of the content of different television genres;
    3. Compiling a strategic plan for the execution of a promotional video production;
    4. Compiling a strategic plan for the execution of a public relations programme in an organization;
    5. Conducting a comprehensive marketing communication audit;
    6. Planning, implementing and managing an international advertising campaign;
    7. Planning, managing and executing a publication product (e.g. newsletters, journals, newspapers, magazines and radio/TV bulletins);
    8. Planning, controlling and managing the communication processes of a political campaign; and
    9. Writing a mini-dissertation to comply to the set standards

    Integrated assessment
  • Competence is achieved, through continuous assessment by demonstrating the ability to achieve the outcomes of the Qualification

    1. Internal and external evaluation and feedback on assignments and industrial related projects
    2. Tests
    3. Formal internal examinations
    4. Internal and external moderation by qualified academics and experts in the field concerned
    5. Mini-dissertation
  • Assessment documents are moderated to ensure that:

    1. They conform to the scope and context of the competency as stipulated in the qualification
    2. They are constructed in such a way that the Assessor assesses the critical outcomes applied, during the Learners activity performances, towards achieving an outcome.
  • To include confirmation of the Embedded Knowledge component to ensure that the Foundational Competency is achieved. 
    		•

    ARTICULATION OPTIONS 
    Vertical: Access to post-graduate studies at Doctorate level.
    Horizontal: None 

    MODERATION OPTIONS 
  • A system of external peer review and evaluation of departments including evaluation of the standards and assessment practices per Department.
  • Qualifications: The minimum academic and workplace experience requirements at a level above the level of moderation.
  • Appropriate professional criteria will be drafted in the case of workplace assessment.
  • Mentorship: All junior and new members of staff are mentored by senior members as they work together in teams. All assessment done by external assessors is quality controlled by internal staff.
  • Any moderation criteria as determined by the ETQA
  • Examinations are internally and externally moderated.
  • Mini-dissertations are moderated by a panel of internal and external moderators. 
    		•

    CRITERIA FOR THE REGISTRATION OF ASSESSORS 
    The academic staff of the University of the Free State complies with standards set by Senate and will exercise their assessment within the approved quality assurance system of the University. Assessors will also meet all criteria as stipulated by the relevant ETQA.

    Assessors are:
  • Subject matter specialists
  • Registered with the awarding body
  • Accredited by the awarding body after achieving competency against Unit Standards of competence for Assessors 
    		•

    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: 
    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.
     
    1. University of the Free State 


    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.