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 Science: Computer Science 
SAQA QUAL ID QUALIFICATION TITLE
22476  Master of Science: Computer Science 
ORIGINATOR
University of the North (Qwa-Qwa) 
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 10 - Physical, Mathematical, Computer and Life Sciences  Mathematical Sciences 
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
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 does not replace any other qualification and is not replaced by any other qualification. 

PURPOSE AND RATIONALE OF THE QUALIFICATION 
The primary purpose of the qualification is to provide South Africa with suitably qualified people in the field of Computer Science in order to ensure that the national leadership base of innovative and knowledge-based economic and scholarly activities are widened and sustained. Candidates will be equipped with specialized knowledge, research skills and applied competence in the field of Computer Science thereby providing opportunities for continued personal and intellectual growth, gainful economic activity and rewarding contributions to society. 

LEARNING ASSUMED TO BE IN PLACE AND RECOGNITION OF PRIOR LEARNING 
This qualification recognises, through the submission of portfolios of evidence, the formal/non-formal prior learning that learners who register for the programme leading to the award of the qualification bring the learning situation:

B. Sc - Honours degree in the relevant field
OR
Level-7 equivalent qualification in the relevant field 

RECOGNISE PREVIOUS LEARNING? 
Y 

EXIT LEVEL OUTCOMES 
CRITICAL CROSS-FIELD OUTCOMES
  • Identifying, analysing and solving problems
  • Responsible decision-making using critical and creative thinking
  • Collecting, analysing and organising information in a meaningful way
  • Handling work effectively
  • Organising and managing oneself and one's activities responsibly and effectively
  • Looking at development on a system basis rather than as loose entities
  • Communicating effectively
  • Demonstrating a holistic perspective of technology generation and dissemination
  • Receptive and responsive attitude towards changes in the scientific environment
  • Conducting research independently

    SPECIFIC OUTCOMES

    The learner is able to:
    1. Demonstrate highly specialised scholastic and/or technical and advanced research skills in a chosen field of computer science
    2. Demonstrate an understanding of specialised knowledge of Computer Science
    3. Create appropriate responses to resolving contextual and/or abstract problems
    4. Plan, resource and manage research projects
    5. Accept complete accountability for determining, achieving and evaluating personal and/or group output regarding the relationship between computer science and society.
    6. Approach complex problems in an open-minded and innovative scientific manner 
    		•

    ASSOCIATED ASSESSMENT CRITERIA 
  • Solve problems by means of exploring and critically evaluating different situations
  • Solve problems by generating alternative strategies for dealing with those problems
  • Compile portfolios to relate learning gained from individual experience to knowledge encountered in an academic environment and vice versa
  • Conduct seminars to communicate learning from experience and academic context to peers
  • Relate learning from experience and academic context to different contexts using present and future scenarios

    ASSOCIATED ASSESSMENT CRITERIA

    1. Highly specialized scholastic and/or technical and advanced research skills in a specific area have been demonstrated
    2. An understanding of specialised knowledge of major discipline has been demonstrated
    3. Appropriate responses to resolve contextual and/or abstract problems have been created
    4. Projects have been planned, resourced and managed
    5. Taking complete accountability for determining, achieving and evaluating personal and/or group output regarding the relationship between computer science and society has been accepted
    6. Complex problems have been approached in an open-minded and innovative scientific manner

    INTEGRATED ASSESSMENT
  • Continuous evaluation
  • Case studies
  • Portfolios
  • Project
  • Simulations
  • Workplace assessments
  • Written, oral, open book and practical examinations
  • Practical assignments
  • Panel evaluations
  • Presentations
  • Dissertations
  • Publications in refereed scientific journals 
    		•

    ARTICULATION OPTIONS 
    Progress to Ph. D. degree
    Progress to other related qualifications 

    CRITERIA FOR THE REGISTRATION OF ASSESSORS 
    The University's own staff will be used as assessors in a manner commensurate with the quality management system of the institution. This will also apply to the appointment of outside assessors.

    A system of second examiners within the institution will be used, together with a system of external examination at exit levels to the qualification. Where professional or statutory bodies are involved in determining the curriculum, they will also be involved in moderation. 

    REREGISTRATION HISTORY 
    As per the SAQA Board decision/s at that time, this qualification was Reregistered in 2006. 

    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.
     
    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.