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 
SAQA QUAL ID QUALIFICATION TITLE
2961  Bachelor of Social Science 
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
National First Degree  Field 07 - Human and Social Studies  General Social Science 
ABET BAND MINIMUM CREDITS PRE-2009 NQF LEVEL NQF LEVEL QUAL CLASS
Undefined  384  Level 6  Level TBA: Pre-2009 was L6  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   2015-06-30  

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 programme in Human Sciences is both academic and broadly vocational. The qualifications offered in it share the purposes outlined below at appropriate exit levels. After an introduction at level one to the overarching field of Human Sciences, the programme provides a broad education in issues and themes that are central to Human Sciences, and to Human Sciences disciplines, and at the degree level leads to specialised in-depth knowledge in any two disciplines selected for extended study. The programme prepares learners for the workplace by developing a broad range of cross-field skills transferable to a wide range of work situations. Learners gain in-depth knowledge on the one hand into the processes and structures of society and on the other into the crucial role of language in structuring and interpreting the work. They gain additional specialised knowledge specific to the disciplines they select for extended study. Skills include effective communication using a diversity of media, specially written and oral language skills and cultural sensitivity across a range of social contexts. Values include responsible citizenship in both a national and global context and those of life-long learning. The programme also introduces learners to research techniques and prepares them for graduate study

The knowledge, skills and values transmitted by the programme remain crucial to our South African context as a vital complement to the increasing dominance of technology, and of technological values. At the same time they prepare students for a wide range of jobs. On the one hand graduates are equipped for specific jobs ranging from the language professions through teaching, journalism, the media and the world of music and theatre to the social, developmental and political research industry. On the other hand, generic and workplace skills equip graduates for the success in the broad world of business, politics, social policy etc. 

LEARNING ASSUMED TO BE IN PLACE AND RECOGNITION OF PRIOR LEARNING 
  • Undergraduate (ie. BA, BSocS, Descriptor degrees, Diplomas and Certificates)
  • Matric exemption or quivalent.
  • Entry is also possible through Senate approved alternative access routes recognising age, experience or other prior learning equivalents. 
    		•

    RECOGNISE PREVIOUS LEARNING? 
    Y 

    EXIT LEVEL OUTCOMES 
  • Demonstrate responsible and effective organisation and management of themselves and their activities in the context of undergraduate studies.
  • Work effectively with others as a member of a group.
  • Demonstrate initial skills in the use of computers and the internet in the context of their studies.
  • Use the university library effectively as a learning resource.
  • Demonstrate skills in accessing and processing information by collecting, analysing, organising and critically evaluating materials.
  • Demonstrate an awareness of the full range of issues and problems commonly deliberated on in human sciences and of specific issues and problems.
  • Demonstrate appropriate problem solving skills, and some first steps in critical thinking.
  • Communicate in at least one of the languages of the region, with due awareness of the bi-and multilingual nature of the kwazulu natal context.
  • Demonstrate proficiency in the use of academic English.
  • Tolerate different views and ideas.
  • Demonstrate familiarity with and the start of critical engagement with the concepts and philosophies of selected disciplines.
  • Assess the possible applications to the workplace of such theorised approaches.
  • Carry out presentations orally or in written form on workplace related topics.
  • Demonstrate sound numeracy skills and apply these appropriately.
  • Present arguments and perspectives both orally and in written form.
  • Engagement, in depth, with the concepts, philosophies and concerns of the disciplines in which they have chosen to specialise.
  • Identify issues in these disciplines and develop appropriate research designs which could be used to study these issues.
  • Transfer these skills to the workplace. 
    		•

    ASSOCIATED ASSESSMENT CRITERIA 
  • Show knowledge of the general field of inquiry, and some detailed knowledge of specific areas of inquiry in the programme.
  • Understand the interrelationships amongst various areas of the field of knowledge.
  • Analyse issues and factors in the context of current critical debates.
  • Summarise, compare and evaluate bodies of knowledge.
  • Construct a sustained argument, formulate questions and work towards solutions (including problem solving).
  • Contextualise the field of study socially and to a more limited extent, historically.
  • Develop an understanding of the past, present and possible future of the disciplinary areas studied.
  • Utilise information technology and libraries effectively for study purposes.
  • Reflect on both the benefits and the constraints of diversity, and communicate effectively in context characterised by diversity.
  • Show a capacity for individual study and for efficient group work.
  • Present findings in a range of genres, both and written, utilising academic English and the conceptual discourse of the field of study where appropriate.

    Integrated assessment appropriately incorporated to ensure that the purpose of the qualification is achieved:

    A combination of the following performance indicators will be used to assess these criteria, at the various levels. Assessment employs a range of methods drawn from the following:
  • Projects and portfolios
  • Simulations
  • Problem based assignments involving both individual and group work,
  • Essays
  • Reports
  • Oral and written examinations.

    Many of these methods require learners to integrate knowledge across modules and disciplines. Continuous assessment utilising a variety assessment types throughout the semester is employed in many of the modules. Details are provided in the module templates. 
    		•

    ARTICULATION OPTIONS 
    Exit points:
    Bachelor's degree; Postgraduate diploma; Honours degree; Masters degree; PhD. Credits obtained for modules could readily be granted in other programmes; and qualifications acquired could be used as a means of entry to another programme.

    Entry to the programme at any level is possible, provided the requirements for admission have been met. In some instances, it will be possible for learners to given the opportunity to attain the entry requirements should their prior qualifications not have enabled them to do that.

    Other Programmes: On the Pietermaritzburg campus, links at various levels with other programme in:
  • General studies (art)
  • Government, Business and Ethics
  • Heritage Studies
  • Information Studies
  • Policy and Development Studies
  • African Studies
  • Environment and Development
  • Nutrition
  • Food Security
  • Education
  • Business
  • Psychology
  • Rural Community Systems Development 
    		•

    MODERATION OPTIONS 
    Internal and external examining, which is supplemented by a review process of higher degrees carried out by the Faculty of Human Sciences. 

    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 qualifications 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: 
     
    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.