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SOUTH AFRICAN QUALIFICATIONS AUTHORITY 
REGISTERED QUALIFICATION: 

Master of Social Science 
SAQA QUAL ID QUALIFICATION TITLE
3943  Master of Social Science 
ORIGINATOR
University of Fort Hare 
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  180  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 
This qualification includes the various specialisations in Social Science. Please refer to "Notes" for details on the specialisations.

1. The first purpose of the qualification is to provide qualifiers with knowledge, skills and applied competence in the disciplines of Anthropology, Archeology, Criminology, Development Studies, Political Science, Public Administration, Psychology and Sociology to gain and engage in productive employment in middle and high-level positions in enterprises in the academic, commercial, industrial and public sectors of the South African economy.

2. The second purpose of the qualification is to provide qualifiers with a capacity to operationalise and document scientific investigations/research in the afore-mentioned disciplines.

3. The third purpose of the qualification is to enable qualifiers to operationalise and document a scientific investigation/research project in the form of a dissertation on an approved topic within the afore-mentioned disciplines, that provides proof of acquaintance with the methods and techniques of scientific research, correct language usage and satisfactory technical workmanship. 

LEARNING ASSUMED TO BE IN PLACE AND RECOGNITION OF PRIOR LEARNING 
An NQF level 6 qualification, including a Bachelor of Social Sciences Honours (B Sot SC Hons), a Bachelor of Arts Honours (B A Hons), a Bachelor of Administration Honours (B Admin Hons), a Bachelor of Commerce Honours (B Comm Hons), a Bachelor of Science Honours (B SC Hons), a Post-Graduate Diploma, a National Higher Diploma (N H Dip) or equivalent qualifications in the aforementioned disciplines. 

RECOGNISE PREVIOUS LEARNING? 
N 

EXIT LEVEL OUTCOMES 
1. A Master's of Social Sciences (M Sot Sc) graduate is equipped with comprehensive knowledge/mastery of theoretically sophisticated subject matter of the afore-mentioned disciplines and skills that include the identification and definition of complex problems and the application of appropriate knowledge and skills for their solution; the critical evaluation of the literature; confident use of well developed research skills with a view to planning, executing and documenting scientific investigations, including the independent analysis of new data and the application of solutions using a wide range of appropriate methods and techniques; transforming data and concepts for a given purpose; critically reviewing of evidence supporting conclusions; effective interaction and engagement in debate with a learning or professional group and demonstration of leadership. 

ASSOCIATED ASSESSMENT CRITERIA 
1. Write research proposals that indicate that learners are able to identify (a) problem(s) in the afore-mentioned disciplines and formulate research problems and subsets of problems; formulate hypotheses; select and utilise instruments that are relevant in the research of problems in human resources management; conduct fieldwork during the actual investigation; select and use appropriate data analysis methods to interpret the findings of an investigation; report the findings of the investigation and formulate recommendations that emanate from the findings.

2. Identify and analyze different scientific procedures in terms of the problem being researched.

3. Critically read, interpret and analyze literature from different sources; search for literature on the identified research problem; compare the writings of different authors on the same related topic; synthesize reading material on the topic being researched: draw conclusions from different readings and indicate anomalies; create a theoretical framework provided by the literature review; compile a complete bibliography.

4. Write a dissertation that shows that the learner can express him/herself clearly; write a dissertation that is linguistically correct, acceptable and of high standard; write a dissertation that is technically well presented and has an acceptable layout.

Integrated Assessment:

The Integrated Assessment procedure with regard to the research proposal consists of consideration and approval of it by a permanent standing committee of the Faculty Board, namely the Faculty Research Committee, then the Faculty Board and lastly the Senate.

The integrated assessment with regard to the dissertation option consists of the dissertation being examined and adjudicated by the appointed supervisor(s), who acts/act as the internal examiner(s) and the external examiner(s).

The integrated assessment with regard to the oral or written examination option consists of the internal examiner(s) submitting (an) examination paper(s) to the external examiner(s) for approval of the papers and having the paper(s) marked by the internal examiner(s) and moderated by the external examiner(s). 

ARTICULATION OPTIONS 
At the entry-horizontal level. Master's of Social Sciences (M Soc Sc). Master's of Arts (MA). Master's of Administration (M Admin), Master 's of Commerce (M Comm), Master's of Science (M Sc),MTech/M Dip Tech or equivalent qualifications in the afore-mentioned disciplines.

At the exit - vertical level: Doctor of Philosophy (Ph D), Doctor of Administration (D Admin), Doctor of Commerce (D Comm), Doctor of Science (D Sc), Doctor of Technology/Laureatus in Technology (D Tech/Laur Tech) or equivalent
qualifications in the afore-mentioned disciplines. 

MODERATION OPTIONS 
1. The constitution of an Examination Committee/Commission for the qualification or for each individual student.

2. In the case of Psychology, the College of Psychology, established to function from 1 January 2000.

3.It is recommended that the status quo with regard to the moderating body prevails, namely the appointment of one or more external examiners with NQF level 7 or 8 qualifications and research experience in the afore-mentioned disciplines. 

CRITERIA FOR THE REGISTRATION OF ASSESSORS 
NQF level 7 or 8 qualifications with research experience in the afore-mentioned disciplines. 

REREGISTRATION HISTORY 
As per the SAQA Board decision/s at that time, this qualification was Reregistered in 2006; 2009; 2012; 2015. 

NOTES 
This qualification includes the following specialisations:
  • Master of Social Science in Anthropology
  • Master of Social Science in Counselling Psychology
  • Master of Social Science in Criminology
  • Master of Social Science in Library and Information Science
  • Master of Social Science in Political Science
  • Master of Social Science in Psychology
  • Master of Social Science in Rural Development
  • Master of Social Science in Sociology 
    		•

    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 Fort Hare 


    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.