SAQA

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SOUTH AFRICAN QUALIFICATIONS AUTHORITY

REGISTERED QUALIFICATION THAT HAS PASSED THE END DATE:

Bachelor of Arts Honours: Urban Studies

SAQA QUAL ID	QUALIFICATION TITLE
4281	Bachelor of Arts Honours: Urban Studies
ORIGINATOR
Rand Afrikaans University
PRIMARY OR DELEGATED QUALITY ASSURANCE FUNCTIONARY			NQF SUB-FRAMEWORK
Was CHE until Last Date for Achievement			HEQSF - Higher Education Qualifications Sub-framework
QUALIFICATION TYPE	FIELD		SUBFIELD
Honours Degree	Field 07 - Human and Social Studies		Urban and Regional Studies
ABET BAND	MINIMUM CREDITS	PRE-2009 NQF LEVEL	NQF LEVEL	QUAL CLASS
Undefined	168	Level 7	NQF Level 08	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 is replaced by:

Qual ID	Qualification Title	Pre-2009 NQF Level	NQF Level	Min Credits	Replacement Status
73758	Bachelor of Arts Honours in Urban Studies	Level 7	NQF Level 08	120	Complete

PURPOSE AND RATIONALE OF THE QUALIFICATION

The primary purpose of this qualification is to provide qualifying learners with the ability to discuss the theory and methodology of Urban Studies and to be to be able to contribute to current debates in Urban Studies at an intermediate level. He/she will be able to apply this knowledge to issues pertinent to the field of Urban Studies in the Southern African context. In addition, a qualifying learner will be able to plan, design and execute research, using appropriate methodology and report on research findings. He/she will be able to understand, interpret, analyse and present research data.

LEARNING ASSUMED TO BE IN PLACE AND RECOGNITION OF PRIOR LEARNING

To enrol for this qualification, potential learners need to demonstrate the following competencies:

The ability to synthesise different texts into a logical argument

The ability to write essays

The ability to develop an argument that is supported by evidence

The ability to engage with and critique the ideas of their peers in a constructive manner

The ability to reflect on their own learning experiences and to use this to improve the quality of their own work

The ability to design, plan and execute a basic research task based on a theoretical framework in a group context, to reflect on their own research and to report on research findings

The ability to search for, access, organise and interpret information

The ability to discuss, problematise and investigate human conduct and interaction, particularly in the South African context

Know the meaning of, and be able to provide, definitions for terminology and theoretical constructs used in social sciences and be able to use these correctly

The ability to critically and creatively describe and apply different theoretical models and constructs to specific social problems in the South African context

Potential learners should be in possession of a Bachelor's degree at NQF level 6 with a major in: Philosophy, Historical Studies, Geography, Development Studies, Psychology, Industrial Psychology, Sociology, Political Studies, Public Administration or Anthropology with a minimum of 360 total credits. Potential learners who are not in possession of such a degree, but of a qualification that could be regarded as equivalent to such a qualification, must apply to the Accreditation Committee of the Faculty of Arts for accreditation

Recognition of prior learning:
All potential learners who are not in possession of a Bachelor's Degree , need to provide proof of an equivalent qualification. Those learners who claim that they have achieved relevant prior learning that should give them access to the programme, need to apply to the Departmental Chairperson of the Department of Sociology for recognition of prior learning.
Potential learners who want to be credited for prior learning and/or experience for a particular module or modules, need to apply in writing to the Departmental Chairperson of the Department offering the module or modules the learner wishes to be credited for, clearly stating the title(s) of the module or modules he/she want to be credited for, as well as the basis on which they believe the accreditation should be granted.
The principles of RPL are subscribed to and will be implemented in a flexible manner. The principle of flexible and open access, however, be offset by the provision that this is not to the detriment of the potential learner and that his/her chances of success are reasonable.
The Committee will assess learners' competencies in order to determine whether they are eligible for
a) access to,
b) advanced placement in, or
c) recognition of status for this qualification

RECOGNISE PREVIOUS LEARNING?

EXIT LEVEL OUTCOMES

The learners should be able to:

1. Critically and creatively, describe and apply different theoretical models and constructs in Urban Studies to specific social problems in authentic South African contexts, at an intermediate level; reflect on their own problem-solving process;

2. Work in a group and reflect on their own participation in groups;

3. Accept responsibility for own learning in terms of time-management and quality of work at an intermediate level;

4. Design, plan, and execute a meso-level framework within an authentic context; reflect on their own research and report on research findings at an intermediate level;

5. Engage with, and critique in a constructive manner, the ideas of their peers and others;

6. Use science and technology, effectively and critically, based on a theoretical framework, showing responsibility towards the environment and the health of others, reflecting on this process at an intermediate level;

7. Propose solutions to specific social problems in the Southern African context by taking race, ethnicity, political issues, gender and multi-culturalism into account;

8. Search for and access appropriate resources employing a range of learning strategies and technologies within the field of Urban Studies at an intermediate level;

9. Develop responsibility towards other members of society;

10. Project cultural and aesthetic sensitivity to people from different cultures, based on theoretical knowledge and reflecting on this process;

11. Develop employment-seeking skills within the field of Urban Studies;

12. Explore entrepreneurial possibilities within the field of Urban Studies.

ASSOCIATED ASSESSMENT CRITERIA

The learner demonstrate that he/she

1. Is able to provide an in-depth discussion of theoretical models in the field of Urban Studies; is able to apply theoretical constructs and models in authentic Southern African contexts at an intermediate level and has the ability to reflect on his/her own problem-solving process;

2. Interacts well with his/her peers; contributes positively towards an end product in a group context and has the ability to reflect on his/her own participation in groups;

3. Has the ability to take responsibility for own learning through time management as well as ensuring that the quality of his/her work is of an acceptable standard at an intermediate level;

4. Can formulate a research question within different methodological approaches to social research; is able to select a methodology appropriate to a specific research question; selects and uses appropriate data-collection techniques; interprets research data accurately; can discuss the importance of, and upholds, high ethical standards in conducting research; recognizes the limitations of his/her research design; addresses validity and reliability concerns raised by the research design and is able to defend the validity and reliability of the study; reports research findings accurately; writes the research report in an appropriate register; structures the research report in an appropriate and transparent manner; makes a logical coherent argument and is able to reflect on his/her own research; is able to present the research results to an academic audience at an intermediate level;

5. Interacts well with his/her peers and others; contributes positively towards an end product in a group context; contributes to class and/or seminar discussions; critiques a research proposal or argument put forward by a peer in a logical and coherent manner; uses the appropriate register and displays cultural sensitivity in critiquing and argument put forward by someone else

6. Is able to make a decision and support it by relevant theory and experience; is able to put together a bibliography in the appropriate style; can source material making use of a range of technologies; is able to find relevant and up to date information; is able to use appropriate media when doing presentations; takes the environment and the health of others into account in this process; and critically reflects on arguments put forwards by authors;

7. Can explore challenges and problems facing South Africa; is able to apply theoretical knowledge to the Southern African South African context at an intermediate level; draws on his/her own experience and takes race, ethnicity, political issues, gender and multi-culturalism into account in the process;

8. Is able to explore and reflect on learning skills and strategies appropriate to the context of Urban Studies at an intermediate level;

9. Shows responsibility towards other members of society;

10. Is able to project cultural and aesthetic sensitivity to people from different cultures; applies theoretical knowledge while doing this and is able to reflect on this process;

11. Is able to develop employment-seeking skills within the field of Urban Studies;

12. Is able to identify and develop entrepreneurial opportunities in the field of Urban Studies.

Integrated assessment:
Continuous assessment practices form an integral part of the design of this qualification. Learning outcomes are made explicit to learners and there is a coherent assessment strategy in place for each module, with a fair balance between formative and summative assessment strategies.

Formative assessment practices that will be implemented:
A range of formative assessment strategies is used. Formative assessment strategies include, among others: short essays, presentations in small groups and practical activities. Self-assessment activities are included in study guides. Opportunities for peer-assessment are included.

Summative assessment practices that will be implemented:
Integrated assessment, focusing on the achievement of the exit-level outcomes, will be done by means of written assignments, formal module tests and the execution and presentation of a research project as well as end-of-semester final examinations

ARTICULATION OPTIONS

Access to qualifications on a lower level:
A potential learner should be in possession of a Bachelor's degree in Sociology or Industrial Sociology at NQF level 6. The achievement of this qualification should give the learner access to certificates and diplomas in this field at level 6.

Access to qualifications on the same level
The achievement of this qualification should give learners access to certificates and diplomas in this field at level 7. Learners who are (or have been) registered for this (or a related) qualification at another higher education institution or at RAU, may, with the permission of the Dean of Arts, enter the Honours programme in any of the participating departments mid-stream, given that the rules of access have been complied with. Such learners will therefore credited for prior learning.

Access to qualifications on a higher level
Having obtained this qualification, the following possibilities for further study in higher education programmes exist:
A Master's Certificate in Social Science Research;
A Master's programme in Urban Studies, Social Impact Assessment or Comparative Labour Studies.

MODERATION OPTIONS

External processes:
An external examiners will be appointed for each of the modules on NQF level 7 module by the Dean of the Faculty of Arts on recommendation by the Department of Sociology.

External examiners and the institutions they represent:
One external examiner will be appointed for each module on NQF level 7. External examiners will be selected from other higher education institutions or from the ranks of practising professionals in research institutions.

CRITERIA FOR THE REGISTRATION OF ASSESSORS

Criteria regarding formal qualifications that an assessor should have:
An assessor should at least have an Honours degree in an appropriate social science field of study and/or be regarded as competent to act as assessor by the academic community.

Criteria regarding job or learning area experience:
Assessors should be proficient in the subject matter of the learning area in which he/she is assessing and have good interpersonal skills.

Criteria regarding experience of or exposure to assessment
An assessor needs to have prior assessment experience and/or be trained in assessment practises on higher education level:
*As part of qualifying as an education and training practitioner; or
*through a mentoring process; or
*through on-the-job training; or
*through additional study of a unit standard or qualification on assessment.

REREGISTRATION HISTORY

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

NOTES

This BA Honours with endorsement qualification is registered as a separate qualification only with SAQA. At the Department of Education it is not registered separately, but is included in the registration of the generic BA Honours.

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.

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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.

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