SAQA

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SOUTH AFRICAN QUALIFICATIONS AUTHORITY

REGISTERED QUALIFICATION THAT HAS PASSED THE END DATE:

Master of Arts: Philosophy

SAQA QUAL ID	QUALIFICATION TITLE
4351	Master of Arts: Philosophy
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
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	256	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 is replaced by:

Qual ID	Qualification Title	Pre-2009 NQF Level	NQF Level	Min Credits	Replacement Status
73960	Master of Arts in Philosophy	Level 8 and above	NQF Level 09	180	Complete

PURPOSE AND RATIONALE OF THE QUALIFICATION

The primary purpose of this qualification is to provide qualifying learners with:

Advanced research, reading and writing skills exemplified in the production of research essays that will empower them to understand, investigate, evaluate and create ideas, views and theories.

More advanced foundational knowledge of contemporary philosophical debates:

Advanced higher order reflective skills regarding analysis, interpretation and evaluation of concepts, ideas and theories.

LEARNING ASSUMED TO BE IN PLACE AND RECOGNITION OF PRIOR LEARNING

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

The ability to read and interpret a range of substantive philosophical texts;

The ability to write advanced essays with a view to publication;

The ability to design research proposals;

The ability to design, write a mini-thesis or a thesis of limited scope;

The ability to develop and present sustained logical arguments;

The ability to participate in discussions;

The ability to reproduce factual information, various strategies of interpretation, and debates in a critical manner;

The ability to reflect independently and on an advanced level on their own learning experiences.

A potential learner should be in possession of a qualification on NQF level 7 (minimum of 128 credits) in Philosophy, or an equivalent thereof, e.g. Political Philosophy, Ethics, Logic.

The learning outcomes assumed to be in place include

advanced fundamental knowledge of philosophy and methodology of the human sciences

higher order intellectual and analytical skills in critical and creative thinking

an academic disposition, i.e. the conviction that a theoretical approach to typically philosophical problems can yield considerable insight and creative solutions

advanced academic skills, such as the ability to theorize, analyze and synthesize through detailed arguments.

Recognition of prior learning:

Learners who do not meet the formal access rules, and who want to have their previous learning experience acknowledged in order to gain access to this qualification, or gain advanced placement in this qualification, or recognition of status in terms of this qualification with a view to proceeding with their studies at this institution, should apply in writing for recognition of prior learning with the Head of the Department of Philosophy, who shall submit the application to the relevant faculty committee for consideration and assessment. In the submission, the learner should carefully state what s/he wants academic recognition for, and on what grounds.

RECOGNISE PREVIOUS LEARNING?

EXIT LEVEL OUTCOMES

The learners should be able to:

1. Analyse, interpret and evaluate complex concepts, ideas, arguments, theories and philosophical texts.

2. Design concepts, ideas, arguments and theories as responses to identified problematical ones.

3. Reconstruct relevant overviews of philosophical debates / topics.

4. Demonstrate the ability to conduct research which can support the required skills and results for this level.

5. Demonstrate the ability to communicate their thoughts in an accepted philosophical genre (e.g. research essays and a dissertation of limited scope (80 pages), or a dissertation of 150 pages).

6. Demonstrate the use of logical, interpretation, critical thinking and knowledge assessment skills.

7. Provide innovative solutions to specific social problems in the South African region by taking race, ethnicity, political issues, gender and multiculturalism into account;

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

9. Develop a responsibility towards other members of society.

10. Display cultural and aesthetic sensitivity to people from different cultures based on theoretical knowledge and reflect on this process;

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

12. Explore entrepreneurial possibilities within the field of Philosophy.

ASSOCIATED ASSESSMENT CRITERIA

The learner can: / Does the learner:

1. Can the learner reveal a knowledge of the rules and techniques of conceptual and critical analysis, and of interpretation?
Is the learner able to argue the process and outcome of such an analysis or interpretation in a coherent and plausible way?

2. Can the learner reveal a knowledge of the rules and techniques of conceptual and critical analysis, and of interpretation?
Is the learner able to argue the process and outcome of such a design in a coherent and plausible way?

3. Can the learner reveal a knowledge of the relevant facts, the interconnectedness of these facts, the development of trends which render such a survey possible?
Is the learner able to narrate and/or argue such a survey in a coherent and plausible way?

4. Is the learner able to write a research report/essay which
*identifies the issue that needs clarification
*Argues a clarification
*Evaluates the available sources;
*Recommends/reaffirms a possible solution?

5. Is the learner able to write and present essays and a dissertation (of limited scope or a full length one) which
identifies the issue that needs clarification
*Argues a clarification
*Evaluates the available sources;
*Recommends/reaffirms a possible solution?

6. Can the learner reveal a knowledge of the rules and techniques of conceptual and critical analysis, and of interpretation?
Is the learner able to formulate a defence or an objection to appoint made somewhere else, and argue the defence or the objection in a plausible way?

7. Develop innovative solutions to the challenges and problems facing the Southern African region; is able to apply theoretical knowledge to the Southern African Region; at an advanced level; draws on his/her own experience; and takes race, ethnicity, political issues, gender and multiculturalism into account in the process;

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

9. Shows responsibility towards other members of society;

10. Is able to display 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 Philosophy;

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

Formative assessment practices that will be implemented

Learners are continuously assessed via research assignments, essays and presentations.

Summative assessment practices that will be implemented

Integrated assessment, focusing on the achievement of the exit-level outcomes, will be done by means of learners being required to sit either one examination of three hours per module and a dissertation of limited scope (80 pages), or being required to write a full-length dissertation (150 pages).

ARTICULATION OPTIONS

Articulation with other qualifications on a lower level:
None

Articulations with other qualifications on a same level:

Should learners want to continue their studies at another higher institution, they are free to do so. This institution and their new institution will accredit all courses that have been passed during their studies at this institution. Learners need to apply to the Dean of the faculty for such credit.

Access to qualifications on a higher level

D. Litt. et Phil. in Philosophy at any institution of higher learning in S.A.

MODERATION OPTIONS

What external examination processes to be implemented?

External assessors will moderate exam papers and exam answers and communicate their findings to the internal assessors.

External assessors will assess the dissertation in terms of the viability, conference and consistency of its arguments, its use of literature and its soundness as a research report.

How many external examiners/moderators that will be appointed for this qualification and from which type of institutions or professional bodies from which they will typically be?

One per module and done for the dissertation, mostly from other universities or research institutions.

CRITERIA FOR THE REGISTRATION OF ASSESSORS

Criteria regarding formal qualifications that assessors should have:

At least an M.A. in Philosophy.

Criteria regarding job or learning area experience

Must have taught the same, similar or related work on this level, and/or proved to be knowledgeable in this work by research reports, publication and/or conference participation.

Criteria regarding experience of or exposure to assessment

Assessors should be SAQA-accredited with at least one year of assessment experience in Philosophy.

REREGISTRATION HISTORY

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

NOTES

This MA (Philosophy) 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 MA

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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