SAQA

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SOUTH AFRICAN QUALIFICATIONS AUTHORITY

REGISTERED QUALIFICATION THAT HAS PASSED THE END DATE:

Bachelor of Arts Honours: Biblical Studies

SAQA QUAL ID	QUALIFICATION TITLE
4767	Bachelor of Arts Honours: Biblical 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		Religious and Ethical Foundations of Society
ABET BAND	MINIMUM CREDITS	PRE-2009 NQF LEVEL	NQF LEVEL	QUAL CLASS
Undefined	160	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
73721	Bachelor of Arts Honours in Biblical Studies	Level 7	NQF Level 08	120	Complete

PURPOSE AND RATIONALE OF THE QUALIFICATION

Depending on the selection of specific modules, the primary purpose of this qualification is to provide learners with:

1. An advanced knowledge of the historical and cultural world of the Bible and its rich diversity of texts;

2. Advanced practical competence in the interpretation of diverse Old and New Testament texts;

3. Advanced insight into the theological and ethical thrust of the Old and new Testaments;

4. Advanced reflective actualisation of insights from the ancient biblical world and texts so as to contribute meaning to modern society;

5. Advanced reflective competence in evaluating their own point of view and sensitivity facilitating inter religious dialogue with other religions in South Africa.

LEARNING ASSUMED TO BE IN PLACE AND RECOGNITION OF PRIOR LEARNING

To enrol for this qualification, potential learners must demonstrate that they have acquired basic intellectual competencies and practical skills to discuss, problematise and investigate the background and content of the Bible as holy scriptures of Christianity as well as contemporary ethical matters.

NQF level 6 in Biblical Studies or equivalent qualification with a minimum score of 60%; 360 credits.

Recognition of prior learning:

All potential learners who are not in possession of an FEC need to provide proof of an equivalent qualification. Those who claim that they have achieved relevant prior learning, which should give them access to the programme, must apply to the Accreditation Committee of the Faculty of Arts for recognition of prior learning.

Potential learners who want to be credited for prior learning and/or experience in respect of a particular module or modules, must apply in writing to the Chairperson of the department offering the module or modules the learners wish to be credited for, clearly stating the title(s) of the module or modules they want to be credited for as well as the basis on which they believe accreditation should be granted.

The principles of RPL are subscribed to and will be implemented in a flexible manner. The principles of flexible and open access will, however, be offset against the provision that this is not detrimental to the potential student and that his/her chances of success must be 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 learner should be able to:

1. Identify at an advanced level differences between modern industrialised culture and pre industrialised biblical cultures to prevent anachronism; interpret diverse OT and NT texts in 'own theological and ethical right' to prevent fundamentalism and biblicism; bridge the 'meaning gap' between the Bible and modern society;

2. Effectively work together, especially in multi-religious teams with regard to ethical matters;

3. At an advanced level administer biblical knowledge to enrich their own culture and those of others;

4. Demonstrate at an advanced level the ability to use the library competently and to critically evaluate large quantities of sources;

5. At an advanced level define their biblical insights and skills orally as well as in the learning context (university) so as to anticipate the requirements of the work place;

6. Use modern electronic aids and media (e.g. internet, computer programs, radio, television, video) at an advanced level to the benefit of research and society;

7. At an advanced level demonstrate an ability to comprehensively evaluate the biblical word to the benefit of the modern world;

8. At an advanced level demonstrate formally learnt strategies (e.g. proper time management, proper study methods, utilisation of electronic media, etc.) as well as life skills obtained informally;

9. Devise ethical principles at an advanced level to influence and change the ethics of society for the better;

10. At an advanced level demonstrate cultural and aesthetic appreciation of self and other, and cross-fertilise convictions, attitudes and values;

11. Construct leadership profiles on advanced level to serve for church, school and public opinion forming (whichever career);

12. Create at an advanced level ethically sound public opinion forums to further advance society.

ASSOCIATED ASSESSMENT CRITERIA

The learner can/ Does the learner:

1. Display at an advanced level, orally or in writing, the bridging between the biblical and modern world, through the creative utilisation of ancient biblical texts; this will be assessed as part of the formative and summative assessment;

2. Reveal tolerance and open-mindedness during team efforts;

3. On an advanced level reveal new acquired values and attitudes in terms of self-understanding and acceptance of others; this will be assessed during group discussions as part of the formative assessment;

4. Demonstrate familiarity with the library and its sources of information; use them competently;

Critically evaluate large quantities of theological and other source materials for assignment writing;

Display advanced skills of integration and interpretation of selected information by means of assignments or examinations;

5. On an advanced level effectively communicate with fellow students and lecturers in an oral or written manner (as required), including the use of visual aids;

Answer questions in detail, thereby illustrating an advanced ability to communicate properly;

6. Demonstrate on an advanced level his/her advanced ability to use appropriate electronic media (e.g. biblical computer software) for exploring biblical sources of information;

Implement technology effectively while teaching religious matters in public or through the media of radio, television and video;

7. Display on an advanced level the ability to recontextualise biblical reformative insights in diverse modern contexts (e.g. socio political, economical, domestic, etc), in assignment writing;

8. On advanced display knowledge and skills obtained formally (lectures, group work) and informally (life) in assignments, tests, discussions and ultimately in examinations;

9. Display advanced ethical knowledge and skills obtained formally (lectures, group work) and informally (life) to better the society; this will be assessed as part as the formative assessment (assignment);

10 Reveal advanced cultural and aesthetic sensitivity by solving deadlock situations, imitated in assignments and discussions;

11. Reveal through role play (in assignments and discussions) opinion-forming leadership;

12. Reveal organisational and managerial skills so as to create public opinion forums.

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

Continuous assessment practices from 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, written assignments and presentations in small groups. Self-assessment activities 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 end of module final examinations.

ARTICULATION OPTIONS

Access to qualifications on a lower level

Articulation is possible with a qualification Biblical Studies at NQF level 6 or an equivalent qualification.

Access to qualifications on the same level

The achievement of this qualification should give learners access to degrees in this field at level 7, e.g. BA Honours (Theology), BTh, BD. Learners who have obtained this qualification may, with the permission of the Dean of the relevant faculty, enter a range of programmes in the social sciences mid-stream, provided that the rules of access have been compiled with. Such learners will therefore be credited for prior learning. Learners who are (or have been) registered for this (or related) qualification at another higher education institution will be allowed, with the permission of the Dean of Arts, to enter mid-stream, provided that the rules of access have been complied with. Such learners will therefore be credited for prior learning.

Access to qualifications on the higher level

Having obtained this qualification, the following possibilities for further study in higher education programmes exist:

MA (Biblical Studies) or MTh or MA (Theology) or MDiv.

MODERATION OPTIONS

External processes:

External examiners will be appointed for all NQF level 7 modules by the Dean of the Faculty concerned on recommendation by the academic department in which NQF level 7 modules are taken.

External examiners and the institutions they represent:

One external examiner per NQF level 7 modules will be appointed. External examiners will be selected from other higher education institutions or from the ranks of professional people outside of academia.

CRITERIA FOR THE REGISTRATION OF ASSESSORS

Criteria regarding formal qualifications that an assessor should have

An assessor should have at least a master's degree in an appropriate field of study and/or be regarded as an expert in the subject field.

Criteria regarding job or learning experience

An assessor should be an expert in the subject matter of the learning area in which he/she is assessing.

Criteria regarding experience of or exposure to assessment

An assessor must have prior assessment experience and/or be trained in assessment practices on higher education level:

a) Through qualifying as an education and training practitioner; or

b) Through a mentoring process; or

c) Through on the job training; or

d) 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 is an old qualification that has been recorded in June 1998 under the same title. 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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