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SOUTH AFRICAN QUALIFICATIONS AUTHORITY 
REGISTERED QUALIFICATION: 

Master of Social Work 
SAQA QUAL ID QUALIFICATION TITLE
72799  Master of Social Work 
ORIGINATOR
North West University 
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 09 - Health Sciences and Social Services  Promotive Health and Developmental Services 
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. Please refer to "Notes" for details on the specialisations.

The Master of Social Work contributes to the enhancement of social work`s knowledge base by utilising appropriate research methods, techniques and procedures, providing leadership in the various fields of social work practice, and managing and providing a full range of needed client services in a wide spectrum of practice settings.

A five-year strategic plan of action for the reconstruction and rationalisation of the social welfare delivery system was adopted in 1997 in terms of the White Paper on Social Welfare. According to this policy statement a holistic, developmental approach was adopted whereby services to individuals, families, groups and communities have to be rendered on a multi-professional level. Specially trained personnel, such as social workers, are needed for this purpose. This does not only include entry level practitioners (i.e. social workers with a Bachelor of Arts (Social Work) degree), but also highly qualified personnel with post-graduate training that could provide leadership in the various fields of social work practice. 

LEARNING ASSUMED TO BE IN PLACE AND RECOGNITION OF PRIOR LEARNING 
Entry requirements:
  • Bachelor of Social Work, NQF Level 7.
    And
  • Registration as a social worker with the SA Council for Social Service Professions. 
    		•

    RECOGNISE PREVIOUS LEARNING? 
    N 

    EXIT LEVEL OUTCOMES 
  • Demonstrate an understanding of the eco-systems approach and its use in researching and solving a variety of social problems and needs,
  • Organise and manage him/herself and his/her activities and services responsibly and effectively,
  • Communicate effectively using visual, mathematical and language skills in the modes of oral and written persuasion within the sphere of especially social work research and services
  • Use science and technology effectively and critically, showing responsibility towards the environment and the health and welfare of others,
  • Contribute to the full development of him/herself and the social and economic development of the society at large, by being aware of the importance of:
  • Reflect on and explore a variety of strategies to learn more effectively,
  • Participate as responsible citizens in the life of local communities and regions,
  • Be culturally and aesthetically sensitive across a range of social contexts,
  • Explore education and career opportunities, and
  • Develop entrepreneurial opportunities.

    Exit level outcomes for stream 1 (Dissertation):
  • Identify a research problem in the social work field that is in line with the research focus area of the School.
  • Formulate a research design and procedure,
  • Collect data by means of various procedures,
  • Organise, analyse and interpret data,
  • Present and report on the research data in the form of a dissertation of high quality, and, in this process, working effectively with co-researchers and research teams, respondents, organisations and communities regarding research related issues.

    Exit level outcomes stream 2 (Coursework)
  • Identify individual, family, group and community social problems, needs and issues of a complicated nature that will require a high degree of critical thinking,
  • Collect, analyse, organise, interpret and critically evaluate information as far as social problems and needs are concerned,
  • Identify trends in the occurrence of social problems, needs and issues within a community or within an organisation`s field of service,
  • Conceptualise and develop strategies for addressing the identified problems and needs,
  • Manage other social workers` implementation of these strategies, evaluating the intervention strategies, processes and results, and, in this process, working effectively with other social workers and members of the multi-professional team as far as especially macro service provision is concerned, and completing a practice related research project of a more limited scope than in the case of the research masters. 
    		•

    ASSOCIATED ASSESSMENT CRITERIA 
  • Identify a relevant, original and viable research theme
  • Formulae of a clear, concise and focused statement of the research problem, research question(s), objectives and hypotheses,
  • Formulate an appropriate research design and procedure,
  • Formulate and implement data collection procedures,
  • Integrate theoretical and empirical data in order to arrive at scientifically verifiable and transferable knowledge, and
  • Write a research report of a high quality and standard.

    Additional assessment criteria for stream 2:
  • Apply the scientific social work processes in a variety of practice settings and situations.

    Integrated Assessment:
    Assessment will be continuous and integrated, using a range of formative and summative methods according to the institution's assessment policy. It will cover the following.

    Integrated assessment re stream 1 (Dissertation)

    Integrated assessment re stream 2 (Coursework)
    Course unit aims is arrived at through:
  • Written assignments,
  • Written tests and exams,
    And
  • A research report. 
    		•

    ARTICULATION OPTIONS 
    This qualification allows possibilities for both vertical and horizontal articulation.

    Horizontal Articulation:
  • Master of Arts in Social Work, NQF Level 9.

    Vertical Articulation:
  • Doctor of Social Work, NQF Level 9. 
    		•

    MODERATION OPTIONS 
    N/A 

    CRITERIA FOR THE REGISTRATION OF ASSESSORS 
    N/A 

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

    NOTES 
    In order to meet the diverse needs of learners in social work, the Master`s Degree is presented in two streams. They are (A) a research master`s degree (dissertation) and (B) a coursework Master`s Degree.

    This qualification includes the following specialisations:
  • Master of Social Work in Child Protection
  • Master of Social Work in Forensic Practice 
    		•

    LEARNING PROGRAMMES RECORDED AGAINST THIS QUALIFICATION: 
    When qualifications are replaced, some (but not all) of their learning programmes are moved to the replacement qualifications. If a learning programme appears to be missing from here, please check the replaced 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. North West University 


    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.