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SOUTH AFRICAN QUALIFICATIONS AUTHORITY 
REGISTERED QUALIFICATION: 

Bachelor of Arts Honours in Urban Studies 
SAQA QUAL ID QUALIFICATION TITLE
73758  Bachelor of Arts Honours in Urban Studies 
ORIGINATOR
University of Johannesburg 
PRIMARY OR DELEGATED QUALITY ASSURANCE FUNCTIONARY NQF SUB-FRAMEWORK
CHE - Council on Higher Education  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  120  Level 7  NQF Level 08  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 
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 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. Also, 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 
Recognition of Prior Learning:
All potential learners who do not have 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 qualification, 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 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,
c) Recognition of status for this qualification.

Entry Requirements:
The minimum entry requirement for this qualification is:
  • Bachelor of Arts, NQF Level 7. 
    		•

    RECOGNISE PREVIOUS LEARNING? 
    Y 

    EXIT LEVEL OUTCOMES 
    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 problem-solving process;
    2. Work in a group and reflect on their 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 following associated assessment criteria apply across all Exit Level Outcomes:
    1. Provide an in-depth discussion of theoretical models in the field of Urban Studies; can apply theoretical constructs and models in authentic Southern African contexts at an intermediate level and can reflect on his/her problem-solving process;
    2. Interacts well with his/her peers; contributes positively towards an end product in a group context and can reflect on his/her participation in groups;
    3. 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. Formulate a research question within different methodological approaches to social research; can 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; recognises the limitations of his/her research design; addresses validity and reliability concerns raised by the research design and can defend the validity and reliability of the study; reports research findings accurately; writes the research report in an appropriate register; structures the research report appropriately and transparently; makes a logical, coherent argument and can reflect on his/her research; can 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 seminar discussions; critiques a research proposal or argument put forward by a peer logically and coherently; uses the appropriate register and displays cultural sensitivity in critiquing and the argument put forward by someone else;
    6. Make a decision and support it by relevant theory and experience; can put together a bibliography in the appropriate style; can source material making use of a range of technologies; can find relevant and up to date information; can 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 forward by authors;
    7. Explore challenges and problems facing South Africa; can 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. 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. Project cultural and aesthetic sensitivity to people from different cultures; applies theoretical knowledge while doing this and can reflect on this process;
    11. Develop employment-seeking skills within the field of Urban Studies;
    12. 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. 

    INTERNATIONAL COMPARABILITY 
    This qualification compares with the following international qualifications in terms of the range of competencies in the learning content offered. 

    ARTICULATION OPTIONS 
    This qualification allows for both vertical and horizontal articulation:

    Horizontal Articulation:
  • Bachelor of Urban Development Studies Honours, Level 8.

    Vertical Articulation:
  • Master of Arts in Urban Studies, 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 
    N/A 

    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. University of Johannesburg 


    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.