SAQA

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.

SOUTH AFRICAN QUALIFICATIONS AUTHORITY

REGISTERED QUALIFICATION:

Bachelor of Social Science Honours

SAQA QUAL ID	QUALIFICATION TITLE
7959	Bachelor of Social Science Honours
ORIGINATOR
Rhodes 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
Honours Degree	Field 07 - Human and Social Studies		General Social Science
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

1. The overall purpose of the degree is to produce high-quality graduates within the liberal arts tradition who have undertaken advanced study in a particular discipline and are thus able to apply fundamental and specialist knowledge to solve problems in their specific discipline.

2. A second purpose of the degree is to produce graduates who are well equipped for a variety of careers, depending on the specific discipline they have studied.

LEARNING ASSUMED TO BE IN PLACE AND RECOGNITION OF PRIOR LEARNING

Candidates are not normally admitted to any course for an Honours degree unless they have been awarded the ordinary degree (NQF level 6), or have been admitted to the status thereof. Normally, candidates will not be admitted to an Honours programme unless they have obtained at least a second-class pass in the final year of the subject in which they wish to take Honours.

Learners should have a detailed understanding, both in theory and practice, of the principles, theories and facts that form the core of the subject in which they wish to take Honours.

They should be able to communicate in English.

Recognition of prior learning:

Candidates are granted credit for equivalent prior learning and experience as determined by the University rules governing the recognition of prior learning and experience.

RECOGNISE PREVIOUS LEARNING?

EXIT LEVEL OUTCOMES

Learners will be able to:

1. Competently analyse studied material or situations critically, imaginatively and independently.
2. Communicate effectively.
3. Co-operate with others to pursue the common good.
4. Demonstrate an understanding of the ever-expanding and ever-changing nature of knowledge and appreciate the need for life-long learning.

ASSOCIATED ASSESSMENT CRITERIA

1. Acknowledge the moral, socio-cultural, political and economic dimensions of that material /those situations;
2. Read sympathetically (i.e. taking care to understand the author 's perspective) as well as critically;
3. Listen carefully to a variety of 'voices' in text and in situations;
4. Appreciate multi-cultural values;
5. Make a reasoned judgement /construct an argument on the basis of this analysis.
6. Use oral and written forms of language appropriately and effectively;
7. Present material /construct arguments in an organised and articulate manner;
8. Use appropriate technology to facilitate communication;
9. Demonstrate sensitivity to the multi-cultural and multi-lingual nature of South African society.
10. Work as a member of a team or group;
11. Recognise and acknowledge different perspectives and values;
12. Be aware that judgements have moral and ethical implications and will act accordingly where appropriate;
13. Demonstrate an awareness of the limits of their own knowledge;
14. Demonstrate an awareness of human fallibility;
15. Search for and find relevant information;
16. Demonstrate an understanding of the role of research in academic enquiry as well as an awareness of a range of research approaches and techniques;
17. Be able to apply basic research techniques under guidance.

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

1. Assessment procedures adhere to Rhodes University Assessment Policy.

2. Assessment entails three elements:

Continual formal assessment both formative and summative;

Continual informal assessment (formative);

Formal end of course assessment (summative).

The course work on which continuous assessment is based includes work done individually and in groups, and may consist of combinations of tests, essays, practical reports and seminars.

ARTICULATION OPTIONS

1. Learners with first degrees from another university may be able to register for an Honours degree at Rhodes University.
2. Learners with an Honours degree from Rhodes may be able to move to any other university in the country to undertake further training.
3. Although the Honours programme is designed to provide advanced training in one field, it develops skills such as critical analysis, evaluation of data and communication; consequently learners may be able to proceed thereafter in a variety of different directions.
4. Learners with an Honours degree may be able to continue with further postgraduate research training, or they may be able to undertake postgraduate training in education, law or commerce.

MODERATION OPTIONS

At the Honours level, examination papers and scripts are moderated internally and by an external examiner.

CRITERIA FOR THE REGISTRATION OF ASSESSORS

Criteria for the registration of assessors.

Academic staff of Rhodes University will be used as assessors. They will preferably have a PhD, but staff with a Master 's degree and appropriate experience are acceptable. In exceptional cases an Honours degree will be acceptable.

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:

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.	Rhodes University