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 THAT HAS PASSED THE END DATE:

Master of Arts: Social Work

SAQA QUAL ID	QUALIFICATION TITLE
8067	Master of Arts: Social Work
ORIGINATOR
University of the Western Cape
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	120	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 091/21	2021-07-01	2023-06-30
LAST DATE FOR ENROLMENT		LAST DATE FOR ACHIEVEMENT
2024-06-30		2027-06-30

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 does not replace any other qualification and is not replaced by any other qualification.

PURPOSE AND RATIONALE OF THE QUALIFICATION

The purpose of the qualification is to acquire advanced knowledge and practice skills in that students might become more proficient, reflective social workers, operating at senior and higher level in the profession. The qualification is intended to prepare students with competencies and specialisations for a role, primarily in South Africa, but also internationally. The qualification also offers students the opportunity to explore new depth of knowledge in a specific field or area of social work or social welfare.

LEARNING ASSUMED TO BE IN PLACE AND RECOGNITION OF PRIOR LEARNING

Students in possession of a four-year B.A. degree in social work, or a four-year Diploma in social work may be admitted to the programme. Students in possession of an Honours Degree in social work, or an equivalent qualification may also register for the programme. The Department of Social Work, under the auspices of the Senate of the University, determines the minimum conditions that a candidate has to meet before admission to the programme. These include inter alia the following:

(i) The grade that the candidate attained at the completion of his/her undergraduate programme.
(ii) The nature and length of practice of the candidate at the time of application.

RECOGNISE PREVIOUS LEARNING?

EXIT LEVEL OUTCOMES

Broadly the qualification will ensure that all SAQA requirements, as well as that of the University, as these relate to postgraduate programmes, are met. In specific terms students will have to demonstrate, at an advanced level, the following:

Critical outcomes

Identify and solve problems at a distinctly senior level, reflecting positively the good use of critical and reflective thinking;

Show good self-management ability and competence;

Demonstrate an ability to manage and assess information;

Graduates with a master's degree should be able to make a meaningful contribution to the profession on the basis of their advanced study, research and insight.

Discipline specific outcomes

The post-graduate student will have extensive and advanced knowledge of the following discipline specific outcomes:

The social service delivery system in the country;

Relevant methods of intervention, practice models, and action strategies, particularly as these relate to a field of specialisation of the student's choice;

The ethical standards and values that propel the profession;

'Self' and the professional identity;

The phenomenon of poverty in the country as a whole;

Research methods and techniques;

Applied management theory in the work place;

Teaching and instructional theory and practice.

Competence and skills

Postgraduates will demonstrate advanced competence and skill in applying the above knowledge through:

Communication (written, oral, use of multi-media)

Academic (cognitive and intellectual, i.e. skill to conceptualise, analyse, identify, apply, synthesise, compare)

Management (planning, organising, leadership, etc.)

Entrepreneurship in professional performance, creative endeavours, etc.

ASSOCIATED ASSESSMENT CRITERIA

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

In this programme, progress in each of the modules is individually monitored and evaluated on the basis of continual assessment in the form of assignments, research projects, and examinations. Classroom work, overall performance, and progress in practice education is treated as a comprehensive whole, so that the assessment and evaluation might be as holistic as possible. Besides the written examination for each of the modules of the programme, students should also complete an independent research project in the form of a mini-thesis.

ARTICULATION OPTIONS

This qualification articulates vertically with all qualifications in the same discipline at level 8 of all other higher education institutions, both in South Africa, and internationally. It will be the additional criteria which these other higher education institutions might apply, that will determine whether students from the Department of Social Work at the University of the Western Cape will be admitted to the next qualification at such other institutions.

MODERATION OPTIONS

The recommended moderating body for this qualification would be the Quality Assurance Body constituted by the South African Council for the Social Service Professions, or such other bodies as may be recommended and recognised by the SACSSP, including other institutions or higher learning and the Joint Universities Committee for Social Work.

CRITERIA FOR THE REGISTRATION OF ASSESSORS

The staff of the Department of Social Work, incorporated into the Faculty of Community and Health Sciences, at the University of the Western Cape, will act as assessors within the quality management system of the University of the Western Cape. This quality management system includes external assessors from other universities, both nationally and internationally. As a minimum such assessors will hold at least a master 's degree in social work, and will have extensive assessment experience.

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.	University of the Western Cape