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: 

Bachelor of Science Honours: Cognitive Science 
SAQA QUAL ID QUALIFICATION TITLE
81101  Bachelor of Science Honours: Cognitive Science 
ORIGINATOR
University of KwaZulu-Natal 
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  128  Level 7  Level N/A: Pre-2009 was L7  Regular-Provider-ELOAC 
REGISTRATION STATUS SAQA DECISION NUMBER REGISTRATION START DATE REGISTRATION END DATE
Passed the End Date -
Status was "Reregistered" 		 SAQA 06120/18  2018-07-01  2018-12-31 
LAST DATE FOR ENROLMENT LAST DATE FOR ACHIEVEMENT
2019-12-31   2022-12-31  

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 replaces: 
Qual ID Qualification Title Pre-2009 NQF Level NQF Level Min Credits Replacement Status
20704  Bachelor of Science Honours: Cognitive Science  Level 7  NQF Level 08  128  Complete 

PURPOSE AND RATIONALE OF THE QUALIFICATION 
The purposes of the programme are both academic and vocational:
  • Academic: To acquire knowledge of the theories and methods of Psychology, and to acquire understanding of self others and Society.
  • Vocational: To acquire social, behavioural and technical psychological skills, and to prepare students for work in the human and social sectors. 
    		•

    LEARNING ASSUMED TO BE IN PLACE AND RECOGNITION OF PRIOR LEARNING 
  • An adequate exposure to physical science or biology.
  • An adequate level of development of knowledge and skills in mathematics.
  • Adequate literacy skills in English.
  • Continuation in, or access into, programmes at level 7b or above presupposes completion of the exit level requirements at level 6 at the required standard.
    These can be demonstrated in a number of ways.
    o Matriculation exemption with at least 40% Higher Grade or at least 60 % at Standard grade for Mathematics and at least 40 % at Higher Grade or at least 60 % at standard Grade for Biology or Physical Science.
    o Alternative access programmes such as the Science Foundation Programme

    Recognised prior learning:

    Students who have completed a diploma at an Agricultural College or Technikon may be admitted, provided they meet the criteria above.
  • The SFP provides access to students who do net have a formal or adequate matric exemption. 
    		•

    RECOGNISE PREVIOUS LEARNING? 
    N 

    EXIT LEVEL OUTCOMES 
  • Knowledge and understanding of psychological theories and methods of enquiry with respect to individuals, groups and social institutions
  • Capacity to apply foundational psychological understanding and procedures in the realm of work with individuals, groups and social institutions
  • Ability to conduct psychological enquiry at the level of the exit qualification
  • Appreciation of and respect for diversity of human and social experiences and institutions. 
    		•

    ASSOCIATED ASSESSMENT CRITERIA 
    Students will meet all requirements for the award of the degree, as well as passing the requirement to produce an integrative and reflective research report.

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

    The University of Natal is currently reforming its assessment strategies to include the assessment of applied competence for each qualification. In the meantime, a combination of continuous assessment and traditional written examinations serve to assess the integration of all/most of the learning outcomes for each module in a qualification.

    Students will undergo portfolio assessments, consisting of some of all of the following:
  • Multiple choice tests and examinations, designed to assess specific knowledge in modules.
  • Paragraph and essay tests and examinations, designed to assess learners` capacity to integrate material from various sections of a module and construct a critical argument.
  • Essay assignments, designed to elicit learners` skills in researching a topic, to synthesis information, to analyse a statement or question, to develop a reasoned argument, and to present their work as a coherent written submission.
  • Tutorial assignments, designed to assess the capacity of learners` to execute specific tasks related to the material incorporated into the module.
  • Practical assignments, designed to examine learners` competence to perform psychological asks and to integrate findings into a theoretical or practice framework.
  • Tutorial and practical presentations, designed to assess learners` capacity to present work, orally or in written format.
  • Research reports, designed to assess learners` abilities to synthesise existing knowledge and to report on the theoretical and methodological features of their own research.
  • Capstone modules and/or capstone requirements within a module - such as an integrative essay, report, or dissertation.

    Together this portfolio of assessments are designed to evaluate learners` competence in the exit level outcomes of the programme. That is:
  • Knowledge and understanding of psychological theories and methods of enquiry with respect to individuals, groups and social institutions
  • Capacity to apply foundational psychological understanding and procedures in the realm of work with individuals, groups and social institutions
  • Ability to conduct psychological enquiry at the level of the exit qualification
  • Appreciation of and respect for diversity of human and social experiences and institutions. 
    		•

    ARTICULATION OPTIONS 
    Students can leave tertiary education, temporarily or permanently, at Level 7, or they can proceed in the Programme at Level 8 into a Masters degree by dissertation. Students can also apply to be admitted to the M Psych degree in the Programme in Professional Psychology at Level 8. 

    MODERATION OPTIONS 
    The ETQA system for HE is not yet fully developed. Until such time as it is, procedures described under assessors criteria will suffice. 

    CRITERIA FOR THE REGISTRATION OF ASSESSORS 
    Until the HEQC establishes a registration system for assessors in the HET Band, the University of Natal assumes that, on the basis of its rigorous selection criteria for the appointment of academic staff (who also have opportunities for staff development in assessment), staff are competent to assess students on the modules they teach. This assessment is quality assured via a university system of internal moderation and external examination. External examiners are appointed for their teaching and disciplinary expertise and subject to the approval of Faculty Boards. The University of Natal ruling is that 66% of all assessments at exit level, i.e. leading to a qualification are externally examined. 

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

    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 KwaZulu-Natal 


    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.