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: 

Master of Social Science in Economic History 
SAQA QUAL ID QUALIFICATION TITLE
81351  Master of Social Science in Economic History 
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
Master's Degree  Field 03 - Business, Commerce and Management Studies  Finance, Economics and Accounting 
ABET BAND MINIMUM CREDITS PRE-2009 NQF LEVEL NQF LEVEL QUAL CLASS
Undefined  128  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 
Economic History is an inter-disciplinary subject of study with particular emphasis on economics and history. The programme and its qualifications enable students to understand the main events, processes and problems involved in the study of economic history as a major factor in the making of the world around them. There is a considerable focus on the development of the Third World, Africa and South Africa in particular. Some attention is paid to learning how to understand economic indicators. Students receive tutoring in essay writing and exposure to a variety of descriptive and theoretical writing in order to build up their analytical and writing skills. The Economic History programme and its qualifications provide an excellent general introduction to a career in the public or private sector, business or development fields, where an analytical understanding of the economy and its development is useful or required, especially in conjunction with a related programme such as Economics or History. 

LEARNING ASSUMED TO BE IN PLACE AND RECOGNITION OF PRIOR LEARNING 
Appropriate Honours degree. Entry is also possible through University of Natal's Rule 33 for postgraduate study. 

RECOGNISE PREVIOUS LEARNING? 
N 

EXIT LEVEL OUTCOMES 
  • Demonstrate a broad knowledge of the main facets of modern capitalism and with knowledge of the history of modern economic development in South Africa and some other part(s) of the world.
  • Show an ability to use social science and economic ideas to explain economic phenomena and be able to identify schools of thought in approach to this subject matter.
  • Argue effectively in the context of structuring essays of short to medium length and to use language effectively to that end.
  • Demonstrate a basic knowledge of economic indicators and their significance.
  • Demonstrate a sophisticated grasp of theoretical approaches to major topics within economic history and some of the major subjects covered by the field.
  • Show relevant research and writing skills developed in the construction of a short dissertation.
  • Demonstrate their ability to research a substantial area of enquiry under supervision demonstrating a capacity to formulate a complex argument, a wide reading knowledge, the rules and systems involved in producing scholarly research reports, analytical and conceptual ability and writing skills suitable for instructing others. 
    		•

    ASSOCIATED ASSESSMENT CRITERIA 
  • Demonstrate a thorough knowledge of the general field of inquiry
  • Demonstrate a detailed knowledge of specific areas of inquiry in the programme.
  • Understand the interrelationships amongst various areas of the field of knowledge.
  • Analyse issues.
  • Grasp the theoretical and philosophical underpinnings of the area of study.
  • Demonstrate a thorough knowledge of current critical debates.
  • Summarise, compare, and evaluate a substantial body of knowledge.
  • Construct a sustained argument; formulate questions and work towards solutions.
  • Command the conceptual discourse of the field of study.
  • Demonstrate an appropriate understanding of the discipline.
  • Contextualise this study within the social environment and historical understanding.
  • Develop a clear understanding of the historical and present state and possible future of the disciplinary areas in which they are working.
  • Demonstrate a command of academic English at an appropriate level.
  • Be familiar with information technology at an appropriate level.
  • Understand diversity.
  • Demonstrate a capacity for individual study.
  • Carry out a substantial independent research project conforming to acknowledged scholarly protocols.


    Integrated Assessment

    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. 
    		•

    ARTICULATION OPTIONS 
  • Vertical - below: recognised Honours degree
  • Vertical - above: PhD
  • Horizontal - within the University: with approval of the programme directors, coursework modules from other approved disciplines may be incorporated into this qualification and modules from this discipline may be incorporated into other approved qualifications.
  • Horizontal - outside the University: subject to University recognition of qualifications and/or credits obtained at other institutions. 
    		•

    MODERATION OPTIONS 
    The ETQA system for HE is not yet fully developed. Until such time as it is, procedures described under Assessor 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), staffs 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.