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 Social Science: Sociological Analysis and Social Research

SAQA QUAL ID	QUALIFICATION TITLE
81374	Master of Social Science: Sociological Analysis and Social Research
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 07 - Human and Social Studies		General Social Science
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
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 replaces:

Qual ID	Qualification Title	Pre-2009 NQF Level	NQF Level	Min Credits	Replacement Status
16000	Master of Social Science: Sociological Analysis and Social Research	Level 8 and above	NQF Level 09	128	Complete

PURPOSE AND RATIONALE OF THE QUALIFICATION

This is an academic and vocational qualification in Sociological Analysis and Social Research Programme, which provides students with a sophisticated theoretical understanding of the processes and structures of society, and a sophisticated understanding of the principles and practice of social research as the empirical means for investigating these processes and structures of society. Students will be encouraged to acquire a sophisticated understanding of the vision and limitations of Sociology as a discipline, and social research as an empirical mode of investigation, within the framework of a multi-disciplinary approach. Students will be encouraged to acquire a firm grasp of theoretical traditions in Sociology from which explanations can be drawn. Students will be encouraged to acquire the skills required to conduct sociological analysis and research. The social research component of the programme seeks to train students to be self-sufficient in terms of conducting their own research projects, with the intention of leading to employment in a variety of fields feeding this type of expertise, or as a foundation for a research-only advanced degree.

Such education is crucial in South Africa given the multiplicity of social problems faced in the implementation of South Africa's developmental goals, and the widespread need for a crucial evaluation of South African society. In particular, postgraduates can be expected to find a considerable demand for their skills in the areas of the:

Expanding social, market, developmental, medical and political research industry in South Africa, as the country emerges as a major market, and as the Government, NGOs and overseas donors are each more interested in research-based development of policy.

Teaching of social studies as this emerges as the result of curriculum change in secondary schools.

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?

EXIT LEVEL OUTCOMES

Demonstrate an understanding of social processes and structures

Demonstrate an understanding of the role and the potential role of Sociology as a discipline

Demonstrate a knowledge of current issues which are being debated in Sociology, in terms of theory, methodology and substantive areas

Identify sociological issues and develop appropriate research designs which could be used to study these issues empirically

Demonstrate an understanding of the social context of human social activities, and concern with enhancing the life chances of all persons

Demonstrate an understanding of the diversity amongst and within societies, and the causes of inequality

Demonstrate some familiarity with information technology, and the ability to make use of the Internet in conducting research

Present arguments and perspectives both orally, and in written form

Work constructively within groups

Demonstrate competence in self-directed study

Summarise and evaluate a substantial body of information

Engage at an advanced level with the concepts, philosophies and concerns of Sociology

Understand the social development of communities in line with the goals of social development and reconstruction.

Apply the skills, knowledge and values obtained in the programme to policy-related bodies and institutions in both the public and private sectors

Conduct primary research

Contemplate and debate sociological ideas relevant to the alleviation of social problems

Compile a report/dissertation which indicates an ability to conduct independent research, and which illustrates originality and creativity, and familiarity with the identified area of study

ASSOCIATED ASSESSMENT CRITERIA

Demonstrate capability of analysing and understanding social structures and processes

Demonstrate capability to determine the role of sociological analysis in the social sciences

Demonstrate competence to debate current sociological theory and methodology

Demonstrate capability of identifying a social issue and applying an appropriate research design

Demonstrate capability of identifying the social context of human social groups and their life chances and demonstrating a concern for the enhancement of those chances

Demonstrate competence to engage in academic discourse and perform this both verbally and in written form

Demonstrate capability of identifying diversity and the causes of inequality in human society

Demonstrate familiarity with information technology

Demonstrate capability of conducting self-directed study

Demonstrate capability to summarise and evaluate a substantial body of information

Demonstrate capability to engage in the philosophical concerns of sociological analysis

Demonstrate competence in group and individual working contexts

Demonstrate competence with Information Technology related to social research

Demonstrate capability to apply the knowledge learnt and skills developed in both the private and public sectors

Demonstrate capability of linking the knowledge of sociological analysis and research to the reconstruction and development of society

Demonstrate development of competency towards engaging in primary research

Demonstrate competence in debating sociological ideas relevant to the alleviation of social problems.

Compile a proposal and compete a research/report/dissertation which indicates an ability to conduct independent research; illustrate originality and creativity; familiarity with the identified area of 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 the 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