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SOUTH AFRICAN QUALIFICATIONS AUTHORITY 
REGISTERED QUALIFICATION: 

Bachelor of Arts Honours in Peace Studies 
SAQA QUAL ID QUALIFICATION TITLE
88868  Bachelor of Arts Honours in Peace Studies 
ORIGINATOR
St. Augustine College of South Africa NPC 
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  Not Applicable  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 
Purpose:
The qualification aims to equip graduates in the field of Peace Studies to approach the challenges of conflict resolution, peace-building and peace-keeping in a manner that is intellectually rigorous, theoretically well-grounded and empirically informed.

Learners will:
  • Acquire an in-depth, high-level knowledge of the key issues and principal bodies of literature that deal with the causes of, and conditions for, peace and war at international, national, regional and local community levels.
  • Demonstrate familiarity with the normative and ethical aspects in the field.
  • Acquire a deep historical knowledge of various degrees of conflict, post-conflict and peace-building challenges and a systematic, theoretical command of the issues.

    A dissertation worth 30 Credits must be produced.

    Successful completion of the qualification will enable the learner to enter a Master's Degree in a related field of study.

    Rationale:
    This qualification in Peace Studies aims to deepen the learner's insight and expertise in areas of human rights, justice, the dignity of the person, the history, causes and consequences of war and conflict and the challenges of social, political and economic reconstruction in the aftermath of violent conflict. This qualification contains, in addition to a strong emphasis on the normative issues such as human rights, justice and the dignity of the person, a strong emphasis on analytical and theoretical approaches as well as a deep exploration of the history and causes of war and violent conflict. The reasons for this approach are many:
  • There is a rapidly growing collection of rigorous literature on both the dynamics and aetiology of conflict (both tractable and seemingly intractable) as well as on the reasons for failure of peace-making and peace-keeping strategies and methods.
  • A solid grounding in the history and dynamics of war and conflict will equip practitioners in the field with a rich intellectual store to draw upon, as well as a better sense of the depth and often forbidding nature of the violent conflicts they are attempting to resolve.
  • Such an understanding is crucial to attempts to address the fundamental institutional aspects of war and violent civil and international conflict. It is common cause that severe political instability and civil war are inimical to economic growth, development and prosperity. Human well-being and flourishing are not possible in the context of high levels of institutional instability and the associated high levels of uncertainty. In sub-Saharan Africa, state failure is both a cause and consequence of war and violent factional conflicts. Such state failure and the concomitant lack of capacity also renders efforts to reconstruct economies and societies, once peace accords have been secured, more difficult. The range of these post-conflict challenges is vast and well-known, e.g. de-mining, the care of limbless children, the restoration of farming and food security in areas that have been mined or affected by toxic or ecologically dangerous chemicals.
  • There is an emerging literature that emphasises the regional specificity of much conflict, in addition to its more conventional local and international forms.
  • The recent history of much peace-making and peace-keeping has suggested that these ventures are fraught and often less successful than wished for, and the consequences of the failure to act, or of well-intentioned but inappropriate action, can be counterproductive.

    The programme provided will be a robust and complete approach to peacemaking study and instruction that would be truly unique, not just in the African context, but in terms of peace making programmes globally. Most programmes carrying the name usually emphasise one of two dimensions of the field: either the broader analytical, methodological and empirical aspects (more "top down") or the social and community development dimensions (usually "bottom up" issues). This qualification emphasises both in order to educate practitioners - in whichever arena they choose to work - to make more effective interventions. Thus there will be a focus on appropriate research methodologies, and understanding of the global and regional contexts (and institutional networks) in which they will need to act, as well as more specific knowledge of the particular situations in which they may need to intervene. 
    		•

    LEARNING ASSUMED TO BE IN PLACE AND RECOGNITION OF PRIOR LEARNING 
    This qualification assumes that the learner is competent in the language of the provider and is able to demonstrate the applied competence which typically leads to the award of a qualification at NQF Level 7.

    Recognition of Prior Learning:
    Recognition of Prior Learning is given to practical and theoretical experience in the field and subfield relevant to this qualification and is assessed by the institution's Faculty Higher Degrees' Committee, in conjunction with the rules of access. Structured means for the assessment of individual learning against entrance requirements and exit outcomes are devised on a case-by-case basis. These procedures may be assessed by independent moderators.

    Access to the Qualification:
    Learners entering this qualification must be in possession of an appropriate Bachelor's Degree worth at least 360 Credits.

    Applicants without such a qualification may be considered for admission under the University Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) policy. 

    RECOGNISE PREVIOUS LEARNING? 
    Y 

    QUALIFICATION RULES 
    The qualification comprises 120 Credits - all at NQF Level 8.
    There are five Compulsory and one Elective coursework modules, worth 15 Credits each, and a supervised research paper of 10,000 words, worth 30 Credits.
    The programme will be delivered on a part-time basis, with each module being taught in a week-long block-release format over two years.
    The supervised research paper will be the final module for the Degree.

    Compulsory Modules:
  • Normative Political Theory in a Global Context, 15 Credits.
  • Fundamentals of Peace-Building: Concepts, Philosophy and Organisation, 15 Credits.
  • Identity-based conflict: Ethno-Cultural, Gender and Religious Dimensions, 15 Credits.
  • Recovering from violence: Transitional Justice, Reconstruction and Reconciliation, 15 Credits.
  • Philosophy and Practice of Non-violence, 15 Credits.
  • Supervised Research Project in the Field of Peace Studies, 30 Credits.

    Elective Modules (Choose one):
  • The State in Modern Politics, 15 Credits.
  • War, Peace and International Relations, 15 Credits.
  • The Economic Causes and Consequences of Conflict, 15 Credits. 
    		•

    EXIT LEVEL OUTCOMES 
    1. Demonstrate an ability to engage with key principal bodies of literature that deal with the analytical and theoretical approaches to the history and causes of war and violent conflict at a high level.
    2. Demonstrate critical and effective engagement with the challenges of social, political and economic reconstruction in the aftermath of violent conflict.
    3. Demonstrate a clear understanding of the normative and ethical issues such as human rights, justice and the dignity of the person.
    4. Demonstrate an ability to apply strategies for resolving conflict at macro levels (states and regions) and local community levels.
    5. Conduct a supervised research project in the field of peace studies.

    Critical Cross-Field Outcomes:
    All the Critical Cross-Field Outcomes are addressed in this qualification. 

    ASSOCIATED ASSESSMENT CRITERIA 
    The following Assessment Criteria may be applied to any or all of the Exit Level Outcomes:
    1. Examine multiple sources of knowledge to explain the local and global causes and development of conflict and war, from historical times to the modern era.
    2. Investigate multiple sources of knowledge to identify the meaning, interpretation and application of justice in various areas of society - locally and globally.
    3. Apply in-depth knowledge and understanding of peace-building strategies to design and develop skills and approaches that could lead to a sustainable peace.
    4. Discerningly examine the ethno-cultural, gender and religious value systems within a specific local or global area and propose insightful actions which could lead to acceptance and social harmony.
    5. Design an appropriate peace-building strategy for a specific geographical area and effectively apply this in the field to create understanding and harmony between the factions.
    6. Identify a manageable area for research, write a relevant research proposal and produce and present a final research project in the manner required.

    Integrated Assessment:
    Integrated assessment is aimed at evaluating the foundational, reflexive and practical competence of the learner.

    Formative assessment takes place throughout the period of study through the regular submission of assignments and the stages of the research project, combined with the interactive communication between learner and tutor.

    Summative assessment takes place at the end of the period of learning through formal examinations and the final assessment of the completed research project. 

    INTERNATIONAL COMPARABILITY 
    Eastern Mennonite University, Harrisonburg, Virginia, United States of America, offers the:
    Master of Arts in Conflict Transformation.

    The Graduate Programme in Conflict Transformation is designed for persons interested in pursuing academic studies within the peacebuilding field: conflict transformation, restorative justice, trauma healing, community and international development, and organisational leadership.

    Full-time students should complete the Degree in two years. Distance learning students should complete the degree in three to five years. At least one full semester on campus is strongly recommended.

    Modules:
  • Analysis: Understanding Conflict.
  • Practice: Skills for Peacebuilding.
  • Theory: Frameworks for Peacebuilding.
  • Peacebuilding Practices: Skills Assessment.
  • Research: Action Research, Qualitative Evaluation, Research Design or Research as Art and Transformation (choose one).
  • Practicum (6-9 credit hours).

    Leeds Metropolitan University, Leeds England, offers the:
    Bachelor of Arts (Honours): Peace Studies and International Relations.
    This course is designed for people who want to better understand and make a difference to how issues of war, peace and security are dealt with at an international level.

    Modules:
  • The Challenge of Development.
  • Issues in British Politics.
  • Applied Global Ethics.
  • Organisations and the Environment.
  • Issues in World Politics.
  • Introduction to Peace and Conflict Studies.
  • Living as a Global Citizen.
  • The Political Economy of Development.
  • Theories of Peace and Security.
  • Development in Practice.
  • Terrorism State Security and Human Rights.
  • Managing Development.
  • Theories of Conflict Resolution.
  • Applied Critical Perspectives.
  • Economic Transformation in the Third World.
  • Peace Building.
  • Current Issues in Development.
  • Conflict Resolution in Practice.
  • Volunteering Work Placement.
  • Dissertation.

    Auckland University of Technology, New Zealand offers the:
    Master of Arts in Conflict Resolution:

    There are four core papers that provide students with knowledge, application and understanding of the theories and working practice of the broad field of conflict resolution, psychological aspects of conflict resolution, the social ethics involved at both the macro and micro levels, and advanced research approaches, methodology, design and analysis. The electives allow students to focus on particular contexts, for example, restorative justice in Aotearoa (New Zealand), refugees and displaced persons, gender and sexuality.

    Career opportunities exist within organisations such as:
  • Child, Youth and Family.
  • Global Peace and Justice.
  • International peace and justice organisations and bodies dedicated to conflict resolution.
  • Lobby groups.
  • Local councils.
  • Ministry of Justice's Crime Prevention Unit.
  • Ministry of Social Development.
  • New Zealand Peace Foundation.
  • New Zealand Police.
  • Peace Movement Aotearoa.
  • Political parties.
  • Unions.

    Core Modules:
  • Conflict Resolution: Theories, Models, Concepts and Processes.
  • Ethics and Social Justice.
  • Managing Human Relationships.
  • Social Research Design and Analysis.

    Elective Modules:
  • Critical Issues in Gender Studies.
  • Reading Paper.
  • Refugees and Displaced Persons Restorative.
  • Justice in Aotearoa.
  • Tangata Pasifika: The New Peoples of the Pacific.

    One of the following:
  • Master's of Arts Dissertation and Site Based Research Project.
    Or
  • Master's of Arts Thesis.

    The Bachelor of Arts (Honours) in Peace Studies and Conflict Resolution at St. Augustine is distinctive in that it combines the macroscopic considerations of peace studies (drawn from international relations and politics) with the microscopic dimensions, including community development, post-conflict reconstruction and reconciliation. It compares well with similar qualifications offered internationally. 
    		•

    ARTICULATION OPTIONS 
    Horizontal Articulation:
    This qualification articulates horizontally with any Postgraduate Diploma in a related field such as one of the relevant social sciences, at NQF Level 8.

    Vertical Articulation:
    This qualification articulates vertically with any Master's Degree: Peace Studies or other related field of study, at NQF Level 9. 

    MODERATION OPTIONS 
    Moderators are always appointed for all summative assessments.
    The criteria for appointment are academic or professional credibility in this sub-field with at least a Master's Degree. In a few isolated cases the College might appoint someone who has professional expertise, but does not hold a Master's Degree. 

    CRITERIA FOR THE REGISTRATION OF ASSESSORS 
    The moderators/assessors would be academics of standing in the disciplines related to this qualification and would normally hold a qualification not lower than a Master's Degree. 

    REREGISTRATION HISTORY 
    As per the SAQA Board decision/s at that time, this qualification was Reregistered in 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. St. Augustine College of South Africa NPC 


    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.