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SOUTH AFRICAN QUALIFICATIONS AUTHORITY 
REGISTERED QUALIFICATION: 

Master of Social Anthropology 
SAQA QUAL ID QUALIFICATION TITLE
90614  Master of Social Anthropology 
ORIGINATOR
North West University 
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  Traditions, History and Legacies 
ABET BAND MINIMUM CREDITS PRE-2009 NQF LEVEL NQF LEVEL QUAL CLASS
Undefined  180  Not Applicable  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 
Purpose:
The purpose of this qualification aims to enable learners to understand and interpret human social behaviour, as studied by social anthropologists and to become practitioners and/or analysts within the field of social anthropology. Learners are introduced to contemporary issues and debates, foundational studies and research methods in ethnography and anthropology.

The qualification will develop the learner's interest in and knowledge of human social behaviour and encourage an understanding of the interconnections between different aspects of social and cultural life such as, religion, politics, kinship and material culture. The qualification uses case studies as well as theoretical and methodological analyses.

The Master of Social Anthropology also trains learners in a broad range of transferable skills that are useful in many walks of life, including social research methods and the ethics associated with these, effective essay-writing, oral presentational skills in seminars and other contexts, basic computing skills, using the internet as a research tool and conducting bibliographic research.

Rationale:
The Master of Social Anthropology provides a theoretical and empirical understanding of issues and debates in social anthropology and offers the chance to carry out a piece of original research.

The qualification provides a wide range of transferable skills for work in areas in which an understanding of our own and other cultures is applicable, such as in the tourist or heritage and museum sectors, or in academic and applied research.

Graduates of the Master of Social Anthropology will go on to many different careers both inside and outside academic life. As it is a 'conversion' qualification aimed at those who wish to explore anthropology after undergraduate studies in another field, or at least within a different anthropological tradition, it often represents a major change of career direction, opening up a wide range of different possibilities. 

LEARNING ASSUMED TO BE IN PLACE AND RECOGNITION OF PRIOR LEARNING 
The learner is assumed to have:
  • Research, reading and writing skills.
  • Basic knowledge of research ethics.
  • Knowledge of the discipline in the field of Social Ethnography and/or Anthropology research.

    Recognition of Prior Learning:
    Recognition of Prior Learning is handled according to the institutional policy. Applicants must submit a written request for Recognition of Prior Learning which includes a portfolio detailing relevant prior learning such as work experience and/or other qualifications in terms of which the applicant wants to be considered for Recognition of Prior Learning. Should it be deemed necessary, additional proof of competency from the applicant, such as a written submission or an oral presentation testing the applicant's skills and knowledge base as these pertain to the intended area of study may be requested.

    Access to the Qualification:
    To access this qualification, applicants should have a:
  • Honours Degree: Anthropology or a related Social Science discipline with an average mark of 65%.
    Or
  • Postgraduate Diploma, with an average mark of 65%, provided the applicant can show sufficient proof of appropriate research experience.
    Or
  • Successful application for Recognition of Prior Learning. 
    		•

    RECOGNISE PREVIOUS LEARNING? 
    Y 

    QUALIFICATION RULES 
    To be awarded this qualification, the learner must submit an acceptable Dissertation worth 180 Credits. 

    EXIT LEVEL OUTCOMES 
    1. Demonstrate specialist knowledge to enable engagement with and critique of current ethnographic research and practice and an advanced scholarship and research in a particular field within the discipline of Social Anthropology.
    2. Evaluate current processes of knowledge production and choose an appropriate process of enquiry for the particular field of Social Anthropological research.
    3. Design and select appropriate and creative research methods and apply these to complex fieldwork situations and theoretical problems.
    4. Make autonomous ethical decisions that affect knowledge production, to critically contribute to the development of ethical standards in the broader discipline.
    5. Design and implement a strategy for the processing and management of information, in order to conduct a comprehensive review of leading and current research in a particular field of research.
    6. Use academic discourse appropriate to the discipline of social anthropology and the practice of ethnographic field work to communicate and defend substantial ideas that are the products of research in the area of own research, to a range of audiences with different levels of knowledge or expertise.
    7. Develop own learning strategies which sustain independent learning and academic development and to interact effectively within a scholarly context in order to enhance this learning and development.
    8. Operate independently and take full responsibility for own work, to initiate and implement processes and systems to ensure good resource management and governance practices.

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

    ASSOCIATED ASSESSMENT CRITERIA 
    Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 1:
  • Partake successfully in relevant ethnographic research projects in a particular field within Social Anthropology.
    Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 2:
  • Apply appropriate processes of enquiry through critical evaluation of current processes of knowledge production.
    Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 3:
  • Design, select and apply appropriate and creative research methods in complex fieldwork situations, addressing complex and challenging problems in Social Anthropology.
    Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 4:
  • Make and apply autonomous ethical decisions as part of the research strategy and process.
    Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 5:
  • Conduct a comprehensive literature review with appropriate scope and depth suitable for Master's level research.
    Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 6:
  • Participate in academic discourse as presented during the research project by defending and explaining the research project (including the motivation, design, methodology and results) to peer students, faculty and other members of the research community.
    Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 7:
  • Apply independent learning skills appropriate to a Master's level.
    Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 8:
  • Take full responsibly for the research project undertaken, exhibiting good management end governance practices.

    Integrated Assessment:
    Examination is by dissertation alone. 
    		•

    INTERNATIONAL COMPARABILITY 
    This qualification compares with the following international qualifications in terms of the range of competencies in the learning content offered.

    School of Oriental and African Studies, University of London, offers a Master's Degree in Social Anthropology.

    This Master's qualification offers students from all disciplinary backgrounds the opportunity to build a solid base in social anthropology, its theoretical foundations, methodology and ethnographic diversity. It is designed on a modular basis offering different pathways to suit, broadly, three categories of student, viz.:
  • Students with a Degree in Social Anthropology wishing to pursue more specialist topics and/or more regional and language-based study.
  • Students with little or no previous knowledge of social anthropology wishing to acquire a broad knowledge of the discipline.
  • Students with little or no previous knowledge of social anthropology wishing to take the Degree as a conversion course before proceeding to a research degree in anthropology.

    Modules:
  • Anthropological Theory.
  • Anthropological Research Methods.
  • Options within Anthropology.

    Students take three taught courses and complete a 10,000 word dissertation.

    University of Bristol offers a Master's Degree in Anthropology.

    Course programme:
    Students start the year with a field trip, which provides an opportunity for students and staff to get to know one another and to undertake a practical project entitled, 'Ways of Seeing'. During the first semester, students receive their theoretical and methodological training. During the second semester, students take a course in Contemporary Issues in Social Anthropology and choose two additional options. The final element of the Master's Degree is the dissertation, which allows students to explore their individual research interests in the form of a fieldwork or library-based project.

    Core units:
  • History and Theory in Social Anthropology.
  • Research Methods in Social Anthropology.
  • Dissertation.
  • Contemporary Issues in Social Anthropology.

    Optional units:
  • Visual Anthropology.
  • Greater Amazonian Anthropology.
  • Diasporas and Transnational Communities.
  • Narrating the Self.
  • Culture and Global Violence.
  • Material Culture.
  • Complexity, Social Networks and Culture.

    Conclusion:
    This Master of Social Anthropology compares favourably with international offerings in the field of Anthropology, based on the information gleaned from the sources above. It also complies with international standards regarding Masters' Degrees. 
    		•

    ARTICULATION OPTIONS 
    This qualification articulates horizontally with any similar Master's Degree in Social Sciences at NQF Level 9.
    This qualification articulates vertically with a relevant Doctor's Degree at NQF Level 10. 

    MODERATION OPTIONS 
    For the examination of each part of the dissertation, at least two examiners must be appointed in consultation with the Director responsible for research. At least one must be an examiner external to the institution. No examiner of a mini-dissertation or dissertation should have been involved in any manner in the supervision of the learner. The external examiners of the dissertation may not be from the same institution. 

    CRITERIA FOR THE REGISTRATION OF ASSESSORS 
    Assessors and moderators must hold a qualification one level higher than the qualification being assessed or moderated. Moderators are also required to have more than two years' teaching experience in a relevant field. 

    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. North West University 


    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.