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: 

Doctor of Philosophy: Child and Family Studies 
SAQA QUAL ID QUALIFICATION TITLE
90620  Doctor of Philosophy: Child and Family Studies 
ORIGINATOR
University of the Western Cape 
PRIMARY OR DELEGATED QUALITY ASSURANCE FUNCTIONARY NQF SUB-FRAMEWORK
CHE - Council on Higher Education  HEQSF - Higher Education Qualifications Sub-framework 
QUALIFICATION TYPE FIELD SUBFIELD
Doctoral Degree  Field 07 - Human and Social Studies  People/Human-Centred Development 
ABET BAND MINIMUM CREDITS PRE-2009 NQF LEVEL NQF LEVEL QUAL CLASS
Undefined  360  Not Applicable  NQF Level 10  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 is to:
  • Provide South Africa with highly skilled human capital in Child and Family studies research to help ensure that the country will be able to effectively solve child and family issues through research findings.
  • Create an extensive regional and international network through which researchers can collaborate to investigate child and family well-being and functioning and to enhance the social welfare goals of government, NGO's and non-profit organisations regarding the issues of children and families.
  • Build important bridges of learning between developing and developed countries with regard to the acquisition and application of child and family knowledge to eventually benefit people everywhere.

    The qualification thus aims to marry excellence in research with the needs of South Africa (as well as Africa and other developing countries) by promoting in-depth investigation of Child and Family studies topics to the benefit of the country and the discipline.

    Rationale:
    This Doctor of Philosophy: Child and Family Studies is the only one of its kind in South Africa. We currently offer the only accredited Master's Degree: Child and Family Studies and it is essential, for vertical articulation purposes, that qualifying learners are able to move into a Doctor of Philosophy in support of the objectives of the NQF and provide local opportunity for further study in the field.

    There is a shortage of researchers studying the integration of theory, research and practice applicable to children and families in South Africa. Learners registered for this qualification would be able to pursue in-depth studies in the theory and existing empirical knowledge about child development, family relationships and child and family well-being.

    The focus of this Doctoral Degree would be on research and scientific inquiry involving advanced methodologies and strategies to examine basic developmental phenomena and family relationships for improved wellness and health. 
    		•

    LEARNING ASSUMED TO BE IN PLACE AND RECOGNITION OF PRIOR LEARNING 
    A learner should have a:
  • Good knowledge of children and families in general, as well as any of the specialist areas in child and family studies chosen for Doctor of Philosophy studies.
  • Clear understanding of the information systems environment in an academic setting.
  • Firm basis to manage information and carry out research.
  • Good oral and writing skills.

    Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL):
    Access to the qualification can also be provided in terms of the institution's RPL policy and its admission criteria stipulated by Senate. In the RPL process learners can also opt to undergo a Portfolio Development Course (PDC) to support the learner's admission. The PDC will focus on written submission explaining the reasons for the learner's interest in Family Studies as an adjunct to existing professional competencies and indicating the nature of a possible research project. Provision should be made for prior learning to be recognised (credits) if a learner is able to demonstrate competence in the knowledge, skills, values and attitudes embedded in this qualification.

    Access to the Qualification:
    Learners who have completed a relevant research Masters Degree successfully will gain access to do this Doctor of Philosophy qualification in Child and Family Studies. 
    		•

    RECOGNISE PREVIOUS LEARNING? 
    Y 

    QUALIFICATION RULES 
    The qualification comprises a thesis/dissertation worth 360 Credits. 

    EXIT LEVEL OUTCOMES 
    The qualifying learner should, upon completion of this qualification, be able to:
  • Carry out a research project in applied settings to assist political, community, business and other leaders build and manage successful social programmes, especially family-related problems and issues.
  • Demonstrate an understanding of such contemporary family-related problems and issues as child and spousal abuse, poverty, crime, divorce, child custody, marital and extramarital sex, illegitimacy, feminism and teenage parenthood in areas such as:
    > Childhood as a social construction.
    > Historical notions of childhood.
    > Understanding the notion of cultural diversity in South African parenting.
    > Analysing the notion of parenthood.
    > International and South African childhood.
    > The Convention on the Rights of the Child: children's rights as human rights.
    > The African Charter on the Rights and Welfare of the Child and all other relevant international law.

    Critical Cross-Field Outcomes:
    The Critical Cross-Field Outcomes are embedded in the Exit Level Outcomes of this qualification. 
    		•

    ASSOCIATED ASSESSMENT CRITERIA 
    The following assessment criteria are applied in an integrated manner for all the Exit Level Outcomes:
  • Display specialised scholastic and novel research skills in Child and Family Studies as appropriate to studies at this level.
  • Demonstrate an advanced level of relevant text comprehension.
  • Access an advanced range of relevant sources.
  • Demonstrate a grasp of relevant problems.
  • Present appropriate theoretical and practical assessment techniques and case studies as well as solutions to problems.

    Integrated Assessment:
    The learner's knowledge of Family Studies will be assessed by the supervisor and faculty members via a formal proposal for Doctor of Philosophy research by the end of the first year. This will be assessed by a committee of at least three professors, one of whom must be external. The learner will complete a research project to be presented as a thesis/dissertation. Assessment of the thesis/dissertation will be carried out by Faculty members and international external examiners. 
    		•

    INTERNATIONAL COMPARABILITY 
    The Doctor of Philosophy Degree by thesis/dissertation will be comparable to those Doctoral Degrees offered by international institutions such as the University of Tennessee (Knoxville Campus) and the University of Massachusetts, Amherst.

    The University of Massachusetts, Amherst in the United States of America offers a Doctor of Philosophy in Child and Family Studies Degree which is designed to address the growing concern for meeting the educational and developmental needs of children in the varied settings in which learning and development occur. The curriculum addresses the philosophical, historical, cultural foundations of learning and development. It offers future researchers and practitioners a qualification in child development, childhood studies and learning, examining how they relate to educational practice from birth through the early childhood and elementary school years. The qualification's philosophy is based on the assumption that a complex interdependent relationship exists among school, family and society and espouses an approach that requires those working with educational settings to be aware of the impact of culture, ethnicity, gender, history, values and economics upon the lives of children and families.

    The University of Tennessee in the United States of America offers a Doctor of Philosophy in Child and Family Studies Degree requiring a thesis/dissertation in which learners pursue in-depth studies of the theory and existing empirical knowledge about child development and family relationships. A definitive characteristic of this qualification is a focus on research and scientific inquiry, which involves learning advanced methodologies and strategies to examine basic developmental phenomena and family relationships. The qualification further seeks to train professionals who can design and empirically evaluate sophisticated intervention and prevention programmes for children, youth and families.

    Conclusion:
    This Doctor Philosophy: Child and Family Studies does not have any compulsory modules (coursework) as does the University of Massachusetts Amherst qualification, but both have a thesis/dissertation component. The University of Tennessee qualification is the most comparable in that this university's qualification is a full research qualification requiring a research dissertation/thesis in order to complete the qualification and is thus similar to this Doctor Philosophy: Child and Family Studies. 

    ARTICULATION OPTIONS 
    This qualification has both horizontal and vertical articulation possibilities.

    The qualification articulates horizontally with other cognate Doctoral Degrees.

    The qualification articulates vertically with post-doctoral studies in related fields such as Sociology, Psychology and Criminology. 

    MODERATION OPTIONS 
    The qualification will be moderated via a system of external peer review and evaluation. At least one internal supervisor/assessor and at least two external assessors will be appointed. The minimum qualifications for assessor will be a Doctor of Philosophy plus 3-5 years' research experience in the specific focus area. 

    CRITERIA FOR THE REGISTRATION OF ASSESSORS 
    Assessors assessing a learner in this qualification must hold a relevant qualification at NQF Level 10 with research experience, teaching experience and publications in refereed academic journals. 

    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. University of the Western Cape 


    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.