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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: |
Bachelor of Applied Social Science |
SAQA QUAL ID | QUALIFICATION TITLE | |||
90844 | Bachelor of Applied Social Science | |||
ORIGINATOR | ||||
The South African College of Applied Psychology - Pretoria | ||||
PRIMARY OR DELEGATED QUALITY ASSURANCE FUNCTIONARY | NQF SUB-FRAMEWORK | |||
CHE - Council on Higher Education | HEQSF - Higher Education Qualifications Sub-framework | |||
QUALIFICATION TYPE | FIELD | SUBFIELD | ||
National First Degree | Field 07 - Human and Social Studies | General Social Science | ||
ABET BAND | MINIMUM CREDITS | PRE-2009 NQF LEVEL | NQF LEVEL | QUAL CLASS |
Undefined | 360 | Not Applicable | NQF Level 07 | 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 | 2033-06-30 |
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 is an undergraduate degree at NQF Level 7 in the Applied Social Sciences. The qualification aligns with the characteristics of learning outcomes at NQF Level 7 as specified in the level descriptors. The purpose of this qualification is to equip learners with knowledge, skills and attitudes (ethics) to better understand the social world, interpret and analyse relevant social research data, comprehend and develop a better understanding of self and others in a variety of social contexts and circumstances. The qualification will provide learners with a solid foundation in, but not limited to, the following set of attributes: These attributes form the basis of a robust curriculum design in that they address: 1. Core knowledge, skills and understanding within the field of study. 2. Research skills. 3. Critical thinking skills. 4. Values, research and professional ethics. 5. Communication Skills. 6. Application of methodologies and practices within the Applied Social Science field of study as they pertain to counselling or coaching or management professions. This qualification is designed with the following outcomes in mind: All aspects of the qualification reflect these outcomes in line with the configuration of modular offerings within each specialisation. Rationale: This qualification is to provide a foundation for learners with a broad career path in Applied Social Science vocations. The qualifying learner will have diverse career options in the Applied Social Sciences, incorporating employment fields such as human resource management, health sciences and psychological services. The qualification design is to provide focused teaching and learning with the emphasis upon how people and their diverse social statures interact within a specified social context. The qualification is grounded in the Social Sciences and is designed to help learners develop the academic skills to better understand the social world, interpret and analyse relevant social research data, comprehend and develop a better understanding of self, others and the application of the Social Sciences in a variety of social contexts and circumstances. The qualification has a psychological framework as part of a critical pedagogy of understanding self and others better within different social contexts by: This depth of understanding and insight is pertinent to South African realities where diverse race and cultures co-exist within a context of different cultural, socio-economic and educational levels. This creates the potential for encouraging a greater acceptance of human difference in multiple work-related environments. The qualification aims to provide learners with an introduction to psychology and the broad field of social science. The social science focus has shaped the selection of core modules in order to assist students with a developed understanding of psychology and social science theory as well as the core skills necessary to work successfully with people in an informed and insightful way. At the same time, the qualification incorporates three specialisations i.e. counselling or coaching or management studies, each representing a specific Social Science application of the core knowledge and skills training of the qualification. As such, depending on their specialisation choice, learners undertake a range of modules dealing more specifically with counselling or coaching or management studies. These specialisation modules are viewed as essential to the ultimate aim of producing reflective practitioners who possess a well-rounded education and who are capable of thinking critically and analytically, working effectively with people, and who understand and can practically apply a range of Psychology and Social Science principles and theories within the context of their particular vocational specialisation. The qualifying learner will be well suited for employment in an extensive range of public and private sector enterprises and will be highly regarded for their ability to integrate theory with praxis and to be ethical and professional practitioners within their chosen fields. This qualification addresses the need for new higher education qualifications that are relevant to the workplace needs of South Africa. Learners are seeking qualifications that are accessible, academically engaging, and relevant in preparing learners who have the knowledge and skills necessary for employment opportunities and which have good articulation opportunities locally and internationally. In a developing society like South Africa, there is a high demand for counsellors (particularly in the field of primary health care), coaches who are skilled in positive personal psychology and corporate enrichment strategies, and effective managers who are robustly grounded with people management knowledge and skills. |
LEARNING ASSUMED TO BE IN PLACE AND RECOGNITION OF PRIOR LEARNING |
Learners are assumed to have the:
Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL): The Recognition of Prior Learning is the process that gives due recognition to the life-long learning of an individual gained through formal and/or informal training, work experience, general life experience, or through any combination of the above. RPL is applied where an applicant provides certified evidence that previous learning is equivalent to the learning outcomes of a module of study. A learner can gain access to the qualification through RPL. The process of RPL involves a fair and equitable assessment of the applicant's prior knowledge and skill in the field for which RPL is being sought. The institution may offer a successful applicant with a credit of up to 50% of the credit value of a qualification. The applicant will need to provide certified evidence of, or demonstrate his or her level of current competency in, the particular specialty for which credit or advanced standing is being sought. Evidence usually takes the form of a portfolio of documents which detail the equivalent study, work or life experience for which credit is being sought. As the majority of the institutions modules involve counselling and communication competencies, an applicant may be required to submit a videotaped role-play demonstration of his or her competencies and/or attend a special assessment interview with a qualified RPL assessor. Access to the Qualification: The access to this qualification is granted to applicants who meet the minimum entrance requirements or the alternative routes of entry. Applicants who are in possession of: Learners that do not meet the minimum admission requirements may be referred to write the Access Assessment Test before a decision is made on whether or not to admit the learner into the qualification. |
RECOGNISE PREVIOUS LEARNING? |
Y |
QUALIFICATION RULES |
This qualification consists of compulsory and optional modules at NQF Levels 5, 6 and 7, to a total of 360 Credits. Learners are to choose elective modules as indicated. All required modules are to be achieved for learners to be awarded the qualification.
Compulsory modules at NQF Level 5: Sub-total: 78 Credits. Optional modules at NQF Level 5 (choose one): Total credits at NQF Level 5: 90. Sub-total: 74 Credits. Optional modules at NQF Level 6 (choose one from each option): Option 1 Option 2 Option 3 Option 4 Option 5 Total credits at NQF Level 6: 142. Compulsory modules at NQF Level 7: Sub-Total: 48 Credits. Optional modules at NQF Level 7 (choose one from each option): Option 1 Option 2 Option 3 Option 4 Option 5 Total credits at NQF Level 7: 128. |
EXIT LEVEL OUTCOMES |
Typically, a qualification leading to the award of a Bachelor of Applied Social Science Degree in the Humanities and Social Sciences aims to develop learners who will:
Critical Cross-Field Outcomes: Competencies addressed for each of the attributes are as follows: |
ASSOCIATED ASSESSMENT CRITERIA |
The following Assessment Criteria may be applied to some or all of the Exit Level Outcomes:
Integrated Assessment: Assessment is the process of evaluating the quality and extent of learner achievement or performance in learning and as such determines the focus and approach of learners. Assessment has two principal purposes - a formative purpose and a summative purpose. The assessment tasks within a qualification may range from primarily formative to secondarily summative (integrative focus) but the overall balance of the assessment tasks must be to facilitate the learning process. The formative purpose of assessment is to encourage an in-depth approach to learning through learners' own activity and engagement with the subject. The summative purpose of assessment is to lead to the certification of achievement or ability of learners for external audiences. An important aspect of assessment is that it should develop in learners the ability to independently evaluate the quality of their work. The learner's competencies will therefore be assessed using an integrated method of both formative and summative assessment. Implied Competence and Range: Critical evidence for assessment purposes implies competence at the following: 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. The qualifying learner: . Should be able to recognise the significance of contested knowledge in a specific context. 6. > Logical thinking (including identification of flawed reasoning in a text). > Inductive and deductive thinking skills. > Thinking and reasoning (self-reflexivity is demonstrated at the appropriate Level). 7. The qualifying learner should be able to use different procedures to generate scholarly information. These should include: |
INTERNATIONAL COMPARABILITY |
The Bachelor: Applied Social Science(B: AppSocSc) qualification is comparable with the following international qualifications in structure (flexible study options), duration (three year bachelor's Degree) and module content (not in its entirety).
The University of York in the United Kingdom offers a Bachelor of Arts in Applied Social Science which is a broadly based, integrated and up-to-date qualification that provides learners with an understanding of social science and its real-world application. This qualification is a flexible Degree, allowing the learner to tailor interests by choosing a number of module options. As such, the Degree can touch upon a wide range of specialist areas, reflecting the inter-disciplinary influences on the subject. Training in social research methods, which are highly transferable skills to a wide range of contexts will be developed. The qualification comprises of the following compulsory modules: Examples of module options for Year 2: Examples of module options for Year 3: The B: AppSocSc is comparable in duration and the flexible study options afforded to each learner but the theoretical component differs from that of the B: AppSocSc. The Australian College of Applied Psychology offers a Bachelor of Applied Social Science (Counselling). This qualification focuses on experiential learning, so the learner emerges job ready with skills that can be applied immediately and includes 400 hours of supervised work placement. The qualification comprises of the following 24 modules: The Australian College of Applied Psychology qualification is the closest comparison in terms of module content and like the B: AppSocSc it has supervised work placement. Conclusion The B: AppSocSc will provide the qualifying learner with a broad spectrum of new career possibilities because of the flexible study options available to each learner and additionally, has 200 hours of fieldwork in over 100 placement sites around South Africa. |
ARTICULATION OPTIONS |
This qualification provides learners with both horizontal and vertical articulation possibilities.
Horizontal articulation at NQF Level 7 is possible with the following qualifications: Vertical articulation at NQF Level 8 is possible with the following qualifications: |
MODERATION OPTIONS |
Moderation processes and procedures ensure that all learners are assessed in a consistent, accurate and well-designed manner. Moderation verifies that assessments are fair, reliable, valid, practicable and transparent and also evaluates assessor performance. The moderation will be done internally and externally by academics in the field with qualifications at NQF Level 8 and/or above. |
CRITERIA FOR THE REGISTRATION OF ASSESSORS |
The assessor must have:
|
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. | The South African College of Applied Psychology - Cape Town |
2. | The South African College of Applied Psychology - Johannesburg |
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. |