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SOUTH AFRICAN QUALIFICATIONS AUTHORITY 
REGISTERED QUALIFICATION: 

Bachelor of Arts Honours in Communication Science 
SAQA QUAL ID QUALIFICATION TITLE
9143  Bachelor of Arts Honours in Communication Science 
ORIGINATOR
University of the Free State 
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 04 - Communication Studies and Language  Communication Studies 
ABET BAND MINIMUM CREDITS PRE-2009 NQF LEVEL NQF LEVEL QUAL CLASS
Undefined  120  Level 7  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 
Apply educational knowledge, skills, principles and methods practising communication and industrial communication related professions at an advanced level within the context of profit and non-profit organisations as a General communication practitioner, Public relations officer, Advertising practitioner, Journalist, Radio announcer, Television presenter, Media practitioner, Communication consultant, Communication operational manger, Marketing communication consultant, Promotion manager and/or Media annalist and planner. Qualifiers will demonstrate knowledge, skills and applied competence in the field of study that provide opportunities for continued personal growth, gainful economic activity and rewarding contributions to society. 

LEARNING ASSUMED TO BE IN PLACE AND RECOGNITION OF PRIOR LEARNING 
Learners who register for this qualification can:
  • Learn from predominantly written material;
  • Communicate what they have learnt comprehensively in the medium of instruction
  • Learn and take responsibility for their own progress

    Recognition of prior learning:

    The qualification recognises formal and non-formal prior learning (incorporating experiential learning) at a Higher Education and Training Certificate Level 6. 
    		•

    RECOGNISE PREVIOUS LEARNING? 
    Y 

    EXIT LEVEL OUTCOMES 
    The planned combination of learning outcomes are integrated with critical cross-field outcomes for this Qualification:

    Practical Competency:
    The demonstrated ability/skill to achieve the major Skills/Applied Competency of the qualification.

    Foundational Competency:
    The demonstrated understanding, by the Learner, of the embedded knowledge that underpins the end result outcome.

    Reflective Competency:
    The demonstrated ability/skill to integrate or connect our performances and to reflect on, evaluate and adopt the above competencies.

    The Learner will be able to demonstrate the capability to:

    *Understand and indicate the relevance of particular fundamental aspects of communication for the different sub-disciplines (advertising, journalism, organisational, audio- and audio-visual and persuasive comm. etc.) of communication;

    *Demonstrate advanced knowledge, analysis and application of processes related to a selection of the following:
  • Audio- and audio-visual comm. (radio, TV, film and video)
  • Public relations
  • Organisational communication
  • Advertising
  • Journalism
  • Intercultural and developmental communication
  • Speech communication
  • Persuasive communication
  • Public and political communication
  • Educational communication;

    *Integrate and apply advanced knowledge and multiple skills in the selected cluster of sub-disciplines in the field of communication and industrial communication; and

    *Undertake, under supervision, relative complex research in the field of communication and/or industrial communication.

    The learner will be able to:
  • Demonstrate a critical understanding of the nature, characteristics and classification of communication theory;
  • Distinguish, analyse and explain the most important theoretical approaches concerning the structure, process, dynamics and quality of communication;
  • Plan, develop and execute audio- and audio-visual communication processes;
  • Plan, develop and execute public relations processes;
  • Operate, organise and control the internal and external communication activities in an organisation;
  • Integrate the advertising activities of an organisation with the marketing mix in order to create maximum synergy;
  • Demonstrate the necessary knowledge and understanding of the nature and functions of reporting in the different mass and news media;
  • Understand, value and deal with the implications of the different dimensions of cultural variation for the sending and interpretation of messages in a developing country;
  • Master the different dimensions of speech communication competence;
  • Apply persuasive principles to interpersonal, organisational, and mass media settings;
  • Demonstrate a critical understanding of the impact that inter alia value systems; political, social, and economic situations; and ideologies have on effective political communication;
  • Understand and value the role of speech communication in the teaching-learning process in order to accomplish the mutual goals of both the instructor and learner; and
  • Conceptualise, conduct and present scholarly research in the field of quantitative and qualitative methodology. 
    		•

    ASSOCIATED ASSESSMENT CRITERIA 
    Learners will demonstrate their knowledge and skills through:

    1. Produce radio commercials;
    2. Produce corporate videos;
    3. Conduct a film analysis;
    4. Compile corporate publications;
    5. Plan and present media conferences;
    6. Formulate communication policy;
    7. Compile and advertising briefing document;
    8. Develop and implement all the different phases of a national advertising campaign;
    9. Conduct a critical analysis of news content;
    10. Conduct a skilful interview;
    11. Conduct investigative reporting;
    12. Critically analyse case studies on intercultural issues pertaining to interpersonal and industrial communication situations;
    13. Execute oral communication activities in different forms and levels of communication;
    14. Formulate, send, interpret and react on political speeches;
    15. Conduct a practical exercise in instructional communication;
    16. Compile a research report.

    Integrated assessment:

    Competence is achieved, through continuous assessment by demonstrating the ability to achieve the outcomes of the Qualification
  • Module course mark
  • Group Exercises
  • Team work
  • Oral presentations
  • Simulations
  • Portfolios
  • Assignments
  • Projects
  • Examinations

    This will be supported by a module credit system, followed by a final exam on the modules for which credit was not obtained.

    Assessment documents are moderated to ensure that:
  • They conform to the scope and context of the competency as stipulated in the qualification.
  • They are constructed in such a way that the Assessor assesses the critical outcomes applied, during the Learners activity performances, towards achieving an outcome.

    Assessments are:
  • To include confirmation of the Embedded Knowledge component to ensure that the Foundational Competency is achieved.
  • To be verified by Internal Verifiers to ensure valid, credible, true and fair results.
  • Continuous integrated assessment by tutors and peers by way of discussions, exercises, teamwork, presentations, simulations, portfolios and feedback on practical teaching performance through discussions.
  • Standardised marking and feedback on assignments, practical performance and portfolios.
  • Written examination Moderation by qualified academic and by professional theatre practitioners. 
    		•

    ARTICULATION OPTIONS 
    Vertical: Access to post-graduate studies at Masters level.

    Horizontal: With limits can change over to other B.A. Honours. 

    MODERATION OPTIONS 
  • A system of external peer review and evaluation of departments including evaluation of the standards and assessment practices per Department.
  • Qualifications: The minimum academic and workplace experience requirements at a level above the level of moderation.
  • Appropriate professional criteria will be drafted in the case of workplace assessment.
  • Mentorship: All junior and new members of staff are mentored by senior members as they work together in teams. All assessment done by external assessors is quality controlled by internal staff.
  • Any moderation criteria as determined by the ETQA.
  • Integrated assessments are internally moderated.
  • Industrial related projects are externally evaluated. 
    		•

    CRITERIA FOR THE REGISTRATION OF ASSESSORS 
    The academic staff of the University of the Free State complies with standards set by Senate and will exercise their assessment within the approved quality assurance system of the University. Assessors will also meet all criteria as stipulated by the relevant ETQA.

    Assessors are:
  • Subject matter specialists
  • Registered with the awarding body
  • Accredited by the awarding body after achieving competency against Unit Standards of competence for Assessors
  • To be administered, advised and coached by an Internal Verifier. 
    		•

    REREGISTRATION HISTORY 
    As per the SAQA Board decision/s at that time, this qualification was Reregistered in 2006; 2009; 2012; 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 Free State 


    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.