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 THAT HAS PASSED THE END DATE: 

Master of Arts: Communication Science: Research 
SAQA QUAL ID QUALIFICATION TITLE
9187  Master of Arts: Communication Science: Research 
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
Master's Degree  Field 04 - Communication Studies and Language  Communication Studies 
ABET BAND MINIMUM CREDITS PRE-2009 NQF LEVEL NQF LEVEL QUAL CLASS
Undefined  240  Level 8 and above  NQF Level 09  Regular-Provider-ELOAC 
REGISTRATION STATUS SAQA DECISION NUMBER REGISTRATION START DATE REGISTRATION END DATE
Passed the End Date -
Status was "Reregistered" 		 SAQA 091/21  2021-07-01  2023-06-30 
LAST DATE FOR ENROLMENT LAST DATE FOR ACHIEVEMENT
2024-06-30   2027-06-30  

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.  

This qualification does not replace any other qualification and is not replaced by any other qualification. 

PURPOSE AND RATIONALE OF THE QUALIFICATION 
Apply educational knowledge, skills, principles and methods as a Researcher in the field of communication and or industrial communication by:

  • Initiating research activities
  • Understanding and predicting research outcomes
  • Specialised and advanced research methodology procedures and the application of results in the chosen field of study

    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 7. 
    		•

    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 Leaner will be capable of:
  • Demonstrating a critical understanding of the selected field in communication and or industrial communication and
  • Debating the selected study field in the above-mentioned field by applying research on a masters level

    The learner will be able to:


    1. Evaluate the relevance of potential research projects within the field of communication and or industrial communication
    2. Collect, analyse, synthesize, integrate, systematise and interpret relevant factual material
    3. Design and apply a scientifically based research methodology which makes provision for relevant issues such as:

  • Formulation of hypotheses/research questions
  • Selection of respondents
  • Compilation of measuring instruments
  • Collection of the data
  • Analysis of data (statistical and qualitative techniques)

    4. Present research data systematically and explanatory
    5. Interpret research data scientifically and
    6. Make well substantiated conclusions and recommendations 
    		•

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


    Dissertation

    By submitting a dissertation learners will demonstrate that they have mastered the qualification outcomes and the applicable requirements for a scientific report.
    The products have to demonstrate to assessors the learner's research initiatives, command in constructing and debating reasonable theoretical frames for the solution of set problems, and report-writing abilities.


    INTEGRATED ASSESSMENT


    Competence is achieved, through continuous assessment by demonstrating the ability to achieve the outcomes of the qualification through any one of the following forms of assessment is available between the various academic departments in the Faculty of Humanities:

  • Formal end evaluations in the form of oral and written examinations
  • Assignments
  • Tests
  • Supervision
  • Projects
  • Dissertations


    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

    Assessment 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
  • Assessment includes research seminars with oral presentations and written reports on prescribed readings or research projects 
    		•

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


    Horizontal: None. 

    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.
  • Practical examinations are internally co-moderated together with the external examiner
  • All practical and written examinations are internally and externally moderated
  • Dissertations are moderated by a panel of internal and external moderators 
    		•

    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. 
    		•

    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.