Bachelor of Administration

PUBLIC ADMINISTRATION

1. To prepare students for careers in the public sector and in the broader area of government (encompassing, for example, the media and non-government organisations).

SOCIAL SCIENCE STREAM

1. To provide the qualifiers with graduate level challenges in the field of social sciences, using specific industrial psychological principles. The graduate will be able to fully understand the value and importance of the human element and their contributions to society at large and in an industrial setting in particular.
2. To provide South Africa with a significant number of competent graduates who will be able to display effective management and leadership skills.

Entry requirements for the qualification

PUBLIC ADMINISTRATION

• Matriculation Exemption with 22 points.
• At least a Pass in H.G maths or at least a 'D' symbol in S.G maths. If this requirement is not met, the student must register for STA105G and STA106S.

SOCIAL SCIENCE

• Matriculation exemption and access requirements applicable to the Faculty
• At least a Pass in HG maths or at least a D symbol in SG maths. If this requirement is not met, the student must register for STA105S and STA106S.

The Bachelor of Administration (Public Administration) graduate is able to

• Attain awareness of the scope and complexity of the South African public sector and in that context he/she will have: -
• Skills related to financial management and development planning.
• Understanding of political change both within South Africa and internationally.
• The ability to analyse issues in the public sector in a critical and informed manner.
• The ability to prepare clear and informative documents such as reports on public sector issues.
• Research skills relevant to the subject matter of Politics, Philosophy and Public Administration.
• The ability to interpret and present basic quantitative data effectively using appropriate technology, for example, tables, graphs
• Understanding of the significance of philosophical principles.
• Ability to clearly express philosophical concepts and principles
• Ability to think logically
• Identify and solve problems in which responses display that responsible decisions using critical and creative thinking have been made. For example this is required in the appraisal of development projects.
• Work effectively with others as a member of a team, group, organisation, community. Coordination and cooperation are important aspects of public management. Collect, analyse, organise and critically evaluate information. The drawing up of reports on political change is an example here.
• Demonstrate an understanding of the world as a set of related systems by recognising that problem solving contexts do not exist in isolation. The logical processes required in philosophy come into play here.
• Participating as responsible citizens in the life of local, national and global communities. The deepening of students' awareness of political life is relevant here.

The Bachelor of Administration (Social Science) graduate is able to: -

• Undertake human resources management functions and activities
• Cope with the challenges facing human resource management.
• Understand the process of job analysis
• understand human resource planning (forecasting, supply and demand).
• Appreciate the importance of organisational entry (equal employment opportunity, recruitment, selection and placement)
• Understand how to develop human resource productivity (training and development, productivity and quality interventions)
• Understand performance appraisal and reward systems
• Apply the basic strategies for maintaining human resources (conditions of the work environment, labour relations, collective bargaining)
• Realise how their personal beliefs, decisions, actions and opportunities are shaped and limited by larger social forces that surround them.
• Apply and use the sociological point of view so as to have a knowledge of the social structures that will affect them throughout their lives.
• Understand the most fundamental features of human society. How to promote stability and continuity of patterns of social life, given the diversity of human motives, group interests and collective human activities in social institutions.
• Interpret the nature of conflict amongst individuals and groups and the forces that trigger the condition in organisations.
• Understand the process of social change in organisations which occur either through evolutionary development or social and political revolutions.

Public administration

There will be a balanced and diverse approach designed to test the different criteria in the most suitable way. Research, for example, will be tested by a research project which students will carry out in groups. This will then both test research and teamwork skills. Attention will be given to the dangers of relying too heavily on formal examinations so that students with an aptitude for exams are not over advantaged. Lecturers will be encouraged to ensure that the assessment methods used are as appropriate as possible to the subject matter and the outcomes intended.

SOCIAL SCIENCE

• Attendance at tutorials, written tests, assignments and practical sessions (40%).
• Written examination (60%).
• Assessment strategies such as case studies to assess the integration of knowledge and skills tested through the application of theories and by obtaining and analysing data.