Bachelor of Arts

Purpose

The purpose of the Bachelor of Arts is to increase learners' cultural understanding and awareness while also developing analytical, critical thinking, problem-solving, writing, and communication abilities. This is an undergraduate degree that offers specialisations in many areas of study within the Faculty of Humanities. The qualification provides a strong academic depth and a solid foundation for a variety of employment choices in the creative arts and social sciences. It will assist learners in developing adaptability and knowledge, as well as the capacity to use multiple perspectives to explore numerous facets of culture and society.

Rationale

The qualification has a significant focus within both the creative and cultural industries in South Africa. The South African Arts industry has been exalted within these industries and deemed to contribute immensely to the socio-economic growth of the country. The institution offers five specialisations, namely, Communication and English Studies, Politics, Philosophy and Economics, Law and Economics, Law and Politics, and Media Studies.

The qualification will enable the learner to continue with inter- and multi-disciplinary studies at a Postgraduate level, to have the option to continue with the Postgraduate qualifications.

The multi-disciplinary qualification will meet the needs of the South African creative industries as identified by the National Department of Arts and Culture. Furthermore, the focus on multi-disciplinarity strives to offer collective enquiry that builds on shared inherent and inherited knowledge and reflective practice, and is result-driven towards utilising the evidence of learning to inform and improve practice through multiple skillsets and innovation. The qualification will offer learners an opportunity to advance their studies to strengthen the professional vocational learning community, whilst providing intensified insight into academia.

On completion of the qualification, qualifying learners will be able to

• Familiarise learners with the content and basic theories of several disciplines in the humanities and social sciences, at the basic and intermediate level, and to provide them with a deeper grasp of one or more of these disciplines as well as to enable them to place new knowledge in context and to use appropriate methods for seeking resolution of problems.
• Apply a variety of basic scholarly and intellectual competencies, including the ability to question critically the assumptions of a limited range of theories and authorities, and to develop an understanding of elementary research methods used within one or more disciplines.
• Give an accurate account of scholarly positions and the competence to express their own opinions clearly and coherently, both in written and oral communication.
• Develop a well-rounded and broad education across several disciplines, thus preparing them for a wide range of professions crucial to the welfare of society.
• Think laterally, critically and creatively, preparing for life-long learning.
• Apply the principles of critical citizenship.

Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL)

The institution's RPL policy and principles are subscribed to and will be implemented in a flexible manner.

RPL for access

• The principle of flexible and open access will be offset against the provision not to the detriment of the potential learner, and that his/her chances to succeed are reasonable.
• Through evaluation by a specifically constituted RPL committee, learners' competencies will be assessed to determine whether they are eligible for access to advanced placement in or have provided evidence that the stated competence of the qualification has been achieved through experience that complies with the stated outcomes.

RPL for credits

• Learners may also be given credit through credit accumulation and transfer (CAT) or recognition (RPL) for exemption from individual modules if they can produce a portfolio of evidence or undergo any other recognised means of assessment that shows that they meet the outcomes and associated assessment criteria specified for that module.
• Applications for credit via the CAT and RPL mechanisms are reviewed by the RPL committee, which allows for uniform and consistent application of the RPL policy.

Entry Requirements

The minimum entry requirement for this qualification is

• National Senior Certificate (NSC), NQF Level 4, granting access to bachelor's degree studies.

Or

• National Certificate (Vocational), NQF Level 4, granting access to bachelor's degree studies.

Or

• Senior Certificate, NQF Level 4 with endorsement.

Or

• Higher Certificate in a cognate field, NQF Level 5.

This qualification consists of the following compulsory and elective modules at National Qualifications Framework Level 7, totalling 360 credits.

Learners must select one of the following specialisations

• Communication and English Studies.
• Politics, Philosophy and Economics.
• Law and Economics.
• Law and Politics.
• Media Studies.

Specialisation One: Communication and English Studies.

Compulsory Modules, Level 5, 120 Credits

• Computer Skills, 10 Credits.
• Communication Science 1A, 10 Credits.
• Communication Science 1B, 10 Credits.
• English Literature Studies 1A, 10 Credits.
• English Literature Studies 1B, 10 Credits.
• Political Science 1A, 10 Credits.
• Political Science 1B, 10 Credits.
• Linguistics 1A, 10 Credits.
• Linguistics 1B, 10 Credits.
• Business English, 10 Credits.
• History, 10 Credits.
• Marketing, 10 Credits.

Compulsory Modules, Level 6, 102 Credits

Communication Science 2A, 10 Credits.

Communication Science 2B, 10 Credits.

English Literature Studies 2A, 10 Credits.

English Literature Studies 2B, 10 Credits.

Cultural Studies, 8 Credits.

Introduction to coding for the humanities, 10 Credits.

Marketing 2A, 12 Credits.

Marketing 2B, 12 Credits.

Applied Ethics, 10 Credits.

Introduction to Research, 10 Credits.

Elective Modules, Level 6, 20 (Select two modules from the following options:)

Political Science 2A, 10 Credits.

Political Science 2B, 10 Credits.

Or

Linguistics 2A, 10 Credits.

Linguistics 2B, 10 Credits.

Compulsory Modules, Level 7, 93 Credits

Communication Science 3A, 10 Credits.

Communication Science 3B, 11 Credits.

English Literature Studies 3A, 13 Credits.

English Literature Studies 3B, 14 Credits.

Research Project, 15 Credits.

Work Integrated Learning, 30 Credits.

Elective Modules, level 7, 27 Credits (Select two modules)

• Political Science 3A, 13 Credits.
• Political Science 3B, 14 Credits.

Or

• Linguistics 3A, 13 Credits.
• Linguistics 3B, 14 Credits.

Total: 362 Credits

OR

Specialisation Two: Politics, Philosophy and Economics.

Compulsory Modules, Level 5, 120 Credits

• Computer Skills,10 Credits.
• Media Studies 1A,10 Credits.
• Media Studies 1B,10 Credits.
• Economics 1A,10 Credits.
• Economics 1B,10 Credits.
• Philosophy 1,10 Credits.
• Critical Reasoning,10 Credits.
• Introduction to Law 1A,10 Credits.
• Political Science 1A,10 Credits.
• Political Science 1B,10 Credits.
• Business English,10 Credits.
• History,10 Credits.

Compulsory Modules, Level 6, 121 Credits

• Media Studies 2A, 15 Credits.
• Media Studies 2B, 15 Credits.
• Economics 2A,12 Credits.
• Economics 2B,12 Credits.
• Philosophy 2,12 Credits.
• Introduction to Law 1A,10 Credits.
• Political Science 2A,10 Credits.
• Political Science 2B,10 Credits.
• Research Methodology,12 Credits.
• History 2,13 Credits.

Compulsory Modules, Level 7, 120 Credits

• Economics 3A, 13 Credits.
• Economics 3B, 14 Credits.
• Philosophy 3, 12 Credits.
• Political Science 3A, 13 Credits.
• Political Science 3B, 14 Credits.
• Research Project,15 Credits)
• Work Integrated Learning, 30 Credits.
• Law for Psychology Learners, 9 Credits.

Total: 361 Credits

OR

Specialisation Three: Law and Economics

Compulsory Modules, level 5, 120 Credits

• Computer Skills, 10 Credits.
• Introduction to Legal Research, 10 Credits.
• Economics 1A, 10 Credits.
• Economics 1B, 10 Credits.
• Introduction to Law 1, 10 Credits.
• Law of Person, 10 Credits.
• Political Science 1A, 10 Credits.
• Political Science 1B, 10 Credits.
• Family Law, 10 Credits.
• Business English, 10 Credits.
• Philosophy 1A, 10 Credits.
• Critical Reasoning, 10 Credits.

Compulsory Modules, Level 6, 102 Credits

• Law for Tourism, 16 Credits.
• Criminal Law, 12 Credits.
• Economics 2A, 12 Credits.
• Economics 2B, 12 Credits.
• African Customary Law, 14 Credits.
• Constitutional Law, 14 Credits.
• Introduction to Coding for Humanities, 10 Credits.
• Introduction to Data Analysis,10 Credits.

Elective Modules, Level 6, 20 Credits (Select two modules)

• Political Science 2A,10 Credits.
• Political Science 2B, 10 Credits,

OR

• Philosophy 2, 12 Credits.
• Cultural Studies, 8 Credits.

Compulsory Modules, Level 7, 120 Credits

• Public International Law, 16 Credits.
• Jurisprudence, 16 Credits.
• International Human Rights Law, 16 Credits.
• Economics 3A, 13 Credits.
• Economics 3B, 14 Credits.
• Research Project, 15 Credits.
• Work Integrated Learning, 30 Credits.

Total: 360 Credits

Specialisation Four: Law and Politics

Compulsory Modules, Level 5, 120 Credits

• Computer Skills, 10 Credits.
• Introduction to Legal Research, 10 Credits.
• Introduction to Law 1, 10 Credits.
• Law of Person, 10 Credits.
• Political Science 1A, 10 Credits.
• Political Science 1A, 10 Credits.
• Family Law, 10 Credits.
• Communication Science 1A, 10 Credits.
• Communication Science 1B, 10 Credits.
• Business English, 10 Credits.
• Philosophy 1A, 10 Credits.
• Critical Reasoning, 10 Credits.

Compulsory Modules, Level 6, 100 Credits

• Political Science 2A,10 Credits.
• Political Science 2B, 10 Credits.
• Criminal Law, 12 Credits.
• African Customary Law, 14 Credits.
• Constitutional Law, 14 Credits.
• Applied Ethics, 10 Credits.
• Philosophy 2, 12 Credits.
• Introduction to Research, 10 Credits.
• Cultural Studies, 8 Credits.

Elective Modules, Level 6, 20 Credits

• Introduction to Coding for Humanities, 10 Credits.
• Introduction to Data Analysis, 10 Credits.

OR

• Communication Science 2A, 10 Credits.
• Communication Science 2B, 10 Credits.

Compulsory Modules, Level 7, 120 Credits

• Public International Law, 16 Credits.
• Jurisprudence, 16 Credits.
• International Human Rights Law, 16 Credits.
• Political Science 3A, 13 Credits.
• Political Science 3B, 14 credits.
• Research Project, 15 Credits.
• Work Integrated Learning, 30 Credits.

Total: 360 Credits

OR

Specialisation Five: Media Studies

Compulsory Modules, Level 5, 100 Credits

• Media Studies 1A, 10 Credits.
• Media Studies 1B, 10 Credits.
• Political Science 1A, 10 Credits.
• Political Science 1B, 10 Credits
• Broadcast Journalism 1A, 10 Credits.
• Broadcast Journalism 1B, 10 Credits.
• Journalism Writing 1A, 10 Credits.
• Journalism Writing 1B, 10 Credits.
• Business English, 10 Credits.
• Introduction to Digital Journalism, 10 Credits.

Elective Modules, Level 5, 20 Credits (Select two modules)

• Communication Science 1A, 10 Credits,
• Communication Science 1B, 10 Credits.

OR

• Public Relations 1A, 10 Credits.
• Public Relations 1A, 10 Credits.

Compulsory Modules, Level 6, 100 Credits

• Media Studies 2A, 15 Credits.
• Media Studies 2B, 15 Credits.
• Broadcast Journalism 2A, 10 Credits.
• Broadcast Journalism 2B, 10 Credits.
• Journalism Writing 2A, 10 Credits.
• Journalism Writing 2B, 10 Credits.
• Introduction to photojournalism, 10 Credits.
• Applied Ethics, 10 Credits.
• Introduction to Research, 10 Credits,

Elective Modules, Level 6, 20 Credits (Select two modules)

• Communication Science 1A. 10 Credits.
• Communication Science 1B, 10 Credits.

OR

• Public Relations 1A, 10 Credits.
• Public Relations 1A, 10 Credits.

Compulsory Modules, level 7, 103 Credits

• Media Studies 3A, 15 Credits.
• Media Studies 3B, 15 Credits.
• Journalism Writing 3A, 10 Credits.
• Journalism Writing 3B, 10 Credits.
• Research Project, 15 Credits.
• Work Integrated Learning, 30 Credits.
• Media Law, 8 Credits.

Elective Modules, Level 7, 20 Credits (Select two modules)

• Communication Science 3A, 10 Credits.
• Communication Science 3B, 10 Credits.

OR

• Public Relations 3A, 10 Credits.
• Public Relations 3B, 10 Credits.

Total 363 Credits

1. Demonstrate familiarity with and have an informed outline knowledge and understanding of the content, theories, and scholarly positions of the critical core of several disciplines at a basic and intermediate level.
2. Demonstrate systematic and well-rounded knowledge, and the ability to critically question the basic assumptions of the most important theories, scholarly positions and basic methodologies of one or more disciplines.
3. Show competence with the basic and elementary modes of inquiry of at least one or more core disciplines to specified, less complex problems (both concrete and abstract).
4. Demonstrate the ability to analyse contemporary contexts and locate work in those contexts.
5. Demonstrate the ability to interpret topical issues using different perspectives in the disciplines.
6. Demonstrate the ability to interpret, explain and argue topical issues in the disciplines.
7. Demonstrate the ability to write an extended essay/design a minor research project aimed at engaging with a well-defined issue within a particular discipline.

Associated Assessment Criteria

Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 1

• Accurately use terminology, concepts, principles and theories in written and/or oral communication.
• Analyse, evaluate and synthesise recent and relevant research findings in the disciplines included.
• Effectively propose solutions that apply to well-structured and practical problems based on theory-driven arguments.
• Communicate clearly using scholarly discourse and discipline-specific conventions efficiently.

Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 2

• Critically appraise the relationship among concepts and principles of the disciplines included.
• Effectively propose solutions to well-structured and practical problems, both concrete and abstract.

Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 3

• Conduct basic and elementary modes of inquiry in a well-defined and coherent representation of identified problems.
• Select and apply appropriate methods, techniques, tools and procedures relevant to the discipline.
• Propose possible solutions based on theory-driven arguments and using the relevant modes of inquiry consistently.
• Apply scholarly and critical reasoning skills.

Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 4

• Explicitly recognise diversity, complexity and multi-dimensionality of a context that affects the work being undertaken.
• Provide relevant information pertaining to the strengths, weaknesses and opportunities of the context for addressing specific problems.
• Clearly identify relevant role players and resources that will contribute to the resolution of specific problems.
• Describe all relevant factors pertaining to the context and people's performance(s) in these contexts and discuss how they affect the work being undertaken.
• Identify critical factors impacting practical problems investigated from the perspective of the discipline.

Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 5

• Base results from analyses of relevant national contexts and research findings.
• Clearly describe and explain, making effective use of comparing diverse theories.
• Evaluate and define the boundaries and limitations of theory and recognise the provisional nature of research findings.
• Involve ethical and responsible solutions for practical problems.
• Clearly communicate using scholarly discourse and different modes of communication effectively.

Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 6

• Communicate reflecting competence in higher-order cognitive domains and/or meta-cognition.
• Demonstrate knowledge and comprehension of discipline-specific conventions and scholarly discourse.
• Give an accurate account of scholarly positions, viewpoints, and solutions.
• Identify and differentiate between current perspectives and scholarly debates pertaining to the discipline and in different relevant contexts.
• Reflect critical appraisal of recent and relevant literature, including both primary and secondary sources.

Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 7

• Base the findings on the analysis and evaluation of relevant literature.
• Clearly state and contextualise an identified problem for research purposes.
• Describe the essential modes of inquiry relevant to the discipline/s in which the essay/project is developed.
• Clearly describe all procedures and appropriate research strategies, such as data collecting, analysis, interpretation, evaluation, etc. in a coherent fashion and appropriately for undertaking the minor research project writing of the essay.
• Demonstrate awareness of ethical accountability and cultural sensitivity pertaining to all related aspects (people, context, etc.).