Bachelor of Arts Honours

This qualification includes the various specialisations in Arts. Please refer to "Notes" for details on the specialisations.

The purpose of the BA Hons qualification is to

• Equip students with the ability to identify, analyse and explore, with a measure of independence, new theoretical and empirical information in the chosen field of study in the humanities (including the social sciences).
• Enable students to use competently the highly specialised skills needed for particular problem-solving in a discipline, and to apply them with progressively less guidance.
• Provide students with the competence to argue a position, orally or in writing, from a theoretical stance, taking into account relevant literature, with a cogency and coherence that show familiarity with the discourse of the discipline.
• Bring students to the stage where they have completed the necessary transition from the basic level to the more advanced research level, with control over essential theoretical and methodological material.
• Provide students with developed analytical skills and methodological competence to address problems in society, with the capacity for independent and informed critical assessment of complex issues.

This qualification signals a basic readiness for independent enquiry and will prepare students for further postgraduate study. The qualifying learner will have the analytical skills and the methodological competence to address problems in society.

• A Senior Certificate with Matriculation Endorsement or equivalent university admission qualification, plus a first degree are necessary for registration for a Bachelor of Arts Honours degree.
• In order to comply with the points mentioned above, it is assumed that the applicant shows competence in numeracy, written and oral English, and in the terminology of the chosen field.

Recognition of Prior Learning

• Applicants who fall outside the normal admissions process may be considered both for admission and for the recognition of prior accredited and/or prior experiential learning.

N/A

The qualifying learner will

1. Use and apply with progressively less guidance the highly specialised skills needed for particular problem-solving in a discipline in the humanities.
2. Demonstrate specialised knowledge, that is knowledge focused in greater depth and fuller range on the content of one major discipline in the humanities, with adequate control of its essential theories and methodologies.
3. Display an advanced grasp of the typical concepts and problems in the field of study.
4. Demonstrate a familiarity with a range of research skills and tools for addressing problems in the field of study.
5. Display an understanding of and familiarity with the discourse of the discipline.
6. Develop analytical skills and methodological competence to enable him/her to address problems in society.

The qualifying learner will

• Identify, analyse and explore new theoretical and empirical information in a field of study in the humanities with a measure of independence either as preparation for subsequent research or for work in society.
• Recognise and define promising new areas of study, and assimilate these to the appropriate theoretical positions.
• Recognise complexity and select appropriate responses to it from within the particular field of specialisation.
• Engage in independent critical assessment of problems and identify, judge critically and apply the appropriate theories needed to address their complexity.
• Engage in scholarly interaction from a solid grounding in the particular discipline, recognising issues at stake and taking a theoretically informed position in debate.
• Argue a position from a theoretical stance, taking into account relevant literature, with a cogency and coherence that show familiarity with the discourse of the discipline.

Integrated assessment

Integrated assessment is performed on a continuous basis and comprises a range of formative and summative assessment methods such as portfolios, assignments, work-place assessments, class exercises, written and oral examinations.