Bachelor of Arts Honours in Development Studies

Purpose and Rationale

The primary purpose of the qualification is to provide Honours Bachelor of Arts (BA) graduates with systematic knowledge, specialised skills and theoretical competence focusing on or within a particular discipline or within an interdisciplinary framework to prepare them for specialist training at an advanced level.

A second purpose of the qualification is to provide South Africa (and other countries) with graduates who have in-depth knowledge and the confidence to identify and define complex problems and to apply their skills in finding solutions to those problems, especially within unfamiliar contexts.

A third purpose of the qualification is to provide South Africa (and other countries) with people who can demonstrate thorough familiarity with a particular discipline or interdisciplinary framework and have the ability to perform independently as intellectual leaders in their society.

Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL)

This qualification recognises formal prior learning and non-formal and informal prior experiential learning

Formal prior learning

• Students need a Bachelor of Arts (BA) Degree to register for the Honours Bachelor of Arts (Hons BA).
• Students' prior accredited learning at tertiary level in relevant domains which constitute credit-bearing units is recognised.

Non-formal and informal prior experiential learning

• Students will be given RPL for 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. They may also be awarded blocks of credits towards elective modules in line with the institutional RPL policy.

Entry Requirements

An appropriate Bachelor's Degree in the relevant discipline or a discipline closely associated with it, with 60% or more.

Compulsory Modules, Level 8 Credits: 72

• Development Debates and Issues, 24 Credits.
• Research Methodology in Development Studies, 12 Credits.
• Research Report in Development Studies, 36 Credits.

Elective Modules, Level 8 Credits: 48

• Human Security and Development, 24 Credits.
• Governance and Development, 24 Credits.
• Sustainable Development: Policy, Practice and Environment, 24 Credits.
• Gender and Development, 24 Credits.

1. Engage in critical thinking and problem solving in studying topics of a complex and specialised nature.
2. Reflect on their own knowledge and practice in the light of the theory and practice in Public Administration.
3. Conduct research.
4. Communicate research results.

Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcomes

• Identify, analyse, formulate and solve convergent and divergent problems and issues related to the natural and human environments.
• Work effectively with others as a member of a team, group, organisation, community, and contribute to the group output in tasks within the field of environmental management.
• Manage and organise her or his activities and life responsibly and effectively, including her or his studies within the open and distance learning context.
• Collect, analyse, organize and critically evaluate information, as required in the pursuit of the Bachelor of Arts Honours (BA Hons) (Development Studies).
• Communicate effectively using visual, mathematical and/or language skills in the modes of oral and for written presentation, often in pieces of sustained discourse.
• Use science and technology effectively and critically, showing responsibility towards the environment and health and well-being of others, in community, national and global context.
• Demonstrate an understanding of the world as a set of related systems by recognizing that problem-solving contexts do not exist in isolation, and by acknowledging their responsibilities to those in the local and broader community.

Integrated Assessment

Formative Assessment is done by means of activities in study guides, self-assessment questions in study guides and self-assessment assignments as well as written assignments that have to be submitted for assessment. The assignments are either in the form of multiple-choice questions (MCQs), short questions, essays or a combination. Students must submit at least two to three assignments for each module. The marks obtained for these assignments contribute a minimum of 20% towards the final mark for the module. The remaining mark is made up of the examination mark. Feedback on activities and self-assessment questions are provided in study guides and tutorial letters. Individual feedback on assignments is provided by assessors in marked assignments while general feedback on these assignments is provided in tutorial letters.

Summative Assessment is conducted by means of a two to three-hour examination per module. Feedback on summative assessment (examinations) is provided to individual students upon request. Internal moderators for assignments are usually course coordinators and for examinations are second examiners. External moderators are academics who are not employed by University of South Africa (UNISA). They are appointed to moderate examination question papers and marked student scripts. To quality assure the assessment process, internal markers, internal moderators, and the external examiners shall be required to complete the assessment questionnaire that will help to improve and to quality assure the assessment process. Feedback from this process is used to improve on our assessment process.