Bachelor of Arts in Law

Purpose

The Bachelor of Arts in Law seeks to equip learners with a set of core competencies necessary to pursue careers in Law and Politics. The qualification provides learners with the knowledge base, theory, methodology and application relevant to the core areas of private law. The qualification equips learners to be public intellectuals and reflexive practitioners who work for change within South Africa. Qualifying learners will develop skills to lead and mobilise organisations and communities towards societal transformation.

Qualifying learners will be able to do the following

• Demonstrate an understanding of the South African legal system.
• Read legal texts and apply legal writing skills to draft legal documents.
• Apply the principles contained in core areas of South African private law.
• Manage the conceptualisation and implementation of strategies, policies and plans in private and public sector environments with due regard to national and global contexts.
• Promote ethical decisions on complex institutional issues with sensitivity and awareness of consequences in an autonomous manner.
• Communicate effectively through engagement with literature from a wide variety of sources about politics and philosophy.

Rationale

The qualification is currently sought-after as it equips learners to interpret and apply South African law and it contributes to the development of the South African political system.

The qualification also aims to offer personal and professional formation through the development of learners' leadership skills and their understanding of the Humanities within the South African context. The qualification will enable learners to serve in a variety of capacities in the private and public spheres. Learners can pursue careers in law, journalism, politics, management, intelligence and public administration. Through innovative learning approaches, the qualification promotes an inclusive and transformative ethos of reconciliation, equality, justice and peace. The qualification also serves as an alternative route for entry into the LLB (Level 8) qualification.

Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL)

The formal Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) policy of the Institution is applicable. RPL processes are qualification specific in that the criteria against which evidence of prior learning must be provided, are determined by the learning normally assumed to be in place for qualifications at the relevant level in the field concerned. Instruments are designed only when requests are made. The procedure is governed by the Credit Accumulation and Transfer, Recognition of Prior Learning and Qualification Completion Policy.

RPL mechanism exists for access and advanced standing for formal learning from a recognised, the registered and accredited institution on a registered and accredited qualification.

If a learner applies for an RPL admission, the learning assumed to be in place for the qualification is assessed against Exit-Level Outcomes equivalent to the formal learning required for admission. This would include an evaluation of the content as well as the applicant's cognitive and technical competence. Learners prepare a portfolio against these stated requirements, which is then assessed by a team of experts/academics in line with the policy.

Recognition is awarded for the following

• Learning, and not for experience per se;
• Learning that is on the level of the qualification; and
• Learning that is in line with applied competence and has a balance between theory and practical application appropriate to the module.

Entry Requirements

The minimum entry requirement for this qualification are

• National Senior Certificate, NQF Level 4 granting access to Bachelor Studies.

Or

• Senior Certificate, NQF Level 4 with endorsement.

Or

• National Certificate (Vocational), NQF Level 4 granting access to Bachelor Studies.

Or

• Higher Certificate in Management, NQF Level 5.

Or

• Higher Certificate in Paralegal Studies, NQF Level 5.

This qualification consists of the following compulsory and elective modules at NQF Levels 5, 6 and 7 totalling 390 Credits.

Compulsory Modules, Level 5, 100 Credits

• Politics and Government 1, 20 Credits.
• Academic Writing, 20 Credits.
• Philosophy 1, 20 Credits.
• Leadership and Ethics, 20 Credits.
• African Studies, 20 Credits.

Compulsory Modules at Level 6,130 Credits

• Politics and Government 2A, 20 Credits.
• Politics and Government 2B, 20 Credits.
• Family Law, 20 Credits.
• Labour Law, 20 Credits.
• Law of Persons, 20 Credits.
• Introduction to SA Law and Legal Writing Skills, 30 Credits.

Elective Modules at Level 6, 20 Credits (Choose/select one)

• Innovation, 20 Credits.
• Understanding and Managing Creativity, 20 Credits.

Compulsory Modules at Level 7,160 Credits

• Politics and Government 3A, 20 Credits.
• Law of Succession, 20 Credits.
• Law of Contract, 20 Credits.
• Law of Delict, 20 Credits.
• Law of Property, 20 Credits.
• Law of Persons, 20 Credits.

Elective Modules at Level 7, 20 Credits (Choose/Select one)

• Politics and Government 3B, 20 Credits.
• Politics and Government 3C, 20 Credits.

1. Demonstrate an understanding of the South African legal system.
2. Read legal texts and apply legal writing skills to draft legal documents.
3. Apply the principles contained in core areas of South African private law.
4. Solve problems and make decisions using critical and creative thinking embedded in a humanistic paradigm.
5. Work effectively with others as members of a team, group, organisation in communities and society at large.
6. Manage the conceptualisation and implementation of strategies, policies and plans in a public sector environment with due regard to national and global contexts.
7. Promote ethical decisions on complex institutional issues with sensitivity and awareness of consequences in an autonomous manner.
8. Manage themselves and their activities responsibly and effectively to promote and strengthen tolerance and affirmation in problem-solving.
9. Collect, interpret and process data and information to make informed decisions.
10. Communicate effectively through engagement with literature from a wide variety of sources on politics, philosophy and economics.
11. Participate as responsible citizens in the life of local, national and global communities in a culturally and aesthetically sensitive way using the humanities as the central pillar.

Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 1

• Apply knowledge and understanding of the South African legal system.
• Analyse legal issues within the provisions of the South African Constitution.
• Operate legal principles in practice.
• Demonstrate understandings of the inner workings of court processes.
• Evaluate the relationship between law and society.

Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 2

• Access appropriate resources to source relevant information.
• Evaluate information applicable to specific legal issues.
• Act responsibly and ethically with due regard for relevant conventions.
• Apply the prescribed model to draft legal documents.

Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 3

• Demonstrate knowledge and understanding of private law.
• Analyse legal issues within the provisions of private law.
• Apply private law principles in practice.
• Evaluate the shortcomings of private law.

Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 4

• Analyse and reflect on creativity and creative practice using suitable concepts.
• Critically engage with current debates on the nature of creativity and its promotion/management.
• Apply approaches to the management of creativity at individual and group levels.
• Interrogate the relationship between creativity and wider economic and social contexts.

Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 5

• Work within a team or group in a community and contribute to the improvement of society.
• Contribute to community service in society.
• Approach a charitable organisation in an informed manner.
• Engage with the members and beneficiaries of a charitable organisation.
• Contribute to a current charitable initiative.
• Demonstrate a passion for the causes of the disadvantaged in society.
• Report on a contribution to a charitable cause.

Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 6

• Apply major theoretical perspectives for interpreting activities in the global political economy.
• Demonstrate detailed knowledge of the key events and processes through which the system evolved into its current form.
• Evaluate the significance of the major historical conflicts of the 20th century that have shaped the current global political economy.
• Apply the benefits of international cooperation within the system as it relates to human development.
• Analyse the global significance of current events and policies of the major actors in shaping and reshaping the nature of the global political economy.
• Interpret the impact of ideas and technology as shapers of the current global political economy.

Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 7

• Apply ethical knowledge to pressing contemporary ethical questions.
• Evaluate ethical responses in the face of changing technologies and societies.
• Critically engage with concrete ethical questions and issues surrounding them.
• Debate sensitive and complex ethical questions in an open-minded and rigorous way.
• Conduct independent research in the field of philosophy.
• Read and comprehend philosophical texts.
• Construct coherent arguments for own positions on case studies in applied ethics.

Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 8

• Apply the theoretical perspectives in psychology.
• Apply theories, models and processes of human behaviour.
• Analyse work-related examples and applications pertinent to the South African context.
• Identify culture-specific issues where relevant.
• Identify behavioural and personality concepts in the workplace.

Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 9

• Identify the major theoretical paradigms in the field of political studies, with their corresponding truth claims.
• Distinguish between quantitative and qualitative empirical research methodologies.
• Draft a basic quantitative or qualitative research design.
• Execute a basic research project.
• Write up the findings of the research project into a research report.

Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 10

• Conduct independent research in the field of philosophy.
• Read complex classical and contemporary philosophical texts.
• Demonstrate a critical understanding of some major developments in the history of political philosophy.
• Distinguish between and compare different political theories.
• Criticise influential political theories.
• Appreciate the relationship between political theory and political practice.
• Explicate own views coherently and logically on the selected political theories.

Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 11

• Demonstrate knowledge and appreciate the origin, purpose and structure of the United Nations Global Compact (UNGC).
• Apply UNGC principles to human rights, labour and familiar organisational contexts, environment and corruption.

Integrated Assessment

The institution makes use of formal and non-formal, formative, and summative assessment tasks to assess learners' progress and their achievements on the modules in qualification as part of the integration. The results of non-formal formative assessment tasks are not recorded formally, but these tasks are applied mainly to provide feedback to the learner and to enhance teaching. The results of formal assessment tasks are recorded towards the achievement of success on the module.

Depending on the nature of the subject matter, a range of assessment methods is applied at formative and summative assessment stage to facilitate effective integrated assessment. For panel discussions, presentations and project work, experts from industry are invited, where possible, to provide input into the formal assessment results, with the institution's examiners.

The following assessment regime applies to modules on this qualification.

Formative Assessment

On the first level of formative assessment, activities and self-assessment questions are provided in study guides. Learners are provided with model answers at the back of the study guides. These self-assessment opportunities prepare learners for individual assignments and online tests.

On the second level of formative assessment, learners will have to complete one online test and one individual written assignment. Upon completion of the online test, learners will be provided with feedback on their attempt per question.

Summative Assessment

Each module will have one final summative assessment (examination). Depending on nature or application required for a particular module, the examination may be in the form of an individual summative assignment or a venue-based examination.