Bachelor of Social Science Honours

• This qualification, B Soc Sc Hons represents planned learning outcomes, namely that the learner will be qualified to render holistic, integrated and intersectoral services, reflecting diversity, accessibility, and equal distribution of resources for all South Africans. These outcomes are designed to promote lifelong learning and are interdisciplinary by nature.
• The specific purposes of this qualification are:
• to provide qualifiers with postgraduate-level knowledge, specific skills and applied competence in a number of fields of a major discipline as well as other disciplines aimed at providing opportunities for continued personal intellectual growth, gainful economic activity and rewarding contributions to society.
• to provide South Africa with a cadre of analysts, researchers, facilitators, developers, managers, and experts who will have a clear and continuously growing understanding of the methods and progress in Social Sciences which could be transferred to their chosen field of application in a career.
• to prepare learners for a articulation to Masters programmes in a major discipline.

Matriculation certificate

First degree

B Soc Sc qualification as first degree

Any B degree (National 1st degree) including at least 8-12 modules (on all undergraduate year levels) which represents the core discipline of this postgraduate qualification or its subsidiary packages.

Other

NOTE: This qualification could provide credits for a coursework Masters programme.

B Soc Sc Hons

Learning outcomes

Knowledge of the discipline

Graduates will have sound knowledge of the principles, major theories, paradigms and methods in a major discipline, and an awareness of the variety of contexts in which these may apply.

Decision-making and problem solving

Graduates are competent to identify key elements of social and human issues, to compare and select methods for obtaining information, analyse and synthesise information, apply theoretical principles towards understanding the information, and select appropriate methods for the resolution of problems, based on an understanding of decision making principles.

Team and multidisciplinary work

Graduates are competent to

• work effectively as members of a multi-professional team
• act as consultants within the limits of their competence
• work across disciplinary boundaries
• communicate effectively, both orally and in writing, on a professional and academic level through accurate reporting of information.

Research

Graduates are competent to design a research project of limited scope, apply appropriate research methods, analyse and report data, and write a research report.

Project/programme implementation and management

Graduates understand the principles of project/ programme formulation and management, and can implement pre-determined projects/programmes effectively.

Information technology

Graduates are competent to use computers and information infrastructures for accessing, processing, storing and managing information, with the view to conduct research, write reports and referrals, and manage a information effectively.

Lifelong learning

Graduates show self-directed work and learning

Critical cross-field outcomes

Critical cross-field outcomes for this programme include but are not limited to various competencies and applied competencies such as:

• identifying and solving problems in which responses display that responsible decisions using critical and creative thinking have been made concerning solutions for problems related to individuals, groups, families, communities and people with special needs;
• work intersectorally with other disciplines as a member of a team, group, organisation, community in both the public and private sectors;
• demonstrate an understanding of the interaction between systems from an ecological approach by understanding social needs, problems and resource capacity within an international, national and local context;
• develop holistic, integrated strategies and programmes for social sciences founded on the collection, analyses, organising, implementation and critical evaluation of theory, information and processes;
• demonstrate effective utilisation of technology for strategies aimed at broadening the scope of the Humanities and science in general;
• organise and manage their work load responsibly and effectively by means of a scheduled programme allowing for a learning environment such as reading scientific journals in the field as well as becoming a member of professional bodies, attending seminars and conferences, doing research and rendering voluntary services to facilitate professional growth and development;
• communicate effectively with people of all target groups, including people who are literate and illiterate, children and the youth, using visual and language skills in the modes of oral and/or written persuasion;
• contribute to the full personal development of each learner regarding strategies for learning, such as furthering a culture of life-long learning, scientific involvement, expressing a non-discriminating attitude across a range of social contexts based on the value of social justice and a sensitivity for cultural diversity and awareness of similarities, and to explore and develop career opportunities such as entrepreneurial initiatives to promote social and economical independence and opportunities for personal development.

To meet the requirements for the B Soc Sc Hons qualification the knowledge, skills, values and attitudes of the learner are assessed on the basis of any or all of the following:

• Performance during oral presentations in front of peers and/or experts.
• Written outputs in the format of essays and reports.
• Where applicable, written examinations reflecting research competence.
• A mini-dissertation, being the culmination of research efforts.

The assessment will both formative, summative and criteria-based and reliability will be ensured by both internal and external moderation

Integrated assessment

Portfolios: if required by the research topic or the discipline

Simulations: if required by the research topic or the discipline

Work-place assessments: if required by the research topic or the discipline

Written examinations: if required by the research topic or the discipline

Oral examinations: if required by the research topic or the discipline

Other

The modalities for integrated assessment permit the candidate to demonstrate applied competence. Mainly formative methods set according to specific guidelines and methods related to credentialing the critical exit-level and cross-field outcomes appropriate to contextual and situational achievements are recognised.

In addition to the above, modalities such as group discussions, and presentations in front of peers and experts may also be used. Final assessment by expert external assessors, both academic and non-academic, will be done.