Master of Arts

Purpose

The Master of Arts is designed to enable graduates to be become specialists in a specific field. The purpose of the qualification is to deepen learner's knowledge and provide South Africa with scholars who can demonstrate leadership capabilities.

Rationale

The Master of Arts is designed to enhance and deepen learner's knowledge in specific disciplines and enable learners to acquire practical skills in research design, statistics and computing. The qualification is designed to produce qualified researchers whose knowledge and skills can contribute to both national and international enhancement of the humanities and the social sciences. Successful learners will be able to demonstrate their research skills and to further their studies, thus promoting life-long learning.

Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL)

Learners who do not meet the minimum entry requirements may be admitted to the qualification through RPL.

The minimum entry requirement is

• A relevant Bachelor of Arts Honours, Level 8.
• A relevant Postgraduate Diploma, Level 8.

Entry Requirements

The minimum entry requirement is

• Bachelor Honours Degree, Level 8.

This qualification consists of compulsory and elective modules at Level 9 totalling 180 Credits.

The qualification may be completed in two ways

1. Through the completion of a research project culminating in a dissertation worth 180 Credits,

Or

1. The completion of coursework and a mini research project culminating in a dissertation, which together total 180 Credits.

Compulsory Modules at Level 9

• Dissertation (POP5000), 180 Credits

Or,

• Masters Dissertation (LIS6211), 40 Credits

Or,

• Dissertation (POP5006), 180 Credits

Or,

• Master of Arts Police Science (Course Work & Mini-dissertation) (MPL5000), 180 Credits

Or,

• M A Industrial Psychology (Dissertation) (IPY 5000), 180 Credits

Or,

• Mini Dissertation (POP5005), 60 Credits

Or,

• M A Anthropology (dissertation) (MAN5001), 180 Credits

Or,

• Dissertation (SOC5006), 180 Credits

Or,

• Mini Dissertation (PHE5070), 60 Credits

Or,

• M A Psychology (Dissertation) (PSY 5000), 180 Credits.

Elective Modules at Level 9

Should learners choose to do the qualification through a mini research project and course work, the learner must choose the appropriate research dissertation module, (that is one with fewer than 180 Credits) plus course work modules from the list below so that the qualification totals 180 Credits. The institution will advise on the applicable course work modules for the specialisation chosen:

• Punishment and the State, 20 Credits.
• Criminological Perspective on Social Problems, 20 Credits.
• Sociology of the Environment, 16 Credits.
• Political Economy of Southern Africa, 24 Credits.
• Sociology of Development, 16 Credits.
• Rural Development, 24 Credits.
• Issues in Industrial Sociology, 16 Credits.
• Foreign Policy Analysis, 24 Credits.
• Individual Study, 16 Credits.
• Medical and Information Technology Ethics, 24 Credits.
• International Political Economy, 24 Credits.
• Public Administration Ethics, 24 Credits.
• International issues in Information Science, 16 Credits.
• Police Ethics, 24 Credits.
• Strategic issues in Community Safety, 20 Credits.
• International Law and Human Rights, 24 Credits.
• The Sociology of Media, 24 Credits.
• Race Thinking and Thinking about Race, 24 Credits.
• Population and Sustainable Rural Development, 24 Credits.
• Police Management Approaches and Issues, 20 Credits.
• Mini-Dissertation, 60 Credits.
• Environment and Sustainable Development Studies, 20 Credits.
• Police Ethics and Integrity, 20 Credits.
• Sociology of Africa, 24 Credits.
• Sociology of Crime and Deviance, 24 Credits.
• Crime Investigation in Context, 20 Credits.
• Rural and Development Sociology, 16 Credits.
• Research Methodology, 20 Credits.
• Urban Sociology: Employment, Unemployment, 16 Credits.
• Biomedical Ethics, 24 Credits.
• Social Statistics for Social Sciences, 16 Credits.
• Information Processing and Dissemination, 16 Credits.
• Business Ethics, 24 Credits.
• Adv Population Policies and Dev Strategies, 24 Credits.
• International Relations Theory, 24 Credits.
• Development Ethics, 24 Credits.
• Adv Demographic and Population Studies Issues, 16 Credits.
• Adv Social Research Methods for Social Science, 16 Credits.
• Adv Social Theories (Classical, Modern and Post, 16 Credits.
• National and International Information Systems, 16 Credits.
• Advanced Techniques in Demography, 20 Credits.
• Adv Population Change and Dev: Africa, 24 Credits.
• Social Research Methods, 24 Credits.
• Use of Statistical Packages for Research, 16 Credits.
• Africa and World Politics, 24 Credits.
• Feminist Ethics, 24 Credits.
• M A Criminology (Dissertation), 180 Credits.
• Work Integrated Learning (WIL), 20 Credits.
• Library Practical, 16 Credits.
• Research Methods and Statistics, 24 Credits.
• Public Policy Analysis, 24 Credits.
• Mini Dissertation, 60 Credits.
• Ethics in Education, 24 Credits.
• Advanced Topics in Ethical Theory, 24 Credits.
• General Case Studies, 24 Credits.

1. Demonstrate appropriate skills to engage with and critique current research or practice, as well as advanced scholarship in a particular field or discipline related to social sciences and/or humanities.
2. Access, process and manage information, in order to conduct a comprehensive review of leading and current research in a field of specialisation related to social sciences and/or humanities.
3. Assess and evaluate current processes of knowledge production and choose an appropriate process of enquiry.
4. Use academic resources to communicate and defend substantial ideas that are a product of research.
5. Show sensitivity to the multi-cultural and multi-lingual nature of South African society.
6. Identify, analyse, formulate and use critical and creative thinking to solving problems related to individuals, groups, families, and people with special needs within communities as well as the work place.
7. Take responsibility for own work, decision-making and use of resources and full accountability for the decisions and actions of others where appropriate.

The following Associated Assessment Criteria are used in an integrated manner for the Exit Level Outcomes

• Design and implement research.
• Research is conducted.
• An original, critical contribution to chosen field of choice is made.
• Demonstrate competent understanding of research models and strategies.
• Empirical work constitutes a substantial contribution to knowledge.
• Evidence of originality is demonstrated by the discovery of new facts by the exercise of independent critical judgments.

Integrated Assessment

Formative and summative assessment are implemented for both the dissertation and, where applicable, the coursework.