Master of Arts in Political Studies

Purpose

The first purpose of the qualification is to provide graduates with postgraduate-level knowledge, specific skills and applied competence in a number of specialist fields of the Political Sciences that provide opportunities for continued personal intellectual growth, gainful economic activity and rewarding contributions to society. The qualification represents planned learning outcomes, namely that the learner will be qualified to render holistic, integrated and intersect oral services, reflecting diversity, accessibility and equal distribution of resources for all South Africans. The outcomes are designed to promote lifelong learning.

Rationale

The rationale behind a Master's qualification in Political Science as a discipline is that it poses both academic and vocational opportunities, since it equips students with the ability to reason abstractly through the understanding and analysing of political concepts. Study at this level also empowers students to grasp the political dimensions of social and economic phenomena and provides them with the ability to critically analyse, interpret and explain political events and processes both in South Africa and globally.

Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL)

RPL for access purposes will require the candidate to comply with the admission requirements of the North West University (NWU). The North-West University accepts the principle underlying outcomes-oriented, source-based and lifelong learning in which considerations of articulation and mobility play a meaningful role. The University also underwrites the view that recognition of previous learning, obtained either by formal teaching qualification at this or another institution, or informally (obtained by experience), is an indispensable element in granting admission or credits with the aim of placing in a specifically chosen teaching-learning qualification of the University. In recognising previous learning, it deals with provable knowledge and learning that the applicant obtained by following formal teaching programmes or by experience. At all times the question will be what level of competence was reached, judged in the context of the exit level skills required for the contemplated teaching-learning programmes (or modules therein) or status for which the applicant is applying and not merely about the experience the applicant can prove. Recognition of previous learning takes place in terms of the relevant skills that the applicant demonstrated in the application with reference to the exit outcomes that should be reached in the chosen qualification.

Entry Requirements

The minimum requirement for admission to the Master's Degree is

• Honours Degree.

Or

• A cognate four year qualification at Level 8.

This qualification comprises a compulsory module at Level 9 totalling 180 Credits.

Compulsory Modules, Level 9, 180 Credits

• Dissertation, 180 Credits.

1. Demonstrate in-depth knowledge and advanced competencies in the identification of a viable research question that can be researched individually or within a group, both discipline-specific and interdisciplinary.
2. Demonstrate the ability to design and apply appropriate qualitative and/or quantitative formats and procedures in an ethical and scientific way to investigate the problem.
3. Demonstrate the ability the ability to interpret and report the research findings scientifically and to communicate the findings in writing in accordance with academic protocols, and also orally with the aid of Information Technology (IT), to an audience of academic peers.

Integrated Assessment

Assessment of a master's dissertation initially takes place when the research proposal is considered by the Committee for Advanced Degrees. Approval by this committee is a requirement for the study. The supervisor also assesses continuously while the dissertation is being written. Examination of the dissertation is finally done by at least two examiners of which one is external, all experts in the field of specialization. A supervisor may not be appointed as an examiner.