Master of Philosophy in Child Care and Protection

Purpose

The purpose of the qualification is to enable learners to become more knowledgeable as well as effective socio-legal researchers who can critically engage with the child care and protection socio-legal principles within the broader context of justice in society ensuring their professional development as legal scholars and/or practitioners. Learners are assisted to engage with the underlying legal theories and to assess the legal principles that ultimately impact on the child care and protection environment and society as a whole. An opportunity is provided for learners to obtain detailed socio-legal knowledge into a specific child care and protection area and to critically reflect, analyse and synthesize divergent legal concepts.

The purpose is to engage relevant material for use in a national, regional African and international context, thus enabling learners to interpret law and policy in the broader context to effect positive legal change. The aim is to develop various competencies and skills that facilitate life-long learning.

Rationale

There is a high need for well-trained professionals to deal with the high incidences of criminal and negative actions involving children. New knowledge created by trained researchers as professional child care and protection socio-legal practitioners are necessary for the enhancement of the broader legal and social work professions, private and public practice, the judiciary and the court system, government and the legislature, as the legal field is ever changing and developing within a broader constitutional, national and international context.

Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL)

The principles underlying outcomes-based, source-based and life-long learning, in which considerations of articulation and mobility play a significant roleqre subscribed to. Recognition of Prior Learning, whether acquired by formal education curricula at any institution or informally (by experience) is an indispensable element in deciding on admission to and awarding credits in an explicitly selected teaching qualification. An applicant who falls outside of the formal qualifications system, but who can demonstrate (through the production of substantial and satisfactory evidence) experiential or work-based learning or a non-formal qualification (or a combination), may be considered for admission and/or for the Recognition of Prior Learning for the achievement of the qualification in part or in full.

Entry Requirements

The minimum entry requirement for this qualification is

• Bachelor of Laws, Level 8.

This qualification consists of the following compulsory and elective modules at National Qualifications Framework Level 9 totalling 192 Credits.

Compulsory Modules, Level 9, 168 Credits

• Role of Professional in Proceedings, 24 Credits.
• Children's Rights (Local and International), 24 Credits.
• Mini Dissertation, 96 Credits.
• Research Methodology, 24 Credits.

Elective Modules, Level 9, 24 Credits (Choose ONE Elective)

• Child Care Policy and Legislation, 24 Credits.
• Medico-Legal and Social Aspects of Child Care, 24 Credits.
• Crime: Children as Victims and Perpetrators, 24 Credits.

1. Identify, describe, critically evaluate and apply the main concepts and legal principles pertaining to a selected area of legal study within a broader constitutional and international context.
2. Identify issues and solve practical and perceived legal problems through analytical thinking and evaluative techniques with regard to the research to ne undertaken.
3. Demonstrate advanced legal research skills pertaining to national, regional and international child care and protection laws and policy.
4. Apply a critical and evaluative approach to analysing complex socio-legal issues in the field of child care and protection.
5. Analyse complex socio-legal problems relating to child care and protection and motivate the appropriate way of dealing with these problems, with reference to specific legal principles.
6. Critically engage with socio-legal principles specifically within the context of child care and protection and identify how they should be applied to complex legal problems in a child care and protection context.
7. Undertake independent socio-legal research and write a dissertation which reflects advanced research skills, independent thinking, critical analysis and advanced insight into the selected areas of child care and protection laws.

The following Associated Assessment Criteria will be used in an integrated manner across the Exit Level Outcomes

• Identify issues and solve practical and perceived legal problems through analytical thinking and evaluative techniques.
• Conduct independent research on the relevant area of study using appropriate research methodology and skills.

Research work of learners must meet the following requirements

• Focuses on and is relevant to the topic and has depth of coverage.
• The methodology is appropriate and the argument logically-structured.
• Meets validity requirements in planning and execution and shows independent approach.
• Utilises analysis and critical evaluation rather than mere descriptive accounts.
• Develops persuasive and coherent arguments and accurately and logically interprets data/evidence.
• Acknowledges sources and provides consistent and detailed citations.
• Utilises an appropriate and sufficiently up-to-date range of sources.
• Is written fluently and grammatically using correct spelling, and makes proper use of paragraphs of approximately 20,000 words, without undue repetition.

Integrated Assessment

Each module will be assessed through an integrated individual written assignment or test, in addition to a range of oral and written, group and individual class assignments in order to give learners the opportunities to demonstrate a variety of competencies.

Formative Assessments (tests/assignments and oral presentations) will comprise 40% of the final module mark.

A summative assessment in the form of a 3-hour exam will comprise 60% of the final module mark.

The dissertation assesses the ability of learners to integrate solutions from different modules to the applicable legal issue. It requires learners to apply their learning in an integrated way to analyse a specific area related to their work context in a work-based assignment and to apply the theoretical frameworks to recommend solutions to identified legal problem areas. The dissertation's final draft will be summatively-assessed by an internal examiner: 50%; and by an external examiner: 50% respectively.