Master of Philosophy in Development Demography

Purpose

The purpose of this qualification is to provide specialised analytical knowledge to professionals that are working in the field of demography. People who are qualified as urban and regional planners, development planners, as well as learners that have obtained a Bachelor Honours Degree in Demography, Geography, Public Management, Sociology and Economics will benefit from this qualification.

Upon qualifying learners will

• Have insight into the processes of social evolution of urban and rural societies; the role that economics play in the shaping of urban land use patterns; the history of the development of urban settlements in the developed and developing worlds in planning terms.
• Be able to describe and explain the design of research projects and the formulation of appropriate aims and goals for desired outcomes in demographic studies.
• Be able to explain geographical data forms, their functions and purposes.
• Identify factors that influence growth and decline in demographic processes in South Africa and how these factors differ from those in other parts of the world.
• Apply appropriate spatial data management principles and practices.

Rationale

Statistics South Africa expressed the need for the development of a Master's qualification that is specifically designed to equip public officials at the local, provincial and national levels of government with knowledge and skills in the area of systematic urban and regional analysis and policy making. There is also a general need for Demographers.

Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL)

The institution has an Assessment Policy and Recognition of Prior Learning (APRL) policy in place.

The qualification will conform to the institution's Policy for the Assessment and Recognition of Prior Learning (ARPL) as well as the RPL policy of the Faculty.

The policy defines the process that must be followed in the assessment of an application for Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) at postgraduate level and provides information pertaining to assessment tools that can be used in the assessment of RPL applications. The RPL process is subjected to the Faculty's quality assurance process.

Entry Requirements

The minimum entrance requirements are

• A 480-Credit Bachelors' Degree in Urban and Regional Planning or Development Planning or Engineering.

Or

• A Bachelor Honours Degree in Demography, Geography, Economics, Public Administration, Sociology, Statistics or Mathematics.

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

• Social Systems, 10 Credits.
• Spatial Economic Systems, 10 Credits.
• Urban Form and Function, 10 Credits.
• Urban Systems, 10 Credits.
• Demographic Systems, 10 Credits.
• Migration Systems, 10 Credits.
• Statistical Urban Analysis, 10 Credits.
• GIS - Analysis, 10 Credits.
• Thesis Development Demography, 100 Credits.

1. Acquire insight into the processes of social evolution of urban and rural societies; the role that economics play in the shaping of urban land use patterns; the history of the development of urban settlements in the developed and developing worlds in planning terms.
2. Describe and explain the design of research projects and the formulation of appropriate aims and goals for desired outcomes in demographic studies.
3. Explain geographical data forms, their functions and purposes.
4. Identify factors that influence growth and decline in demographic processes in South Africa and how these factors differ from those in other parts of the world.
5. Apply appropriate spatial data management principles and practices.

Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 1

• The relationship between social and economic space in the functioning and evolution of cities and their hinterlands is explained.
• Trends in relationships between space, place and communities in different parts of the world are identified and explained.
• Different current views on sustainability and environmentalism in urbanism are described.
• Different perspectives on the evolution of urban space are described.
• The ecological, subcultural and political approaches to urbanisation are described.
• The impact of globalisation on economic and social space internationally and locally is understood.
• Concepts such as colonialism, new-colonialism, fordism, post-fordism, and post-industrialism and their impact on developed, newly industrialised and developing societies are explained.
• The role of location economics in the evolution of spatial economic systems at all levels of spatial aggregation is explained.
• Different outcomes in formal-informal sector relationships and the role informal labour-production systems in urban and rural settlements are described and assessed.
• The description of how urban form and function have historically impacted planning theory and policy is made.
• An explanation of how ideology impact urban policy and what effect different urban development policies have on urban settlements in different parts of the world is given.
• The spatial, social and economic problems that urban settlements of different sizes and growth rates face in different parts of the world are identified.

Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 2

• Problems worth investigating are identified.
• The most appropriate research methodologies that are required to analyse different elements of the research topic at hand are selected.
• Research is independently conducted, evaluated and applied.
• A research report is written and composed.

Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 3

• A theoretical and practical understanding of various methods of statistical analysis is explained.
• Descriptive statistics and distributions are calculated by means of relevant tests.
• Appropriate methods of statistical analysis for application to specific scenarios within the discipline of urban and regional science and urban and regional planning are identified.
• Statistical concepts and analysis with appropriate graphical techniques and presentations are presented and explained.

Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 4

• The impact of demographic change in the processes of social evolution of urban and rural societies in the developed and developing worlds is explained.
• The role of demography in planning and development policy formulation in South Africa is explained.

Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 5

• Maps are generated using GIS software.
• Map projections are made and coordinate systems are determined.
• GIS theory is explained and applied.

Integrated Assessment

During the course of the semester a maximum of one short unprepared test, two prepared formal tests, one group assignment and two individual assignments will be used to assess the learners' mastery of the contents, its value and the learners' applied competencies.

There are also the formal formative evaluation and assessment practices of the University that will assist in determining the relevancy of contents in the qualification.

An assessment programme will be designed which will enable the Department to periodically obtain feedback from learners who have successfully completed the qualification on the value of the contents of the qualification in the profession.