Master of Social Sciences

This qualification includes the various specialisations in Social Sciences. Please refer to "Notes" for details on the specialisations.

The first purpose of the qualification is to provide qualifiers with postgraduate in-depth knowledge, specific skills and applied competence applicable to a variety of specialist and interrelated fields of both Social and Natural 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 inter-sectoral services, reflecting diversity, accessibility and equal distribution of resources for all South Africans. Outcomes are designed to promote lifelong learning.

The second purpose of the qualification is to provide South Africa with significant numbers of postgraduates in a number of social sciences in order to ensure that the local leadership base of innovative and knowledge based economic and scholarly activity is widened. This should contribute toward a cadre of advanced social analysts, researchers, facilitators, developers, managers, service providers, policy makers and experts in the field of social sciences who will have a clear and continuously growing understanding of the methods, procedures, strategies and progress of social sciences and people who will be able to contribute towards extenuation of their chosen discipline.

In addition to the above overall purpose of this qualification, each area of specialisation has further purposes indicated with the programme

Matriculation certificate

First degree

Honours degree: B Soc Sc Hons in a major discipline.

BA Hons

Other

Equivalent qualifications at other tertiary institutions presented at NQF Level 6 and/or NQF Level 7 Diploma and accredited by UP towards progressing to a Masters degree.

M Soc Sc

Learning outcomes

The M Soc Sc programme specialising in a major discipline provides the learner with opportunities to develop

• Wide-ranging, advanced and specialised scholastic skills and research across a major discipline as a discipline.
• A full range of advanced procedures in a major discipline to apply within complex, variable, and highly specialised contexts.
• Specialised knowledge of a major discipline, enabling him/her to analyse, transform, and evaluate abstract data and concepts towards the creation of appropriate responses to resolve contextual problems.
• Competency in planning, resourcing, and managing processes within the broad parameters and functions of science.
• Accountability for determining, achieving, and evaluating personal and/or group output.
• Scholarly expertise enabling him/her to enter doctoral and further research education and research-based occupations.

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 M Soc Sc 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 be 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 of the dissertation.