SAQA

All qualifications and part qualifications registered on the National Qualifications Framework are public property. Thus the only payment that can be made for them is for service and reproduction. It is illegal to sell this material for profit. If the material is reproduced or quoted, the South African Qualifications Authority (SAQA) should be acknowledged as the source.

SOUTH AFRICAN QUALIFICATIONS AUTHORITY

REGISTERED QUALIFICATION THAT HAS PASSED THE END DATE:

Bachelor of Arts Honours: Political Science

SAQA QUAL ID	QUALIFICATION TITLE
15215	Bachelor of Arts Honours: Political Science
ORIGINATOR
University of Natal
PRIMARY OR DELEGATED QUALITY ASSURANCE FUNCTIONARY			NQF SUB-FRAMEWORK
CHE - Council on Higher Education			HEQSF - Higher Education Qualifications Sub-framework
QUALIFICATION TYPE	FIELD		SUBFIELD
Honours Degree	Field 07 - Human and Social Studies		Public Policy, Politics and Democratic Citizenship
ABET BAND	MINIMUM CREDITS	PRE-2009 NQF LEVEL	NQF LEVEL	QUAL CLASS
Undefined	128	Level 7	NQF Level 08	Regular-Provider-ELOAC
REGISTRATION STATUS		SAQA DECISION NUMBER	REGISTRATION START DATE	REGISTRATION END DATE
Passed the End Date - Status was "Reregistered"		SAQA 2663/05	2006-07-01	2009-06-30
LAST DATE FOR ENROLMENT		LAST DATE FOR ACHIEVEMENT
2010-06-30		2013-06-30

In all of the tables in this document, both the pre-2009 NQF Level and the NQF Level is shown. In the text (purpose statements, qualification rules, etc), any references to NQF Levels are to the pre-2009 levels unless specifically stated otherwise.

This qualification is replaced by:

Qual ID	Qualification Title	Pre-2009 NQF Level	NQF Level	Min Credits	Replacement Status
81051	Bachelor of Arts Honours: Political Science	Level 7	NQF Level 08	128	Complete

PURPOSE AND RATIONALE OF THE QUALIFICATION

Political science is a discipline with both academic and vocational elements. It equips students with the ability to reason abstractly through understanding and analysing political concepts. It enables them to grasp the political dimensions of social and economic phenomena. It provides them with the ability critically to analyse, interpret and explain political events and processes both in South Africa and globally. A strong research skills component, focussing specifically on the methodology and techniques used for political science research (both qualitative, such as data interpretation, and quantitative) and on training in IT skills, are central to all qualifications earned through the programme. This qualification has a clear vocational aspect in that it equips students with both knowledge and analytical skills necessary to careers in the public service, politics, journalism, corporate governance and the NGO sector.

LEARNING ASSUMED TO BE IN PLACE AND RECOGNITION OF PRIOR LEARNING

Appropriate Bachelor's degree. Entry is also possible through University of Natal's Rule 33 for postgraduate study.

RECOGNISE PREVIOUS LEARNING?

EXIT LEVEL OUTCOMES

1. Demonstrate well developed study habits: location and use of sources, ability to write in response to topics set
2. Demonstrate competent academic writing skills and knowledge of standard academic writing conventions
3. Demonstrate basic computer literary
4. Participate in small group discussions'
5. Engage in argument around, and analysis of, issues in a manner that displays an informed and skilful deployment political developments in South Africa, Africa and globally
6. Demonstrate knowledge of the major sub-disciplines of Political Science (Political Theory, International Relations, Comparative Politics, Area Studies, Research Methodology)
7. Demonstrate an awareness of the range of vocational opportunities available to Political Science graduates
8. Demonstrate independent study habits
9. Locate and use a variety of sources, both secondary and primary, documentary and electronic
10. Demonstrate knowledge of appropriate research skills for different kinds of research projects
11. Demonstrate knowledge of computer programmes for research, both quantitative and qualitative
12. Demonstrate advanced skills of seminar presentation
13. Work with others on a research project
14. Apply a wide range of concepts, analytical technique and modes of theorization to contemporary political issues

ASSOCIATED ASSESSMENT CRITERIA

1. Locate and use a variety of sources, both secondary and primary, documentary and electronic
2. Demonstrate the knowledge of appropriate research skills for different kinds of research projects
3. Deploy advanced writing skills and a thorough knowledge of and ability to deploy the conventions of writing research papers in Political Science
4. Demonstrate the knowledge of computer programmes for research, both quantitative and qualitative
5. Deploy advanced skills of seminar presentation
6. Work with others on a research project
7. Apply a wide range of concepts, analytical techniques and modes of theorization to contemporary political issues

Integrated assessment appropriately incorporated to ensure that the purpose of the qualification is achieved:

The University of Natal is currently reforming its assessment strategies to include the assessment of applied competence for each qualification. In the meantime, a combination of continuous assessment and traditional written examinations serve to assess the integration of all/most of the learning outcomes for each module in a qualification.

ARTICULATION OPTIONS

Vertical:

Above: Masters degree

Below: a Recognized Bachelor's degree

Horizontal:

Within the University: with the approval of the programme directors, modules from other approved disciplines may be incorporated into this qualification and modules from this discipline may be incorporated into other approved qualifications.

Outside the University: subject to University recognition of qualifications and/or credits obtained at other institutions.

MODERATION OPTIONS

The ETQA system for HE is not yet fully developed. Until such time as it is, procedures described under assessor criteria suffice.

CRITERIA FOR THE REGISTRATION OF ASSESSORS

Until the HEQC establishes a registration system for assessors in the HET Band, the University of Natal assumes that on the basis of its rigorous selection criteria for the appointment of academic staff (who also have opportunities for staff development in assessment), staffs are competent to assess students on the modules they teach. This assessment is quality assured via a university system of internal moderation and external examination. External examiners are appointed for their teaching and disciplinary expertise and subject to the approval of Faculty Boards. The University of Natal ruling is that 66 % of all assessments at exit level, i.e. leading to qualifications are externally examined.

REREGISTRATION HISTORY

As per the SAQA Board decision/s at that time, this qualification was Reregistered in 2006.

LEARNING PROGRAMMES RECORDED AGAINST THIS QUALIFICATION:

When qualifications are replaced, some of their learning programmes are moved to being recorded against the replacement qualifications. If a learning programme appears to be missing from here, please check the replacement.

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PROVIDERS CURRENTLY ACCREDITED TO OFFER THIS QUALIFICATION:

This information shows the current accreditations (i.e. those not past their accreditation end dates), and is the most complete record available to SAQA as of today. Some Primary or Delegated Quality Assurance Functionaries have a lag in their recording systems for provider accreditation, in turn leading to a lag in notifying SAQA of all the providers that they have accredited to offer qualifications and unit standards, as well as any extensions to accreditation end dates. The relevant Primary or Delegated Quality Assurance Functionary should be notified if a record appears to be missing from here.

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