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SOUTH AFRICAN QUALIFICATIONS AUTHORITY 
REGISTERED QUALIFICATION: 

Master of Arts in Public Philosophy and Ethics 
SAQA QUAL ID QUALIFICATION TITLE
115765  Master of Arts in Public Philosophy and Ethics 
ORIGINATOR
University of Johannesburg 
PRIMARY OR DELEGATED QUALITY ASSURANCE FUNCTIONARY NQF SUB-FRAMEWORK
CHE - Council on Higher Education  HEQSF - Higher Education Qualifications Sub-framework 
QUALIFICATION TYPE FIELD SUBFIELD
Master's Degree  Field 07 - Human and Social Studies  Religious and Ethical Foundations of Society 
ABET BAND MINIMUM CREDITS PRE-2009 NQF LEVEL NQF LEVEL QUAL CLASS
Undefined  180  Not Applicable  NQF Level 09  Regular-Provider-ELOAC 
REGISTRATION STATUS SAQA DECISION NUMBER REGISTRATION START DATE REGISTRATION END DATE
Reregistered  EXCO 0821/24  2021-07-01  2027-06-30 
LAST DATE FOR ENROLMENT LAST DATE FOR ACHIEVEMENT
2028-06-30   2031-06-30  

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 does not replace any other qualification and is not replaced by any other qualification. 

PURPOSE AND RATIONALE OF THE QUALIFICATION 
Purpose:
The primary purpose of this qualification is to provide qualifying learners with the ability to:
  • Identify and address context specific ethical dilemmas e.g. fraud in various guises, issues of diversity in employment, issues of access to information and decision-making, justice and democracy in the workplace.
  • Progress to a more general level of analysis and understanding by developing a multi-disciplinary approach in conjunction with inputs from specialists in ethical theories, ethical management, labour law and human resource management.
  • Utilise both specialised applied knowledge and more general theories, by which learners are trained to understand, contextualise, design and apply procedures to solve the specifically identified moral issues in the workplace.
  • Further study at NQF Level 8 on a Doctoral Degree program.

    Rationale:
    Combating corruption and fraud is a priority in the public sector. The government has committed itself to the UN project to fight corruption in the public sector. The private sector Business Against Crime Initiative to combat economic crime and unethical corporate behaviour attests to the moral nature of the crisis in business culture. The second King report on Corporate Governance requires both public and private companies to manage their ethical performance. There is a severe lack of relevant training for managing ethical performance. This M Phil program in Ethics provides in this need on a regional and national basis.

    This qualification opens career possibilities in managing and auditing the ethical performance of organisations. 
    		•

    LEARNING ASSUMED TO BE IN PLACE AND RECOGNITION OF PRIOR LEARNING 
    Recognition of prior learning:
    Recognition of Prior Learning in the case of learners not complying with the formal entry requirements will be conducted in accordance with the policy and guidelines of the University concerning the recognition of other forms of formal, informal and non-formal learning and experience. Recognition takes place only where prior learning corresponds to the required NQF-level, and in terms of applied competencies relevant to the content and outcomes of the programme. Through Recognition of Prior Learning, learners may gain access, or advanced placement, or recognition of status, on condition that they continue their studies at this University.

    Entry Requirements:
    The minimum entry requirement for this qualification is:
  • Bachelor of Arts Honours, NQF Level 8.
  • Bachelor of Arts Honours (Philosophy), NQF Level 8. 
    		•

    RECOGNISE PREVIOUS LEARNING? 
    Y 

    QUALIFICATION RULES 
  • Fundamental: 30 credits; Level 8.
    Total: 30 Credits.
  • Core: 90 Credits; Level 8.
    Total: 90 Credits.

    Total: 120 Credits; Level 8. 
    		•

    EXIT LEVEL OUTCOMES 
    1. Utilise various theories of business ethics, justice, gender, as well as different methodological approaches from relevant specialized disciplines other than ethics to identify and analyse moral problems in the workplace, and to formulate and reflect on appropriate responses.
    2. Identify the various levels and the various aspects of a moral dilemma in the workplace in order to define the relevant role player(s) with whom plans of actions will have to negotiate and with whose assistance procedures will have to be implemented.
    3. Listen attentively and interpret incisively, through the fair and accurate presentation and evaluation of arguments.
    4. Organise and manage study processes, research, information and available resources.
    5. Conduct independent research on a specialised topic within each of the designated fields of the course, utilizing the methodological, conceptual and historical background knowledge acquired during the course, as well as electronic and other technologies to gather information, and present the results of that research in an accessible and concise manner.
    6. Design, and reflect critically upon applications of ethical theories in our local context and current situation.
    7. Communicate effectively with colleagues and clients by using language skills in the modes of oral and written presentation.
    8. Work constantly in a two-way direction between specific problem and broader context, specialised knowledge and more general theories in order to cultivate macro vision.
    9. Demonstrate their ability to think independently, creatively and critically and to use logical, interpretation, human relations and knowledge assessment skills in order to formulate and reflect upon policy, legal and other relevant solutions to moral dilemmas in the workplace, including the promotion of entrepreneurship and self-reliance where appropriate to empower people previously disempowered by social injustices.
    10. Participate in constructive dialogue concerning the moral dimension of public issues.
    11. Display an on-going and thorough-going moral sensitivity towards and tolerance of cultural, religious, gender, class, race and other differences as the basis of people's different experiences, histories and principles, without falling into moral relativism, i.e without excluding the possibility of moral judgment.
    12. Expand and reinforce existing entrepreneurial opportunities.
    13. Expand and reinforce existing entrepreneurial opportunities. 

    ASSOCIATED ASSESSMENT CRITERIA 
  • Demonstrate the ability to utilise different theories of business ethics, justice, and gender, as well as various methodological approaches to identify and analyse moral problems in the workplace.
  • Suggest appropriate responses to moral dilemmas thus identified.
  • Demonstrate the ability to break problems and solutions down to significant constituent parts.
  • Assign constituent parts of a solution to appropriate role players or agents.
  • Demonstrate an understanding of the coordination of the constituent agents in the action and apply it to self.
  • Listen attentively and read incisively, through the exploration and solution of moral dilemmas in the workplace.
  • Cross-customary and disciplinary boundaries in the exploration and solution of moral dilemmas in the workplace.
  • Cooperate with team members by participating in the logistics of research.
  • Gather information and obtain required answers from designated sources.
  • Research and represent presenting an essay on a topic in the manner of a contribution to a scientific journal.
  • Write a research essay according to set standards which:
    > Identify the issues/problems at stake.
    > Situate those issues/problems within the wider context of the field of research, both historically and methodology.
    > Clarifies/analyses the issues indicated and arguing for a certain understanding/hypothesis/solution.
    > Presents and evaluates available sources used to further the argument.
    > Demonstrate the theoretical and practical workability or unsuitability of proposals towards the solution of moral dilemmas in the workplace.
  • Demonstrate communication skills by oral and written presentations to audiences.
  • Demonstrate the ability to justify designs for the solution of moral dilemmas in the workplace in terms of sustainable environmental and human resources development policies.
  • Demonstrate the ability to link specialised knowledge to larger contexts, and to identify, manage and channel impacts from larger contexts to specialised fields of involvements.
  • Demonstrate the ability to think independently, creatively and critically and use logical, interpretation, human relations and knowledge assessment skills in order to formulate and reflect on policy, legal and other relevant solutions to moral dilemmas.
  • Demonstrate the ability to formulate appropriate solutions to moral dilemmas, including the promotion of entrepreneurship and self-reliance where appropriate to empower people previously disempowered by social injustices.
  • Demonstrate the ability to participate in public dialogue through the assignment of defending or opposing given viewpoints.
  • Display a good balance between tolerance of diversity and diverse viewpoints on the one hand, and sound moral judgment on the other.
  • Demonstrate an ability to reflect critically and creatively on the role of identity differences in a democracy.
  • Demonstrate the ability to assess careers in terms of real and possible codes of conduct.
  • Demonstrate the ability to found entrepreneurial opportunities on existing and possible national and international moral codes of conduct.

    Integrated Assessment:
  • Formative assessment practices that will be implemented:

    Learners are continuously assessed via written assignments. Two essays are handed in electronically, annotated by the lecturer, mailed back to the learner, who, if she/he wishes, can revise and resubmit the essay. The extent of all assignments prior to the final research essay amounts to approximately 6000 words. Credits gained on this basis count for 50% of the marks for each semester course. Learners must also present a research proposal in lieu of the final research essay.
  • Summative assessment practices that will be implemented:

    Integrated assessment, focusing on the achievement of the exit-level outcomes, is done through a final research essay of 6000 words. This essay is also assessed externally.
  • Pass requirements that will be implemented:
    > Pass: minimum of 50% on an average between semester marks composed of the marks of the first two essays (50%), and the aggregate of the research essay (50%).
    > Distinction: minimum of 75% on an average between semester marks (50%) and the aggregate of the research essays (50%). 
    		•

    INTERNATIONAL COMPARABILITY 
    The qualification has been compared to another equivalent internationally to ensure that graduates meet globally recognised standards. As such, learners who obtain the qualification are expected to contribute to the ethical performance and ethical reputation of the organisations that they work for in both the private and public sector of the economy. In doing so, they will provide an impetus for improved organisational performance and sustainability. The qualification will equip to students to deal with important ethical issues that are emerging in the local and global economy. 

    ARTICULATION OPTIONS 
    This qualification allows possibilities for both vertical and horizontal articulation.

    Horizontal Articulation:
  • Master of Arts in Philosophy, NQF Level 9.

    Vertical Articulation:
  • Doctor of Philosophy, NQF Level 10. 
    		•

    MODERATION OPTIONS 
    N/A 

    CRITERIA FOR THE REGISTRATION OF ASSESSORS 
    N/A 

    NOTES 
    N/A 

    LEARNING PROGRAMMES RECORDED AGAINST THIS QUALIFICATION: 
     
    NONE 


    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.
     
    1. University of Johannesburg 


    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.