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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: 

Master of Social Sciences 
SAQA QUAL ID QUALIFICATION TITLE
15754  Master of Social Sciences 
ORIGINATOR
University of Pretoria 
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  General Social Science 
ABET BAND MINIMUM CREDITS PRE-2009 NQF LEVEL NQF LEVEL QUAL CLASS
Undefined  240  Level 8 and above  NQF Level 09  Regular-Provider-ELOAC 
REGISTRATION STATUS SAQA DECISION NUMBER REGISTRATION START DATE REGISTRATION END DATE
Reregistered  EXCO 0328/24  2024-11-21  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 
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 

LEARNING ASSUMED TO BE IN PLACE AND RECOGNITION OF PRIOR LEARNING 
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. 

RECOGNISE PREVIOUS LEARNING? 
N 

EXIT LEVEL OUTCOMES 
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. 
    		•

    ASSOCIATED ASSESSMENT CRITERIA 
    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. 
    		•

    ARTICULATION OPTIONS 
    Related qualifications:
    Master's degree based on course-work
    Ph D based on research

    Ph D based on research serves as an entry point to the related qualification

    Master's degree based on course-work provides credits for the related qualification

    Other articulation possibilities, either generic or specific arrangements:
    The programme leading to a M Soc Sc qualifies the candidate for further training on post graduate level offered by the Schools in the Faculty of Humanities, as well as related postgraduate programmes in the Faculty of Economics and Business Management (e.g. M BA) and the Faculty of Natural, Agricultural and Information Sciences. 

    MODERATION OPTIONS 
    Measures to ensure that assessment is fair, reliable and valid are in place according to a set of guidelines for internal second examiners as well as external assessors, assessment panels and/or other experts. 

    CRITERIA FOR THE REGISTRATION OF ASSESSORS 
    Qualifications required:
    MA, Ph D, D Litt, D Phil or D Litt et Phil

    Career experience required:
  • Assessors should have extensive experience in guiding research projects at postgraduate level and in supervising learners at level 7 (Master's level).
  • If required by the field of study or the outcomes of the programme, at least one of the assessors should have experience in a related, non-academic, professional field of practice. 
    		•

    REREGISTRATION HISTORY 
    As per the SAQA Board decision/s at that time, this qualification was Reregistered in 2006; 2009; 2012; 2015. 

    NOTES 
    This qualification includes the following specialisations:
  • Master of Social Sciences in Anthropology
  • Master of Social Sciences in Development Studies
  • Master of Social Sciences in Employee Assistance Programmes
  • Master of Social Sciences in Gender Studies
  • Master of Social Sciences in Heritage and Cultural Sciences
  • Master of Social Sciences in Industrial Sociology and Labour Studies 
    		•

    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 Pretoria 


    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.