Bachelor of Arts Honours in English Studies

Communication Studies and Language - Language

Purpose and Rationale

The primary purpose of the qualification is to provide Honours Bachelor of Arts (BA) graduates with systematic knowledge, specialised skills, and theoretical competence focusing on or within a particular discipline or within an interdisciplinary framework to prepare them for specialist training at an advanced level.

A second purpose of the qualification is to provide South Africa (and other countries) with graduates who have in-depth knowledge and the confidence to identify and define complex problems and to apply their skills in finding solutions to those problems, especially within unfamiliar contexts.

A third purpose of the qualification is to provide South Africa (and other countries) with people who can demonstrate thorough familiarity with a particular discipline or interdisciplinary framework and have the ability to perform independently as intellectual leaders in their society.

Outcomes

Identify, analyse, formulate, and solve convergent and divergent problems of living, of individual and societal kinds, creatively and innovatively.
Work effectively with others as members and leaders of a team, group, organization, community, and provide leadership to the group output in tasks growing out of the fields traditionally considered as the humanities.
Manage and organize their activities and life responsibly and effectively, including their studies and careers.
Collect, analyse, organize and critically evaluate information.
Communicate effectively using visual, mathematical and/or language skills in the modes of oral and/or written presentation, in sustained discourse.
Use science and technology effectively and critically, showing responsibility towards the environment and health and well-being of others, in community, national and global contexts.
Demonstrate an understanding of the world as a set of related systems by recognizing that problem-solving contexts do not exist in isolation, and by acknowledging their responsibilities to those in the local and broader community.

Assessment Criteria

Integrated Assessment:

Summative Assessment: Summative assessment takes place by means of a written exam at the end of the year. The mark acquired during the exam counts 80% towards the year mark. The exams and research article are assessed by two internal moderators and an external examiner.
Formative Assessment: Formative assessment takes place during the year based on two draft papers, which counts 20% towards the year mark. Formative assessment is done by means of activities in study guides, self-assessment questions, and written assignments that have to be submitted for assessment. The marks obtained for these assignments contribute a minimum of 20% towards the final mark for the module.

Assessment Process:

Internal Examiner: The assignments are assessed by an internal examiner.
External Examiner: The exams and research article are assessed by two internal moderators and an external examiner.

Assessment Criteria:

Assessment results are captured according to University of South Africa (UNISA) policies and procedures to ensure validity and reliability. The assessment types are designed to test research skills, knowledge, and competence through a range of different tasks that meet national and international standards of excellence in research design and execution.
Assessment is done in line with the UNISA Assessment Policy and the Assessment Procedures Manual.

Feedback:

Formative Assessment Feedback: Feedback on activities and self-assessment questions are provided in study guides and tutorial letters. Individual feedback on assignments is provided by assessors in marked assignments while general feedback on these assignments is provided in tutorial letters.
Summative Assessment Feedback: Feedback on summative assessment (examinations) is provided to individual students upon request.

Qualification Details

Type: Honours Degree
NQF Level: 08
Min. Credits: 120
SAQA Source: More Information

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UNISA

UNISA, short for the University of South Africa, is a distance education institution based in South Africa. It is the largest university on the African continent and offers a wide range of undergraduate and postgraduate programs in various fields of study. UNISA provides flexible learning options, allowing students to study at their own pace and from anywhere in the world. The university is known for its commitment to providing accessible and affordable education to a diverse student population. UNISA also conducts research and collaborates with other institutions to contribute to the development of knowledge and skills in South Africa and beyond.

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This page includes information from the South African Qualifications Authority (SAQA) . Builtneat Pty Ltd trading as Study Start, has modified all or some of this information. SAQA has not approved, endorsed, or tested these modifications.