Bachelor of Arts Honours in Politics
Human and Social Studies - Public Policy Politics and Democratic Citizenship
Purpose and Rationale
Honours Bachelor of Arts in International Politics Qualification Description
Purpose
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.
Rationale
The qualification was aligned to the Higher Education Qualifications Sub-Framework (HEQSF) to include research components in the form of Political Sciences and Research (HPPSC81), which aligns the conduct of research (and the various manifestations thereof) to International Politics, and HRPSC82, which is a supervised research report conducted by students within the field of International Politics and is worth 36 Credits. The number of credits per National Qualifications Framework (NQF) level is aligned to the HEQSF in the following manner: Level 8: 120 Credits.
Outcomes
- Identify, analyse, formulate and solve convergent and divergent problems and issues related to the natural environment.
- Work effectively with others as a member of a team, group, organisation, community, and contribute to the group output in tasks within the field of environmental management.
- Manage and organise her or his activities and life responsibly and effectively, including her or his studies within the open and distance learning context.
- Collect, analyse, organise and critically evaluate information, as required in the pursuit of the Bachelor of Science (BA) Honours (Hons) (Politics).
- Communicate effectively using visual, mathematical and/or language skills in the modes of oral and for written presentation, often in pieces of 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 context.
- Demonstrate an understanding of the world as a set of related systems by recognising that problem solving contexts do not exist in isolation, and by acknowledging their responsibilities to those locally and the broader community.
Assessment Criteria
Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 1:
- Identify, analyse and solve concrete and abstract problems within a discipline or across interdisciplinary lines in science and technology.
- Offer informed suggestions for solving problems at various levels - community, national, international, and global.
- Generate alternative strategies for dealing with problems.
- Critically evaluate theoretical standpoints and compare them to personal views.
- Offer evidence to support stated views from theoretical knowledge base and experiential base.
- Analyse global, national, and local community problems, needs, and opportunities related to science and technology.
Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 2:
- Demonstrate respect for scientific opinions without bias in reporting.
- Undertake theoretical and/or practical projects to show successful interaction with others.
- Use advanced scientific communication skills within a group.
- Lead effectively within own competence limits.
- Organise effective working groups.
- Communicate evidence of group interactions through various reporting methods.
Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 3:
- Organise study plans and engage in effective time management.
- Develop strategies suited to personal situations.
- Think independently and offer sustained theoretical evidence.
- Assess strengths and weaknesses to develop organisational strategies.
Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 4:
- Use library and other resources effectively for research needs.
- Integrate information from various sources.
- Act responsibly as a researcher (referencing, avoiding plagiarism).
- Follow discipline-related conventions and guidelines.
- Critically evaluate theories, examples, experimental results.
- Argue appropriately within relevant discourse community.
Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 5:
- Responsibly use others' ideas to support own without plagiarism.
- Evaluate conclusions and premises in academic arguments.
- Follow literacy and numeracy conventions.
- Use appropriate models of organisation and presentation.
- Use statistics effectively to support ideas.
- Identify and illustrate discipline-specific jargon.
Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 6:
- Select technology to suit individual or group needs.
- Use natural resources sustainably.
- Show respect and responsible attitude towards science and technology.
- Consider ethics in science and technology issues.
- Respect psychological, health, and physical environment of others.
Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 7:
- Use interdisciplinary methods to solve science and technology-related problems.
- Follow an integrated approach to learning and studying.
Integrated Assessment:
- Formative Assessment includes activities, self-assessment questions, and written assignments.
- Summative Assessment is through examinations per module.
Assessment is conducted in line with the institution's policy, with a combination of assignments and examinations contributing to the final mark for each module.
Qualification Details
- Type
- Honours Degree
- NQF Level
- 08
- Min. Credits
- 120
- SAQA Source
- More Information
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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.