BA in Humanities

Structure of your BA degree

This is a NQF level 7 degree with 384 Credits (SAQA ID Number: 74374).

Length of degree

Minimum time

The degree extends over a minimum of three academic years of full-time study or six academic years of part-time study or, in the event of Senate requiring a student to proceed on a special curriculum, because, in the opinion of Senate, the student suffered a disadvantage because of illness or physical disability or because of some other good and sufficient cause not arising out of illness or physical disability for at least four academic years of full-time study, or seven academic years of part-time study.

Maximum

The maximum period of study is five years of full-time study or nine years of part-time study.

Curriculum

In order to satisfy the requirements of the Bachelor of Arts degree, a student must obtain at least 368 credits of which 112 must be at the third-year (300) level, 128 at the second-year (200) level, and 128 at the first-year (100) level; and must satisfy the requirements of two major subjects.

The Bachelor of Arts programme offers modules, courses, majors, and minors in the following subjects. Please note that either History or Literature must be taken to at least second year:

Modules for Major (Core) Courses of Study (as well as the sub-major) :

Literature in English
History
Philosophy
Political studies
Psychology

ii. Minor courses of study and electives (Students can also select a major course of study as a minor):

Economics (subject to approval from the School of Commerce)
Commercial Law
Communications/Cultural studies
Geography

B. Modules are scheduled as follows:

1st year modules:

1. Fundamental Modules

STUD101 Communication and study skills (8)

STUD102 Basic computing and information searches (8)

2. Students must take the following compulsory modules in the first year:

PHIL103 Introduction to logic and philosophy (16)

PHIL 104 Philosophy of the human person (16)

3. Students who wish to major in Philosophy will be required to complete the requirements as per (i) 1. above, to pick up 32 credits from the level 1 modules.

4. Students must select 3 of the major courses listed below.

History

HIST111 Africa, Globalisation and Modernity (16)

HIST102 Topics in Southern African history (16)

Literature

LITR101 Self-awareness in English and American literature (16)

LITR102 Self-awareness in African literature (16)

Political Science (BCom)

POLS101 Introduction to political science (16)

POLS102 Introduction to global politics (16)

Psychology

PSYC101 Introduction to psychology

PSYC102 Social psychology

2nd year modules:

Students must choose 3 of the major courses listed below, continuing from their first year choices. At least one of these must be History or Literature:

History

HIST301 Oral history methods and approaches (16)

HIST202 History of the Atlantic world: 1500-1835 (16)

Literature

LITR201 Awareness of others: English and American literature (16)

LITR202 Awareness of others in African literature (16)

Philosophy

PHIL201 History of philosophy I (8)

PHIL202 History of philosophy II (8)

PHIL221 Philosophy of knowledge (8)

PHIL222 Ethics (8)

Political Science (BCom)

Students must choose four (4) out of the following:

POLS211 International relations I (8)

POLS202 SA government and politics (8)

POLS201 Political philosophy I (8)

POLS221 Modern political theory (8)

POLS212 Politics of US and Latin America (8)

POLS222 Comparative government and politics (8)

Psychology

PSYCH201 Human growth and development

PSYCH202 Research methods in psychology

3rd year modules:

Students must choose two (2) of the major courses listed below, continuing from their second year choices.

History

HIST201 The study of history: an introduction (16)

HIST302 History and film (16)

Literature

a. The following is compulsory:

LITR301 Literary theory (8)

b. Students must choose three (3) of the following:

1st semester:

LITR311 Tragedy in ancient Greece and the English renaissance (8)

LITR321 Literature of faith and scepticism (8)

2nd semester:

LITR302 Women’s voices in literature (8)

LITR312 Religion in African literature (8)

Philosophy

PHIL331 Philosophy of mind and person (8)

PHIL311 Philosophy of science (8)

PHIL321 Philosophy of religion (8)

PHIL302 Contemporary philosophy (8)

Political Science

Students must choose four (4) out of the following:

POLS301 International relations II (8)

POLS302 Political economics (8)

POLS311 Political philosophy II (8)

POLS312 Regional politics (8)

POLS321 Modern theories of justice (8)

POLS322 Democracy, autocracy, and modernisation (8)

Psychology (to be introduced in 2013)

Students must take the compulsory capstone module, consisting of 16 credits

CAPS301 Capstone seminar A (8)

CAPS302 Capstone seminar B (8)

Elective modules (Minors)

Students must choose 1 elective minor for each of the second and third years of study. Students may also choose as an elective the first-year modules of any major course not selected as a major. They may also choose second-year modules in any major course, provided they have passed the first-year modules in that course.

Economics (subject to approval from the School of Commerce)

ECON101 Introduction to microeconomics (16)

ECON102 Introduction macroeconomics (16)

Political Studies

POLS101 Introduction to political science (16)

POLS102 Introduction to global politics (16)

Communications/Cultural Studies

CMCS101 Intercultural communication in post-apartheid South Africa (16)

CMCS102 Mass media, globalization and identity formation in post-apartheid South Africa (16)

Geography

GEOG101 Human and physical fundamentals (16)

GEOG102 Urbanisation in Africa and case studies (16)

The credits are assigned to the component modules in the following way:

I. Fundamental modules

STUD101 Communication and study skills (8)

STUD102 Basic computing and information searches (8)

Total Credits from Fundamental Modules (16 Credit Points)

II. Core modules

First Year:
1. Major A (2 modules) (32)
2. Major B (2 modules) (32)
3. Major C (2 modules) (32)
4. First Year Philosophy requirement (32)

Total First Year Credits from Core Modules (128 Credit Points)

Second Year:

Major A (2-4 modules, depending on major) (32)
Major B (2-4 modules, depending on major) (32)
Major C (2-4 modules, depending on major) (32)

Total Second Year Credits from Core Modules (96 Credit Points)

Third Year:

Major A (1-4 modules, depending on major) (32)
Major B (1-4 modules, depending on major) (32)
Capstone Course (1 module) (16)

Total Third Year Credits from Core Modules (80 Credit Points)

III. Elective modules

Second Year:

Elective A (2 modules) (32)

Total Second Year Credits from Elective Modules (32 Credit Points)

Third Year:
- Elective B (2 modules) (32)

Total Third Year Credits from Elective Modules (32 Credit Points)

TOTAL CREDITS FOR THE QUALIFICATION: 384 CREDITS

The College reserves the right in 2012 to combine modules from the available majors at the third-year level, subject to the provision that such a combination is exclusively of third-year level modules and that such a combination meets the total third-year level credit-points requirement for the BA degree.

The College reserves the right, within levels and subject to staffing considerations, to alter the allocation of modules to specific semesters.

Years of Study

1. In the first year of study (144 Credit Points)

(a) A student must complete the two fundamental Study Skills modules, 2 of which carry 8 credit points each and the two compulsory modules in first-year philosophy, each carrying 16 credit points, unless Senate has, upon receipt of an application from the student to be exempted, granted permission for the student to be exempted from any of them. If Senate had granted any such exemption, the student will be required to select and complete another module or modules, as the case may be, in place thereof in order to fulfill the required number of credit points for the degree; and

(b) A student is required to select three of the eligible major subjects and complete the two component modules which constitute each of the major subjects. Each of those modules carries 16 credit points.

2. In the second year of study (128 Credit Points)

(a) A student is required to select and complete at the second-year level the modules for three of the major subjects that are a continuation of the subjects completed by the student at the first-year level. At least one of these subjects must be History or Literature. A student must have completed both the modules in a subject at the first-year level before registering for any module in that subject at the second-year level. Each module carries either 8 or 16 credit points; and,

(b) A student is required to complete either the two modules for one of the single subjects, namely, Economics, Communications and Cultural Studies, Geography, or the two modules at first-year level for the other major subjects which were not selected in terms of Rule (1)(b) hereof. Each module carries 16 credit points.

3. In the third year of study (112 Credit Points)

(a) A student is required to complete at third-year level the modules for two subjects which are a continuation of the major subjects completed by the student at the second-year level. A student must have completed both the modules in a subject at the second-year level before registering for any module in that subject at the third-year level.

The modules of the major subjects at the third-year level carry different credit points. A student must complete modules to the value of 32 credit points in each of the chosen subjects at the third-year level; and,

(b) In addition to the two major subjects taken at third-year level, a student is required to register for and complete the modules CAPS301 and CAPS302 – Bachelor of Arts Capstone Seminar (which carry 8 credit points each); and,

(c) A student is required to complete either the two modules for one of the single subjects not chosen in BA Rule (2)(b). Each module carries 16 credit points.

(d) A student who selects Literature as one of the major subjects at the third-year level must register for and complete the module LITR301 – Literary Theory (which carries 8 credit points).

Proceeding to next module in a subject

If a student fails a first-semester module in a subject, he or she may proceed to the second semester module in that subject but may not proceed to a module at the second- or third-year level in that subject unless he or she has passed both first- and second-semester modules in that subject at the preceding level (i.e. at first or second year level, as the case may be).

Repeating modules

A student may repeat any module that he or she fails, the next time it is offered, provided he or she has complied with the rules pertaining to the minimum requirements of study, as set out in General Rule G.31.

Credit and withdrawal of credit

A student will be granted credit for any module that he or she successfully completes subject to the rules pertaining to a particular qualification and any special restrictions on credits in the rules for the degree. However, even if a student obtains such credit, he or she may be refused permission to renew his or her registration if he or she fails to comply with the minimum requirements of study for the degree. (See General Rule G.32.)

Senate may withdraw a credit obtained by examination or exemption in a qualifying module if a student allows his or her registration to lapse for a period of four years or longer.

Year of study

a) A student shall be deemed to be in the first year of study until he or she has obtained 48 credits, including all fundamental modules, as well as the compulsory module PHIL103.
b) A student will be deemed to be in the second year of study in the period between the first- and third-years of study as defined in (a) and (c) hereof.

c) A student shall be deemed to be in the third-year of study in the year in which he or she is registered for modules that will enable him or her to complete the requirements for the degree in that year.

Proceeding to next year of study

A student may not proceed from the first year of study to the second year of study unless he or she has obtained 48 credits (including all fundamental modules), as well as the compulsory module PHIL103 in terms of these rules.

A student may not proceed from the second year of study to the third-year of study unless he or she has completed all the modules specified for the first-year of study and is in a position to register and complete all the requirements for the degree in that year.

Fulfilling the requirements for the award of the degree

A student qualifies for the degree by completing all of the modules prescribed for the degree within the maximum time allowed for completing the degree and by complying with the requirements of General Rule 17.

Cancellation of registration

(a) Cancellation of registration for the degree

Unless Senate determines otherwise in exceptional circumstances, a student who cancels his or her registration for the degree later than one month prior to the commencement of the examination session in which the examinations for the modules are held (whether for the first or the second semester), will be deemed to have failed all the modules for which he or she was registered in that year, except those modules which he or she has already completed.

(b) Cancellation of a module

A student who cancels his or her registration for a module less than one month prior to the commencement of the examination session scheduled for that module, will be deemed to have failed that module unless Senate determines otherwise.

Publication of results

The final mark obtained by a student or candidate in a course or module will be published as a percentage and the result obtained by a student shall be described as a first, upper second, second or third class pass, or fail.

Award of degree with distinction

(a) The degree will be awarded with distinction to a student who:

completes the requirements for the degree within the specified period of study; and
completes all prescribed modules at first attempt; and
has completed all the modules at St Augustine College ; and
obtains a first class pass in each module of the two subjects taken at the third-year level; and
obtains an overall average of at least 68% for the remaining modules for the degree.

(b) The degree will be awarded with distinction in a particular subject, to a student who:

- completes the requirements for the degree within the specified period of study; and

- has completed all the modules for the degree at St Augustine College; and

- obtains a first class pass in every module for a particular (major) subject in the first,

second and third-years of study.