Stellenbosch University BA Humanities

Stellenbosch University BA Humanities

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BA (Humanities)

Specific Admission Requirements

∙A National Senior Certificate (NSC) or school-leaving certificate from the Independent Examination Board (IEB) as certified by Umalusi with a mark of at least 4 (50%) in each of the four school subjects from the list of designated university admission subjects.

∙An average final mark of 60% in the NSC or the IEB school-leaving certificate (excluding Life Orientation) for the three-year mainstream programme. As from 2018, the average NSC or IEB school-leaving percentage will be 65% (excluding Life Orientation) for the three-year mainstream programme.

∙An average final mark of 57-59% in the NSC (excluding Life Orientation) for the four- year extended degree programme. As from 2018, the average NSC percentage will be 60-64,9% (excluding Life Orientation) for the four-year extended degree programme.

∙Your National Benchmark Test results may be taken into consideration for placement in the extended degree programme.

∙Home Language – code 4 (50%)

∙First Additional Language – code 3 (40%)

∙Mathematics – code 4 (50%) OR Mathematical Literacy – code 6 (70%) (Only if you will be taking Socio-Informatics as a subject)

Consult section 3 in this chapter for more information on the Extended Degree Programmes.

Programme Content and Structure

The subjects of the programme BA (Humanities) are set out below according to the three groups, followed by a breakdown of the specific modules.

You can find the contents of these subjects and modules, as well as the specifications concerning the selection of subjects and modules, in the chapter “Undergraduate Subjects, Modules and Module Contents” in this Calendar part.

Your chosen subject combination depends on timetable considerations. The subjects and modules that you choose may not clash on the class, test and examination timetables. In addition, consult the schematic outline for subject combinations on the fold-out page at the back of this Calendar part.

Group 1

Group 2

Group 3

Human Thought, Language,

People and Society

(Half third-year level subject

Culture and Art

(24 credits); offered on third-

year level only)

∙

African Languages

∙

Geo-Environmental

∙

345(12) Scientific

∙

Afrikaans en

Science/ Geography and

Language Study as

Nederlands

Environmental Studies

∙

Detective Work

∙

Afrikaans Language

∙

History

324(12) Dimensions of

Historical Understanding

Acquisition

∙

Philosophy

∙

318(24) Sign Language

∙

Ancient Cultures

∙

Political Science

Linguistics (General

∙

Applied English

∙

Psychology

Linguistics 1 and 2 are

Language Studies

prerequisite pass

∙

Basic Xhosa (offered

∙

Social Anthropology

modules)

on first-year level only)

∙

Socio-Informatics

(consult the table of contents

∙

Chinese

∙

Sociology

for module contents)

∙

English Studies

∙

French

∙

General Linguistics

∙

German

∙

South African Sign

Language Acquisition

(offered on first-year

level only)

∙

Theatre Science

∙

Visual Studies

∙

Xhosa

The content of the BA in the Humanities is presented at three consecutive year levels:

d)First-year level

At this level content is taught which is introductory in nature and which forms the foundation for the contents that are presented on subsequent levels.

At first-year level you take 5 subjects plus Information Skills 172. Your subject choice is as follows:

Compulsory Module

Credits

Information Skills 172

1 x 6 credits

Choose

2 subjects

Group 1

2 x minimum 24 credits

2 subjects

Group 2

2 x minimum 24 credits

1 subject

Group 1 or Group 2

1 x minimum 24 credits

Please note:

∙The credit value for the subject Geo-Environmental Science is higher than 24 credits.

22

e)Second-year level

At this level contents are still taught which do not necessarily concern specific human sciences aspects of Southern African realities, but which are directly relevant to an understanding of the problematic aspects of this reality.

The relevance of these contents to an understanding of problematic human sciences aspects of the Southern African reality is illustrated systematically in tutorials and practicals.

In your second year you take four subjects that you took at first-year level. Note the following:

∙You may take Applied English Language Studies at second-year level if you have passed English Studies at first-year level.

∙You may take Social Anthropology at second-year level if you passed Sociology at first- year level.

f)Third-year level

The contents at this level are focused on problematic human sciences aspects of Southern African realities.

In each of the two majors you do a certain amount of work that is focused on enhancing the content integration within and between the two major subjects, as well as the overall coherence of the programme.

This work that forms part of the process of integrated assessment, can take on various forms: (interdepartmental) seminars, written assignments, practicals of various kinds, etc.

Your subject choice for your third year is as follows:

Choose

2 subjects

Group 1

(that you took in your first and second year)

or

Group 2

or

1 subject from Group 1; and 1 subject from

Group 2

Half third-year level subject /or the

Group 1 and/or

equivalent of a half third-year subject based

Group 2 and/or

on the amount of credits (minimum of 24

Group 3

credits)

(that you took in your first and second year,

with the exception of Meta Science and Sign

Language)

Presentation

The programme is presented by means of regular lectures, complemented with tutorials and/or practical classes.

23

First year (126 – 134 credits)

In your first year you take five subjects plus Information Skills 172. Your subject choice is as follows:

Compulsory modules

Credits

Information Skills 172

1 x 6 credits

Choose

2 subjects

Group 1 (Human Thought, Language,

2 x minimum 24 credits

Culture and Art)

2 subjects

Group 2 (People and Society)

2 x minimum 24 credits

1 subject

Group 1 or Group 2

1 x minimum 24 credits

Please note:

∙If you take the subject Geo-Environmental Science from Group 2, the credit value of this subject will be higher than 24 credits.

Compulsory Module

Subject number

Subject

Module

53899

Information Skills

172(6) Information and Computer

Competence

plus

Elective Modules

Group 1: Human Thought, Language, Culture and Art

Choose at least two subjects from this group.

Subject number

Subject

Modules

41505

African Languages

114(12)

Introductory Study of African

Languages

144(12)

Continued Introductory

Study of

African Languages

39373

Afrikaans and Dutch

178(24)

Introductory studies in

Afrikaans language and literature

57487

Afrikaans Language Acquisition

178(24)

Afrikaans for Non-mother-

tongue Speakers

OR

188(24) Afrikaans as Second

Language

53813

Ancient Cultures

114(12)

Introduction to the Ancient

World I

24

Subject number

Subject

Modules

144(12) Introduction to the Ancient

World II

49638

Basic Xhosa (only at first-year

114(12) Introduction to

level)

Communication in Xhosa

144(12) Introduction to

Communication in Xhosa

11302

Chinese

178(24) Introduction to Chinese

Language and Culture

53880

English Studies

178(24) Language and Literature in

Context

13145

French

178(24) Introduction to the French

Language and Culture (if you did not

take French in Grade 12)

OR

188(24) Intermediate Study of the

French Language, Literature and

Culture (if you took French in Grade

12)

10294

General Linguistics

178(24) Introductory Outline to

General Linguistics

26107

German

178(24) Introduction to the German

Language and Culture (if you did not

take German in Grade 12)

OR

188(24) German Language, Literature

and Culture of the 20th and 21st

Centuries (if you took German in

Grade 12)

13521

Sign Language Study (only at

178(24) South African Sign Language

first-year level)

Acquisition

53872

Theatre Studies

114(12) Introduction to Western

Theatre and the Principles of Text

Study

144(12) Continued Study of the

Western Theatre and Principles of

Text Study

11802

Visual Studies

178(24) Visual Culture and

Interpretation

25

Subject number

Subject

Modules

21687

Xhosa

178(24) Introduction to Xhosa

Language and Culture (You may take

this module if you had Xhosa or Zulu

as Home Language in Grade 12).

OR

188(24) Introduction to Xhosa

Language, Communication and

Culture (You may take this module

only if you had Xhosa or Zulu as

Home Lanuage in Grade 12).

Group 2: People and Society

Choose at least two subjects from this group.

Subject number

Subject

Modules

64165

Geo-Environmental Science

124(16) Introduction to Human-

(at second- and third-year levels

Environmental Systems

you take Geography and

154(16) Introduction to Earth

Environmental Studies)

Systems Science

13463

History

114(12) Introduction to the main

global patterns and developments in

history

144(12) Survey of South African

History

12882

Philosophy

112(6) Introduction to Systematic

Philosophy

122(6) Greek Philosophy and the

Philosophy of the Middle Ages

142(6) Practical Logic and Critical

Thinking Skills

152(6) Moral Philosophy

44687

Political Science

114(12) Introduction to Political

Science and South African Politics

144(12) Introduction to International

Relations and African Politics

18414

Psychology

114(12) Psychology as Science

144(12) Psychology in Context

58173

Socio-Informatics

114(12) The Knowledge Economy

and Society

26

Subject number

Subject

Modules

144(12) Technology, Organisation

and Society

19003

Sociology

114(12) Introduction to Sociology

and Social Anthropology

144(12) Social Issues in South

Africa

Second year (128 – 136 credits)

In your second year you continue with four subjects that you took in your first year. Note the following:

∙You may take Applied English Language Studies at second-year level if you have passed English Studies at first-year level.

∙You may take Social Anthropology at second-year level if you passed Sociology at first- year level.

Elective Modules

Group 1: Human Thought, Language, Culture and Art

Subject number

Subject

Modules

41505

African Languages

214(16) Intermediate Study of

African Languages

244(16)

Continued Intermediate

Study of African Languages

39373

Afrikaans and Dutch

278(32) Voortgesette Studie van die

Afrikaanse Taal- en Letterkunde

57487

Afrikaans Language Acquisition

278(32) Afrikaans for foreign-

(only up to second-year level)

language speakers (follows on

Afrikaans Language Acquisition 178)

OR

288(32)

Afrikaans as Second

Language (follows on Afrikaans

Language Acquisition 188)

53813

Ancient Cultures

211(8) Continued Ancient Cultures

221(8)

Continued Ancient Cultures

241(8)

Continued Ancient Cultures

251(8)

Continued Ancient Cultures

93874

Applied English Language

214(16) and 244(16) Applied English

Studies (English Studies 178 is a

Language Studies

27

Subject number

Subject

Modules

prerequisite that you must pass in

your first year.)

11302

Chinese

278(32) Continued study of Chinese

language and culture

53880

English Studies

278(32) Reading Literature and

Culture

13145

French

278(32) Continued Study of the

French Language, Literature and

Culture

10294

General Linguistics

278(32) Language and the Human

Mind

26107

German

278(32) Intermediate Study of the

German Language, Literature and

Culture (follows on German 178)

OR

288(32)

German Language, Literature

and Culture from the 18th century to

the present (follows on German 188)

12882

Philosophy (You must take Visual

252(8) Philosophy of Culture

Studies 276 with this module)

11802

Visual Studies (You must take

276(24) 19th and 20th century Visual

Philosophy 252 with this module)

Culture

53872

Theatre Studies

212(8) Textual analysis

222(8)

Theatre History: Theory and

Forms of Drama and Theatre

242(8)

Textual analysis

252(8)

Theatre History: Theory and

Forms of Drama and Theatre

21687

Xhosa

(Follows on Xhosa 178)

214(16)

Continued Xhosa Language

and Culture

244(16)

Continued Xhosa Language

and Culture

OR

(follows on Xhosa 188)

224(16)

Continued Xhosa Language,

Communication and Culture

28

Subject number

Subject

Modules

254(16)

Continued Xhosa Language,

Communication and Culture

Group 2: People and Society

Subject

Subject

Modules

number

56502

Geography and Environmental

225(16) Urban and Tourism

Studies (Follows on Geo-

Development

Environmental Science at first-

265(16)

Environmental Studies

year level)

13463

History

214(16) Key Processes in the Making

of Western History

244(16)

African and South African:

Colonisation and the Re-ordering of

Societies

12882

Philosophy

(You can choose any four modules,

taking the possibilities allowed by the

timetable into consideration.)

212(8)

Political Philosophy

222(8)

Modern Philosophy

242(8)

Philosophy of Religion

252(8)

Philosophy of Culture

262(8)

Philosophy of Science

44687

Political Science

212(8) Political Behaviour

222(8)

The Global Political

Economy

242(8)

Political Development

252(8)

Foreign Policy Analysis

18414

Psychology

213(8) Approaches to Psychological

Theories of the Person

223(8)

Human Development in

Context

243(8)

Research Design in

Psychology

253(8)

Data Analysis in Psychology

29

Subject

Subject

Modules

number

54186

Social Anthropology (You must

212(8) Social Anthropological

have taken Sociology 1 at first-

Themes

year level)

222(8) Medical Anthropology

242(8) Public Anthropology

252(8) South African Anthropology

58173

Socio-Informatics (If you choose

224(16) Introduction to Computer

Socio-Informatics, you must take

Programming

40 credits instead of 32)

254(16) Internet Technology and

Design

262(8) Electronic Business and

Government

19003

Sociology

212(8) Poverty, Inequality and

Development

222(8) Race

242(8) Sociology of

Communication

252(8) Industrial Sociology

Third year (120 – 134 credits)

Your subject choice for your third year is as follows:

Choose

2 subjects

Group 1

(that you took in your first and second year)

or

Group 2

or

1 subject from Group 1; and 1 subject from

Group 2

Half third-year level subject /or the

Group 1 and/or

equivalent of a half third-year subject based

Group 2 and/or

on the amount of credits (minimum of 24

Group 3

credits)

(that you took in your first and second year

with the exception of Meta Science and Sign

Language)

Elective Modules

Group 1: Human Thought, Language, Culture and Art

Subject number

Subject

Modules

41505

African Languages

318(24) Advanced Study of the

African Languages

348(24)

Continued Advanced Study

of the African Languages

39373

Afrikaans and Dutch

318(24) Gevorderde Studie van die

Afrikaanse Taal- en Letterkunde

348(24)

Gevorderde Studie van die

Afrikaanse Taal- en Letterkunde

53813

Ancient Cultures

311(12) Advanced Ancient Cultures

321(12)

Advanced Ancient Cultures

341(12)

Advanced Ancient Cultures

351(12)

Advanced Ancient Cultures

93874

Applied English Language

318(24) Applied English Language

Studies

Studies

348(24)

Applied English Language

Studies

11302

Chinese

318(24) Intermediate Study of

Chinese Language and Culture I

348(24)

Intermediate Study of

Chinese Language and Culture II

53880

English Studies

318(24) Reading Literature, Culture

and Theory

348(24)

Reading Literature, Culture

and Theory

13145

French

318(24) Advanced Study of the

French Language, Literature and

Culture I

348(24)

Advanced Study of the

French Language, Literature and

Culture II

10294

General Linguistics

379(48) Advanced Linguistics

26107

German

(Follows on German 278)

318(24)

Advanced Study of German

Language and Culture I

Subject number

Subject

Modules

348(24)

Advanced Study of German

Language and Culture II

OR

(Follows on German 288)

328(24)

Advanced Study of the

German Literature and Culture I

358(24)

Advanced Study of the

German Literature and Culture II

53872

Theatre Studies

314(12) Textual Analysis: Media and

Film

324(12)

History and Nature of Non-

Western Theatre

344(12)

Textual analysis: Media and

Film

354(12)

History and Nature of South

African Theatre

11802

Visual Studies

379(48) Representation of Identity in

South African Visual Culture

21687

Xhosa

(Follows on Xhosa 214 and 244)

318(24)

Advanced Xhosa Language

and Culture

348(24)

Advanced Xhosa Language

and Culture

OR

(Follows on Xhosa 224 and 254)

328(24)

Advanced Xhosa Language,

Communication and Culture

358(24)

Advanced Xhosa Language,

Communication and Culture

Group 2: People and Society

Subject number

Subject

Modules

56502

Geography and Environmental

314(12) Geography of Tourism

Studies (If you are taking

323(12)

The South African City

Geography and Environmental

358(16)

Environmental Studies

Studies as a major subject,you

363(16)

Geographical

must obtain at least 56 credits

instead of 48.)

Communication

13463

History

318(24) Wars, Decolonisation and

Globalisation

348(24)

South Africa in the 20th

century

12882

Philosophy

(You can choose any two of the

following three modules.)

314(12)

Critical Social Theory and

Ideology Critique

324(12)

Phenomenology and

Existentialism

334(12)

African Philosophy

AND

(You can choose any of the

following three modules.)

344(12)

Structuralism and Post-

structuralism

354(12)

Analytic Philosophy

364(12)

Social Justice

44687

Political Science

314(12) Political Theory

324(12)

Comparative Politics

344(12)

Political Conflict

354(12)

Political Analysis

18414

Psychology

314(12) Psychopathology

324(12)

Social Psychology

348(24)

Psychological

Interventions

54186

Social Anthropology

314(12) Read and Do Ethnography

324(12) Culture, Power and Identity

344(12)

Theory and Debates in

Social Anthropology

33

Subject number

Subject

Modules

354(12)

The Anthropology of

Development

58173

Socio-Informatics (If you choose

314(18) Database Systems

Socio-Informatics as major

334(18)

Architecture of

subject, you must obtain at least

Information Systems

54 credits instead of 48.)

364(18)

Knowledge Dynamics and

Knowledge Management

19003

Sociology

314(12) Social Theory

364(12)

Social Research

AND

(Choose two of the following three

modules)

324(12)

Political Sociology

344(12)

Sociology of Work and

Employment

354(12)

Community Development

Group 3: Half third-year subject

Subject number

Subject

Modules

13521

Sign Language Linguistics

318(24) Sign Language Linguistics

(General Linguistics 1 and 2 are

prerequisite pass modules)

56529

Meta Science

324(12) Dimensions of Historical

Understanding

345(12)

Scientific Language Study

as Detective Work

Programme Assessment

Assessment within the BA in the Humanities takes place per subject module. The mode of assessment differs from module to module and includes formal examinations, formal tests, written assignments, oral participation in class, different kinds of practical work, etc. To complete a module successfully, you must obtain a final mark of at least 50%.

The manner in which individual modules are assessed, is explained in the module framework/study guide that is handed out during the first lecture of each module. Also consult the entries of the departments concerned in the chapter “Undergraduate Subjects, Modules and Module Contents” of this Calendar part.

Enquiries

Programme Co-ordinator: Dr LD Mongie

Tel: 021 808 2321 E-mail: laurenm@sun.ac.za

4.2 BA (Social Dynamics)

 

Why you must consider pursuing a BA degree

​​Prospective students in the Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences regularly ask: “Would you recommend a BA degree as a career choice?” and then the follow-up question comes almost immediately: “Is a BA a good investment?”

While we will concede that few Bachelor of Arts (BA) courses or BA programmes prepare students directly for a profession in the same way as, for instance, accounting trains accountants, we can say with conviction that the modern knowledge economy in which our students compete also does not expect this sort of education of BA students. We know that the contemporary globalising world requires more than mere technological progress. Human behaviour, attitudes and values must change if the world is to continue to exist and to manage the challenges of our times creatively. Our emphasis therefore falls precisely on this need.

Our BA programmes are built on pillars of future knowledge including, among others, the following:

  • that the world is changing at an incredible pace – computer capacity almost doubles every two years and knowledge increases just as quickly;
  • that a whole new “knowledge economy” is developing and that these developments mean that a young worker might have to change professions up to seven times in a lifetime and perhaps even retire in a profession that does not even yet exist;
  • that there is already a great demand for “knowledge workers” while there are fewer ordinary office workers and labourers;
  • and that such a fast pace of change must be built on basic values.

Our main aim is therefore to offer students training in the humanities that prepares them for making a contribution in this new world. Research shows that the best approach is to develop both general and specific skills. The variety of departments and programmes in the Faculty is geared towards helping students along this path.

Some of the general skills that we teach to our students and that make them highly sought after include:

  • critical and creative thinking;
  • problem-solving, language and communication skills;
  • an understanding of team work;
  • an understanding of South African and global social realities;
  • and leadership development.

These kinds of skills are important when it comes to working in a professional environment. There is thus a link to what the well-known psychologist Piaget said about education:
“The principal goal of education is to create people who are capable of doing new things, not simply repeating what other generations have done – people who create, invent and discover. The second goal of education is to form minds that can be critical, can verify, and not accept everything offered.”

Our Faculty is the starting point for any student who strives to reach these ideals echoed by Piaget.

We also seek to establish and strengthen the importance of intrinsic values such as faith in one’s family, friends and colleagues; a tolerance for other cultures and points of view; and the importance of participating in networks and organisations. The Faculty focuses on these values in order to combat one of the greatest socio-economic challenges in South Africa, which is our low level of social capital.

We are convinced that knowledge of the social sciences, languages and arts offers an indispensable key to building a developed and just society in South Africa and Africa. Our training produces students who can “think independently, ask the right questions so that they can analyse, weigh up ideas, come to logical conclusions and place solid arguments on the table”.

Students who join us become knowledge partners in a vigorous Faculty focused on questions that are relevant to an ever-changing South Africa and the world of the 21st century.

See more related pages here