Stellenbosch University BA Humanities

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 2024, 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 2024, 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
∙	Afrikaans Language	∙	History		Historical Understanding
	Acquisition	∙	Philosophy		Historical Understanding
	Acquisition			∙	318(24) Sign Language
∙	Ancient Cultures
		∙	Political Science
					Linguistics (General
∙	Applied English				Linguistics (General
∙	Applied English	∙	Psychology		Linguistics 1 and 2 are
	Language Studies				Linguistics 1 and 2 are
	Language Studies				prerequisite pass
∙	Basic Xhosa (offered	∙	Social Anthropology		prerequisite pass
∙	Basic Xhosa (offered	∙	Social Anthropology		modules)
	on first-year level only)	∙	Socio-Informatics		modules)
	on first-year level only)			(consult the table of contents
∙	Chinese
		∙	Sociology
				for module contents)
∙	English Studies			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.

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)	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.

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
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)	154(16) Introduction to Earth
	Environmental Studies)	Systems Science
		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
	(only up to second-year level)	Afrikaans Language Acquisition 178)
		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)	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

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
		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
		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)	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	323(12)	The South African City
	Geography and Environmental	358(16)	Environmental Studies
	Studies as a major subject,you	358(16)	Environmental Studies
	Studies as a major subject,you	363(16)	Geographical
	must obtain at least 56 credits	363(16)	Geographical
	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	334(18)	Architecture of
	subject, you must obtain at least	Information Systems
	54 credits instead of 48.)	Information Systems
	54 credits instead of 48.)	364(18)	Knowledge Dynamics and
		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