Program Overview

---

University Program Information

The university offers a range of programs for students to choose from.

Bachelor of Arts

The Bachelor of Arts program is designed to provide students with a well-rounded education in the humanities and social sciences.

• Qualification stream: English Studies and Politics
• Qualification code: 99311 - ESP
• NQF level: 7
• Total credits: 360
• SAQA ID: 14352
• APS/AS: 20

Purpose Statement

The purpose of this qualification is to familiarize learners with the content and basic theories of a number of disciplines in the humanities and social sciences, at the basic and intermediate level, and to provide them with a deeper grasp of one or more of these disciplines taken at exit level (level 6), as well as to enable them to place new knowledge in context and to use appropriate methods for seeking resolution of problems.

Rules

This qualification consists of 30 modules. Students should note that during the course of their studies, they would be required to have access to a computer or laptop, printer, and the internet.

Curriculum

The curriculum for this qualification is structured into three levels: first, second, and third.

First Level

At the first level, students are required to take the following compulsory modules:

• ENG1501 - Foundations in English Literary Studies
• ENG1502 - Foundations in English Language Studies
• PLC1501 - Politics as Social Activity
• PLC1502 - Understanding the State

Students are also required to select two modules from the following fundamentals:

• AFC1501 - Isandulelo kwizifundo ngezindlela zokucwaninga ulwazi lwaseThebes/ Afrika
• AFL1501 - Language Through an African Lens
• ENG1503 - Academic Language and Literacy in English

Additionally, students must select two modules from the following electives:

• AFK1501 - Voetspore: Op reis deur die Afrikaanse Letterkunde
• AFK1502 - Inleiding tot teksontwerp in Afrikaans
• AFK1503 - Afrikaans Vandag: Taalkunde en skriftelike kommunikasie
• AFL1502 - African Language and Culture in Practice
• AGE1501 - Introduction to Archaeology
• AGE1502 - The Archaeology of Southern Africa
• AHS1511 - Ancient Mythology in Context
• AIS1501 - Introducing Applied Information Science
• AIS1503 - Introducing Information Records and Sources
• AIS1601 - Using the Internet as a Reference Tool
• ANH1502 - Roman Ancient History
• APC1501 - Political Evolution of the African State
• APC1502 - The Politics of Contemporary Africa
• APY1501 - Anthropology in a Diverse World
• APY1502 - The Anthropology of Love and Sex
• ARB1501 - Elementary Arabic
• ARH1501 - Visual Literacy
• ARH1502 - Introduction to Art History
• ARM1502 - Managing Records
• ARM1503 - Managing Archives
• BLG1501 - Basic Biology
• BLG1502 - Animal and Plant Diversity
• BLG1603 - Biology Practical
• BNU1501 - Basic Numeracy
• BSM1602 - Business Management Fundamentals 1B
• BTH1501 - Invitation to Theology
• CLA1501 - Commercial Law IA
• CLA1502 - Commercial Law IB
• CML1501 - Communication Law
• COM1511 - Principles of Decolonial Communication
• COM1512 - Disruption and Communication
• COM1513 - Communication in the context of the organisation
• COM1514 - Fundamentals of Decolonising Media Studies
• COS1521 - Computer Systems: Fundamental Concepts
• DPR1503 - Introduction to Public Relations
• DVA1501 - Introduction to Development Studies
• DVA1502 - Development Problems and Institutions
• ENG1511 - English Proficiency for University Studies
• ENG1512 - English for Economic and Management Science
• ENG1513 - Foundations in English for University Study
• EUP1501 - Ethical Information and Communication Technologies for Development Solutions
• FRC1501 - French Language and Culture: Beginners
• FRC1502 - French Language and Culture: Lower Intermediate
• FUR1501 - Fundamental Rights
• HRD1501 - Introduction to Human Resource Development
• HRM1501 - Introduction to Human Resource Management
• HSY1511 - Africa in the World: Historical Perspectives
• HSY1512 - Southern Africa Until the Early 1800s: Encounters and Transformations
• ICS1501 - An Introduction to Islam
• ILW1501 - Introduction to Law
• INF1505 - Introduction to Business Information Systems
• INF1511 - Visual Programming I
• INS1501 - Introduction to Information Science
• INS1502 - Developing Information Skills for Lifelong Learning
• IOP1501 - Psychological Processes In the Work and Self-employed Context
• IOP1502 - Customer Service in Tourism
• IOP1503 - Environmental Psychology
• IOP1601 - Personality In The Work And Self-employed Context
• IPC1501 - Fundamentals of International Politics
• IPC1502 - South Africa in International Politics
• IRM1501 - Introduction to Research Methodology for Law and Criminal Justice
• LIN1501 - Grammatical Patterns and Concepts
• LIN1502 - Multilingualism: the Role of Language in the South African Context
• LRM1501 - Introduction to Labour Relations Management
• MAN1501 - Mandarin Chinese: Beginners
• MAN1502 - Mandarin Chinese: Elementary Level
• MHS1511 - Early Music to Baroque
• MHS1512 - Introduction to African Music
• MNB1501 - Business Management IA
• MNB1601 - Business Management IB
• MNM1501 - Personal Selling
• MNM1502 - Customer Service
• MNM1503 - Introduction to Marketing
• MNM1504 - Introduction to Retailing
• MNM1505 - Introduction to Consumer Behaviour
• MNM1506 - Introduction to Merchandising
• MNM1507 - Introduction to Marketing Communication
• MNM1522 - Fundamentals of Branding
• MNY1501 - The Dynamics of Mission
• MNY1502 - First Steps in Practical Theology
• NDE1505 - Applied African languages Grammar for Home Language Foundation and Intermediate Phase - isiNdebele
• NDE1506 - Applied African Languages Literature for Home Language, Foundation Phase - isiNdebele
• NDE1507 - Applied African Language Communicative Competence for Second Additional Language - isiNdebele
• NDE1508 - Applied African Languages Grammar for First Additional Language - isiNdebele
• NDE1509 - Applied African Languages Literature for First Additional Language, Foundation Phase - isiNdebele
• NSO1505 - Applied African languages Grammar for Home Language Foundation and Intermediate Phase - Sepedi
• NSO1506 - Applied African Languages Literature for Home Language Foundation and Intermediate Phase - Sepedi
• NSO1507 - Applied African Language Communicative Competence for Second Additional Language - Sepedi
• NSO1508 - Applied African Languages Grammar for First Additional Language - Sepedi
• NSO1509 - Applied African Languages Literature for First Additional Language, Foundation Phase - Sepedi
• PLS1501 - Introduction to Western Philosophy
• PLS1502 - Introduction to African Philosophy
• PTU1501 - Portuguese Language and Culture: Beginners
• PTU1502 - Portuguese Language and Culture: Lower Intermediate
• PYC1511 - Introduction to Psychology
• PYC1512 - Foundations of Sub-Disciplines of Psychology
• PYC1513 - Introduction to Psychological Intervention Perspectives
• RST1501 - Introducing Religions of the World
• RST1502 - Introducing Theories of Religion
• SCL1501 - Skills Course for Law Students
• SCR1501 - Christian Origins and Early Christian Contexts. Introduction to Early Christian Literature and History
• SCR1502 - Introduction to Ancient Israelite Literature, Theology, History and Archaeology
• SCR1503 - The Formation of New Testament Identities: Martyrs, Apologists, and Early Church Fathers
• SJD1501 - Social Dimensions of Justice
• SOC1501 - Community, Society and Inequality in a Globalised World: Introduction to Sociology
• SOC1502 - Understanding South Africa: Families, Education, Identities and Inequality
• SSO1505 - Applied African languages Grammar for Home Language Foundation and Intermediate Phase - Sesotho
• SSO1506 - Applied African Languages Literature for Home Language, Foundation Phase - Sesotho
• SSO1507 - Applied African Language Communicative Competence for Second Additional Language - Sesotho
• SSO1508 - Applied African Languages Grammar for First Additional Language - Sesotho
• SSO1509 - Applied African Languages Literature for First Additional Language, Foundation Phase - Sesotho
• SWA1505 - Applied African languages Grammar for Home Language Foundation and Intermediate Phase - SiSwati
• SWA1506 - Applied African Languages Literature for Home Language, Foundation Phase - SiSwati
• SWA1507 - Applied African Language Communicative Competence for Second Additional Language - SiSwati
• SWA1508 - Applied African Languages Grammar for First Additional Language - SiSwati
• SWA1509 - Applied African Languages Literature for First Additional Language, Foundation Phase - SiSwati
• THE1501 - Reflection on Faith
• THE1502 - Introduction to Ethics
• THE1503 - Africa: Cradle of Christianity
• THL1501 - Introduction to Theory of Literature
• THL1502 - Introduction to Literary Genres
• TSO1505 - Applied African Languages Grammar for Home Language Foundation and Intermediate Phase - Xitsonga
• TSO1506 - Applied African Languages Literature for Home Language, Foundation Phase - Xitsonga
• TSO1507 - Applied African Language Communicative Competence for Second Additional Language - Xitsonga
• TSO1508 - Applied African Languages Grammar for First Additional Language - Xitsonga
• TSO1509 - Applied African Languages Literature for First Additional Language, Foundation Phase - Xitsonga
• TSW1505 - Applied African languages Grammar for Home Language Foundation and Intermediate Phase - Setswana
• TSW1506 - Applied African Languages Literature for Home Language, Foundation Phase - Setswana
• TSW1507 - Applied African Language Communicative Competence for Second Additional Language - Setswana
• TSW1508 - Applied African Languages Grammar for First Additional Language - Setswana
• TSW1509 - Applied African Languages Literature for First Additional Language, Foundation Phase - Setswana
• VEN1505 - Applied African languages Grammar for Home Language Foundation and Intermediate Phase - Tshivenda
• VEN1506 - Applied African Languages Literature for Home Language, Foundation Phase - Tshivenda
• VEN1507 - Applied African Language Communicative Competence for Second Additional Language - Tshivenda
• VEN1508 - Applied African Languages Grammar for First Additional Language - Tshivenda
• VEN1509 - Applied African Languages Literature for First Additional Language, Foundation Phase - Tshivenda
• XHO1505 - Applied African Languages Grammar for Home Language Foundation and Intermediate Phase - isiXhosa
• XHO1506 - Applied African Languages Literature for Home Language, Foundation Phase - isiXhosa
• XHO1507 - Applied African Language Communicative Competence for Second Additional Language - isiXhosa
• XHO1508 - Applied African Languages Grammar for First Additional Language - isiXhosa
• XHO1509 - Applied African Languages Literature for First Additional Language, Foundation Phase - isiXhosa
• ZUL1505 - Applied African languages Grammar for Home Language Foundation and Intermediate Phase - isiZulu
• ZUL1506 - Applied African Languages Literature for Home Language, Foundation Phase - isiZulu
• ZUL1507 - Applied African Language Communicative Competence for Second Additional Language - isiZulu
• ZUL1508 - Applied African Languages Grammar for First Additional Language - isiZulu
• ZUL1509 - Applied African Languages Literature for First Additional Language, Foundation Phase - isiZulu

Second Level

At the second level, students are required to take the following compulsory modules:

• ENG2601 - Applied English Language Studies: Further Explorations
• ENG2602 - Genres in Literature and Language: Theory, Style and Poetics
• ENG2603 - Colonial and Postcolonial African Literatures
• PLC2601 - Understanding Political Behaviour and Participation
• PLC2602 - Politics and Public Policy
• PSC2601 - South African Politics

Students are also required to select three modules from the following fundamentals:

• EWS2601 - Engaging with Society: Meeting the Challenges of a Changing World
• HRV1601 - Human Rights, Values and Social Transformation
• PLS2601 - Critical Reasoning
• PYC2615 - HIV/AIDS Care and Counselling in an African context

Additionally, students must select three modules from the following electives:

• ADL2601 - Administrative Law
• AFK2601 - Genre and Theme
• AFK2602 - Afrikaanse Grammatika
• AFL2601 - Communication Dynamics in African Languages
• AFL2602 - Understanding African Management Practices as Reflected in African Languages Literature and Texts
• AFL2603 - Literature and Society: a Perspective on African Languages
• AGE2601 - Archaeological Fieldwork Techniques and Analytical Methods
• AGE2602 - African Archaeology
• AHS2611 - Perspectives on North Africa in Antiquity
• AIS2604 - Utilising Electronic Library Systems and Services
• AIS2605 - Developing and Managing Information Collections
• APC2601 - Political Change in Contemporary Africa
• APC2602 - Political Economy of Africa
• APY2601 - Anthropological Theory in Practice
• APY2602 - Anthropology of Health
• APY2613 - Anthropology in an African Context
• ARB2602 - Pre-Intermediate Arabic
• ARB2603 - Intermediate Arabic
• ARH2601 - The Arts and Ideology I
• ARH2602 - Introduction to Art History in Africa
• ARH2603 - Visual Culture I
• ARM2601 - Audio-Visual Archiving
• ARM2602 - Organising Records: Classification Systems
• ARM2603 - Appraisal and Disposal of Records
• CLA2601 - Commercial Law IIA
• CLA2602 - Commercial Law IIB
• CLS2602 - Material Testimonies to the Classical World
• CLS2603 - Ancient Empires
• COM2611 - Applied Organisational Communication
• COM2612 - Brand Communication
• COM2613 - Communication Campaigns
• COM2614 - Decolonising Communication Studies
• COM2615 - Media Audiences
• COM2616 - Media Content
• CSL2601 - Constitutional Law
• DPR2605 - The Applied Public Relations Programme
• DVA2601 - Projects and Programmes as Instruments of Development
• DVA2602 - Community Development and the Basic Needs Approach
• DVA2603 - Urban Development
• FRC2601 - French Language and Culture: Intermediate
• FRC2602 - French for Professional Purposes: Introduction
• FRC2603 - French Literature: Introduction
• FUR2601 - Fundamental Rights
• HRD2601 - Education, Training and Development Practices
• HRD2602 - Training and Development Practices
• HRM2601 - Human Resource Provisioning
• HRM2602 - Human Resource Maintenance and Retention
• HRM2603 - Remuneration Practices
• HRM2604 - Performance Management Practices
• HRM2605 - Human Resource Management for Line Managers
• HSY2601 - Themes in the 19th Century History: Power and the Western World
• HSY2602 - Early State Formation, Slavery and Colonial Conquest in Africa
• HSY2603 - Transformation in Southern Africa in the 19th Century: Colonisation, Migration, Mining and War
• ICS2601 - Lived Islam in Africa
• ICS2602 - History of Islam
• ICS2603 - Foundation Sources of Islam
• ICT2621 - Structured Systems Analysis and Design
• ICT2622 - Object-Oriented Analysis
• IND2601 - African Customary Law
• INF2603 - Databases I
• INF2611 - Visual Programming II
• INS2601 - Exploring Information user Studies
• INS2602 - Investigating Information Ethics in the Information Era
• INS2603 - Introducing Information Management
• IOP2601 - Organisational Research Methodology
• IOP2602 - Organisational Psychology
• IOP2603 - Ergonomics
• IOP2604 - Psychological Adjustment in the Work Context
• IOP2605 - Human Capacity Development
• IOP2606 - Individual Differences and Work Performance
• IOP2607 - Workgroup Dynamics and Diversity
• IOP2608 - Forensic Industrial Psychology
• IPC2601 - International Organisations
• IPC2602 - International Political Dynamics
• KSK1601 - Introduction to Creative Writing: A Practical Course
• LEG2601 - Legal Aspects of Environmental Management
• LIN2601 - Language Acquisition in a Natural Environment
• LIN2602 - Language in a Changing World
• LIN2603 - Sound and Sound Structure
• LLW2601 - Individual Labour Law
• LLW2602 - Collective Labour Law
• MAN2601 - Mandarin Chinese: Intermediate Level I
• MAN2602 - Mandarin Chinese: Intermediate Level II
• MHS2611 - Classic and Romantic Music
• MHS2612 - Music in Postcolonial Africa
• MHS2613 - Music Business
• MHS2614 - Jazz Studies
• MNG2601 - General Management
• MNL2601 - Leadership
• MNM2604 - Business-to-Business Marketing
• MNM2605 - Consumer Behaviour
• MNM2606 - Advertising and Sales Promotion
• MNM2611 - Integrated Marketing Communication
• MNM2612 - E-Commerce in Business
• MNM2613 - Value Chain Marketing
• MNM2614 - Product and Price Management
• MNM2615 - Marketing in Africa
• MNY2601 - Working with Children and Young People in Communities
• MNY2602 - Moving with the People: The Church in Globalised Cities
• MNY2603 - Worship and Preaching in Diverse Communities
• MNY2604 - Developing Faith and Youth Work
• MNY2605 - Women in Society and Church
• MRL2601 - Entrepreneurial Law
• PLS2602 - African Ethics and Politics
• PLS2607 - Philosophy of Science
• PTU2601 - Portuguese Language and Culture: Intermediate Level
• PTU2602 - Modern Portuguese Literature and Society
• PTU2603 - Portuguese Language and Culture: upper Intermediate Level
• PYC2611 - Personality Theories in Context
• PYC2612 - Child and Adolescent Development
• PYC2613 - Adulthood and Maturity
• PYC2614 - Community psychology: Building foundations
• PYC2616 - Psychological Survey Development
• RSC2601 - Research in Social Sciences
• RST2601 - Understanding Religion through Objects, the Senses and Technology
• RST2603 - Understanding New Religious Movements and Developments
• SCR2601 - The Foundation of New Testament Identities: From Letters to the Gospels
• SCR2602 - Life Orientation and Biblical Interpretation
• SCR2603 - Christianity changed the world
• SCW2601 - Introduction to Law for Social Work IIA
• SCW2602 - Introduction to Law for Social Work IIB
• SOC2601 - Theories of Social Change
• SOC2602 - Globalisation and Social Change in South Africa
• SOC2604 - Sociology of Families and Social Problems
• TEX2601 - Writing Skills for the Communication Industry
• THE2601 - Faith, Jesus and Social Change
• THE2602 - Ecclesiology: Studying Faith Communities
• THE2603 - Ethics and Spirituality
• THE2604 - Christianity in South Africa
• THL2601 - Theory of the Sign in Literature and Culture
• THL2602 - Structuralist and Semiotic Theories of Genre
• THL2603 - Theories in Context - Ideology and Discourse

Third Level

At the third level, students are required to take the following compulsory modules:

• ENG3701 - Politics of the English Language: Origin, spread, responses and influences of/on the English Language
• ENG3702 - English language across contexts: Discourses, genres, and modes in the digital and non-digital ages
• ENG3703 - Theoretical Approaches to English Language and Literature
• ENG3704 - Drama in English: Engagement and change
• ENG3705 - Modern and Postmodern Literature in English
• PLC3701 - Political Ideas
• PLC3702 - Democracy and Other Forms of Regime
• PLC3703 - Political Development and Political Economy
• PSC3701 - Contemporary issues in Politics: Capita Selecta

Students are also required to select one module from the following compulsory modules:

• PSC3702 - Political Conflict and Conflict Resolution
• PSC3703 - Political Knowledge

Registration

To register for the Bachelor of Arts program, students must follow these steps:

1. Find your qualification and choose your modules.
2. Calculate your study fees.
3. Complete and submit your registration.
4. Pay your study fees.
5. After registration.

Who Can Register

Applicants (new applicants and Unisa students who applied for admission to a new qualification) may only register if they have received an offer of placement from Unisa and have accepted the offer online. Unisa reserves the right to not process and/or to cancel your registration if it is found that you were incorrectly admitted to a qualification.

Re-registering students may register for the 2026 academic year once the registration period opens. Please note: Should you wish to start a new qualification, please apply online for the alternative qualification during the prescribed application period.

How to Choose Your Modules

Each Unisa qualification is structured in such a way that you need to pass a certain number of NQF level credits within a certain amount of time in order to graduate.

• Co-requisite: Module A is a co-requisite for Module B. You want to register for Module B, but have not yet passed Module A. You must then register for both Modules A and B simultaneously. You may NOT cancel your registration for Module A unless Module B is also cancelled.
• Pre-requisite: If Module A is a pre-requisite for Module B, you must pass Module A before you may register for Module B.

You may not register for more than the allowed maximum number of credits/modules per academic year and/or semester: 60 credits per semester or 120 credits per academic year.

The maximum number of credits does not include supplementary and/or aegrotat examinations from a previous semester. Modules taken for non-degree
on-diploma purposes also count towards the maximum number of credits allowed.

You must take your available time into consideration when choosing your modules, as this will impact your academic performance. You need approximately:

• 6 to 8 hours per week for semester modules.
• 4 to 6 hours per week for year modules.

Examination Timetable

The examination timetable is available on the Unisa website.

Transitional Arrangements

Transitional arrangements are in place for students who have already started their studies.