Program Overview

University Program Information

The university offers a range of programs, including undergraduate and honors qualifications, master's and doctoral degrees, and short learning programs.

Undergraduate and Honors Qualifications

The university provides various undergraduate and honors qualifications, each with its own set of requirements and curriculum.

• Bachelor of Arts
  • Qualification stream: Linguistics and Communication Science
  • Qualification code: 99311 - LCS
  • NQF level: 7
  • Total credits: 360
  • SAQA ID: 14352
  • APS/AS: 20
• 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.
• Purpose statement:
  • 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.
  • To provide learners with a variety of basic scholarly and intellectual competencies, including the ability to question critically the assumptions of a limited range of theories and authorities, and to develop an understanding of elementary research methods used within one or more disciplines.
  • To equip learners with the ability to give an accurate account of scholarly positions and the competence to express their own opinions clearly and coherently, both in written and oral communication.
  • To prepare learners for post-learner study.
  • To provide learners with a well-rounded and broad education across a number of disciplines, thus preparing them for a wide range of professions crucial to the welfare of society.
  • To produce learners who are able to think laterally, critically, and creatively.
  • To produce learners who are prepared for life-long learning.
  • To produce learners who understand the principles of, and are capable of critical citizenship.
• Qualification offered until 2028, and ONLY for students previously registered for this qualification.

Curriculum for this Qualification

The curriculum for the Bachelor of Arts in Linguistics and Communication Science includes the following modules:

First Level

• Group A: Compulsory modules
  • COM1501 - Fundamentals of Communication
  • COM1502 - Communication Contexts and Applications
  • LIN1501 - Grammatical Patterns and Concepts
  • LIN1502 - Multilingualism: the Role of Language in the South African Context
• Group B: Fundamentals - Select 2 modules
  • AFC1501 - Isandulelo kwizifundo ngezindlela zokucwaninga ulwazi lwaseThebes/ Afrika
  • AFL1501 - Language Through an African Lens
  • ENG1503 - Academic Language and Literacy in English
• Group C: Electives - Select 2 modules
  • 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
  • ENG1501 - Foundations in English Literary Studies
  • ENG1502 - Foundations in English Language Studies
  • 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
  • HFL1501 - Historical Foundations of South African Law
  • 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
  • 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
  • PLC1501 - Politics as Social Activity
  • PLC1502 - Understanding the State
  • 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

• Group A: Compulsory modules
  • COM2601 - Organisational Communication
  • COM2602 - Integrated Organisational Communication
  • COM2603 - Intercultural, Development and Health Communication
  • COM2604 - Media Studies: Mass Communication and Media Theory
  • LIN2601 - Language Acquisition in a Natural Environment
  • LIN2602 - Language in a Changing World
  • LIN2603 - Sound and Sound Structure
  • RSC2601 - Research in Social Sciences
  • TEX2601 - Writing Skills for the Communication Industry
• Group B: Fundamentals - Select 3 modules
  • 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

Third Level

• Group A: Compulsory modules
  • COM3701 - Marketing Communication
  • COM3702 - Media Studies: Institutions, Theories and Issues
  • COM3703 - Media Studies: Content, Audiences and Production
  • COM3706 - Communication Research
  • LIN3701 - Approaches in Linguistics
  • LIN3702 - Translation and Editing Techniques
  • LIN3703 - Learning and Teaching an additional Language
  • LIN3704 - Language Planning and Linguistic Description
  • LIN3705 - Text Structure and Function
• Group AB: Compulsory modules - Select 1 module
  • COM3704 - New Media Technology
  • COM3705 - International Communication
  • COM3707 - Political and Government Communication and Media Ethics
  • COM3708 - Advertising and Public Relations

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.
• Re-registering students may register for the 2026 academic year once the registration period opens.

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.
• 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.