Department of Arts and Social Sciences

Welcome message

A whole-hearted welcome to the Department of Arts & Social Sciences. We engage in high quality learning and leading-edge scholarship offering various undergraduate degree programmes as well as postgraduate qualifications across 5 disciplines. The Department offers Music, Politics and Development Studies, International relations, and Sociology. Each of our qualifications cartels acumens from the different disciplines, bringing context and breadth to teaching and learning in our institution. Our promise is the provision of a dynamic and interactive learning environment to our students focusing particularly on preparing our graduates to become global citizens under the knowledge economy in the new normal. It is our goal to not only become the base for training in the Arts and Social Sciences, but to provide teaching and research that is relevant to the region, country, and continent. Our research interests are miscellaneous, and our student activities are acclaimed world- wide. In addition to our vibrant and broad-based research culture, we expect our students to give back to the community by engaging with them in various platforms while generating knowledge and providing solutions to societal problems.

Vision

• To study and research on the human conditions and their social life for rural and regional development in Southern Africa.

Mission

• The Department will use appropriate methodologies to critically analyse, exchange ideas and knowledge to address the challenges and the needs of the disciplines in the Arts and Social Sciences through learning, teaching, research, and academic citizenship for global citizenship.

Mandate

• Both Arts and Social Sciences through their multiplicity of programmes, ranging from undergraduate to post-graduate studies, focus on understanding, meaning, purpose and goals through interpretative methods of finding the truth and explaining the causality of events for rural and regional development.

Values

• Excellence • Student learning and satisfaction • Scholarly research • Free exchange of ideas and open discourse • Promotion of innovation, discovery, and social responsibility • Diversity and inclusiveness • Accountability

Undergraduate qualifications offered

• Higher Certificate in Music
• BA Bachelor of Arts
• Bachelor of Arts in Development Studies
• Bachelor of Arts in International Relations

Admission Requirements

Admission requirement for undergraduate’s degrees is as per the university regulations. The minimum admission requirement is a National Senior Certificate (NSC) as certified by the Council for Quality Assurance in General and Further Education (UMALUSI) with an achievement rating of 4 (adequate achievement, 50-59%) or better in four subjects chosen from the recognized 20 credit NSC subjects. In addition, applicants must have a minimum point score of 30 as determined by the University (using percentages). A grade 12 certificate with exemption is required if grade 12 has been achieved before 2008, (A student must have achieved an E in English Higher Grade or a D in English Standard Grade to be registered for enrolment in the School of Human and Social Sciences). Applicants with foreign qualifications are required to submit a certificate of exemption from the South African Qualification Authority (SAQA).

Postgraduate Qualifications offered:

• Bachelor of Arts Honours in Sociology
• Bachelor of Arts Honours in Political Science
• BA Honours in International Relations
• Master of Arts
• MA in Sociology
• MA in Political Science
• MA in International Relations
• PhD in Social Science
• PhD in Sociology
• PhD in Arts and Social Sciences

Postgraduate degrees and their admission requirements

• Honours in Sociology

Requirements: The minimum requirements for admission to the Honours programme is a bachelor’s degree in Sociology or related fields with an average mark of 65%
• Masters in Sociology

Honours Degree in Sociology or related fields. Applicants should have obtained an average of at least 65% in Honours modules. Before admission, prospective students could be required by the department to demonstrate adequate knowledge of the area they intend to study as well as potential for independent research. Candidates from universities other than the University of Venda might be asked to submit their Honours dissertation to the department to assess whether the student has the capacity to do a Master of Sociology degree.

Additional admission information even though candidate meets all the entry requirements as stipulated by the university, school and department, admittance to the programme will be subject to availability of suitable staff to supervise the student.

• PhD in Sociology

Master’s degree in Sociology or related field. Applicants should have obtained an average of at least 65% at master’s level. Before admission, prospective students could be required by the department to demonstrate adequate knowledge of the area they intend to study Candidates from universities other than the University of Venda might be asked to submit their Masters dissertation to the department to assess whether the student has the capacity to do a PhD Sociology degree.

Career Opportunities:

Music: Even though Certificate in Music graduates may be employed as musicians in the SAPS band and Defence band, this qualification is merely for upgrading so that candidates can enrol for a full music degree. Those with Masters and PhD may be employed by the Department of Education, SAPS, Department of Justice, Department of Sports, Arts and Culture, SABC.
Sociology: Advice worker, Community development worker, Higher education lecturer, Policy officer, Social researcher, Youth worker, Charity officer, Family support worker, Human resources officer, International aid/development worker, Public relations officer
Development: Learners who have mastered the academic and practical skills should be employable in the civil service at national, provincial, and municipal level, as well as find work in development NGOs and academic policy analysis units, etc

Political studies: Career opportunities: Public: Public sector in government Departments and related organisations; Regional and subregional organisations such as SADC, African Union (AU), Free Trade Area (FTA); International Organisations: The United Nations and its specialised agencies such as UNESCO; UNICEF; UNDP; UNESCO; AND SO ON; Private: Business generally and Industries in particular Nongovernmental organizations (NGO) local and international such as OXFAM; CHRISTIAN AID; WORLD VISION; CIIR; among others. Academic profession such as research and teaching; Consultancy.