Department of Human Sciences

Welcome Message

Welcome to the Department of Human Sciences. This Department comprises professionals and highly qualified staff members with various expertise in theology, anthropology, archaeology, and history. Through the multiplicity of disciplines, the Department aims to produce students who are creative, innovative, entrepreneurial, and competitive both locally and globally.

About the Department

The Department of Human Sciences under the Faculty of Humanities, Social Sciences and Education houses the following disciplines: Theology, Anthropology, Archaeology, and History with their different specializations. The Department is consisted of eight highly qualified staff members with vast experience in their fields (theologians, anthropologists, archaeologists, and historians). The Department is engaged in diverse scholarly work and has linkages and partnerships both locally and internationally through its staff members.

VISION

• To advance the University’s engaged scholarship through teaching, learning and research in the region and beyond.

MISSION

• To be a leading Department that produces graduates and future leaders who are influential locally and globally, by creating a vibrant and supportive intellectual environment that promotes freedom of enquiry, search of knowledge and truth.

Programmes Offered:

Theology
Anthropology
Archaeology
History

Undergraduate Programmes

• Bachelor of Theology

Admission Requirement:

Entry level requirement is grade 12 or RPL according to the university policy.

Career opportunities:
Students who will have mastered the academic and practical skills should be employable in religious communities, e.g., the church ministry as pastors, church leaders, as well as teachers in Sunday Schools and Christian Schools. There are also posts as chaplains in the SANDF, SAPS, Correctional Services, and other governmental departments, as well as pastoral counsellors in Hospitals and other health care organizations. Job opportunities are also available in non-governmental organisations (NGO) such as Christian Aid among others. The academic profession such as research and teaching of theology is also an option.

Postgraduate Programmes:

• Bachelor of Arts Honours in Theology

Admission Requirements:

Minimum qualification is an undergraduate degree in theology or related field with an average of at least 60% pass mark in Theology third year level modules. Students will be required to complete four + one (4+1) modules, one of which is a research project.

• Master of Arts in Theology

Admission requirements:

An Honours degree in either Theology or related field from this or another university. Students must have obtained an average of 65% in the Honours degree. The MA in Theology is by dissertation only. Students must submit a mini research proposal (5-6 pages) together with their application and this proposal will be read before the department once vetted by the appointed supervisor(s).

• PhD in Theology

A master’s degree in theology or related fields from this or another university. Students must have obtained an average of 65% in the master’s degree. The PhD in Theology is by thesis only. Students must submit a mini research proposal (7-8 pages) together with their application and this proposal will be read before the department once vetted by the appointed supervisor(s).

Postgraduate Programmes:

• Bachelor of Arts Honours in Anthropology

Admission Requirements: Minimum qualification is an undergraduate degree with an average of at least 65% pass mark in Anthropology/Socio-cultural Anthropology/Social Anthropology/Applied Anthropology third year level modules.
Students will be required to complete eight (8) modules, one of which is a research project. All First Semester modules are compulsory as they form the core content of the programme. Students choose four (4) electives from the six Second Semester modules to complete the programme package.

Master of Arts in Anthropology

Admission requirements:

An Honours degree in either Anthropology or Applied Anthropology from this or another university. Students must have obtained an average of 65% in the Honours degree. The MA in Anthropology is by dissertation only. Students must submit a mini research proposal (5-6 pages) together with their application and this proposal will be read before the department once vetted by the appointed supervisor(s).

PhD in Anthropology

A Master’s degree in Anthropology from this or another university. Students must have obtained an average of 65% in the Master’s degree. The PhD in Anthropology is by thesis only. Students must submit a mini research proposal (7-8 pages) together with their application and this proposal will be read before the department once vetted by the appointed supervisor(s).

Bachelor of Arts Honours in Applied Anthropology

Minimum qualification is an undergraduate degree with an average of at least 60% pass mark in Applied Anthropology/Anthropology/Socio-cultural Anthropology/Social Anthropology third year level modules. Students will be required to complete eight (8) modules, one of which is a research project. All First Semester modules are compulsory as they form the core content of the programme. Students choose four (4) electives from the six Second Semester modules to complete the programme package.

Career Opportunities for both Anthropology & Applied Anthropology:

Academic careers in anthropology may include epidemiology, public health, ethnic studies, cultural studies, Public and private museums
Careers in the corporate world:
Many corporations look explicitly for anthropologists, recognizing the utility of their perspective on a corporate team. A corporate anthropologist working in market research might conduct targeted focus groups to examine consumer preference patterns not readily apparent through statistical or survey methods. These anthropologists use their research skills to talk to consumers and users of technology to find out how products and services could be improved to better meet the needs of consumers.

Careers in non-Profit Community-based organisations (CBRO’s)
Non-governmental organizations, such as international health organizations and development banks employ anthropologists to help design and implement a wide variety of programs. This is rendered possible by the fieldwork experience of blending into communities that anthropologists acquire while studying. They are used by non-governmental organisations to blend into communities and gather information about local needs and desirabilities that assist in the implementations of those programmes.
Many anthropologists work in local, community-based settings for non-profit agencies. Sometimes, they work through community-based research organizations like the Institute for Community Research.

• Bachelor of Arts Honours in Archaeology
Minimum qualification is an undergraduate degree with an average of at least 65% pass mark in Archaeology third year level modules.
Students will be required to complete eight (8) modules, one of which is a research project. All First Semester modules are compulsory as they form the core content of the programme. Students choose four (4) electives from the six Second Semester modules to complete the programme package.

Career opportunities in Archaeology:
Possible career paths include international development, cultural resource management, the legislative branch, forensic and physical anthropology, academic/ researcher, conservator/conservation officer, heritage manager, Museum officer/ Curator and exhibition officer, Tourism officer/ Archivist and natural resource management.

Contract archaeology is a growing occupation with the National Heritage Resources Act (Act 25 of 1999) mandates to assess cultural resources affected by both private and government funded projects. Forensic anthropologists not only work with police departments to help identify mysterious or unknown remains but also work in university and museum settings. They are also contracted in processes of grave removals in cases where such graves are affected by both private and government funded projects. This process is carried out in conjunction with community consultation about the graves.
Master of Arts in Archaeology

Admission requirements:

An Honours degree in Archaeology from this or another university. Students must have obtained an average of 65% in the Honours degree. The MA in Archaeology is by dissertation only. Students must submit a mini research proposal (5-6 pages) together with their application and this proposal will be read before the department once vetted by the appointed supervisor(s).

PhD in Archaeology (ARC 7000)

A Master’s degree in Archaeology from this or another university. Students must have obtained an average of 65% in the Master’s degree. The PhD in Archaeology is by thesis only. Students must submit a mini research proposal (7-8 pages) together with their application and this proposal will be read before the department once vetted by the appointed supervisor(s).

Bachelor of Arts Honours in History
Minimum qualification is an undergraduate degree with an average of at least 65% pass mark in History third year level modules.

Master of Arts in History
An Honours degree in History from this or another university. Students must have obtained an average of 65% in the Honours degree. The MA in History is by dissertation only. Students must submit a mini research proposal (5-6 pages) together with their application and this proposal will be read before the department once vetted by the appointed supervisor(s).

PhD in History

A Master’s degree in history from this or another university. Students must have obtained an average of 65% in the Master’s degree. The PhD in History is by thesis only. Students must submit a mini research proposal (7-8 pages) together with their application and this proposal will be read before the department once vetted by the appointed supervisor(s).

Career Opportunities

History provides students with fundamental training needed for careers in research, teaching, public history, government service and a host of non-profit sectors. Its graduates serve as first-rate historians, highly qualified teachers at the elementary and secondary levels, researchers and consultants, curators, cultural officers, foreign service officers, management professionals, community organisers and public servants.