Undergraduate & honours qualifications

Bachelor of Arts

Qualification stream: Development Studies and Scripture
Qualification code: 99311 - DSC
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 familiarise 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.
This qualification will be presented using both online and distance learning modes.

Who can register?

  • Applicants (new applicants & 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 2025 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 do not include supplementary and / or aegrotat examinations from a previous semester. Modules taken for non-degree / non-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.

Click here for more information on managing your studies.

Curriculum for this qualification

While you are deciding on the modules for which you will be registering, write down the module names and codes so that you have something to refer to when completing your registration.

Please click on the modules below to see further information (eg semester/year module, NQF level)

First level

Module (Please click on the module to see further information) Pre-requisite/Co-requisite/Recommendation
Group A. Compulsory modules
BTH1501 - Invitation to Theology
DVA1501 - Introduction to Development Studies
DVA1502 - Development Problems and Institutions
SCR1501 - Christian Origins and Early Christian Contexts. Introduction to Early Christian Literature and History Co-requisite:BTH1501
SCR1502 - Introduction to Ancient Israelite Literature, Theology, History and Archaeology Co-requisite:BTH1501
SCR1503 - The Formation of New Testament Identities: Martyrs, Apologists, and Early Church Fathers Co-requisite:BTH1501
Recommendation:Students to register together with SCR1501
THE1503 - Africa: Cradle of Christianity Co-requisite:BTH1501
Group B. Fundamentals: Select 1 module (NB: AFC1501 is offered to NGUNI speaking students ONLY)
AFC1501 - Isandulelo kwizifundo ngezindlela zokucwaninga ulwazi lwaseThebes/ Afrika
AFL1501 - Language Through an African Lens
ENG1503 - Academic Language and Literacy in English

Second level

Module (Please click on the module to see further information) Pre-requisite/Co-requisite/Recommendation
Group A. Compulsory modules
DVA2601 - Projects and Programmes as Instruments of Development Recommendation:Students to complete DVA1501 and DVA1502 before they enrol for this module
DVA2602 - Community Development and the Basic Needs Approach
DVA2603 - Urban Development
SCR2601 - The Foundation of New Testament Identities: From Letters to the Gospels Pre-requisite:SCR1501
SCR2602 - Life Orientation and Biblical Interpretation
SCR2603 - Christianity changed the world Pre-requisite:THE1503
Group B. Fundamentals: Select 4 modules
EWS2601 - Engaging with Society: Meeting the Challenges of a Changing World
HRV1601 - Human Rights, Values and Social Transformation
PLS2601 - Critical Reasoning
PYC2605 - HIV/AIDS Care and Counselling
Group C. Electives: Select 2 modules
ADL2601 - Administrative Law Pre-requisite:ILW1501 & SJD1501
AFK2601 - Genre and Theme
AFK2602 - Afrikaanse Grammatika Recommendation:AFK1502, AFK1503
AFL2601 - Communication Dynamics in African Languages Recommendation:Students to complete AFL1501 and AFL1502 before they enrol for this module.
AFL2602 - Understanding African Management Practices as Reflected in African Languages Literature and Texts Recommendation:Students to complete AFL1501 and AFL1502 before they enrol for this module.
AFL2603 - Literature and Society: a Perspective on African Languages Recommendation:Students to complete AFL1501 and AFL1502 before they enrol for this module.
AGE2601 - Archaeological Fieldwork Techniques and Analytical Methods Recommendation:Students to complete AGE1501 before they enrol for this module
AGE2602 - African Archaeology
AHS2611 - Perspectives on North Africa in Antiquity Recommendation:Students to complete AHS1511 & AHS1502 (Old codes: CLS1502, CLS1502; ANH1501, ANH1502) before they enrol for this module.
AIS2604 - Utilising Electronic Library Systems and Services Pre-requisite:AIS1503
Co-requisite:AIS1601
AIS2605 - Developing and Managing Information Collections Pre-requisite:AIS1501 & AIS1503
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 Pre-requisite:ARB1501
ARB2603 - Intermediate Arabic Pre-requisite:ARB1501 and ARB2602
ARH2601 - The Arts and Ideology I Pre-requisite:ARH1501
ARH2602 - Introduction to Art History in Africa Pre-requisite:ARH1501
ARH2603 - Visual Culture I Pre-requisite:ARH1501
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 Pre-requisite:ILW1501 & PLS1502
DPR2605 - The Applied Public Relations Programme
ENG2601 - Applied English Language Studies: Further Explorations Pre-requisite:ENG1502
ENG2602 - Genres in Literature and Language: Theory, Style and Poetics Pre-requisite:ENG1501 & ENG1502
ENG2603 - Colonial and Postcolonial African Literatures Pre-requisite:ENG1501 & ENG1502
FRC2601 - French Language and Culture: Intermediate Pre-requisite:FRC1502
FRC2602 - French for Professional Purposes: Introduction Pre-requisite:FRC1502
FRC2603 - French Literature: Introduction Pre-requisite:FRC1502
FUR2601 - Fundamental Rights Pre-requisite:ILW1501 & PLS1502
HRD2601 - Education, Training and Development Practices Pre-requisite:HRD1501
HRD2602 - Training and Development Practices
HRM2601 - Human Resource Provisioning Pre-requisite:HRM1501 or MNB1601
HRM2602 - Human Resource Maintenance and Retention Co-requisite:HRM2601
HRM2603 - Remuneration Practices Pre-requisite:HRM1501
HRM2604 - Performance Management Practices Pre-requisite:MNB1501 or BSM1501
HRM2605 - Human Resource Management for Line Managers
HSY2601 - Themes in the 19th Century History: Power and the Western World Pre-requisite:HSY1511 & HSY1512
HSY2602 - Early State Formation, Slavery and Colonial Conquest in Africa Pre-requisite:HSY1511 & HSY1512
HSY2603 - Transformation in Southern Africa in the 19th Century: Colonisation, Migration, Mining and War Pre-requisite:HSY1511 & HSY1512
ICS2601 - Lived Islam in Africa
ICS2602 - History of Islam
ICS2603 - Foundation Sources of Islam
ICT2621 - Structured Systems Analysis and Design Pre-requisite:ICT1521& ICT1541or INF1505 or COS1521
ICT2622 - Object-Oriented Analysis Pre-requisite:ICT1521& ICT1541or INF1505 or COS1521
IND2601 - African Customary Law Pre-requisite:ILW1501 & PLS1502
INF2603 - Databases I Pre-requisite:INF1505
INF2611 - Visual Programming II Pre-requisite:INF1511
INS2601 - Exploring Information user Studies Pre-requisite:INS1501
INS2602 - Investigating Information Ethics in the Information Era
INS2603 - Introducing Information Management
IOP2601 - Organisational Research Methodology
IOP2602 - Organisational Psychology Pre-requisite:IOP1601
IOP2603 - Ergonomics
IOP2604 - Psychological Adjustment in the Work Context Pre-requisite:IOP1601
IOP2605 - Human Capacity Development Pre-requisite:IOP1601
IOP2606 - Individual Differences and Work Performance Pre-requisite:IOP2602
IOP2607 - Workgroup Dynamics and Diversity Pre-requisite:IOP1601
IOP2608 - Forensic Industrial Psychology
IPC2601 - International Organisations
IPC2602 - International Political Dynamics
KSK1601 - Introduction to Creative Writing: A Practical Course Pre-requisite:THL1501 & THL1502
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 Recommendation:Students to complete MAN1502 before they enrol for this module.
MAN2602 - Mandarin Chinese: Intermediate Level II Co-requisite:MAN2601
MHS2611 - Classic and Romantic Music Pre-requisite:MHS1511
MHS2612 - Music in Postcolonial Africa Pre-requisite:MHS1512
MHS2613 - Music Business Pre-requisite:MNB1501
MHS2614 - Jazz Studies
MNG2601 - General Management
MNL2601 - Leadership Pre-requisite:MNB1601
MNM2604 - Business-to-Business Marketing Pre-requisite:MNM1501 or MNM1502 or MNM1503 or MNM1504 or MNM1505 or MNM1506 or MNM1507 or MNB1501
MNM2605 - Consumer Behaviour Pre-requisite:MNM1601 or MNM1501 or MNM1502 or MNM1503 or MNM1504 or MNM1505 or MNM1506 or MNM1507 or MNB1501
MNM2606 - Advertising and Sales Promotion Pre-requisite:MNM1501 or MNM1502 or MNM1503 or MNM1504 or MNM1505 or MNM1506 or MNM1507 or MNB1501 or MNM1601
MNM2611 - Integrated Marketing Communication Pre-requisite:MNM1501 or MNM1502 or MNM1503 or MNM1504 or MNM1505 or MNM1506 or MNM1507 or MNM1601
MNM2612 - E-Commerce in Business Pre-requisite:MNM1501 or MNM1502 or MNM1503 or MNM1504 or MNM1505 or MNM1506 or MNM1507 or MNB1601 or MNM1601
MNM2613 - Value Chain Marketing Pre-requisite:MNM1502 or MNM1601
MNM2614 - Product and Price Management Pre-requisite:MNM1501 or MNM1502 or MNM1503 or MNM1504 or MNM1505 or MNM1506 or MNM1507
MNM2615 - Marketing in Africa Pre-requisite:MNM1601 or MNM1502 or MNM1501 or MNM1504 or MNM1505 or MNM1506 or MNM1507 or MNB1501
MNY2601 - Working with Children and Young People in Communities Pre-requisite:MNY1501
MNY2602 - Moving with the People: The Church in Globalised Cities Pre-requisite:MNY1501
MNY2603 - Worship and Preaching in Diverse Communities Pre-requisite:MNY1502
MNY2604 - Developing Faith and Youth Work Pre-requisite:MNY1502
MNY2605 - Women in Society and Church Pre-requisite:THE1502
MRL2601 - Entrepreneurial Law Pre-requisite:ILW1501
PLC2601 - Understanding Political Behaviour and Participation
PLC2602 - Politics and Public Policy
PLS2602 - African Ethics and Politics
PLS2607 - Philosophy of Science
PSC2601 - South African Politics
PTU2601 - Portuguese Language and Culture: Intermediate Level Pre-requisite:PTU1502
PTU2602 - Modern Portuguese Literature and Society Pre-requisite:PTU1502
Co-requisite:PTU2601
PTU2603 - Portuguese Language and Culture: upper Intermediate Level Pre-requisite:PTU2601 & PTU2602
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 Recommendation:RST1501 and RST1502
RST2603 - Understanding New Religious Movements and Developments Recommendation:RST1501 and RST1502
SCW2601 - Introduction to Law for Social Work IIA
SCW2602 - Introduction to Law for Social Work IIB
SOC2601 - Theories of Social Change Recommendation:Students to complete SOC1501 and/or SOC1502 before they enrol for this module.
SOC2602 - Globalisation and Social Change in South Africa Recommendation:SOC1501, SOC1502, RSC2601
SOC2604 - Sociology of Families and Social Problems Recommendation:SOC1501, SOC1502, RSC2601
TEX2601 - Writing Skills for the Communication Industry Recommendation:AFK1502 (for students who major in Afrikaans)
THE2601 - Faith, Jesus and Social Change Pre-requisite:THE1501
THE2602 - Faith, Church and Culture Pre-requisite:THE1501
THE2603 - Ethics and Spirituality Pre-requisite:THE1502
THE2604 - Christianity in South Africa Pre-requisite:THE1503
THL2601 - Theory of the Sign in Literature and Culture Pre-requisite:THL1501
THL2602 - Structuralist and Semiotic Theories of Genre Pre-requisite:THL1502
THL2603 - Theories in Context - Ideology and Discourse

Third level

Module (Please click on the module to see further information) Pre-requisite/Co-requisite/Recommendation
Group A. Compulsory modules
DVA3701 - Development Theories
DVA3703 - Development Policy and Strategies
DVA3704 - Development Planning
DVA3705 - Empowerment and Popular Initiatives
DVA3706 - Rural Development
SCR3701 - Legacy of New Testament Identities: The Establishment of Christendom Pre-requisite:SCR1501, SCR1503 & SCR2601
SCR3702 - New Testament Identities Today: Christian Discourses in the Public Spheres of Contemporary Culture Pre-requisite:SCR1501, SCR1503 & SCR2601
SCR3703 - Bible, Gender, and Ecology Pre-requisite:SCR1502
SCR3704 - Bible, Power, Politics, and Poverty Pre-requisite:SCR1502
SCR3705 - Reading the Old Testament to create new religious texts Pre-requisite:SCR1502