Undergraduate & honours qualifications

Bachelor of Arts

Qualification stream: Economics and Communication Studies
Qualification code: 99311 - ECO
NQF level: 7
Total credits: 360
SAQA ID: 14352
APS/AS: 20
Rules:
This qualification consists of 29 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. Some of the pre-requisites and/ or co-requisites outlined in this qualification may not apply as they do not form part of the curriculum.
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

QMI1500 co-requisite is BNU1501, however this module is not applicable to this stream.
null

Module (Please click on the module to see further information) Pre-requisite/Co-requisite/Recommendation
Group A. Compulsory modules: Select 2 modules
COM1511 - Principles of Decolonial Communication
COM1512 - Disruption and Communication
COM1513 - Communication in the context of the organisation
COM1514 - Fundamentals of Decolonising Media
Group B. Fundamentals: Select 3 modules (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
HRV1601 - Human Rights, Values and Social Transformation
Group AA. Compulsory modules
ECS1501 - Economics IA
ECS1601 - Economics IB (Macroeconomics I) Co-requisite:ECS1501
Group AB. Compulsory modules: Select 1 module
DSC1520 - Quantitative Modelling I
QMI1500 - Elementary Quantitative Methods Co-requisite:BNU1501

Second level

Module (Please click on the module to see further information) Pre-requisite/Co-requisite/Recommendation
Group A. Compulsory modules
RSC2601 - Research in Social Sciences
TEX2601 - Writing Skills for the Communication Industry Recommendation:AFK1502 (for students who major in Afrikaans)
Group B. Group B. Fundamentals: Select 2 modules
EWS2601 - Engaging with Society: Meeting the Challenges of a Changing World
PLS2601 - Critical Reasoning
PYC2605 - HIV/AIDS Care and Counselling
Group AA. Compulsory modules
ECS2601 - Intermediate Microeconomics Pre-requisite:ECS1501
ECS2602 - Intermediate Macroeconomics Pre-requisite:ECS1601
ECS2603 - South African Economic Indicators Pre-requisite:ECS1601
Group AB. Compulsory modules: Select 4 modules
COM2611 - Applied Organisational Communication
COM2612 - Brand Communication
COM2613 - Communication Campaigns
COM2614 - Decolonising Communication Studies
COM2615 - Media Audiences
COM2616 - Media Content
Group AC. Compulsory modules: Select 1 module
ECS2604 - Labour Economics Pre-requisite:ECS1601
ECS2605 - South African Financial System Pre-requisite:ECS1601
ECS2606 - Environmental Economics
ECS2608 - Economic History of the World Pre-requisite:ECS1601
ECS2609 - Economic History of South Africa Pre-requisite:ECS1601

Third level

Module (Please click on the module to see further information) Pre-requisite/Co-requisite/Recommendation
Group A. Compulsory module
COM3714 - Decolonising Communication Research (Offered from 2026)
Group AA. Compulsory module
ECS3706 - Econometrics Pre-requisite:ECS2601, ECS2602 & DSC1520 or QMI1500 or [STA1501 & STA1502]
Group AB. Compulsory modules: Select 3 modules
COM3711 - Communication for Social Change: Health, development and intercultural perspectives (Offered from 2026)
COM3712 - Communication Policy (Offered from 2026)
COM3713 - Critical Organisational Communication (Offered from 2026)
COM3715 - Global Communication (Offered from 2026)
COM3716 - Media Industries and Institutional Culture (Offered from 2026)
COM3717 - Political and Government Communication (Offered from 2026)
Group AC. Compulsory modules: Select 4 modules
ECS3701 - Monetary Economics Pre-requisite:ECS2602
ECS3702 - International Trade Pre-requisite:ECS2601
ECS3703 - International Finance Pre-requisite:ECS2602
ECS3704 - Public Economics Pre-requisite:ECS2601
ECS3705 - History of Economic Thought Pre-requisite:ECS2601 & ECS2602
ECS3707 - Development Economics Pre-requisite:ECS2601 & ECS2602