Undergraduate & honours qualifications

Bachelor of Arts in International Relations

Qualification code: 99302
NQF level: 7
Total credits: 360
SAQA ID: 101232
APS/AS: 20
Rules:
This qualification consists of 30 modules with International Politics (IPC) must be indicated as the MAJOR. 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:
The purpose of this qualification include: 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 7), 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 via distance learning mode.

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 2024 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

ENN103F has been replaced by ENG1503, students who have already passed ENN103F may not register
ENG1503.

FUR2601 pre-requisites are ILW1501 and PLS1502, however, these modules are not part of the
curriculum.

Module (Please click on the module to see further information) Pre-requisite/Co-requisite/Recommendation
Group A. Compulsory
APC1502 - The Politics of Contemporary Africa
ECS1501 - Economics IA
ECS1601 - Economics IB (Macroeconomics I) Co-requisite:ECS1501
ENG1503 - Academic Language and Literacy in English
IPC1501 - Fundamentals of International Politics
IPC1502 - South Africa in International Politics
PSC2601 - South African Politics
Group B. Select 1 of the following (for Language Major 2 modules may be selected except in the case of Arabic)
ARB1501 - Elementary Arabic
FRC1501 - French Language and Culture: Beginners
FRC1502 - French Language and Culture: Lower Intermediate Pre-requisite:FRC1501
MAN1501 - Mandarin Chinese: Beginners
MAN1502 - Mandarin Chinese: Elementary Level Pre-requisite:MAN1501
PTU1501 - Portuguese Language and Culture: Beginners
PTU1502 - Portuguese Language and Culture: Lower Intermediate Pre-requisite:PTU1501
Group C. Select 2 of the following: (If 2 modules were selected from Group B, choose 1 from Group C)
APC1501 - Political Evolution of the African State
COM1502 - Communication Contexts and Applications
EUP1501 - Ethical Information and Communication Technologies for Development Solutions
FUR2601 - Fundamental Rights Pre-requisite:ILW1501 & PLS1502
GGH1502 - World Issues: A Geographical Perspective
ICS1501 - An Introduction to Islam
INF1505 - Introduction to Business Information Systems
PLC1502 - Understanding the State
RST1501 - Introducing Religions of the World
STA1510 - Basic Statistics

Second level

Module (Please click on the module to see further information) Pre-requisite/Co-requisite/Recommendation
Group A. Compulsory
APC2601 - Political Change in Contemporary Africa
APC2602 - Political Economy of Africa
COM2602 - Integrated Organisational Communication
ECS2603 - South African Economic Indicators Pre-requisite:ECS1601
IPC2601 - International Organisations
IPC2602 - International Political Dynamics
Group B. Select 2 to 4 from the following:
ECS2601 - Intermediate Microeconomics Pre-requisite:ECS1501
ECS2602 - Intermediate Macroeconomics Pre-requisite:ECS1601
ECS2608 - Economic History of the World Pre-requisite:ECS1601
PLC2601 - Understanding Political Behaviour and Participation
PLC2602 - Politics and Public Policy
RSC2601 - Research in Social Sciences
SOC2602 - Globalisation and Social Change in South Africa Recommendation:Students to complete SOC1501 and/or SOC1502 before they enrol for this module.
Group C. Select 1 or 2 from the following if you have selected fewer than 4 from Group B
ARB2602 - Pre-Intermediate Arabic Pre-requisite:ARB1501
ARB2603 - Intermediate Arabic Pre-requisite:ARB1501 and ARB2602
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
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
PTU2601 - Portuguese Language and Culture: Intermediate Level Pre-requisite:PTU1502
PTU2602 - Modern Portuguese Literature and Society Pre-requisite:PTU1502
Co-requisite:PTU2601

Third level

Module (Please click on the module to see further information) Pre-requisite/Co-requisite/Recommendation
Group A. Compulsory
APC3701 - The Politics of Southern Africa
IPC3701 - International Political Theory
IPC3702 - International Political Economy
IPC3703 - Diplomacy
PLC3702 - Democracy and Other Forms of Regime
PRI3701 - Principles of International Law
PSC3702 - Political Conflict and Conflict Resolution
Group B. Select 3 from the following:
APC3702 - The Politics of East Africa
APC3703 - The Politics of West and North Africa
ARB3704 - Advanced Arabic Pre-requisite:ARB1501, ARB2602 & ARB2603
ARB3705 - Basic Arabic Literary texts Pre-requisite:ARB1501, ARB2602 and ARB2603
ARB3706 - Specialist Arabic Literary Texts Pre-requisite:ARB1501, ARB2602 and ARB2603
ARB3707 - Advanced Arabic Literary Texts Pre-requisite:ARB1501, ARB2602 & ARB2603
COM3702 - Media Studies: Institutions, Theories and Issues
COM3705 - International Communication
ECS3702 - International Trade Pre-requisite:ECS2601
ECS3703 - International Finance Pre-requisite:ECS2602
FRC3701 - French Language and Culture: Advanced Oral Pre-requisite:FRC2601
FRC3702 - French for Professional Purposes: Hotel and Tourism Pre-requisite:FRC2601
FRC3703 - French Literature: France (Advanced) Pre-requisite:FRC2601
FRC3704 - French Literature: Francophone Countries (Advanced) Pre-requisite:FRC2601
FRC3705 - Practical Translation from and Into French Pre-requisite:FRC2601
HSY3701 - Decolonisation, Independence and Social Change in Modern Africa
HSY3702 - Themes in 20th Century World History: Towards Globalisation
HSY3703 - Globalisation
MAN3701 - Mandarin Chinese: Upper-intermediate level Pre-requisite:MAN2602
MAN3702 - Mandarin Chinese: Advanced Level I Pre-requisite:MAN2602
Recommendation:Students to register together with MAN3701
MAN3703 - Mandarin Chinese: Advanced Level II Pre-requisite:MAN3702
Recommendation:Students to register together with MAN3701
MAN3704 - Mandarin Chinese: Proficient Level I Pre-requisite:MAN3703
MAN3705 - Mandarin Chinese: Proficient Level II Pre-requisite:MAN3703
PSC3701 - Contemporary issues in Politics: Capita Selecta
PTU3701 - Portuguese Language for Specific Purposes: Advanced Pre-requisite:PTU2601
PTU3702 - Portuguese Translation Practice Pre-requisite:PTU3701
PTU3703 - Advanced Language Skills in Portuguese (Oral and Written) Pre-requisite:PTU3701
PTU3704 - Modern Brazilian Literature and Society Pre-requisite:PTU2601 & PTU2602
PTU3705 - Lusophone African Literature Pre-requisite:PTU2601 & PTU2602