Undergraduate & honours qualifications

Bachelor of Arts in Government, Administration and Development

Qualification code: 99301
NQF level: 7
Total credits: 360
SAQA ID: 101235
APS/AS: 20
Rules:
This qualification consists of 30 modules and TWO majors selected from the following disciplines: Developmental Studies, Politics and Public Administration. 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 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

TRANSITIONAL ARRANGEMENTS/EQUIVALENCES:

DVA1601 is equivalent to DVA1502
ENN103F is equivalent to ENG1503

Second level

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

TRANSITIONAL ARRANGEMENTS/EQUIVALENCES:

COM2602 has been replaced with COM2613
COM2603 has been replaced with COM2614
ECS2607 has been replaced with ECS2606

DVA3702 is equivalent to DVA2603

As of 2025, COM2602 and COM2603 will only accept repeating students; no new students will be
admitted into these modules.

Module (Please click on the module to see further information) Pre-requisite/Co-requisite/Recommendation
Group A. Compulsory
DVA2601 - Projects and Programmes as Instruments of Development Recommendation:Students to complete DVA1501 and DVA1502 before they enrol for this module
PLC2601 - Understanding Political Behaviour and Participation
PUB2601 - Foundations of Public Administration Pre-requisite:PUB1501 & PUB1601
Group B. Select both if Development Studies is your major
DVA2602 - Community Development and the Basic Needs Approach
DVA2603 - Urban Development
Group C. Select 2 if Public Administration is your major
PUB2602 - Protection Services Pre-requisite:PUB1501 & PUB1601
PUB2603 - Creation of Wealth Pre-requisite:PUB1501 & PUB1601
PUB2604 - Welfare and Social Services Pre-requisite:PUB1501 & PUB1601
PUB2605 - Education and Culture Services Pre-requisite:PUB1501 & PUB1601
PUB2606 - Environmental Affairs Pre-requisite:PUB1501 & PUB1601
Group D. Select 2 if Politics is your major
APC2601 - Political Change in Contemporary Africa
APC2602 - Political Economy of Africa
IPC2601 - International Organisations
PLC2602 - Politics and Public Policy
PSC2601 - South African Politics
Group E. Select 3 modules from the following:
COM2613 - Communication Campaigns
COM2614 - Decolonising Communication Studies
ECS1601 - Economics IB (Macroeconomics I) Co-requisite:ECS1501
ECS2602 - Intermediate Macroeconomics Pre-requisite:ECS1601
ECS2603 - South African Economic Indicators Pre-requisite:ECS1601
ECS2604 - Labour Economics Pre-requisite:ECS1601
ECS2605 - South African Financial System Pre-requisite:ECS1601
ECS2606 - Environmental Economics
FUR2601 - Fundamental Rights Pre-requisite:ILW1501 & PLS1502
GGH2602 - The Geography of Services Provision
IOP2602 - Organisational Psychology Pre-requisite:IOP1601
RSC2601 - Research in Social Sciences
SOC2602 - Globalisation and Social Change in South Africa Recommendation:SOC1501, SOC1502, RSC2601
SOC2604 - Sociology of Families and Social Problems Recommendation:SOC1501, SOC1502, RSC2601

Third level

Module (Please click on the module to see further information) Pre-requisite/Co-requisite/Recommendation
Group B. Select 5 if DEVELOPMENT STUDIES is your MAJOR
DVA3701 - Development Theories
DVA3703 - Development Policy and Strategies
DVA3704 - Development Planning
DVA3705 - Empowerment and Popular Initiatives
DVA3706 - Rural Development
Group C. Select 5 if POLITICS is your MAJOR
APC3701 - The Politics of Southern Africa
IPC3702 - International Political Economy
PLC3701 - Political Ideas
PLC3702 - Democracy and Other Forms of Regime
PLC3703 - Political Development and Political Economy
PSC3701 - Contemporary issues in Politics: Capita Selecta
PSC3702 - Political Conflict and Conflict Resolution
Group D. Compulsory if PUBLIC ADMINISTRATION is your MAJOR (plus 2 from GROUP E)
PUB3703 - Public Policy Pre-requisite:PUB1501 & PUB1601
PUB3705 - Public Financial Administration and Management Pre-requisite:PUB1501 & PUB1601
PUB3707 - Ethics in Public Administration and Administrative Justice Pre-requisite:PUB1501 & PUB1601
Group E. Select 2 if PUBLIC ADMINISTRATION is your MAJOR (plus 3 from GROUP D)
PUB3701 - Public Management Skills Pre-requisite:PUB1501 & PUB1601
PUB3702 - Public Human Resource Management Pre-requisite:PUB1501 & PUB1601
PUB3704 - Organisational Studies in the Public Sector Pre-requisite:PUB1501 & PUB1601
PUB3706 - Reflective Public Administration Pre-requisite:PUB1501 & PUB1601