Undergraduate & honours qualifications

Bachelor of Arts in Political Leadership and Citizenship

Qualification code: 99304
NQF level: 7
Total credits: 360
SAQA ID: 101237
APS/AS: 20
Rules:
This qualification consists of 30 modules and Politics 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 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

PUB1601 co-requisite is PUB1501, however, this module is not part of the curriculum.

TRANSITIONAL ARRANGEMENTS/EQUIVALENCES:

COM1502 has been replaced with COM1514

DVA1601 is equivalent to DVA1502
ENN103F is equivalent to ENG1503
ENN1504 is equivalent to ENG1504

As of 2025, COM1502 will only accept repeating students; no new students will be admitted into this
module.

Module (Please click on the module to see further information) Pre-requisite/Co-requisite/Recommendation
Group A. Compulsory
COM1514 - Fundamentals of Decolonising Media
IPC1502 - South Africa in International Politics
PLC1501 - Politics as Social Activity
PLC1502 - Understanding the State
Group B. Select 1 from the following:
ECS1501 - Economics IA
MNB1501 - Business Management IA
Group C. Select 1 from the following:
AFK1501 - Voetspore: Op reis deur die Afrikaanse Letterkunde
AFK1502 - Inleiding tot teksontwerp in Afrikaans
AFK1503 - Afrikaans Vandag: Taalkunde en skriftelike kommunikasie
AFL1501 - Language Through an African Lens
AFL1502 - African Language and Culture in Practice
ARB1501 - Elementary Arabic
ENG1501 - Foundations in English Literary Studies
ENG1502 - Foundations in English Language Studies
ENG1503 - Academic Language and Literacy in English
ENG1504 - Practising Workplace English
FRC1501 - French Language and Culture: Beginners
FRC1502 - French Language and Culture: Lower Intermediate Pre-requisite:FRC1501
ICS1501 - An Introduction to Islam
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 D. Select 2 from the following:
DVA1502 - Development Problems and Institutions
ECS1601 - Economics IB (Macroeconomics I) Co-requisite:ECS1501
MNB1601 - Business Management IB Pre-requisite:MNB1501
PUB1601 - The Structuring and Functioning of Public Services Co-requisite:PUB1501
Group E. Select 2 from the following:
APC1501 - Political Evolution of the African State
APC1502 - The Politics of Contemporary Africa
EUP1501 - Ethical Information and Communication Technologies for Development Solutions
GGH1502 - World Issues: A Geographical Perspective
INF1505 - Introduction to Business Information Systems
PYC1502 - Psychology in Society
SOC1502 - Understanding South Africa: Families, Education, Identities and Inequality
STA1510 - Basic Statistics

Second level

ADL2601 pre-requisites are ILW1501 and SJD1501, however, these modules are not part of the
curriculum.
CSL2601 and FUR2601 pre-requisites are ILW1501 and PLS1502, however, these modules are not part of
the curriculum.
IOS2601 pre-requisite is ILW1501, however, this module is not part of the curriculum.

Module (Please click on the module to see further information) Pre-requisite/Co-requisite/Recommendation
Group A. Compulsory
APC2601 - Political Change in Contemporary Africa
IPC2601 - International Organisations
PLC2601 - Understanding Political Behaviour and Participation
PLC2602 - Politics and Public Policy
PSC2601 - South African Politics
Group B. Select 5 from the following:
ADL2601 - Administrative Law Pre-requisite:ILW1501 & SJD1501
APC2602 - Political Economy of Africa
CSL2601 - Constitutional Law Pre-requisite:ILW1501 & PLS1502
ECS2601 - Intermediate Microeconomics Pre-requisite:ECS1501
ECS2602 - Intermediate Macroeconomics Pre-requisite:ECS1601
ECS2603 - South African Economic Indicators Pre-requisite:ECS1601
FUR2601 - Fundamental Rights Pre-requisite:ILW1501 & PLS1502
IOS2601 - Interpretation of Statutes Pre-requisite:ILW1501
Co-requisite:SCL1501, ADL2601 & CSL2601
IPC2602 - International Political Dynamics
PYC2601 - Personality Theories
RSC2601 - Research in Social Sciences
SOC2602 - Globalisation and Social Change in South Africa Recommendation:SOC1501, SOC1502, RSC2601

Third level