Development Studies

Human and Social Development Study Programme

The Department of Development Studies is making a specific academic contribution through two broad disciplinary areas of study:

  1. Human Development – This is a people-centred disciplinary area focusing on enhancing responsible knowledge, religious formation skills and training through modules that cover two key thematic areas:
    • Principles of human development (Emotional and Social Intelligence) providing social, cognitive, emotional and physical development.
    • Community and societal leadership providing management, guidance, direction and creating vision. This is for taking on managerial and leadership positions in the parish communities and related communal and societal organising and organisations.
  2. Social Development – This is a change-making disciplinary area focusing on enhancing responsible knowledge, understanding, skills and training for improved livelihoods in communities and society through modules covering seven key thematic areas:
    • Community development.
    • Social advocacy, dialogue, mobilization and communication.
    • Humanitarian, social cohesion and community rebuilding.
    • Social, economic and Environmental justice.
    • Gender justice.
    • Education development.
    • Ancillary health care.

Online Application for 2025 Bachelor of Arts in Human & Social Development are now open. . BAHSD Online Application

For whom is this Programme?

The Bachelor of Arts in Human and Social Development programme is designed for persons who wish to engage, or who are already engaged, in contexts of the public sector, non-governmental and private institutions as development practitioners. This programme aims to produce graduates who are academically competent to pursue postgraduate studies or to work within the fields of the humanities and social sciences.

  • Bachelor of Arts in Human and Social Development is a 3 year NQF level 7 qualification, with a minimum of 360 Credit component.

DEPARTMENT VISION

To open up new doors of Catholic higher education by educating people for social change among the missing middle in South Africa and beyond.

DEPARTMENT MISSION

To produce students qualified for responsible people- centred social change leadership in communities and society in South Africa and beyond.

DEPARTMENT GOAL

To make complicated theoretical knowledge and concepts understandable to students and applicable to the students’ personal and professional development environment.

This is a change-making disciplinary area focusing on en- hancing responsible knowledge, understanding, skills and training for improved livelihoods in communities and society through modules covering seven key thematic areas:

  • Community development.
  • Social advocacy, dialogue, mobilization and

communication.

  • Humanitarian, social cohesion and community rebuilding.
  • Social, economic and environmental justice.
  • Gender justice.
  • Education development.
  • Ancillary health care and HIV & AIDS.

Target Group and Viability

Male and female candidates in Africa interested in serving African societies and beyond as community and organization leaders and practitioners for people-centred social change.

Admission Criteria
Applicants must meet the minimum entrance requirements, which are a score of 16 points in the National Senior Certificate, or the equivalent. Thus, to be admitted into the BA degree programme, candidates should have attained:

  1. A National Senior Certificate (NSC) as certified by Umalusi, Senior Certificate (SC) or equivalent (especially for students from outside of South Africa).
  2. The NSC/SC should have a minimum rating of 4 (Adequate Achievement, 50%-59%) or better in four subjects.
  3. The student must have obtained at least 40% in English, which is the medium of instruction in the Institute.
  4. All students must undergo and pass adequately an English proficiency test administered by an expert in TOEFL.
  5. Other considerations assessed through RPL and CAT processes:
    • Advanced Certificate in Human and Social Development (NQF Level 6)

Programme Duration

The BA programme is offered to students on a minimum duration of three years, i.e. a minimum of six semesters for full-time contact. Students are usually required to attend lectures on a full time basis.
Students are offered this programme on a part-time basis. Thus they may be admitted with the necessary adjustments to the programme for a minimum duration of no more than six years, i.e. twelve semesters.

All students have to meet the minimum admission requirements of NSC/SC rating of 4 (Adequate Achievement, 50%-59%) or better in four subjects, and at least 40% in English, which is the medium of instruction in the Institute.

  • For admission into a Bachelor of Arts programme, a candidate should specifically have the Bachelor’s Pass (University entry) at National Senior Certificate (NSC) or equivalent.
  • NSC Diploma Pass (FET entry) at National Senior Certificate (NSC) will be admitted into a non- degree purpose programme to later transfer into BA programme.

Credit Components

The BA degree programme has minimum credit component of 360 credit points. Students are expected to successfully complete all the modules that are offered and attain this minimum credit component. However, due to the fact that some students do not complete their studies in an unbroken sequence, as others come from institutions where they have done part of their studies, and because the sequence of modules taught at the Institute changes from time to time due to unforeseen circumstances, it is accepted that not all students will be able to take all the possible modules.

Programme Exit Level Outcomes

At the end of this programme, students will be able to:

  • Demonstrate competence in applying the basic knowledge of theoretical principles of human and social development by identifying, problem solving and reflecting on current affairs in the field of development studies.
  • Demonstrate effective knowledge competence by engaging different role players in human and social development discourses and development studies.
  • Analyse and critically evaluate human and social development scenarios and develop meaningful suggestions and advice to the designing and writing of a full development plan in the field of development studies.
  • Organise and coordinate resources and opportunities in the field of development studies by applying the relevant theoretical aspects of human and social development.
  • Practice acceptable social sensitivity with others and work effectively in self-directed human and social development teams by reflecting on and implementing relevant theories of leadership and teamwork in the field of development studies.
  • Make use of appropriate e-World technologies in expanding human and social development attention in the field of development studies.
  • Advocate for and promote responsible local and global citizenship by applying the holistic human and social development approaches in the field of development studies.
  • Merge personal and academic development with employability in the field of development studies.

Contact the Department – hodds@sjti.ac.za