BA FOR THE WORLD OF WORK

• What is the degree?
• Entrance requirements
• Attending lectures and tutorials
• Costs
• Open doors to career opportunities
• Which subjects are available on the part-time programme
• 2013 Application Form

The BA for the World of Work offers a degree program with a difference.  You, the working person, are given the opportunity to study for a Bachelor of Arts degree in the evenings on a part-time basis at the University of the Witwatersrand.   The program is career directed and flexible, offering a range of our most popular courses. The same Wits standards and challenges that are distinctive of the full-time BA study program are integral to the part-time program, ensuring that you will earn a valued and valuable qualification.

The BA for the World of Work is a formative degree or programme, built up around a number of units leading to two majors. A degree is a qualification awarded by a university and recognized by employers, government and accredited by the South African Qualifications Authority (SAQA). An undergraduate degree programme involves at least 3600 “notional hours of learning” (normally 1200 hours of study a year on a full time programme and 600 hours on a part-time programme); the qualification is positioned at level 6 on the National Qualifications Framework. The degree will take you between 4 and 6 years to complete (on the part-time facility).  Students can register for a maximum of 2 full units per year.

The BA for the World at Work at Wits: 

Option 1 (See the BA Road Map):

At Wits Plus the focus in the BA part-time degree is on the Social Sciences (Psychology and Sociology). The degree is built up through study and success in a series of units or modular courses. The points attached to each unit or modular course will be 18 points per unit (modular course)[1] in First year courses, 24 points per unit in Second year courses, and 18 points per unit in Third year modular units or courses.  You earn points as you study and pass units (courses).  You normally study  12 first level units - 4 per year, (courses),  4 second level  units (courses), and  8 third level units (courses).   The ultimate goal is to earn a minimum of 456 points (with 144 points at third year level). Each degree includes two major subjects or “unit sets”.   

Option 2 (See the BA Road Map)

It is possible to include a selected range of B.Com courses in the BA degree – contributing a maximum of 180 points; this means that  one major may be studied from the B.Com range of units (courses), selected from  Human Resource Management,  Marketing and Management- but there are specific conditions  and  pre-requisites.

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[1] A modular unit or course extends over a semester. A full course or unit extends over a year or 2 semesters and earns 36 points in first year level courses, 48 in second year level courses and 72 in third year level courses.

Admission is dependent on past study success and achievements, either at school or through post-school studies. Admission based upon school results is linked to the type of matric and the symbols earned for individual subjects. An admission rating is attached to each symbol. Success in English studied on the Higher Grade (1^st or 2^nd language) – symbol of E or above is essential for admission to Wits University. Automatic entry into the BA degree will require a matric with full exemption and an admission rating score of 22 (prior to 2008 – Old Matric) or 34 points and above after 2008 (NSC ratings apply).  However if you are older than 23 an application based upon the matric school leaving certificate (leading to a conditional mature age exemption) and alternative appropriate post school study could become your route into part-time study.  

 

You need to attend lectures on the Braamfontein West Campus in the evening. Students attend one evening a week for each course being studied. Normally part-time students are allowed to study for 2 full year courses or 4 modular courses/units in a year (as you need 10 hours a week per course for lecture attendance and private study). Lectures are held in the evenings (17h15 or 17h30 – 21h00) and specified courses or tutorials are held on Saturday mornings (09h00 – 13h00). 

Remember a degree is an investment in yourself and your life. Your earning capacity rises significantly as a graduate. You add value to the economy and to your employer’s business – consult your employer or the company H R department about possible company financial support, loans or a bursary to pay your fees.

Terms of payment are in accordance with the University regulations. Part-time students are not eligible for university bursaries or residential accommodation. 

Click here for more information

Working people in fields such as education, H R and training, banking, business, the NGO sector and government will all benefit. We are targeting people with mature attitudes to learning, seeking the dual challenge of successfully combining work and study.

Study success and the attainment of a degree widens your choice of careers in the media, journalism, publishing, international commerce, business and diplomacy, adult education, human resource management and public administration.

The B A gives you a superb training in critical thinking skills, new ideas, analysis of problems, creative thinking, problem solving and decision making. This mind-empowering experience never dates and stretches across all careers with maximum flexibility.

Some Subjects that are available on the Part-Time Program*

• International Relations (level 1 module)
• Political Studies* (level 1 and 2)
• Psychology (Clinical and Industrial courses) ( levels 1, 2 and 3) - MAJOR
• Research Design and Analysis II A (Psychology 200 level)
• Sociology (levels 1, 2 and 3) - MAJOR
• Economic Concepts (level 1)
• Philosophy* (level 1)
• Communications and Learning Skills* (term 1) (level 1)
• Basic Research Skills* (term 2) (level 1)
• Facilitation Skills* (term 2) (level 1)

Arts students may be eligible to include some Commerce subjects in their degrees:

• Business Accounting /Accounting
• Commercial Law I

OR one of these B.Com majors in your BA and one of the majors mentioned (option 2):

• Human Resource Management **
• Management **
• Marketing **

Note 1 * Minimum class size for any one course is ten students

Note 2 ** Pre-requisites apply

The degree is awarded on completion of two 1^st, 2^nd and 3^rd year major units and 4 electives to make up a total of 456 points.

Click here for the BA roadmap.

 

How To Apply For The Part-Time Program? Contact Wits Plus for further information and an application form or visit our website to download the application form. Ask about our Information mornings. Proceed to complete and submit a formal application, accompanied by proof of payment of the R300 application fee, the originals of your ID, marriage certificate (if applicable), matric certificate plus post school certificates and full academic transcripts (if applicable) at our Wits Plus office on the West campus at Wits University in Braamfontein. We return your certificates to you immediately as we take copies while you wait when you bring in your application.We will certify the copies ourselves.

We do not accept faxed, e-mailed or mailed application forms or cash at the Wits Plus offices.

 

In case of further enquiries, please contact our administrator on:

Tel:  +27 11 717 9500

Email:  snradmin.witsplus@wits.ac.za