Admission to any of the programmes at the honours level is generally based on a minimum average of 65% for the major or final year undergraduate courses. Normally, to progress to the master's level an overall average result of not less than 65% must be achieved in honours. Both the honours and master's degrees have the same structure: four taught courses and a research component. At the honours level, each of the four courses accounts for 20% of the overall mark for the degree, and the 15 000 word research essay/project accounts for the remaining 20%. At the master's level, the four courses are equally weighted and account for 50% of the overall mark for the degree, and the 25 000 word minor dissertation accounts for the other 50%.

Sociology

Sociology is a core social science discipline and postgraduate study in sociology is an ideal preparation for a wide variety of careers and occupations as well as a rewarding way to improve your current qualifications. The honours and master's courses offered provide comprehensive training in quantitative and qualitative research methods and allow you to specialize in particular types of social research. Knowledge and competence in social research is in great demand in many fields and careers. Postgraduate study in sociology also allows you to advance your theoretical knowledge and ability and to use this in making sense of, and explaining, social phenomena. The ability to apply sociological knowledge in this way is a sought after and valuable skill. Postgraduate study in sociology offers the opportunity to study specific fields and topics in sociology in depth, and thereby better qualifies you for the kind of occupation you intend to pursue.

At both honours and master's levels, students are required to undertake two of their four courses in Social Theory and Social Research respectively. The remaining two elective courses for each year may include (but are not restricted to):

Industrial Sociology

We live in a fast-changing world. The workplace has not escaped these rapid changes, especially in this age of globalisation and trade liberalisation. Workplaces have had to restructure in order to compete effectively in the global market. In the new South Africa it has also become essential to transform the workplace to ensure employment equity. Large and strong trade unions also make it essential to practice sound labour relations. This programme offered by the Sociology department aims to equip people to understand and respond appropriately to these changes.

The programme is primarily intended to support people in the fields of human resource development, labour relations, skills training and labour law. It also has a wider application to people in the fields of industry, business, trade unions, NGOs, state departments, and work-related institutions such as Bargaining Councils and SETAs (Sector Education and Training Authorities). Candidates are expected to obtain a BSocSc Honours degree within a year of study, and after an additional two to four semesters, an MPhil degree.

The two honours core courses consist of one course central to the theme of the programme and a course on social research methods. At least one of the two elective courses must be a course in labour law. The other elective course can be chosen from a variety of courses and disciplines that all relate to the theme of the programme. The master's minor dissertation is an independent research project related to the programme, carried out under the guidance of a supervisor specialising in relevant areas of study. Core courses include: (preferably at honours level) 'Regulated Flexibility': Labour Legislation and the Labour Market ; (at Masters level) Globalisation and Labour Relations; or Human Resource Development; or Diversity Implementation and Practice.

Labour Law courses include: Collective Bargaining and Strike Law; Conciliation and Arbitration; Individual Labour Law; Social Security Law. Some elective courses include: Knowledge, Learning and the Organisation of Work; Literacy, Work and ABE; 'Race' and Social Identity; Development Theories; Social Movements, Civil Society and the Working Class; Cape Town Politics and Society.

The minimum requirement for admission is a good bachelor's degree with the equivalent of a major in a relevant field of study in the social sciences or law. An undergraduate major or specialisation in Industrial Sociology, Labour Law, Human Resource Management, Organisational and/or Industrial Psychology, is a distinct advantage. A good bachelor's degree is regarded as one with an average mark of 65% or above. In exceptional cases admissions will also be considered on the basis of merit, experience and recognition of prior learning.

To enter straight into a master's degree, a candidate requires a good honours degree in a relevant field of study in the social sciences or law. Students not having completed the honours core courses, or their equivalents, will be required to undertake these as part of their suite of master's courses.

Development Studies

The humanities faculty offers a postgraduate programme in development studies, based in the Sociology department. Students may enrol for either the Honours or the MPhil degree in Development Studies, depending on their previous qualifications. This programme prepares students for entry primarily into the professional development community. This community straddles many spheres including community and non-governmental organisations, research organisations, agencies at various levels of government, media organisations and possibly corporate social responsibility offices. It is envisaged that MPhil (Development Studies) graduates will eventually take leading positions in this community; developing and disseminating knowledge about those sectors of society worst affected by socio-economic inequity, and devising strategies for them to gain access to resources and grow their capacity to optimise these resources.

Attracting students from diverse academic and national backgrounds, the programme exposes students to current theoretical trends and immerses them in the practicalities of development work. The Honours as well as the MPhil have, at their core, internships where students are expected to apply themselves in a relevant development agency.

Two of the four honours courses are compulsory, namely Development Theories and Interdisciplinary Research Methods. Students are expected to include Development Sociology in Practice as one of their electives, and choose the other from a specified range of development-relevant courses offered in various departments of the university. Similarly, two of the MPhil courses are compulsory, these being Advanced Development Theories and Research/Internship. The two electives may be selected from a specified range of development-relevant courses offered in various departments of the university. MPhil students who have not done Development Sociology in Practice at Honours level are encouraged (space permitting) to include it as one of their electives.

Diversity Studies

In examining how differences are framed to open up or close down possibilities for groups of people along various axes - race, class, gender, sexuality, ability, HIV/AIDS status, etc. - this programme develops a critical perspective on the study of social diversity. Through being exposed to theorisations of privilege/oppression, inclusion/exclusion, and centring/marginalisation, students will develop skills for analysing the complex issues related to cultural and social positioning. They will engage critically with the literature on implementation and practice, learning to address diversity-related issues in various social contexts within an agenda of broadening possibility and deepening democracy for a greater number of people.

This interdisciplinary programme, based in the Sociology department, is structured as follows:

Global Studies

Students will be registered and supervised at the university awarding the degree – either UCT or Albert Ludwigs Universitat Freiburg. In 2010, students will be taught at Albert Ludwigs Universitat Freiburg in their 1st semester and in the 2nd semester at the University of Cape Town.

The programme comprises four courses and a minor dissertation.

Compulsory Courses:

Note: One (1) UCT course can be replaced by two Freiburg courses.

Elective Courses:

The remaining courses may be selected from the list of UCT and Freiburg courses detailed below:

UCT elective courses:

Freiburg elective courses:

Subject to the approval of the programme convener, an elective offered by a cognate department may replace one or two of the listed electives.