BA Welfare Science

 

Join over 250,000 international students from Europe, USA and the rest of the world.

MDC SA has developed a unique partnership with University of South Africa (UNISA) to offer locally supported distance education programmes specifically for working people.

UNISA – The “MEGA” University

The main partner of MDC SA for this programme is the highly regarded University of South Africa (UNISA) – classed as one of the 11 leading very large universities. Founded in 1873, UNISA gained its University Royal Charter in 1876. It became the world’s first completely Distance Education University in 1946.

MDC SA is delighted to work with UNISA in the development of this programme, and has an excellent reputation for the delivery of distance education to busy individuals.

Aim of the Programme

The purpose of the programme is to provide knowledge, values and skills for service workers in various social welfare and related settings.

Career Opportunities

Local, regional and national government sectors, private and church welfare organisations and institutions, clinics, hospitals, NGOs dealing with social work and welfare matters, and institutions and organisations dealing with poverty and development issues offer career opportunities.

How it Works

The method of teaching this course is highly innovative. We call it “locally supported distance education” : learning through University supplied materials and MDC SA administration and resource centres. It is based on MDC SA “On-location” method of teaching which is so successful for postgraduate study here in the Middle East.

Locally Supported Distance Education

A specially designed study method based on Unisa’s extensive competence in distance education.  

Advantages of Locally Supported Distance Education

·        Flexibility: you study at your own pace

·        Convenience: you study from home

·        Local administrative support: through MDC SA’s regional offices

·        On-line support: through Unisa’s Student on Line (SOL) system

·        Telephone and email support: from Unisa faculty

·        On-line library access: for the your all-important research materials (journals, books, papers, etc)

·        Textbook ordering facility: speedy service at reasonable prices for your books.

Minimum Duration of Studies

The degree cannot be completed in less than three years.

Course Structure

10 modules on 1st level
10 modules on 2nd level
10 modules on 3rd level

First Level

·        Welfare science and policy (SCK101-W)

·        Introduction to social work (SCK102-X)

·        Practical work (SCK103-Y)

·            Social Welfare Law 101 (SCW101-L)

·            Social Welfare Law 102 (SCW102-M)

·        Introduction to English Studies: selves and others (ENN101-D)
           or
Introduction to English skills (ENN103-F)
(Students who obtained an A or B symbol (Higher or Standard Grade) in the Senior Certificate/Grade 12 examination in English as first or second language may select an alternative first-level module from any of the modules below)

 

plus one of the following groups of two modules:

·        Basic Psychology (PYC101-Y)

·        Psychology in society (PYC102-3)

·        Introduction to criminology: the crime problem, offenders and victims (CMY101-B)

·        Introduction to criminology: causation, explanation, prevention and reaction to crime (CMY102-C)

·        Introduction to development administration (DVA101-Q)

·        Development problems and institutions (DVA102-R)

·        Introduction to communication skills (COM101-X)

·        Persuasive communication skills (public speaking) (COM102-Y)

 

plus two of the following modules:

 

·        Introduction to sociology: societal structures and processes (SOC101-V)

·        Societal structures and processes in the South African context (SOC102-W)

·            Introductory demography (SOC103-X)

plus two of the following modules:

·        Business Management 101 (MNB101-D)

·        Business Management 102 (MNB102-E)

·        Economics 101 (ECS101-6)

·        Economics 102 (ECS102-8)

·        Know your world: introduction to geography (GGH101-G)

·        The anthropological study of culture in a multicultural context (APY101-E)

·        Culture as human resource in the African context (APY102-F)

·        Ethics and life (CMM111-P)

 

Comparative religious studies:

 

·        Introduction to the religions of the world (RST121-U)

 

Comparative religious studies:

 

·        Introduction to the theory of religions (RST122-V)

Second Level

·        Research in the Social Sceinces 201 (RSC201-H)

·        Facilitative communication in groups and communities (SCK201-3)

·        Practical work: facilitating communitcation in groups and communities (SCK202-4)

·        Welfare policy (SCK203-5)

·        Life tasks, obstacles, development resources and competency development (SCK204-6)

·        Couselling skills (PYC204-9)

·        Marriage Guidance and Counselling 201 (MGG201-W)
                 or
Marriage guidance and counselling: sexual trauma 202 (MGG202-X)

plus one of the following groups comprising two or three modules each:

·        Personality theories (PYC201-5)

·        Child and adolescent development (PYC202-6)

·        Personal, social and environmental crime perspectives, crime prevention and victimisation (CMY201-E)

·        Contemporary crime issues and reaction to crime (CMY202-F)

·        Development Administration theories (DVA201-T)

·        Rural and urban development administration (DVA202-U)

any three of:

·        Interpersonal communication (COM201-4)

·        Organisational communication (COM202-5)

·        Public relations and advertising (COM203-6)

·        Intercultural development an health communication (COM204-8)

any three of:

·        Theories of social change (SOC201-Y)

·        Globalisation and social change in South Africa (SOC202-3)

·        Sociology of social problems (SOC203-4)

·        Sociology of population (SOC204-5)

·        Sociology of families and gender relations (SOC205-6)

plus the following module, or any one of the abovementioned second-level modules not yet chosen, if you have not already selected 10 modules for this level:

·        HIV/AIDS care and counselling (PYC206-B)

Third Level

·        Social case work (WFS301-L)

·        Social group work (WFS302-M)

·        Community work (WFS303-N)

·        Practical work in social case and group work (WFS304-P)

·        Practical work: community work (WFS305-Q)

plus one of the following groups comprising five modules each:

Psychology

·        Social psychology (PYC301-9)

·        Abnormal behaviour and mental health (PYC302-A)

·        Cognition: thinking, memory and problem solving (PYC303-B)

·        Psychological research (PYC304-C)

·        Interpersonal skills in diverse contexts (PYC305-D)

 

Criminology

 

·        Crimes of violence (CMY301-H)

·        Theories of crime and crime prevention: traditional post-modern approaches (CMY302-J)

·        Contemporary crime issues: priority crimes in South Africa (CMY303-K)

·        Reaction to crime (CMY304-L)

·        Research methodology (CMY305-M)

 

Development Administration

·        Development policy and strategies (DVA301-W)

·        Development policy and strategies (DVA302-X)

·        Projects and programmes as instruments of development (DVA303-Y)

·        Empowerment and popular initiatives (DVA304-3)

·        Community development and the basic needs approach (DVA305-4)

Communication

·        Marketing communication (COM301-8)

·        Media studies: institutions and issues (COM302-9)

·        Media studies: texts and audiences (COM303-A)
                 or
New media technology (COM304-B)

·        International communication (COM305-C)

·        Communication research (COM306-D)

Sociology

·        Thinking sociologically: research methodology (SOC301-5)

·        Theorising modernity: sociological foundations (SOC302-6)

and three of:

·        Revisiting modernity: contemporary sociological theory (SOC303-8)

·        Industrial sociology (SOC304-9)

·        Sociology of education (SOC305-A)

·        Group dynamics (SOC306-B)

·        Quantitative and qualitative methods in demography (SOC307-C)

Intermediate degree qualification

To qualify for an intermediate degree qualification a student must:

·        be registered for the BA (Health Sciences and Social Services) (with specialisation in Welfare Science) degree;

·        have passed Social Work on second level, Social Welfare Law (both modules), Marriage Guidance and Counselling (MGG201 or MGG202), and one course (or the equivalent in modules) on first-year level in Communication, Development Administration, Psychology, or Sociology;

·        apply in writing for the issue of such a certificate;

·        pay the prescribed fee

Study units used for the issuing of an Intermediate degree qualification may not be used towards another Intermediate degree qualification in the same or another faculty.

No study units may be transferred from a completed degree or diploma towards an Intermediate degree qualification.

If a student is in possession of this Intermediate degree qualification, he/she may register with the SA Council of Social Service Professions as an auxiliary social worker.

Course Fees

Fees are payable in US Dollars to MDC SA. Each module is $290. Fees are subject to change from one academic year to the next.

Enquires can be addressed to:

Management Development Centre SA P.O. Box 26305

Manama, Bahrain

For more information, please contact:

Tel 00973 17216002

Fax 00973 17216007

e-mail: mdcsa@batelco.com.bh