Course Bachelor of Arts in Communications and Media

Each subject below includes its purpose, learning outcomes, main topics, practical task and assessment approach.

Academic Literacy and Study Practice

Stage 1: Foundations

Develop the reading, writing and evidence skills needed for study. You will examine reading strategies, argument structure, academic paragraphs. Write an evidence-based essay and document your revision decisions.

Learning outcomes

• Explain reading strategies in a relevant case.
• Analyse the relationship between argument structure and academic paragraphs.
• Produce a reasoned response addressing referencing, information checking and study planning.

Main topics

• Reading strategies
• Argument structure
• Academic paragraphs
• Referencing
• Information checking
• Study planning

Practical task

Write an evidence-based essay and document your revision decisions.

Assessment

Submit the practical output with supporting evidence and an individual written or oral explanation. Assessment considers subject knowledge, accuracy, reasoning and the quality of the completed work.

Digital Business Skills

Stage 1: Foundations

Use everyday digital tools to organise business information accurately. You will build reliable spreadsheets, manage documents and share work responsibly. Activities address uneven connectivity, accessible communication and the protection of personal information in small organisations and public offices.

Learning outcomes

• Build a checked spreadsheet
• Organise retrievable business documents
• Apply appropriate access permissions

Main topics

• File organisation
• Word processing
• Spreadsheet formulas
• Presentations
• Collaborative working
• Privacy and access

Practical task

Create a shared office information pack with formulas, document versions and access instructions.

Assessment

Assessment combines applied exercises, a documented case or practical portfolio and an individual written or oral explanation. Judgement considers technical accuracy, reasoning, evidence quality and the feasibility of recommendations.

Business Communication

Stage 1: Foundations

Prepare purposeful communication for colleagues, customers and decision makers. You will organise evidence, adjust tone for different audiences and check whether a message leads to the intended action. Examples include multilingual workplaces, professional correspondence and short management reports.

Learning outcomes

• Write a concise business report
• Record decisions and assigned actions
• Present evidence for a defined audience

Main topics

• Audience and purpose
• Professional correspondence
• Report structure
• Meeting records
• Presentations
• Intercultural communication

Practical task

Produce a report, meeting record and five-minute briefing about a service problem.

Assessment

Assessment combines applied exercises, a documented case or practical portfolio and an individual written or oral explanation. Judgement considers technical accuracy, reasoning, evidence quality and the feasibility of recommendations.

Philosophical Reasoning and Ethics

Stage 1: Foundations

Develop careful reasoning about knowledge and values. You will examine arguments, knowledge, moral reasoning. Write and defend a reasoned ethical argument.

Learning outcomes

• Explain arguments in a relevant case.
• Analyse the relationship between knowledge and moral reasoning.
• Produce a reasoned response addressing political values, african thought and critical dialogue.

Main topics

• Arguments
• Knowledge
• Moral reasoning
• Political values
• African thought
• Critical dialogue

Practical task

Write and defend a reasoned ethical argument.

Assessment

Submit the practical output with supporting evidence and an individual written or oral explanation. Assessment considers subject knowledge, accuracy, reasoning and the quality of the completed work.

Sociology of Education

Stage 1: Foundations

Examine how schools interact with inequality and social institutions. You will examine socialisation, school and family, class and inequality. Analyse a school-community case and propose a feasible response.

Learning outcomes

• Explain socialisation in a relevant case.
• Analyse the relationship between school and family and class and inequality.
• Produce a reasoned response addressing gender, language and social mobility.

Main topics

• Socialisation
• School and family
• Class and inequality
• Gender
• Language
• Social mobility

Practical task

Analyse a school-community case and propose a feasible response.

Assessment

Submit the practical output with supporting evidence and an individual written or oral explanation. Assessment considers subject knowledge, accuracy, reasoning and the quality of the completed work.

Microeconomics

Stage 1: Foundations

Study how households and firms make choices under scarcity. You will examine prices, incentives and market structures, then use diagrams and calculations to explain changes in behaviour. Examples include food markets, informal enterprises and access to essential services.

Learning outcomes

• Analyse a market change
• Calculate and interpret elasticity
• Compare competitive and concentrated markets

Main topics

• Scarcity and choice
• Demand and supply
• Elasticity
• Consumer choice
• Production and costs
• Market structures

Practical task

Explain a local price change using data, diagrams and alternative explanations.

Assessment

Assessment combines applied exercises, a documented case or practical portfolio and an individual written or oral explanation. Judgement considers technical accuracy, reasoning, evidence quality and the feasibility of recommendations.

Macroeconomics

Stage 1: Foundations

Examine output, employment, inflation and external trade at economy level. You will connect household and business conditions to fiscal, monetary and exchange-rate decisions. Work with published indicators while distinguishing nominal values, real changes and differences between national contexts.

Learning outcomes

• Interpret a macroeconomic indicator
• Explain a policy transmission process
• Distinguish nominal and real changes

Main topics

• National accounts
• Growth and employment
• Inflation
• Fiscal policy
• Money and banking
• External balance

Practical task

Prepare an economic conditions briefing comparing two Southern African economies.

Assessment

Assessment combines applied exercises, a documented case or practical portfolio and an individual written or oral explanation. Judgement considers technical accuracy, reasoning, evidence quality and the feasibility of recommendations.

Business Statistics

Stage 1: Foundations

Summarise data and judge the strength of numerical evidence. You will distinguish a population from a sample, choose appropriate summaries and interpret uncertainty. Business examples cover demand, customer service, workforce information and variation in operating performance.

Learning outcomes

• Select an appropriate data summary
• Interpret a confidence interval
• Explain limits of a correlation

Main topics

• Sampling
• Descriptive statistics
• Probability distributions
• Confidence intervals
• Hypothesis testing
• Correlation and regression

Practical task

Analyse an anonymised service dataset and write a short evidence report.

Assessment

Assessment combines applied exercises, a documented case or practical portfolio and an individual written or oral explanation. Judgement considers technical accuracy, reasoning, evidence quality and the feasibility of recommendations.

Business Information Systems

Stage 1: Foundations

Examine how information systems support transactions, coordination and decisions. You will map information flows, compare system requirements and recognise control weaknesses. Examples connect operational data with management reporting while considering security, user needs and the cost of maintaining dependable information.

Learning outcomes

• Map a business information flow
• Specify user requirements
• Identify an information control weakness

Main topics

• Business processes
• Information flows
• Transaction systems
• Management reporting
• System requirements
• Information controls

Practical task

Design an information-flow diagram and requirements brief for a small organisation.

Assessment

Assessment combines applied exercises, a documented case or practical portfolio and an individual written or oral explanation. Judgement considers technical accuracy, reasoning, evidence quality and the feasibility of recommendations.

Language in African Social and Legal Contexts

Stage 1: Foundations

Examine meaning and access in multilingual institutions. You will examine language and identity, meaning in context, multilingual interaction. Analyse a multilingual encounter using TjiKalanga and English examples where appropriate.

Learning outcomes

• Explain language and identity in a relevant case.
• Analyse the relationship between meaning in context and multilingual interaction.
• Produce a reasoned response addressing translation, institutional access and ethical communication.

Main topics

• Language and identity
• Meaning in context
• Multilingual interaction
• Translation
• Institutional access
• Ethical communication

Practical task

Analyse a multilingual encounter using TjiKalanga and English examples where appropriate.

Assessment

Submit the practical output with supporting evidence and an individual written or oral explanation. Assessment considers subject knowledge, accuracy, reasoning and the quality of the completed work.

Media and Communication Theory

Stage 2: Core subjects

Compare explanations of communication in social life. You will examine communication models, media institutions, audiences. Analyse a media case through two theories.

Learning outcomes

• Explain communication models in a relevant case.
• Analyse the relationship between media institutions and audiences.
• Produce a reasoned response addressing representation, power and digital change.

Main topics

• Communication models
• Media institutions
• Audiences
• Representation
• Power
• Digital change

Practical task

Analyse a media case through two theories.

Assessment

Submit the practical output with supporting evidence and an individual written or oral explanation. Assessment considers subject knowledge, accuracy, reasoning and the quality of the completed work.

Journalism and News Reporting

Stage 2: Core subjects

Develop accurate reporting around public-interest questions. You will examine news judgement, interviewing, verification. Produce a local news report and source-checking log.

Learning outcomes

• Explain news judgement in a relevant case.
• Analyse the relationship between interviewing and verification.
• Produce a reasoned response addressing story structure, attribution and corrections.

Main topics

• News judgement
• Interviewing
• Verification
• Story structure
• Attribution
• Corrections

Practical task

Produce a local news report and source-checking log.

Assessment

Submit the practical output with supporting evidence and an individual written or oral explanation. Assessment considers subject knowledge, accuracy, reasoning and the quality of the completed work.

Audio, Visual and Digital Media Production

Stage 2: Core subjects

Produce a coherent message through planned media work. You will examine audience, scripts, recording. Produce an accessible media package and production notes.

Learning outcomes

• Explain audience in a relevant case.
• Analyse the relationship between scripts and recording.
• Produce a reasoned response addressing editing, accessibility and distribution.

Main topics

• Audience
• Scripts
• Recording
• Editing
• Accessibility
• Distribution

Practical task

Produce an accessible media package and production notes.

Assessment

Submit the practical output with supporting evidence and an individual written or oral explanation. Assessment considers subject knowledge, accuracy, reasoning and the quality of the completed work.

Media Research and Audience Analysis

Stage 2: Core subjects

Investigate media use through a defined research question. You will examine audience questions, sampling, content analysis. Complete an ethical audience or content study.

Learning outcomes

• Explain audience questions in a relevant case.
• Analyse the relationship between sampling and content analysis.
• Produce a reasoned response addressing interviews, survey evidence and interpretation.

Main topics

• Audience questions
• Sampling
• Content analysis
• Interviews
• Survey evidence
• Interpretation

Practical task

Complete an ethical audience or content study.

Assessment

Submit the practical output with supporting evidence and an individual written or oral explanation. Assessment considers subject knowledge, accuracy, reasoning and the quality of the completed work.

Media Ethics and Law

Stage 2: Core subjects

Evaluate decisions through expression, rights and duties. You will examine expression, privacy, defamation. Prepare a reasoned editorial decision on a supplied scenario.

Learning outcomes

• Explain expression in a relevant case.
• Analyse the relationship between privacy and defamation.
• Produce a reasoned response addressing copyright, source protection and editorial accountability.

Main topics

• Expression
• Privacy
• Defamation
• Copyright
• Source protection
• Editorial accountability

Practical task

Prepare a reasoned editorial decision on a supplied scenario.

Assessment

Submit the practical output with supporting evidence and an individual written or oral explanation. Assessment considers subject knowledge, accuracy, reasoning and the quality of the completed work.

Consumer Behaviour

Stage 2: Core subjects

Examine how people choose, use and evaluate products and services. You will connect individual processes with household, cultural and social influences, then apply the analysis to marketing decisions. Cases require evidence-based interpretation and avoid stereotypes about regional or demographic groups.

Learning outcomes

• Analyse a consumer decision
• Assess a social influence
• Apply consumer evidence to an offer

Main topics

• Perception
• Motivation
• Learning
• Households
• Culture and reference groups
• Decision processes

Practical task

Prepare a consumer insight report from an ethical small-scale observation or supplied dataset.

Assessment

Assessment combines applied exercises, a documented case or practical portfolio and an individual written or oral explanation. Judgement considers technical accuracy, reasoning, evidence quality and the feasibility of recommendations.

Public Relations and Organisational Communication

Stage 2: Core subjects

Plan communication between an organisation and its publics. You will analyse stakeholder concerns, prepare media and internal communication materials and evaluate a response to a reputational issue. Activities emphasise accuracy, appropriate spokesperson roles and consistency between communication and organisational conduct.

Learning outcomes

• Map relevant publics
• Prepare a communication response
• Evaluate a public relations objective

Main topics

• Publics and stakeholders
• Media relations
• Internal communication
• Reputation
• Crisis communication
• Evaluation

Practical task

Produce a communication plan and briefing materials for a fictional organisational issue.

Assessment

Assessment combines applied exercises, a documented case or practical portfolio and an individual written or oral explanation. Judgement considers technical accuracy, reasoning, evidence quality and the feasibility of recommendations.

Multilingual Language Support

Stage 2: Core subjects

Develop home-language resources, additional-language development and inclusive dialogue. Use the foundation principles in more demanding teaching cases and evaluate the resulting learner evidence.

Learning outcomes

• Explain oral language in a relevant case.
• Analyse the relationship between phonics and word study and reading comprehension.
• Produce a reasoned response addressing writing development, multilingual support and literacy assessment.

Main topics

• Home-language resources
• Additional-language development and inclusive dialogue
• Writing development
• Multilingual support
• Literacy assessment

Practical task

Plan, teach and evaluate a supervised activity focused on home-language resources, additional-language development and inclusive dialogue.

Assessment

Submit the practical output with supporting evidence and an individual written or oral explanation. Assessment considers subject knowledge, accuracy, reasoning and the quality of the completed work.

Political and Development Communication

Stage 2: Core subjects

Plan public communication around participation and evidence. You will examine public audiences, campaigns, development communication. Produce a civic communication plan.

Learning outcomes

• Explain public audiences in a relevant case.
• Analyse the relationship between campaigns and development communication.
• Produce a reasoned response addressing political narratives, participation and evaluation.

Main topics

• Public audiences
• Campaigns
• Development communication
• Political narratives
• Participation
• Evaluation

Practical task

Produce a civic communication plan.

Assessment

Submit the practical output with supporting evidence and an individual written or oral explanation. Assessment considers subject knowledge, accuracy, reasoning and the quality of the completed work.

Integrated Marketing Communication

Stage 2: Core subjects

Coordinate communication activities around a clear audience and objective. You will develop messages, select channels and assess how advertising, promotion and public relations work together. The module connects creative choices with budget, accessibility, responsible claims and measurable communication results.

Learning outcomes

• Develop a communication brief
• Integrate suitable channels
• Evaluate campaign performance

Main topics

• Communication objectives
• Message design
• Advertising
• Sales promotion
• Public relations
• Campaign evaluation

Practical task

Produce an integrated campaign proposal with sample messages and evaluation measures.

Assessment

Assessment combines applied exercises, a documented case or practical portfolio and an individual written or oral explanation. Judgement considers technical accuracy, reasoning, evidence quality and the feasibility of recommendations.

Digital Marketing

Stage 3: Specialist subjects and application

Plan marketing activity across digital channels using clear objectives and reliable evidence. You will examine search, content, social platforms and email, then build measures for a customer journey. The module includes privacy, accessibility and the careful interpretation of platform-reported results.

Learning outcomes

• Plan a digital customer journey
• Develop channel-specific content
• Interpret campaign measures

Main topics

• Digital strategy
• Content
• Search
• Social channels
• Email
• Analytics and privacy

Practical task

Create a digital campaign portfolio with content examples and a measurement plan.

Assessment

Assessment combines applied exercises, a documented case or practical portfolio and an individual written or oral explanation. Judgement considers technical accuracy, reasoning, evidence quality and the feasibility of recommendations.

Brand Management

Stage 3: Specialist subjects and application

Develop and evaluate the identity and meaning of a brand for its audiences. You will examine positioning, brand architecture and consistency across touchpoints. Cases connect brand decisions with evidence about customers, organisational delivery and the responsible use of cultural associations.

Learning outcomes

• Define a brand position
• Assess brand consistency
• Recommend a brand measure

Main topics

• Brand identity
• Positioning
• Brand equity
• Architecture
• Touchpoints
• Brand evaluation

Practical task

Prepare a brand review and a practical identity and positioning proposal.

Assessment

Assessment combines applied exercises, a documented case or practical portfolio and an individual written or oral explanation. Judgement considers technical accuracy, reasoning, evidence quality and the feasibility of recommendations.

Community Development Practice

Stage 3: Specialist subjects and application

Work with communities to plan collective action. You will examine community entry, participation, needs and assets. Develop a participatory action plan using a realistic case.

Learning outcomes

• Explain community entry in a relevant case.
• Analyse the relationship between participation and needs and assets.
• Produce a reasoned response addressing local organisations, action planning and reflection.

Main topics

• Community entry
• Participation
• Needs and assets
• Local organisations
• Action planning
• Reflection

Practical task

Develop a participatory action plan using a realistic case.

Assessment

Submit the practical output with supporting evidence and an individual written or oral explanation. Assessment considers subject knowledge, accuracy, reasoning and the quality of the completed work.

Public Policy Analysis

Stage 3: Specialist subjects and application

Analyse policy problems through evidence and alternatives. You will examine problem framing, policy actors, options. Prepare a policy brief comparing practical alternatives.

Learning outcomes

• Explain problem framing in a relevant case.
• Analyse the relationship between policy actors and options.
• Produce a reasoned response addressing policy instruments, implementation and evaluation.

Main topics

• Problem framing
• Policy actors
• Options
• Policy instruments
• Implementation
• Evaluation

Practical task

Prepare a policy brief comparing practical alternatives.

Assessment

Submit the practical output with supporting evidence and an individual written or oral explanation. Assessment considers subject knowledge, accuracy, reasoning and the quality of the completed work.

Gender, Diversity and Social Inclusion

Stage 3: Specialist subjects and application

Examine unequal participation in institutions and communities. You will examine gender relations, intersectionality, discrimination. Review a programme for barriers to equitable participation.

Learning outcomes

• Explain gender relations in a relevant case.
• Analyse the relationship between intersectionality and discrimination.
• Produce a reasoned response addressing representation, inclusive practice and evidence.

Main topics

• Gender relations
• Intersectionality
• Discrimination
• Representation
• Inclusive practice
• Evidence

Practical task

Review a programme for barriers to equitable participation.

Assessment

Submit the practical output with supporting evidence and an individual written or oral explanation. Assessment considers subject knowledge, accuracy, reasoning and the quality of the completed work.

Monitoring and Evaluation

Stage 3: Specialist subjects and application

Build evidence systems for programme decisions. You will examine theory of change, indicators, baselines. Prepare a monitoring plan and evaluation questions.

Learning outcomes

• Explain theory of change in a relevant case.
• Analyse the relationship between indicators and baselines.
• Produce a reasoned response addressing data collection, analysis and use of findings.

Main topics

• Theory of change
• Indicators
• Baselines
• Data collection
• Analysis
• Use of findings

Practical task

Prepare a monitoring plan and evaluation questions.

Assessment

Submit the practical output with supporting evidence and an individual written or oral explanation. Assessment considers subject knowledge, accuracy, reasoning and the quality of the completed work.

Research Methods and Evidence Analysis

Stage 3: Specialist subjects and application

Plan an enquiry suited to a specific social or organisational question. You will compare qualitative and quantitative approaches, prepare ethical data collection and assess evidence quality. The module connects research questions to sampling, analysis and clear reporting of uncertainty and limitations.

Learning outcomes

• Formulate a research question
• Select a defensible research design
• Prepare an ethical data collection plan

Main topics

• Research questions
• Literature review
• Design choices
• Sampling
• Ethics
• Data analysis

Practical task

Submit a research proposal, instruments and a worked analysis of a pilot dataset.

Assessment

Assessment combines applied exercises, a documented case or practical portfolio and an individual written or oral explanation. Judgement considers technical accuracy, reasoning, evidence quality and the feasibility of recommendations.

Workplace Learning and Professional Portfolio

Stage 3: Specialist subjects and application

Connect taught subjects with supervised or carefully designed simulated professional work. You will agree learning objectives, record tasks and evaluate your decisions against evidence. The portfolio makes your individual contribution visible and identifies areas requiring further practice or specialist supervision.

Learning outcomes

• Set assessable workplace objectives
• Document your contribution
• Evaluate professional learning needs

Main topics

• Learning agreement
• Professional conduct
• Work evidence
• Supervisor feedback
• Reflective analysis
• Improvement planning

Practical task

Compile a verified or simulated workplace portfolio with supervisor or facilitator feedback.

Assessment

Assessment combines applied exercises, a documented case or practical portfolio and an individual written or oral explanation. Judgement considers technical accuracy, reasoning, evidence quality and the feasibility of recommendations.

Integrated Business Research Project

Stage 3: Specialist subjects and application

Investigate a defined business problem by combining knowledge from several management subjects. You will frame a useful question, gather appropriate evidence and compare feasible responses. The final report explains the recommendation, implementation implications and limitations of the enquiry rather than claiming certainty.

Learning outcomes

• Frame a researchable business problem
• Analyse relevant evidence
• Defend a feasible recommendation

Main topics

• Problem definition
• Research ethics
• Evidence collection
• Analysis
• Recommendations
• Implementation evaluation

Practical task

Complete an individual business investigation and present the resulting improvement proposal.

Assessment

Assessment combines applied exercises, a documented case or practical portfolio and an individual written or oral explanation. Judgement considers technical accuracy, reasoning, evidence quality and the feasibility of recommendations.

African History and Pan Africanism 101

Compulsory core module · Level 1

Study African history through oral, written and archaeological evidence. Examine the diversity of African societies, knowledge and exchange, then trace the emergence of Pan African ideas about identity, solidarity and self-determination.

Practical task

Create an annotated timeline or digital learning poster on a selected African society or historical development. Compare at least two credible sources and explain one connection with your field of study.

Assessment

Submit the timeline or poster, an annotated source list and a short explanation of the evidence. Assessment considers chronology, historical accuracy, source judgement and the clarity of your interpretation.

Learning resources

• UNESCO: General History of Africa

African History and Pan Africanism 201

Compulsory core module · Level 2

Examine colonial change, resistance and liberation across Africa, with attention to Zimbabwe and South Africa. Compare Pan African movements, organisations and debates, including contributions from women, workers and diaspora communities.

Practical task

Develop a comparative case study of a liberation issue or Pan African debate relevant to Southern Africa. Use a historical document alongside a scholarly account and explain differences in purpose and interpretation.

Assessment

Submit the case study, a source comparison and a reflection on your conclusions. Assessment considers context, evidence, recognition of different perspectives and the quality of your argument.

Learning resources

• UNESCO: General History of Africa
• African Union: OAU Charter

African History and Pan Africanism 301

Compulsory core module · Level 3

Evaluate the legacy of Pan Africanism in continental and regional cooperation, culture and public life. Apply historical inquiry to a heritage, community or professional issue, recognising both achievements and contested interpretations.

Practical task

Prepare a sourced heritage or civic-learning project connected with your field or a Southern African community. Explain its historical basis, audience, permission needs and limits. Obtain consent if you conduct interviews.

Assessment

Submit a project brief, an annotated source portfolio, a public-facing learning resource and an evaluation of your interpretation. Assessment considers evidence, ethical practice, historical reasoning and usefulness to the intended audience.

Learning resources

• African Union: About the African Union
• African Union: Agenda 2063
• UNESCO: General History of Africa