UNISA Sociology Course Module 2025-2026
Major combinations:
NQF Level: 5: SOC1501, SOC1502
NQF Level: 6: SOC2601, SOC2602, SOC2604 and RSC2601
NQF Level: 7: SOC3701, SOC3702, SOC3703, SOC3704, SOC3705.
| Theories of Social Change – SOC2601 |
| Under Graduate Degree |
Semester module |
NQF level: 6 |
Credits: 12 |
| Module presented in English |
|
| Purpose: To understand the emergence and nature of industrial capitalism in terms of classical and contemporary sociological theories of social change, and to enable students to apply this understanding in the analysis of contemporary society. |
| Research Report in the Field of Work and Social Identity – HRSOC81 |
| Honours |
|
NQF level: 8 |
Credits: 36 |
| Module presented in English |
Module presented online |
| Purpose: To produce a portfolio of evidence containing the results of a guided research process in the fields of work and social identity. This research deals with theories, fundamental issues in the field and an empirical application. |
| Globalisation and Social Change in South Africa – SOC2602 |
| Under Graduate Degree |
Semester module |
NQF level: 6 |
Credits: 12 |
| Module presented in English |
|
| Purpose: To gain insight into the changing nature of social institutions such as the state, the economy and civil society, and to apply this insight to understanding social change in contemporary South Africa in the context of globalisation and global capitalism. |
| Social Behavioural Aspects of HIV/AIDS – SBH4801 |
| Honours |
Year module |
NQF level: 8 |
Credits: 24 |
| Module presented in English |
Module presented online |
|
Co-requisite: PYC4806 |
| Purpose: To allow students to critically engage at a theoretical level and with advanced knowledge with the social and behavioural aspects of HIV and AIDS within the African and global context to: (a) demonstrate an advanced understanding of the social and behavioural aspects of theories of HIV and AIDS; (b) explore critically the impact of HIV and AIDS on sustainable development and population growth; and (c) develop and promote intervention directed to achieving healthy lifestyles and HIV-prevention by applying social behaviour change theories and models. |
| Sociology of Families and Social Problems – SOC2604 |
| Under Graduate Degree |
Semester module |
NQF level: 6 |
Credits: 12 |
| Module presented in English |
|
| Purpose: To enable students to develop an understanding of the nature of families, gender relations as well as social problems affecting families and society as a whole. Studying the causes and consequences of social problems such as unemployment, poverty and inequality (with special reference to South Africa), will contribute to solutions of these problems. This knowledge will also assist students in analysing families and gender dynamics in different societies. |
| HIV/AIDS Programme Management – SBH4803 |
| Post Graduate Diploma |
Year module |
NQF level: 8 |
Credits: 24 |
| Module presented in English |
Module presented online |
| Purpose: The purpose of this module is to equip students with theoretical and applied knowledge and skills in Social Policy and Programme Design to: (a) have a comprehensive and systematic knowledge base on the purpose and use of social policies and programmes in addressing social issues such as HIV and AIDS in South Africa and Africa; (b) identify appropriate and applicable social and/or social behaviour change theories to design social policies and programmes; and (c) design a programme framework on a selected social issue like HIV and AIDS by following the steps in social programme design and development. |
| Social Behaviour Aspects in HIV/AIDS – SB7002U |
|
Year module |
NQF level: 7 |
Credits: 24 |
| Module presented in |
|
| Purpose: To allow students to critically engage at a theoretical level and with advanced knowledge with the social and behavioural aspects of HIV and AIDS within the African and global context to: (a) demonstrate an advanced understanding of the social and behavioural aspects of theories of HIV and AIDS; (b) explore critically the impact of HIV and AIDS on sustainable development and population growth; and (c) develop and promote intervention directed to achieving healthy lifestyles and HIV-prevention by applying social behaviour change theories and models. |
| Social Responses to HIV/AIDS – SBH4805 |
| Honours,Post Graduate Diploma |
Year module |
NQF level: 8 |
Credits: 24 |
| Module presented in English |
Module presented online |
| Purpose: is to equip students with advanced knowledge and applied skills to coordinate the planning of an integrated social response to the AIDS pandemic within the African and global context to: (a) identify and analyse the interrelated social and behaviour issues influencing social responses to the AIDS pandemic across Africa and globally; (b) interrogate the nature and types of current social responses to the AIDS pandemic; and (c) conduct a stakeholder analysis for the design and develop an integrated social response to the AIDS epidemic within a local community. |
| Designing Social Programmes in Social Sciences – SB7003V |
| Honours |
Year module |
NQF level: 7 |
Credits: 24 |
| Module presented in English |
|
| Purpose: To equip students with theoretical and applied knowledge and skills in Social Policy and Programme Design to: (a) have a comprehensive and systematic knowledge base on the purpose and use of social policies and programmes in addressing social issues such as HIV and AIDS in South Africa and Africa; (b) identify appropriate and applicable social behaviour change theories to design social policies and programmes; and (c) design a programme framework on a selected social issue like HIV and AIDS by following the steps in social programme design and development. |
| Religious Discourse and Practices Surrounding HIV/AIDS – SBH4806 |
| Honours |
Year module |
NQF level: 8 |
Credits: 24 |
| Module presented in English |
Module presented online |
| Purpose: is to introduce students to the wide range of religious practices and actions that impact on HIV/AIDS. Based on a theory of human action that contains world-view, ethical, ecological and practical dimensions, students are equipped with theoretical as well as applied competencies in order to engage religious discourse regarding issues of prevention, cure and care of persons, families, organisations and communities affected by HIV and AIDS. Upon completion students should (a) have a comprehensive and systematic knowledge of how religious discourses shape social actions of prevention, cure and care of HIV/AIDS patients; (b) identify and analyse such discourses on issues such as gender, body, sexuality and stigma that play a role in shaping social action in regards to HIV/AIDS; and (c) explore constructive modes of employing religious texts, discourse and symbols in bringing about and sustaining positive social action. |
| Social Response in HIV/AIDS – SB7005X |
|
Year module |
NQF level: 7 |
Credits: 12 |
| Module presented in |
|
| Purpose: To equip students with advanced knowledge and applied skills to coordinate the planning of an integrated social response to the AIDS pandemic within the African and global context to: (a) identify and analyse the interrelated social behaviour issues influencing social responses to the AIDS pandemic across Africa and globally; (b) interrogate the nature and types of current social responses to the AIDS pandemic; and (c) conduct a stakeholder analysis for the design and development of an integrated social response to the AIDS epidemic within a local community. |
| Thinking Sociologically: Research Methodology – SOC3701 |
| Under Graduate Degree |
Semester module |
NQF level: 7 |
Credits: 12 |
| Module presented in English |
|
| Pre-requisite: RSC2601 |
|
| Purpose: Approaches to social science research, the research process, specific sociological research techniques, working with data, and reflecting on social research. |
| Industrial Sociology – SOC3702 |
| Under Graduate Degree |
Semester module |
NQF level: 7 |
Credits: 12 |
| Module presented in English |
|
| Purpose: A critical sociological perspective on the nature of work and industrial relations, and its application to work and industrial relations in South Africa. |
| Sociology of Education – SOC3703 |
| Under Graduate Degree |
Semester module |
NQF level: 7 |
Credits: 12 |
| Module presented in English |
|
| Purpose: Sociological analysis of relationships between education and social inequality. |
| Group Dynamics – SOC3704 |
| Under Graduate Degree |
Semester module |
NQF level: 7 |
Credits: 12 |
| Module presented in English |
|
| Purpose: Sociological analysis of group processes, social interaction, social structure, social movements, and identity. |
| Theorising Modernity: Classical and Contemporary Social Theory – SOC3705 |
| Under Graduate Degree |
Semester module |
NQF level: 7 |
Credits: 12 |
| Module presented in English |
|
| Purpose: Classical and contemporary sociological theories. |
| Research Project – SOSNAVN |
|
|
NQF level: 7 |
Credits: 24 |
| Module presented in |
Module presented online |
| Purpose: To produce a portfolio of evidence containing the results of a guided research process in the fields of work and social identity. This research deals with theories, fundamental issues in the field and an empirical application. |
| Problematising Modernity – SOSTH1X |
| Honours |
|
NQF level: 7 |
Credits: 24 |
| Module presented in English |
Module presented online |
| Purpose: To engage with modernity as a social phenomenon in both Western and non-Western societies and studying its challenges and opportunities. |
| Social Change and Reconstruction Challenges in Developing Societies – SOSTH2Y |
| Honours |
|
NQF level: 7 |
Credits: 24 |
| Module presented in English |
Module presented online |
| Purpose: To enable students to explore critically social change and reconstruction challenges in the fields of poverty, stratification, and development. |
| Community, Society and Inequality in a Globalised World: Introduction to Sociology – SOC1501 |
| Under Graduate Degree |
Semester module |
NQF level: 5 |
Credits: 12 |
| Module presented in English |
|
| Purpose: To gain insight into the basic concepts of sociology and the sociological perspective by studying topics such as gender, race, class, ethnicity, the family, education and religion. |
| Sociological Research Methodologies on Social Issues – HMSOC82 |
|
Year module |
NQF level: 8 |
Credits: 12 |
| Module presented in English |
Module presented online |
| Purpose: The purpose of this module is to equip students with the requisite knowledge, skills and competencies to analyse and apply the fundamentals of social research within the discipline of sociology and social and behaviour studies within an African context. The students will be able to apply relevant research methodologies and methods to conduct empirical investigations on social issues such as HIV and AIDS and others. to The module equips students to formulate a research question and adopt relevant research objectives in relation to it, the relevance and application of sub-questions and a thorough knowledge of research designs within different paradigms. Students will be equipped to select a research topic on a pertinent social issue within their communities or contexts. |
| Understanding South Africa: Families, Education, Identities and Inequality – SOC1502 |
| Under Graduate Degree |
Semester module |
NQF level: 5 |
Credits: 12 |
| Module presented in English |
|
| Purpose: To gain a critical understanding of societal structures and processes in the South African context, with specific reference to social stratification, education, family, society and identity, and to apply this understanding to analysing personal and community development. |
| Research Project – HRSBH81 |
| Honours |
|
NQF level: 8 |
Credits: 36 |
| Module presented in English |
Module presented online |
| Purpose: The purpose of this module is to produce a portfolio of evidence containing the results of a guided research process on social simulated scenario development in the fields of social and behavioural aspects of HIV and AIDS within a research team. This research will deal with identifying a case study on a selected social behaviour change intervention towards HIV-prevention, conducting a desk review, using social simulation to identify potential positive social impacts towards social behaviour change, preparing a Power Point presentation on the research results and recommendations and compiling a self-reflective report on the experiences in conducting the research. |
