Structuring your B.A degree
- What is a BA degree?
- What is a “major”?
- Major subjects recognised for a BA degree
- Language Requirements
The Faculty of Humanities has a modular system for BA degrees. This allows students some flexibility in choosing the courses for their degrees.
A major subject comprises at least:
- 36 points at the 1000 level
- 48 points at the 2000 level
- 72 points at the 3000 level.
Some departments offer more modules than are required for the major subject and may specify some of these modules as pre-requisites (compulsory entry requirements for courses on a higher level), or co- requisites (that must be completed) for the major.
Students should check if the subjects chosen for their majors have special entrance requirements, pre-requisites or co-requisites by consulting the Department or the Faculty Rules and Syllabuses Book.
African Languages (IsiZulu) for second language speakers
African Languages Literature for first language speakers
African Literature
Anthropology
Archaeology
Critical Music Studies/Music in History and Society
Drama and Film
^Economics
English
Geography
History
History of Art
International Relations
Law (Only for BA with Law as a major)
Linguistics
^Mathematics
^Mathematical Statistics
Media Studies
Modern languages (French; German; Italian; Portuguese; Spanish, South African Sign Language)
Philosophy
Political Studies
Politics, Philosophy and Economics
*Psychology OR Organisational Psychology
*Sociology OR Industrial Sociology
*Either one of these may be included in a BA degree but NOT both
^Restrictions on courses for first year students
The Language Requirement For General BA and Professional degrees in the Wits School of Arts
A student is required to complete two-semester courses in one of the following languages: isiZulu or Sesotho or South African Sign Language (SASL).
If a student is proficient in any two of the three languages (isiZulu, Sesotho or SASL), the student is advised to do one of the following:
(i) register in a first-language stream for two courses in isiZulu or Sesotho
(ii) register for two courses in any one of the following: French, German, Italian, Portuguese, or Spanish,
(iii) formally apply to the Dean for exemption from the requirement to register for a language subject.
Where an exemption has been granted, students must add a course yielding 36 credits in a subject approved by Senate. A student may also be granted a credit if they completed the same or an equivalent course.