Academic Programmes

1. UNDERGRADUATE DEGREE PROGRAMMES

Preamble

The Faculty of Social Sciences offers a number of degree programmes. These are normally of four (4) year duration for direct entrants.

BACHELOR OF COMMERCE

Bachelor of Commerce is offered in the following areas of specialization:

• Bachelor of Commerce in Accounting and Finance
• Bachelor of Commerce in Marketing
• Bachelor of Human Resources Management

Direct Entry

Requirements:  To be considered for admission, candidates must have:

• sat for a minimum of six (6) subjects in LGCSE Examination
• LGCSE or its equivalent with a minimum achievement rating of a “C” or better in four subjects including English Language and Mathematics.
• A “D” or better in the remaining two subjects.

 Indirect Entry

• The normal entry requirements for candidates shall be:
•  A Diploma in Business Management from the Institute of Extra Mural
• Studies (IEMS) achieved with distinction.

       OR

• Licensed Accountant of the Centre for Accounting Studies (CAS) with at least a “D” in LGCSE Mathematics and English Language.

Career Opportunities:  Accountancy, Taxation, Insurance, Auditing, Financial Planning, Banking Business, Imports and Exports, Marketing and Sales, Commercial Law, Actuarial Science, Information Systems, Office Management and Technology, Administration and Organizational Psychology.  Most importantly is to be an entrepreneur.

BACHELOR OF ARTS IN ECONOMICS

The Bachelor of Arts in Economics is offered with three subject’s combinations called minors:

• Economics with minor in Business Administration
• Economics with minor in Mathematics
• Economics with minor in Statistics

Direct Entry

Requirements: To be considered for admission, candidates must have:

• Sat for a minimum of six (6) subjects in LGCSE Examination
• LGCSE or its equivalent with a minimum achievement rating of a “C” or better in four subjects including English Language and Mathematics.
• A “D” or better in the remaining two subjects.

Indirect entry

The normal entry requirements for candidates shall be:

• Diploma in Business Management of the Institute of Extra Mural Studies (IEMS) with a pass with Distinction.

Or

• Diploma in Business Management of the Institute of Extra Mural Studies (IEMS) with a credit pass and have a minimum of a “C” in Quantitative Techniques and Business Statistics.

Career Opportunities:  Economics graduates are employed in the Public Sector, in the Private Sector, the Financial Sector and in International Organizations, as Researchers, Finance and Investment Analysts, Policy Analysts, Economic Planners, Managers, Bankers, Insurance Officers.  Others are Self-Employed as Consultants and Entrepreneurs.

BACHELOR OF ARTS IN SOCIOLOGY

Direct Entry

Requirements: To be considered for admission, candidates must have sat for a minimum of six (6) subjects in LGCSE Examination

• LGCSE or its equivalent with a minimum achievement rating of C or better in four subjects including English Language.
• A “D” or better in the remaining two subjects.

Career Opportunities:  Employed in Public, Private, Civil Society, and International Organizations as Senior Analysts and Administrators, Graduates are also employed in institutions of Higher Learning to pursue Teaching and Research Careers.

BACHELOR OF SOCIAL WORK

Direct Entry      

Requirements: To be considered for admission candidates must have:

• A minimum of six (6) subjects in LGCSE Examination
• LGCSE or its equivalent with a minimum achievement rating of C or better in four subjects including English Language.
• A ‘D’ or better in the remaining two subjects.

Indirect Entry

• A candidate who holds a minimum of a credit pass in the Diploma/Advanced Diploma in Social Work from a recognized institution shall start in the second year of the 4 –year programme.
• A candidate who holds a pass with credit in the advanced Diploma in Social Work from a recognized institution shall start in the Third year of the 4-year programme.

Career Opportunities:  Social Worker, Probation Officer, Medical/Psychiatric Social Worker, Child Welfare Officer, Residential Social Welfare Manager/Officer (institutions for children in need of care, older persons, people with disabilities), social worker in refugee settings, Industrial Social Work/Employee Welfare and Counselling, Social Welfare/Development Policy Analyst, and management of NGOs.

BACHELOR OF ARTS IN PUBLIC ADMINISTRATION

BACHELOR OF ARTS IN POLITICAL SCIENCE

BACHELOR OF ARTS IN POLITICAL SCIENCE (DOUBLE MAJOR)

BACHELOR OF ARTS PUBLIC ADMINISTRATION (DOUBLE MAJOR)

**The requirements below apply to all the above four (4) Programs.

Direct Entry

Requirements: To be considered for admission, candidates must have:

• Sat for a minimum of six (6) subjects in LGCSE Examination
• LGCSE or its equivalent with a minimum achievement rating of a “C” or better in four subjects including English Language.
• A “D” or better in the remaining two subjects.

Indirect Entry

The normal entry requirements for candidates shall be:

• Diploma in Public Administration of Lesotho Institute of Public Administration and Management (LIPAM) with at least a Pass with Credit.

Career Opportunities:  Employed in Public, Private, Civil Society, and International Organizations as Analysts and Administrators, Graduates are also employed in Institutions of Higher Learning to pursue Teaching and Research Careers.

BACHELOR OF ARTS IN DEMOGRAPHY AND STATISTICS (Double Major)

Direct Entry

Requirements: To be considered for admission candidates must have:

• Sat for a minimum of six (6) subjects in LGCSE Examination
• LGCSE or its equivalent with a minimum achievement rating of a “C” or better in four subjects including English Language and Mathematics.
• A “D” or better in the remaining two subjects.
• A maximum Admission Point Score (APS) of 26 in the best six (6) passed subjects.

Indirect Entry

Candidates with Certificate in Statistics from NUL, equivalent qualification or Diploma in Statistics from other institutions of higher learning recognized by the NUL Senate are considered admissible into the programme if:

• They have passed with a credit or higher.
• They have obtained a pass and have subsequently acquired a minimum of two years relevant working experience after graduating.

Career Opportunities:  High employment prospects in almost all sectors of the economy that is in government, private, non-governmental and international organizations in areas requiring application of demographic and statistical methods to produce information that informs policy and decision making at both National and International Levels.

1. MASTERS DEGREE PROGRAMMES

MASTER OF SCIENCE IN ECONOMICS – 2 YEARS (FULL TIME)

Requirements: BA Economics with a minimum of Second Class Second Division (C) or any other relevant qualification that may be approved by NUL Senate on the advice of the department and Faculty.

Career Opportunities: Banking and Insurance, Finance and Investment Analyst, Research & Policy Analysis, Management & Administration, Marketing, Entrepreneurship, Journalism (Applies to both Undergraduate & Postgraduate).

MASTER OF SCIENCE IN SOCIOLOGY – 2 YEARS (FULL TIME) 3 YEARS (PART TIME)

Requirements

1. Graduates of the National University of Lesotho with at least Pass (D+ average) in Sociology and/or a combination of these two with any other related discipline.
2. Graduates of other approved universities with a minimum C+ average or its equivalent in Sociology and/or a combination with any other related discipline.

Areas of specializations:

• Industrial Sociology
• Health and Medical Sociology
• Rural Sociology
• Urban Sociology

Career Opportunities: Social Researcher in different companies, in Government/Non-Governmental Organizations, International Organizations, Lecturer at Institutions of Higher Learning, Analyse problems, Policy Formulation, Project Manager and Implementer.

MASTER OF SOCIAL WORK – 2 YEARS (FULL TIME) 3 YEARS (PART-TIME)

Requirements:

1. Graduates of the National University of Lesotho with at least a second-class second division (C⁺average) in Social Work.
2. Graduates of other approved universities with a minimum of second-class second division (C⁺average) or its equivalent in Social Work.

Areas of specialization:

• Clinical Social Work
• Social Development and Planning
• Social Work Administration

Career Opportunities: Social Researcher in different companies in Government/Non-Governmental Organizations, International Organizations, Lecturers at Institutions of Higher Learning, Analyse Problems, Policy Formulation and Implementation, Project Manager and Implementer.

MASTER OF ARTS IN PUBLIC ADMINISTRATION – 2 YEARS (FULL TIME) OR 3 YEARS (PART TIME)

Requirements:

1. Bachelor’s degree or a Postgraduate Diploma in Public Administration or a relevant qualification at LQF Level 7 or LQF Level 8 or equivalent qualification from a recognised institution passed with a minimum 65% overall weighted mean (OWM) or 3.5 GPA (grade-point average).
2. In line with the NUL Postgraduate Regulations, candidates who possess learning gained outside a traditional academic environment and include recognised academic or vocational qualifications or experience considered to be of equivalent status may also be considered for admission.

Career Opportunities: Employed in Public, Private, Civil Society, and International Organizations as Senior Analysts and Administrators, Graduates are also employed in institutions of Higher Learning to Pursue Teaching and Research Careers.

MASTER OF COMMERCE IN BUSINESS MANAGEMENT (NEW);

 2 YEARS FULL TIME AND 3 YEARS PART-TIME

Requirements:

• Bachelor’s degree in Business Management/Commerce (LQF7) in the Upper Second Class Second Division category (65% and above

OR

• Any other related Bachelor’s degree (LQF7), with a minimum of three (3) years of post-degree experience at middle or senior management levels.
• Applicants with relevant honours or postgraduate diplomas (LQF8) and have covered courses offered in the programme adequately to the satisfaction of the Department and Faculty Postgraduate Studies Committee may be exempted from a maximum of three (3) courses offered in the first year, with the exception of Research Methods.
• Career Opportunities:Graduates can pursue leadership roles such as Business Managers, Business Management Consultants, Business Development Managers, advising organisations on strategies to improve efficiency, optimise operations, implementing change, identify growth opportunities and drive revenue generation in different industries.

POSTGRADUATE DIPLOMA IN PROJECT MANAGEMENT (NEW);

 1 YEAR FULL TIME

Requirements:

• A minimum of Bachelor of Commerce, Engineering, Finance, Statistics degree, or Advanced Diploma in Project Management (at least a second-class second-class division)

OR

• any related Bachelor’s degree with a minimum of three (3) years post degree experience in the field of Project Management,

OR

• Individuals with experience of working as project managers or within project management team or experienced managers working in business who require project management competencies may be considered.

• Career Opportunities:Graduates from this programme can pursue leadership roles such as Project Managers, Project Risk Managers or Operations managers among others.