Faculty of Social Sciences
FACULTY UNDERGRADUATE REGULATIONS
The Faculty of Social Sciences (FSS) offers four-year (eight semesters) degree programmes as well as a two-year (four semesters) programme of Certificate in Statistics.
The Diploma programme in Business Management is also offered by the Faculty but it is administered at the Institute of Extra Mural Studies (IEMS).
The Faculty offers three types of degree Programmes – Single Major degree Programmes, Double Major degree programmes, and Major/Minor Degree Programmes. These Degree programmes are described in the General Academic Regulations of the University.
At the completion of the degree Programmes students in FSS obtain certificates with concentration in the following subject areas:
- Accounting and Finance
- Statistics
- Demography
- Sociologyv Economics
- Social Work
- Human Resources Management
- Public Administration
- Marketing Management
- General Business ManagementPolitical Science
Full details of all subjects and courses taken by a student and the letter grades obtained will appear on each student’s transcript.
FSS1.01 Regulations governing the Faculty of Social Sciences Degree and certificate programmes
The following regulations shall apply to Degree, Diploma and Certificate programmes subject to the General Academic Regulations of the University.
FSS 2.00 General Entry Requirements
FSS 2.01 Admissions to all Degree Programmes of the Faculty are governed by the General Academic Regulations of the University.
FSS 2.02 The minimum admission requirements for the Bachelor’s degree shall be Lesotho General Certificate of Secondary Education (LGCSE) as follows:
- Applicants must have sat for a minimum of six (6) subjects with an achievement rating of C or better in four (4) subjects including English language
- D or better in the remaining two (2) subjects chosen from designed five subject groups
- An Admissions Point Score (APS) not exceeding 26
- A “C” in Mathematics, for applicants who wish to enrol for a B.A Economics, B.A Statistics and Demography and BComm.
FSS 2.03 In the case of Cambridge Overseas School Certificate (COSC) the minimum admission requirements for Bachelor’s degree shall be as follows:
- Applicants must have sat for a minimum of six (6) subjects with an achievement rating of First or Second class with credits in four (4) subjects including English Language and passes in at least two (2) other subjects.
- A credit in Mathematics, for applicants who wish to enrol for a B.A Economics, B.A Statistics and Demography and BComm.
FSS 3.00 Special Entry Requirements
FSS 3.01 Diploma holders in Business Management from the institute of Extra mural studies (IEMS): A prospective student may be exempted from Semesters 1 and 2 for BComm programme provided he/she has at least a pass with distinction.
FSS 3.02 Diploma holders in Business management from (IEMS): A prospective student shall be required to have a Pass with Distinction or a Credit pass with a minimum of “C” in Quantitative techniques and Business Statistics for BA Economics.
FSS 3.03 Diploma holders in Public Administration from the Lesotho Institute of Public Administration and Management (LIPAM): A prospective student may be exempted from Semesters 1 and 2 for BA Political Science and Public Administration programme provided he/she has at least a pass with credit from a recognised institution.
FSS 3.04 Certificate holders in Statistics: A prospective student may be exempted from Semesters 1, 2, 3 and 4 for BA Statistics and Demography programme provided he/she has at least a pass with credit from a recognised institution.
FSS 3.05 Diploma holders in Social Work: A prospective student may be exempted from semester 1 and semester 2 provided he/she has at least a pass with credit from a recognised institution.
FSS 3.06 Advanced Diploma holder in Social Work: A prospective student may be exempted from semesters 1, and 2, provided he/she has at least a pass with credit from a recognised institution.
FSS 3.08 Other qualifications and transfers from other universities and other institutions of higher learning shall also be considered at departmental level.
FSS 4.00 Admissions to all Diploma and Certificate programmes.
FSS 4.01 Entry requirements into Diploma and Certificate programmes shall be governed by specific departmental regulations.
FSS 5.01 The degree programme shall normally consist of four-year (eight -semester) programme drawn from the subjects listed in the preamble.
FSS 5.02 A subject may include courses consisting of field work, project work, seminars or internships. In addition to work during the semester, a subject may include prescribed fieldwork or assignments during University vacations.
FSS 5.03 Except where specified otherwise in Departmental Regulations, all courses offered within the Faculty are taught from semester to semester. The semester may also include a short intensive Winter Session. Teaching entails at least three hours’ lecturer/student contact per week.
FSS 6.01 Semester 1 and 2 shall consist of Compulsory and optional subjects
FSS 6.02 General Compulsory Subjects
- English ELG1303- 11: Communication and Academic Literacy
ELG1304- 11: Academic and Professional Communication
- Mathematics M1400B-11: Essential Mathematics
(OR)
M1503-14: Algebra for Social Sciences
M1504-14: Calculus for Social Sciences
(OR)
M1501-15: Algebra, Trigonometry, and Analytic Geometry
M1502-15: Calculus I
- Computer Science CS1311-07: Computer Awareness and Skills
- Statistics ST1581-14: Elementary Statistics
(OR)
ST1511-14: Introduction to Statistics I
ST1512-14: Introduction to Statistics II
FSS 6.03 Speciality Compulsory Courses
- Business Administration –MGM1302, ACC1401 AND ACC1402
- Economics – EC1401, EC1402, EC1501 AND EC1502
- Political Science and Public Administration – PS1301 AND PA1302
- Sociology – SOC1301
- Social Work – SW1301, SW1302, SW1303, SW1304, SW1305, SW1306 AND SW1307
Semester 3 to Semester 8
FSS 6.04 Student shall take a double major programme or, with the approval of the department concerned, a single major programme or a major/minor programme.
FSS 6.05 The semester load for full-time Double Major, Major/Minor and Single major should not be less than 60 credits and not more than 90 credits.
FSS 6.06 Core and required courses will not account for more than 48 credits
FSS 6.07 Prerequisite courses should not account for more than 36 credits
FSS 6.08 There will be no prerequisite courses between semesters of the same academic year
FSS 7.01 The Faculty adopts both formative and summative forms of assessments
FSS 7.02 Subject to Departmental regulations, each course shall be assessed in two (2) parts as follows:
- The coursework, which shall consist of at least three (3) pieces of assessment including at least one (1) test.
- The Formal Examination will be given at the end of the Semester.
FSS 7.03 Performance in each course shall be assessed on the basis of a ratio of coursework to formal examination in the range 1:1 to 1:2.
FSS 7.04 No student shall be permitted into the examination without having scored a minimum of 40% in his or her course work assessment.
FSS 7.05 Students shall be given their overall continuous assessment for each course latest two weeks before the examination begins.
FSS 7.06 A student who fails to complete a research project by the last day of formal lectures may be awarded an “I” for incomplete work and, with the approval of the Head of Department concerned, be allowed until the last day of the supplementary examinations to complete the outstanding work. If the work is not completed within this extended period, the student shall be awarded the final grade.
FSS 7.07 Departments will from time to time prescribe the format of submission of research projects.
FSS 8.00 Supplementary Examinations
FSS 8.01 Subject to the provisions of the General Regulations, a student shall be allowed to supplement a maximum of 44 credits per semester in which E or E+ grade has been obtained provided that the student has a GPA of at least 2.00.
FSS 8.02 If a student receives a GPA less than 2.00 but not less than 1.00, he or she will be allowed to supplement only if successful supplementation improves the academic status of the student. In determining his/her chances of success, the Faculty shall assume a maximum Final Supplementary Mark of 59% for each course in which the student may supplement.
FSS 8.03 A student who obtains an E or E+ shall be allowed to supplement provided passing the course(s) would result in the student satisfying requirements of the programme the student is registered for.
FSS 8.04 After supplementary examinations, the student’s Final Mark shall be computed by substituting the Supplementary Examination Mark for the Formal Examination Mark, and by using the same ratio of Course Work: Examination Mark as was used in determining the original Final Course Mark for the course. For the purpose of computing the student’s overall assessment, the higher of the two marks (Final Course Mark or Final Supplementary Mark) shall be used.
FSS 8.05 The maximum Final Supplementary Mark a student can achieve for each course in which the student had a supplementary mark/grade is 59%.
FSS 9.00 Progression from Semester to Semester
Student may proceed from semester to semester with or without restrictions.
FSS 9.01 A student shall proceed without restrictions/ in good academic standing if he or she has:
Obtained a Grade Point Average (GPA) of at least 2.0
- Passed all core, prerequisites and / or general education courses.
- Passed at least 45/60 credits in a semester
FSS 9.02 A student who does not satisfy 9.01 shall proceed with restrictions (Academic warning or probation).
FSS 9.03 Proceed with Academic Warning
- A student shall proceed with academic warning if he or she does not satisfy FSS 9.01 for the first time or immediately following a semester of good academic standing, but with a GPA not less than 1.2 and provided that he or she has passed at least 36 credits.
- A student who proceeds with an academic warning shall be allowed to repeat the failed course(s), when next offered, so as to improve their academic status.
- A student in Academic Warning shall not be allowed to register for more than 90 credits in a semester
FSS 9.04 Proceed with Academic Probation
- A student who has obtained a GPA between 1.0 and 1.2 or received Academic Warning in two consecutive semesters shall proceed with Academic Probation.
- A student in Academic probation shall be allowed to repeat the failed course(s), when next offered so as to improve their academic status.
- A student in Academic Probation shall not be allowed to register for more than 90 credits in a semester.
FSS 9.05 A student who fails a prerequisite course may be allowed to proceed to a subsequent semester provided that:
- s/he does not register for courses that need prerequisites
- s/he registers for a minimum of 60 credits in a semester
FSS 10.00 Retake / Repeat Course(s)
FSS 10.01 A student shall be allowed to retake or repeat course(s) when next offered to obtain at least a GPA of 2.0 if he or she has failed during the first assessment in the course(s), and if he or she has obtained a GPA not less than 1.0.
FSS 10.02 A student may retake or repeat course (s) when next offered in order to improve his or her pass grades if the pass grades scored at the first assessment in the course(s) were low
FSS 10.03 A student shall not be allowed to retake more than 30 credits at a time
FSS 10.04 Students who have a course (s) to retake shall pay fees for such courses
FSS 11.00 Fail and Discontinue from Programme
FSS 11.01 A student who accumulates three (3) consecutive academic warnings or two (2) consecutive probations based on reasons other than the CGPA shall be discontinued from the programme.
FSS 11.02 A student who obtains a GPA less than 1.0 shall be discontinued from programme.
FSS 11.03 A student who has been discontinued from the programme may reapply for admission after a minimum of one semester provided they have taken and completed non-credit remedial course(s).
FSS 11.04 A student in the final semester shall not be discontinued from the programme.
FSS 12.00 Discontinue from the university
FSS 12.01 Fail and discontinue from the university will be recommended if a student fails for the second time during the course of study or fails to obtain a 50% during the third assessment in the same course(s) repeated or retaken.
FSS 12.02 A student who has been discontinued from the university may reapply for admission after a minimum of two (2) semesters provided they have taken and completed non-credit remedial course(s).
FSS 12.03 A student in the final semester shall not be discontinued from the university.
FSS 13.00 Fail and exclude from the university
FSS 13.01 Fail and exclude from the university shall be recommended if a student has a fail and discontinue twice in the same programme or has been classified as fail and discontinue in two programmes.
FSS 13.02 A student placed in a fail and exclude may reapply for admission into the university after a period of at least four (4) semesters, with evidence of having acquired some relevant knowledge and skills by taking non-credit remedial course(s).
FSS 14.01 A student shall be awarded a degree, diploma, certificate or any other award in accordance with the provision of the general regulation 18.0.
FSS 15.01 To be awarded a Degree, a student must have passed all courses from semester 3 to semester 8 taken into account in the calculation of the CGPA, continuous assessment and final examinations. A student shall also be required to have passed a minimum of 360 credits with a CGPA not less than 2.0.
FSS 15.02 The final mark of the B.A. degree shall be an overall CGPA of semesters 3 to 8 calculated as a simple average of the GPA in semesters 3 to 8.
FSS 15.03 The B.A. degree shall be classified in accordance with the provisions of the general regulations 10.17a.
FSS 16.00 Award of a Diploma or Certificate.
FSS 16.01 To be awarded a Certificate; a student must have passed all courses from semester 1 to semester 4 taken into account the calculation of the CGPA, continuous assessment and final examinations. A student shall also be required to have passed a minimum of 120 credits with a CGPA not less than 2.0.
FSS 16.02 The final mark of the Certificate shall be an overall CGPA from semester 1 to semester 4.
FSS 16.03 The overall results of a certificate programme shall be classified in accordance with the provisions of the general regulations 10.17b.
FSS 16.04 To be awarded a Diploma; a student must have passed all courses from semester 1 to semester 4 taken into account the calculation of the CGPA, continuous assessment and final examinations. A student shall also be required to have passed a minimum of 240 credits with a CGPA not less than 2.0.
FSS16.05 The final mark of the Diploma shall be an overall CGPA from semester 1 to semester 4.
FSS 16.06 The overall results of a diploma programme shall be classified in accordance with the provisions of the general regulations 10.17b.
FSS 17.00 Deferred Examination / Coursework
FSS 17.01 A student shall be considered for a deferred examination or coursework in accordance with the provisions of the general regulations 13.0.
FSS 18.00 Transfer from Certificate and Diploma Programmes Degree programmes.
The Certificate and Diploma programmes in the Faculty are designed to meet employment requirements. Nevertheless, in special circumstances a student may be allowed to transfer to a degree programme subject to the following regulations:
FSS 18.01 Entry into a degree programme must be approved by the Admissions Committee, after consultation with the Faculty. The minimum entry requirement for admission shall be a pass with a credit provided that transfer from Certificate or Diploma shall be determined by departmental regulations. The award of a Certificate or a Diploma does not carry an automatic right of entry into a Degree programme.
FSS 18.02 Except where otherwise specified in Departmental regulations, a student transferring to the Degree programme under these regulations shall normally be registered in semester 1.
FSS 19.01 Guidelines for the transfer of Credit for students who apply to transfer from other recognized Universities or equivalent Institutes of Higher Learning to the National University of Lesotho shall be in accordance to the provisions of the general regulations 5.3.
FSS 20.00 Transfers from other Faculties
FSS 20.01 The Faculty reserves the right to accept or not to accept a student seeking a transfer from another faculty. The Faculty’s decision regarding the outcome on an application to transfer into the Faculty shall be final.
FSS 20.02 The latest date for receipt of applications for transfer into the Faculty shall be three weeks before the commencement of the academic year.
FSS 20.03 A student may be admitted into the Faculty if he/she fulfils the following conditions:
- Has a CGPA of at least 1.0 in the programme he/she was following.
- His/her proposed programme has been approved by the department concerned.
FSS 20.04 A student who has been discontinued from one faculty shall be allowed to major in the subject from which he/she has been discontinued after two semesters.
FSS 20.05 All students transferring into the Faculty shall normally be registered in semester 1 of the study and may not qualify for exemption from any of the prescribed semester courses.
FSS 21.01 A student in his/her final semester shall be granted a conceded pass in accordance with the provisions of the general regulations 12.4.
FSS 22.01 A student may be permitted to change from one Academic Programme to another on condition that:
- He/she had satisfied the admission requirements for the academic programme applied for and
- provided that such a transfer may be permitted by the regulations of FSS and permission of the Dean.
FSS 22.02 A student permitted to change his/her programme may be allowed to transfer the credits from the previous academic programme to the new academic programme, provided that the credits being transferred are relevant to the new academic programme