Honours students and Programme coordinators of the new Bachelor of Arts Honours programme share their thoughts and opinions on the importance of completing a BA Honours at Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University.
The NMMU BA Honours Programme, which was introduced in the 2012 academic year, fits those who have degrees in corporate communication, journalism such as BA Media, Communication Culture. Dr.Janina Wozniak is a member of faculty that drove the implementations of the honours programme. According to Wozniak the programme reached its popularity through NMMU marketing and word of mouth by undergraduate students about the post-graduate studies. She claims the programme is certain to expand applicants’ abilities and knowledge to further academic research.
Wozniak stated, “The Bachelor of Arts Honours degrees are full-time programmes that stretch over a period of one year.” She considers it “a shorter and more manageable alternative to the master’s programme that stretches over a period of two years.”
Current students interviewed about the program consider it as quite challenging as applicants are expected to pass with an average of 60% in their undergraduate studies(NQF level 7) in order to qualify. They advise students none the less to consider completing the programme as it can only be beneficial to them.
Melissa Sydie, one of the 44 honours participants at NMMU reveals why she chose to partake in the honours programme after she completed her BA MCC degree. According to her, furthering her studies will assist in placing her in a more qualified position when searching for a job. She also claimed that jobs are not guaranteed in the corporate world. Therefore, “I hope to increase my skills as an academic in my field,” she said.
With regards to the structuring of the BA Honours, Sydie considers it as a “well developed programme that is already extremely popular.” She said,“Such a programme can only benefit students wishing to continue with their studies.”She advises students to take the first step in participating in the programme at NMMU.
Andre Howarth is also completing his honours in travel writing. Travel writing is his passion, he said, “The qualification holds me in good stead with overseas and global publications like Lonely Planet.”
According to Howarth, honours degrees help widen your arsenal by honing your skills to make you more adept at certain fields and bolstering a ray of capabilities with the helpful things not taught during undergraduate studies. He advices students however to only do this programme if they are up for it. He also assures students that post graduates always have the upper hand in job interviews.
One of the primary reasons Howarth chose to complete his honours at NMMU is because “the institution caters more for the independent student who juggles career and academics,” he said.
Not only do journalism students feel the need for a higher level of tertiary education.
First year BA MCC student,Lakin Smith said that although she is only at the beginning of her course, she will definitely do her honours. Smith said that in doing the programme she will be boosting her self-confidence. She also feels that by doing her honours, she will not doubt her capabilities of being a professional reporter.
Students feel the honours degree is a good way for participants to develop independence and broaden their knowledge. As they claim all material compiled in the process of the programme is one’s own work. They consider the programme as an opportunity, for students participating, to develop and expand their uniqueness.
The BA Honours degree is definitely a consideration that will be a good choice for a better and brighter future.
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