WS60014 - Diploma in Information and Communications Technology in Communication Networks (Extended Programme)

WS60016 - Diploma in Information and Communications Technology in Support Services (Extended Programme)

Programme Objective

Entry Requirements

The purpose of extending the curriculum is to improve the success and graduation rates of students from disadvantaged backgrounds within the Diploma in Information & Communication Technology programmes offered by the Department.

In order to achieve its purpose the programme aims to:

• Provide students “at risk” with a viable platform to successfully undertake computing studies at the tertiary education level.

• Provide students from disadvantaged backgrounds with an adequate level of foundational competence which is based on specific and discipline-related computing knowledge.

• Improve the retention and throughput of disadvantaged students entering mainstream programmes.

• Provide a learning environment where the gap in terms of disadvantaged learner needs and the learner support required are bridged.

The programme will contain, but is not limited to the following enrichment areas:

• Academic Literacy - will provide learners with the ability to attend to their academic needs, manage their academic behaviour, manage their time, and exercise personal choices with respect to their academic studies that are both reflective and independent.

• Life Skills – will provide learners with the skills necessary to deal with topical psychological and social factors as both an individual and a student.  

• Maths Literacy – will provide learners with the necessary foundation to seek to improve their numeric skills by making use of daily examples to instil mathematical principles.

• Communication in English – will provide learners with the effective methods for improving interpersonal communication.  The importance of this area arises from the fact that the majority of information technology-related business transactions in South Africa are done in English, and this does not diminish the importance of any one mother tongue.

• Information Literacy – will capacitate learners in competencies like locating, sifting, sorting and evaluating various information sources in order to select what is required and present it in a useful way.

NATIONAL SENIOR CERTIFICATE (NSC)

NSC with a diploma or bachelor's endorsement with a minimum Admission Point Score (APS):

• 18 (with Mathematics) or 20 (with Mathematics Literacy) Specific subject requirement:

• English - 4 (50-59%)

• Mathematics - 3 (40-49%) OR Mathematical Literacy - 5 (60-69%)

Applicants who have an NSC achievement rating one level below the required levels as mentioned above, i.e., in ONE of the two subjects (Mathematics /Mathematics Literacy, or English as a Home Language or First Additional Language) mentioned above will be considered for admission into extended programme.

SENIOR CERTIFICATE (SC)

Endorsement: Full exemption/ School leaving. An E-symbol on the Higher Grade or D-symbol on the Standard Grade for English (1st language) OR D-symbol on the Higher Grade or C-symbol on Standard Grade for English (2nd language). In addition, an E-symbol on the Higher Grade or a D-symbol on the Standard Grade for Mathematics.

Applicants who have an achievement rating one level below the required as mentioned above, i.e. in ONE of the two subjects (Mathematics, or English as a Home Language or First Additional Language) mentioned above will be considered for admission into extended programme

NATIONAL CERTIFICATE VOCATIONAL (NCV4):

Requirements as defined in the Government Gazette 32743 dated 26^th November 2009 with specific requirements as set out below:

• 50% in the three fundamental subjects which in the case of this qualification are required to be:

o   English

o   Life Orientation and

o   Mathematics – 50 % OR Mathematics Literacy – 60%.

• In addition, 60% for any of the three following subjects:

o   Systems Analysis and Design

o   Data Communication and Networking

o   Computer Programming

o   Physical Science

INTERNATIONAL STUDENTS

Applications from international students are considered in terms of the institutional equivalence reference document and (where required) submission qualification to SAQA for benchmarking in terms of HEQF.

MATURE AGE ENDORSEMENT

(as per WSU General Prospectus G1.6)

Graduate Attributes

As per Diploma in ICT in Communication Networks and Diploma in ICT in Support Services above.

Teaching and learning strategy

The teaching and learning strategy for Diploma in ICT (ECP) programme is the same as the Diploma in ICT in Communication Networks programme. See above.

Assessment strategy

The assessment strategy for Diploma in ICT (ECP) programme is the same as the Diploma in ICT in Communication Networks  programme. See above.

Progression and Exclusion Rules

The progression rules for Diploma in ICT (ECP) programme is the same as the Diploma in ICT in Communication Networks programme. See above.

The exclusion rules applied in Diploma in ICT (ECP) programmes are as follows:

RPL and Credit Transfer

The RPL and Credit Transfer considerations for Diploma in ICT (ECP) programme is the same as the Diploma in ICT in  Communication Networks programme. See above.

Articulation rules

Preceding

NSC or equivalent

Vertical Articulation

Vertical Articulation is possible according to one of the following mainstream programmes:

• Communication Networks (see Diploma in ICT in Communication Networks over 3 Years)

• Support Services (see Diploma in ICT in Support Services over 3 Years)

Horizontal Articulation

Horizontal articulation is possible within WSU according to one of the following mainstream programmes:

• Applications Development (see Diploma in ICT in Applications Development over 3 Years)

• Business Analysis (see Diploma in ICT in Business Analysis over 3 Years)

• Communication Networks (see Diploma in ICT in Communication Networks over 3 Years)

• Support Services (see Diploma in ICT in Support Services over 3 Years)

Outside the institution, horizontal articulation is possible according to one of the following mainstream programmes:

• Applications Development (see Diploma in ICT in Applications Development over 3 Years)

• Business Analysis (see Diploma in ICT in Business Analysis over 3 Years)

• Communication Networks (see Diploma in ICT in Communication Networks over 3 Years)

• Support Services (see Diploma in ICT in Support Services over 3 Years)

WS60014, WS60016 – Diploma in ICT (Extended Programme)

Level of Study: I

#

Module Name

Module Code

Block

No. of Credits

Course Convener

Module Objective

1

Information Technology Skills I A

IT15W0A

0

20

HoD

Students taking this module will develop the life skills needed to cope with and survive in an HIV/AIDS environment. The student will also be able to locate appropriate sources of information for research purposes and be able to reference these sources., presentation, self, and group management skills needed in a multi-cultural environment. The learner will acquire a basic understanding of the propositional and predicate logic and mathematical thinking that underpins all computer programming, as well as a good understanding of business practices and entrepreneurship and be able to perform standard business calculations.

2

Information Systems I A

IS15W0A

0

20

HoD

This module is designed to equip the students with basic technological skills in the information technology environment. The main emphasis is on basic complementary networks of hardware and software that people and organizations use to collect, filter, process, create, and distribute data. Students will be able to understand the fundamentals of hardware, software, and telecommunications networks that people build and use to collect, create, and distribute useful data, typically in organizational settings.

3

System Software I A

SS15W0A

0

20

HoD

This module is designed to equip the learners with basic technical skills in the information technology environment. The main emphasis is on number systems and basic hardware and software concepts. The learners will be able to understand the fundamentals of computer architecture and understand the fundamentals of computer networks.

Level of Study: II

#

Module Name

Module Code

Block

No. of Credits

Course Convener

Module Objective

1

Development Software I

DEV15W0

0

30

HoD

This module is designed to equip students with a solid understanding of the basic principles of programming which apply to all computer programming languages. Students are taught how to analyse problems and how to write structured algorithmic solutions using (formalised) pseudocode and the VB.Net (Console Application) programming language. Students are introduced to the concept of the Program Development Cycle and taught how to use tools associated with each stage.

2

Information Technology Skills I B

IT15W0B

0

10

HoD

Students taking this module will develop the life skills needed to cope with and survive in an Information Technology working environment. The student will also be able to locate appropriate sources of information for presentation, self, and group management skills needed in a multi-cultural environment.  The learner will acquire the basic understanding of the mathematical thinking that underpins all computer programming, as well as a good understanding of business practices and entrepreneurship and be able to perform standard business calculations.

3

Information Systems I B

IS15W0B

0

10

HoD

This module introduces students to information technology concepts such as hardware, software, telecommunications, and office automation. It also covers fundamentals of systems and information systems, types of information systems (e.g. transaction-processing systems, management information systems, decision support systems). The module also covers an introduction to relational databases and Entity Relationship Diagrams.

4

System Software I B

SS15W0B

0

10

HoD

This module is designed to equip the students with basic technical skills in the information technology environment. The main emphasis is on basic hardware and software concepts. Students will be able to understand the fundamentals of computer architecture, understand the fundamentals of computer networks and understand basics of Operating Systems.

Level of Study: III

#

Module Name

Module Code

Block

No. of Credits

Course Convener

Module Objective

1

According to one of the following mainstream programmes at the level of study II:

• Communication Networks (see Diploma in ICT in Communication Networks over 3 Years).

• Support Services (see Diploma in ICT in Support Services over 3 Years).

Level of Study: IV

#

Module Name

Module Code

Block

No. of Credits

Course Convener

Module Objective

1

According to one of the following mainstream programmes at the level of study III:

• Communication Networks (see Diploma in ICT in Communication Networks over 3 Years).

• Support Services (see Diploma in ICT in Support Services over 3 Years).