University of Namibia : Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences
ABOUT THE FACULTY
The Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences of the University of Namibia is a dynamic and unique grouping of disciplines and subjects of study which provides education to students in the social sciences, humanities and the arts. We have over 85 full time teaching staff, about 20 part-time staff, and around 2000 students. Among the permanent staff members around 50% have PhDs and most of the rest have Masters Degrees. The Faculty has a strong research outlook and publishes its own peer reviewed journal called Journal for Studies in Humanities and Social Sciences.
The Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences is made up six broad departments: Geography, History and Environmental Studies; Human Sciences; Information and Communication Studies; Language and Literature Studies; Sociology; Visual and Performing Arts. Each of the departments has several programmes and disciplines under its umbrella.
The Faculty offers a 4-year BA Arts degree programme, 7 professional degree programmes, 5 diploma programmes, and a taught masters programmes focusing on psychology, English Studies, and Gender and Development Studies. The faculty also offers various research postgraduate programmes, including a Master of Arts by research and a PhD by research. The bachelor’s degree programme has an interdisciplinary foundation and starts on a broad base which ultimately focusses on a main major and minor major. Our graduates have a range of skills that they can utilize to do well in a variety of fields in both the public and private sector.
The Faculty’s goal is to improve its reputation as a leading centre of humanities and social science education and research in Southern Africa. The faculty has identified six strategic areas for research, teaching and community engagement, as part of the 5 year development plan, namely: the Namibian environment, historical development and tourism and climate change; Development management; The arts and society; Productivity and quality of life in Namibia; and Namibia’s transition to a knowledge based society.
Large number of students from the Faculties of Education and Science are also enrolled in the Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences. Our stakeholder advisory committee system provides a vital system to monitor the relevance and quality of our programmes to the outside world. Together with our stakeholders, students, and alumni we form a strong team which is determined to build on the achievements of this young institution, created in 1992, after the independence of Namibia in 1990.
WHY STUDY AT FACULTY OF HUMANITIES AND SOCIAL SCIENCES
Studying at UNAM is a significant investment for your future. Many people in Namibia who hold important positions of authority in the public service, State Owned Enterprises (SOEs), and the private sector are former graduates of the faculty. The degree from UNAM is highly regarded not only in Namibia, but in all the neighbouring countries. There is great competition to get a place into the degree programmes at the Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences.
UNAMs Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences strives to be student centred, with a strong mentorship and student support system by lecturers, tutors and Office of the Deans. All internally conducted surveys by the Quality Assurance Office have shown that the faculty is always one of the most highly rated at UNAM for meeting student expectations. Students are encouraged to join Academic societies which help them to grow academically and professionally. The most active societies are: the environmental studies society, information society, psychology society, social work society, tourism society, English studies society, French society, German society, Spanish society, sociology society, history society, arts society and Socratic philosophy society.
University of Namibia’s degree programmes are internationally recognized. Registration with the Namibia Qualification Framework should be completed by first quarter of 2014. The faculty offers a wide choice in its curricula organised around either professional programmes or the BA Arts programme. Both of these study options are organised to suit a student’s future career choices. See detailed descriptions under respective departments of the faculty. The faculty offers a wide range of disciplines for both the BA Arts and the professional programmes.
POSSIBLE CAREERS AFTER GRADUATING FROM HUMANITIES
A degree in Social Sciences and Humanities will give you the widest range of opportunities for your future career. At the Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences, the career building blocks includes the following disciplines usually studied in the format of a main major and minor major: Geography, Geo-Information Science, Drama, History, Languages, Library and Information Science, Media Studies, Music, Philosophy Studies, Psychology, Religious Studies, Sociology, Social Work, Tourism Studies, Visual Arts.
Sociology
Sociology graduates can become researchers and managers in bodies such as gender organisations and departments, in developmental, economic, health and cultural organisations, social science researchers, NGO manager, and rural development planners.
Social Work
Social Worker, Community Worker, Social Worker in a Hospital, Marital and Divorce Mediator, Probation Officer, Family Councilor, NGO manager, Youth worker, Community development.
Languages
Translator, Lecturer, Announcer, Travel Agent, Proofreader, Critic, Estate Agent, Author, Interpreter, Teacher, Journalist/Editor, Policy Maker, Lexicographer, Linguist, Educational Researcher, educationists, language curriculum designers and developers, language editors, publishers, speech writers, Salespersons, Personal Assistants, creative writers, diplomatic service personnel, cultural officers, language policy planners, researchers, communications managers, press attachés, press liaison officers, ‘spin doctors’, advertising copy writers.
Library and Information Science
Library managers, Internet and database searchers, knowledge managers, database managers, library technicians, research assistants, webmasters, library management consultants, knowledge management consultants.
Media Studies
Print journalists, electronic journalists, information officer/manager, public relations officer/manager, news readers (TV and radio), adverting agents/managers, photographers, newsroom managers/sub-editor, feature writers (magazines and newspapers), sports, political/economic reporters (print and electronic), media researcher, media consultant/analyst, communication managers.
Records and Archives Management
Records managers; Archivists; Legal records clerks; Data entry clerks; Medical records clerks; Information officers/managers; File room supervisors; Micrographic technicians; Archives/records technicians; Research assistants ; Records management consultants.
Music
Music producers, Camera and sound operators for film and television, Video editors, Music educators, Arts and cultural officers, Cultural tourism entrepreneurs, Theatre and live performers, Music sound engineers
Drama
Actors for stage and film, Director for stage and film, Designers for stage and film, Scriptwriters, Copywriter for advertisement , Teachers, Event organizers, Arts marketer, Dancer and choreographers, Public speakers, Community theatre facilitators
Geography & Environmental Studies
Town and Regional Planner, Environmental Scientist, Lecturer, Teacher, Land use Planner, Cartographer, Teaching/Learning Aids Specialist, Consultant
Geographical Information Systems
GIS Manager, GIS Data Analysis, Cartographic design, Computer programming, Database administration, Project management, System administration, Geographical researchers, Survey technicians, Mapping technicians, Aerial photographs analysis, teacher. The GIS training can also be applied to different fields such as Forestry, Marketing, Agronomy, Engineering, Transportation, Commerce, Urban and Regional Planning, Nature Conservation, Environmental Impact Assessment and Management as well as Marine and Coastal Management.
History & Archaeology
Teacher, Lecturer, Archivist, Curators and Keepers of History Museums, Tourist Guides, Researchers, Conservators of Public buildings and historical sites, Archaeologist.
Tourism
Tour Guide, Travel Agent, Reservation Consultant, Personnel and Information Officer, Tourism and Travel Marketing and Information Officer
Visual Arts
Artist, Ceramicist, Fashion designer, Textile designer, Advertiser, Photographer, Desktop publisher, Researcher
Religious Studies
Chaplain, Minister of Religion, Religious Studies Teacher, Counselor, Theological Lecturer or Theologian, Youth Worker, Social Worker
Philosophy Studies
Philosophy is unique field of study whose focus is thinking, critical and systematic enquiry into fundamental questions of humanity, life, the nature of reality, knowledge and society. Careers are in the following fields: social research, banking, foreign service, public policy, nonprofit organisations, labour relations, management, conflict resolution, mass media feature article writers, consultancy.
Psychology/ Industrial Psychology
Psychologist, Educational counselor, Psychological Marketing, Personnel Officer, Liaison Officer, Training Officer, Personnel Recruitment, Management, Teacher, Manager/Human Resource Manager, Marital and Divorce Mediator, Probation Officer, Family Councilor.