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University of KwaZulu-Natal

College of Humanities

Doctoral Course Work Programme

THEORETICAL FRAMEWORKS AND USE OF THEORY IN DOCTORAL RESEARCH

Course Coordinators

Prof. R. Sooryamoorthy - Email: sooryamoorthyr@ukzn.ac.za 

Prof. Johannes John-Langba - Email: JohnLangbaJ@ukzn.ac.za

Course Facilitators

Prof. Nhlanhla Mkhize: Mkhize@ukzn.ac.za

Prof. Jannie Smith: smitj@ukzn.ac.za

Prof. Oliver Mtapuri: Oliver mtapurio@ukzn.ac.za

Dr. Gabisile Mkhize: Mkhizeg2@ukzn.ac.za

Dr. Lisa Wiebesiek: WiebesiekL@ukzn.ac.za

Prof. R. Sooryamoorthy: sooryamoorthyr@ukzn.ac.za

The Doctoral Course Work Programme

The doctoral coursework programme within the College of Humanities at UKZN serves as a vital initiative for enhancing research capabilities. Its primary objective is to provide doctoral students with the foundational knowledge and skills essential for investigating and elucidating societal issues. The curriculum encompasses advanced training in research methodologies related to social and behavioural studies. Additionally, it delves into in-depth content covering pertinent theoretical frameworks and policies within the realms of education, humanities, and social sciences. Students acquire and apply advanced techniques in quantitative, qualitative, and mixedmethod research approaches and analytical methods. Throughout this programme, doctoral students collaborate with their assigned advisors to define a specialized area of study aligned with their disciplinary focus. This coursework serves as a guiding framework for their subsequent doctoral research and thesis.

The Module

This module deals with the philosophical aspects of scientific inquiry and the implications of modern science on our fundamental understanding of knowledge and nature. It provides students with a historical perspective and defines contemporary theories and frameworks in the humanities and social sciences. These are explored in the context of quantitative, qualitative, and mixed-method research studies. The module covers the concept of evidence and the efficacy of theory-driven research and interventions.

Students will gain advanced knowledge and the ability to select appropriate theories to address contemporary societal and behavioural issues within specific populations and contexts. The module also emphasizes the role of social theory and introduces classical and contemporary social theories, both macro (e.g., from functionalism and positivism to poststructuralism and postmodernism) and micro (social constructionism, symbolic interactionism, etc.). It further introduces key theorists, traces the socio-historical evolution of social theories, and demonstrates how these theoretical perspectives are applied to elucidate contemporary (and historical) social phenomena in research within the fields of Social Sciences and Humanities.