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GENERAL STUDIES COURSE CONTENTS

The General Studies programme has progressively become a regular and common feature among the academic programmes and has been made compulsory in all Nigerian Universities and allied tertiary institutions in the country, and students are required to do them as a condition for their graduation.

The General Studies Programme is by character and nature unique both in its service and functions. It does not contradict the need for specialized education. Rather, it supports specialized education by placing it in wider perspective and by ending in social significance. Consequently, the General Studies courses lay emphasis on cultural wholesome education, moral instruction as well as environmental problems. In essence, the G.S. programme is designed to produce a well-rounded, morally and intellectually capable graduates with vision and entrepreneurial skills in an environment of peace and social cohesiveness.

The General Studies Programme will equip the student to think in a new manner, and it must acquaint him with ideas which reveal a world he didn’t know existed prior to his admission into the University.

Therefore in the G.S. Programme, an attempt is made to provide courses of study that are directed to the educational needs which all students have in common:

GST 111: Communication in English

(2 Units C: LH 15; PH 45)

Learning Outcomes

At the end of this course, students should be able to:

1. Identify possible sound patterns in English Language;

2. List notable language skills;
3. Classify word formation processes;
4. Construct simple and fairly complex sentences in English;
5. Apply logical and critical reasoning skills for meaningful presentations;
6. Demonstrate an appreciable level of the art of public speaking and listening; and
7. Write simple and technical reports.

Course Contents

Sound patterns in English Language (vowels and consonants, phonetics and phonology).

English word classes (lexical and grammatical words, definitions, forms, functions, usages,  collocations).

Sentence in English (types: structural and functional, simple and complex).

Grammar and usage (tense, mood, modality and concord, aspects of language use in everyday life).

Logical and critical thinking and reasoning methods (logic and syllogism, inductive and  deductive argument and reasoning methods, analogy, generalisation and explanations).

Ethical considerations, copyright rules and infringements. Writing activities: (pre-writing, writing, post writing, editing and proofreading;

brainstorming, outlining, paragraphing, types  of writing, summary, essays, letter, curriculum vitae, report writing, note making etc., mechanics of writing).

Comprehension strategies: (reading and types of reading, comprehension skills, 3RsQ).

Information and communication technology in modern language learning.

Language skills for effective communication. Major word formation processes.

Writing and reading comprehension strategies.

Logical and critical reasoning for meaningful presentations.

Art of public speaking and listening. Report writing

GST 112 NIGERIAN PEOPLES AND CULTURE

Course Contents

Nigerian history, culture and art up to 1800 (Yoruba, Hausa and Igbo peoples and culture; peoples and culture of the ethnic minority groups). Nigeria under colonial rule (advent of colonial rule in Nigeria; colonial administration of Nigeria). Evolution of Nigeria as a political unit (amalgamation of Nigeria in 1914; formation of political parties in Nigeria; nationalist  movement and struggle for Independence). Nigeria and challenges of nation building (military intervention in Nigerian politics; Nigerian Civil War). Concept of trade and economics of self reliance (indigenous trade and market system; indigenous apprenticeship system among  Nigeria people; trade, skill acquisition and self-reliance). Social justices and national development (law definition and classification. Judiciary and fundamental rights. Individual norms and values (basic Nigeria norms and values, patterns of citizenship acquisition; citizenship and civic responsibilities; indigenous languages, usage and development; negative  attitudes and conducts. Cultism, kidnapping and other related social  vices). Re-orientation, moral and national values (The 3R’s – Reconstruction, Rehabilitation and Re-orientation; Reorientation strategies: Operation Feed the Nation (OFN), green revolution, austerity measures, War Against Indiscipline (WAI), War Against Indiscipline and Corruption (WAIC), Mass Mobilization for Self-Reliance, Social Justice and Economic Recovery (MAMSER), National Orientation Agency (NOA). Current socio-political and cultural developments in Nigeria.

CMS 101: Introduction to Human Communication

(2 Units C: LH 30)

Course Contents

Nigerian history, culture and art up to 1800 (Yoruba, Hausa and Igbo peoples and culture; peoples and culture of the ethnic minority groups).

Nigeria under colonial rule (advent of  colonial rule in Nigeria; colonial administration of Nigeria).

Evolution of Nigeria as a political unit (amalgamation of Nigeria in 1914; formation of political parties in Nigeria; nationalist

movement and struggle for Independence).

 Nigeria and challenges of nation building (military intervention in Nigerian politics; Nigerian Civil War).

Concept of trade and economics of self reliance (indigenous trade and market system; indigenous apprenticeship system among Nigeria people; trade, skill acquisition and self-reliance).

Social justices and national development (law definition and classification. Judiciary and fundamental rights.

Individual norms and values (basic  Nigeria norms and values, patterns of citizenship acquisition; citizenship and civic responsibilities; indigenous languages, usage and development; negative attitudes and conducts.

Cultism, kidnapping and other related social vices). Re-orientation, moral and national values (The 3R’s –

Reconstruction, Rehabilitation and Re-orientation; Reorientation strategies: Operation Feed the Nation (OFN), green revolution, austerity measures, War Against Indiscipline (WAI), War Against Indiscipline and Corruption (WAIC), Mass Mobilization for Self-Reliance, Social Justice and Economic Recovery (MAMSER), National  Orientation Agency (NOA).

Current socio-political and cultural developments in Nigeria.

GST 212: Philosophy, Logic and Human Existence

(2 Units C: LH 30)

Learning Outcomes

At the end of the course, the students should be able to:

1. appreciate the basic features of philosophy as an academic discipline;
2. identify the main branches of philosophy & the centrality of logic in philosophical discourse;
3. identify the elementary rules of reasoning;
4. distinguish between valid and invalid arguments;
5. think critically and assess arguments in texts, conversations and day-to-day discussions;
6. critically asses the rationality or otherwise of human conduct under different existential conditions;
7. develop the capacity to extrapolate and deploy expertise in logic to other areas of knowledge, and
8. guide his or her actions, using the knowledge and expertise acquired in philosophy and logic.

Course Contents

Scope of philosophy; notions, meanings, branches and problems of philosophy.

Logic as an  indispensable tool of philosophy.

Elements of syllogism, symbolic logic— the first nine rules of inference.

Informal fallacies, laws of thought, nature of arguments.

Valid and invalid arguments, logic of form and logic of content — deduction, induction and inferences.

Creative and critical thinking.

Impact of philosophy on human existence.

Philosophy and politics, philosophy and human conduct, philosophy and religion, philosophy and human values, philosophy and character moulding, and many more.

GST 312: Peace and Conflict Resolution

(2 Units C: LH 30)

Learning Outcomes

At the end of the course, students should be able to:

1. analyse the concepts of peace, conflict and security;
2. list major forms, types and root causes of conflict and violence;
3. differentiate between conflict and terrorism;
4. enumerate security and peace building strategies; and
5. describe roles of international organisations, media and traditional institutions in peace building

Course Contents

Concepts of peace, conflict and security in a multi-ethnic nation.

Types and theories of  conflicts: ethnic, religious, economic, geo-political conflicts; structural conflict theory, realist  theory of conflict, frustration-aggression conflict theory.

Root causes of conflict and violence  in Africa: indigene and settlers phenomenon; boundaries/boarder disputes; political disputes;

ethnic disputes and rivalries; economic inequalities; social disputes; nationalist movements  and agitations; selected conflict case studies – Tiv-Junkun; Zango Kartaf, chieftaincy and land disputes etc.

Peace building, management of conflicts and security: peace & human development.

Approaches to peace & conflict management — (religious, government,

community leaders etc.).

Elements of peace studies and conflict resolution: conflict dynamics

assessment scales: constructive & destructive.

Justice and legal framework: concepts of social

justice; the Nigeria legal system.

Insurgency and terrorism.

Peace mediation and peace keeping.

Peace & security council (international, national and local levels).

Agents of conflict resolution – conventions, treaties community policing: evolution and imperatives.

Alternative  Dispute Resolution, ADR. Dialogue b). Arbitration, c). Negotiation d). Collaboration etc.

Roles of international organizations in conflict resolution. (a) The United Nations, UN and its  conflict resolution organs. (b)The African Union & peace security council (c) ECOWAS in peace keeping.

Media and traditional institutions in peace building.

Managing post-conflict  situations/crisis: refugees.

Internally Displaced Persons, IDPs.

The role of NGOs in post conflict situations/crisis