Department of History and International Studies in Brief
The proposal for the establishment of Federal University Gusau with a Department of History and International Studies under Faculty of Humanities and Education was approved on18th February, 2013.The formal establishment of the Department and commencement of a B.A. degree as one of the pioneer programs in the university, started in November 2014 during the 2014/2015 Academic Session.
Mission
The role of international organizations such as the African Union and the United Nations (UN) and its agencies is another issue of primary concern to the programme. Similarly, the concern of the programme includes a critical examination of the effectiveness of the various legal and political frameworks that have been used to regulate diplomatic engagements and other forms of social and economic interactions among nations as members of the international community.
The mission of the B.A. programme of the Department of History and International Studies is therefore to promote dissemination of knowledge through interdisciplinary approach by drawing on the expertise of relevant disciplines in the humanities, social sciences and natural sciences to explain the historical forces and developments.
Vision
The Vision of the department is to be a center of excellence in terms of training, research and community services.
The nomenclature of the degree in view shall be Bachelor of Arts (B.A.) History and International Studies.
| Programme | Admission Requirements | Remarks | |
|---|---|---|---|
| UTME | Direct Entry | ||
| B.A. History and International Studies | Five credits in SSCE (or its equivalent) including English, relevant subject of specialization and three other Arts subjects. | Two ‘A’ level credits in relevant teaching subjects of specialization. NCE with credit or merit passes in two relevant subjects. | UTME subjects are: English, subject of specialization and one Arts subject and any other subject. |
In addition to the requirements above, candidate shall have attained a minimum score of post U.T.M.E examination organised by the Federal University Gusau.
Duration of Programmes
Each academic session shall comprise of two semesters and each semester shall last for a period of eighteen (18) weeks comprising of: one (1) week for registration; fifteen (15) weeks for lectures/tutorials/laboratory and studio works; and two (2) weeks for examination. Mid-semester break shall normally be for two (2) weeks.
The minimum duration of the B.A. History and International Studies programmed is four (4) years for candidates who enter with Senior Secondary School Certificate or GCE ‘0’ Level qualifications or equivalent or through matriculation programme of the university. Direct Entry (DE) candidates will spend a minimum of three years provided that they satisfy all the other University requirements.
Students shall be required to complete their studies in not more than one and a half times the normal duration of the programme to qualify for an Honour’s degree, except in cases of ill-health or as determined by the University Senate. This means about 6 years for a 4 – year degree or 5 years for the DE students programme.
Course Credit Units And Level of Study
In line with the guidelines of the National Universities Commission (NUC), the Federal University Gusau shall also operate the course credit system. A credit is the minimum unit of workload of a course. It depends on the total number of contact hours spent on the course. The contact hour is defined in terms of number of hours spent for the duration of the course. One credit unit is defined as: one hour of lecture or tutorial per week; two hours of seminar per week; three hours of laboratory or field work per week; and one month of industrial attachment. The equivalent of 1 credit unit in a semester of 15 weeks shall be one of the following: 15 hours of lectures; 15 hours of tutorials; 45 hours of laboratory work; and/or 60 hours of field trip.
Course Classification
Courses for each degree programme are designated as follows:
- Core Courses (CC)
Core/Compulsory Courses are courses students must take and pass before graduation. However, a student may be allowed to proceed to the next level of study if he/she failed some Core-Courses, but has earned enough credit units to qualify for the next level. The failed Core Course(s) will always reflect in the remark column of his/her results as outstanding.
- Elective Courses (EL)
Elective courses are courses students take based on their areas of specialization and interest. In addition to the Core- Courses, students are allowed take these courses to enable them to register for the minimum allowable per semester.However, there are restrictive and un-restrictive electives, depending on areas of specialization and Faculty. Students may consult their academic advisers for guidance in selecting Elective Courses.
- Pre-Requisite Courses
Pre-requisite courses are those that students must take and pass before registering higher level course(s). However, a student in a graduating class may register for a higher and lower course concurrently, provided that he/she had attempted the lower course once and that the total number of credit units registered in a semester, does not exceed 24.
- General Studies Courses (GST)/Entrepreneurial Development Studies (EDS)
All undergraduate students are required to pass all the General Studies Courses for a total of 14 Credits Units and 6 units of EDS courses. This must be passed before a degree can be awarded.
Registration Procedure
At the beginning of every session, all students are required to register for all courses online and submit printed course forms to the Department. Two weeks will normally be allowed for registration in every session. A late registration fee may be charged by the University. A student who fails to register within the stipulated registration period at the beginning of the session shall not be allowed to register for that session and shall forfeit the benefit of taking any examinations in any semester of that session. Such a student shall be deemed to have voluntarily withdrawn from the university and shall be re-admitted in the subsequent session only with the approval of the Senate. For freshmen, their admission shall be considered to have lapsed. All Registration forms must be signed personally by each student and his/her academic adviser. No student can register or sign for another who is not physically present.
Minimum and Maximum Credit Load
The minimum and maximum credit load permissible for full time students of the Federal University, Gusau per student academic session is shown below:
| Level | Minimum | Maximum |
|---|---|---|
| 100 | 30 | 48 |
| 200 | 30 | 48 |
| 300 | 30 | 48 |
| 400 | 30 | 48 |
| Total | 120 | 192 |
Deferment of Semester/Session
If, owing to late receipt of admission notice, the 75% attendance requirement for both lecture and practical could not be met by the student, or on health or financial grounds, the semester/session can be deferred. For ill health specifically, a student must present a medical report, which shall be authenticated by the Director of University Health Services. Students, for good reason and with the approval of Senate and upon recommendation by the Dean of the Faculty may suspend their programme of study for a maximum of one calendar year. In other words, student can defer the semester/session for other acceptable reasons. Such other reasons would be treated on their merits. However, a student is only qualified to suspend his programme after registration and must express his/her intention to defer after registration. Applications for deregistration and deferment shall be addressed to the Dean, Faculty of Management and Social Sciences through the Head of Department of Sociology. A student granted deferment shall return and continue, from where he/she left, his/her studies.