Introduction
The Department of History and International Studies offers postgraduate programmes leading to the award of M.A and PhD degrees in the following major areas of History and International Studies:
- Social and Political History
- Economic History
- International Studies
Philosophy
The M.A/PhD programmes in History and International Studies are designed to produce highly qualified and competent historians and experts in the discipline. It is intended that the products will be equipped with necessary skills with which to undertake critical analyses of issues to meet the challenges of modern society in a globalized world.
Aims and Objectives
The M.A/PhD Programmes in History and International Studies are aimed at:
- Providing students with requisite historical knowledge, a highly developed sense of balance as well as considerable breadth and depth of knowledge of the local, national, African and international communities and environments.
- To enable the students develop the spirit of enquiry and to understand the role of evidence as the basis of informed judgment through training in research in the atmosphere of intellectual independence.
- To train students in critical and rational thinking and judgments.
- To produce students who can assume leadership roles in the task of nation-building, in teaching and research, in policy decision making, in administration and management of affairs as well as in international and foreign relations.
(v).To enable students avail themselves of the lessons of history and apply them as appropriate to resolving national developmental challenges.
Entry Requirements for Masters Programme
The criteria for admission into the M.A Programme will be as follows:
- Candidates for M.A Programme in History and International Studies must have five credit passes including English, History or Government at ‘O’ Level as basic requirement.
- Candidates with Bachelors degree in Arts (BA) in History, History and International Studies, History and Diplomatic Studies, History and International Relations as well as History and Strategic Studies. The candidates must be graduates of approved and recognized universities and must obtain a minimum of Second Class Lower Division degree.
- Candidates must take and pass qualifying examinations administered by the university
Mode of Study for Masters Programmes
- A candidate for the Masters Programme is expected to do course work to be examined in eight written papers from eight courses.
- Candidates should take not less than (12) twelve credit unit courses in any semester. The total course unit for Masters Programme is 24 credit units.
- The candidate is expected to present a project report of not less than 6 credit units.
- The candidate should take most courses that relate to his/her area of specialization.
Stress Areas for M.A Programme
General Themes 0
Nigeria 1
Africa 2
Europe & USSR 3
Near East and Far East 4
Methodology 5
Project Research 6
Thesis 7
Courses for M.A Programme
| First Semester | Credit |
HIS 601 – Theories and Methods of History HIS 603 – Advance Studies in Philosophy of History HIS 621 – Colonialism, Nationalism and Independence in Africa HIS 605 – Evolution of Liberal Democratic Governments |
3 3 3 3 |
HIS 601 –Theories and Methods of History HIS 623 – Economic History and Developments in Africa Since the 20th Century HIS 611 – Economic History of Nigeria Since the 20th Century HIS 625 – Land and Labour in Africa |
3 3 3 3 |
HIS 601 – Theories and Methods of History HIS 607 – Theories of International Relations HIS 609A – International Institutions and Organizations HIS 641 – Contemporary History of the Middle East |
3 3 3 3 |
| Electives
HIS 613 – Thematic Studies in Nigerian History HIS 627 – Africa and European Imperialism HIS 629A – Religion and the State in African History |
3 3 3 |
| Second Semester | Credit |
HIS 620 – Nation Building in Post-Independence Africa HIS 602 – The Blacks in Diaspora HIS 612 – The Military and Politics in Nigeria HIS 626 –Urban History of Africa |
3 3 3 3 |
HIS 642 – Comparative Industrial Growth and devt. of Japan and China HIS 604 – Capitalism, Communism and Mixed Economy HIS 624 – Economic Role of Women in African History HIS 626 – Problems and Prospects of Regional Economic Co-operation in West Africa |
3 3 3 3 |
HIS 606 – Trends in World Diplomacy HIS 628 – Africa and the Wider World HIS 608 – Advance Studies in International Law and Diplomacy Since the 20th Century
|
3 3 3 |
| Electives
HIS 629B – Cooperation in West Africa HIS 614 – Evolution of Nigerian Foreign Policy HIS 609B – Studies on Strategic Issues Since the 20th Century |
3 3 3 |
* HIS 670 – M.A Thesis 6 Credit
*Total units required for graduation is 24 units of course work and 6 units of Thesis=30 Credit
Course Description for M.A Programme
HIS 601: Theories and Methods of History
A study of the historiography of Africa, sources of African History; with special emphasis on non-written sources. This course also includes some aspects of methods of historical research with emphasis on diverse forms of data collection and evaluation etc.
SOCIAL AND POLITICAL HISTORY
HIS 602: Blacks in Diaspora
The focus here is on the history of Africans in the Americas. The course will specifically examine the trans-Atlantic slave trade, comparison of the status and treatment of slaves and the mulattoes in British, French, Spanish and Portuguese colonies; the abolition of the slave trade and slavery; the civil rights movements in the United States; African Americans and the political and economic development of Africa and Africa in America today.
HIS 603: Advanced Studies in Philosophy of History
The Course examines the meaning, nature and significance and relevance of history to society. Topics like ultimate history, objectivity in history, causation in history, moral judgment in history, history as science and/or art as well as the history of history writing and the development of history as a discipline will be discussed and examined.
HIS 605: Evolution of Liberal Democratic Governments
The course examines the origins of liberal democratic forms of governments namely: Parliamentary form of government practiced in Great Britain and France and the Presidential system practiced in USA and some African countries.
HIS 612: Military and Politics in Africa
The course deals with military intervention and governance in Nigeria. Topics discussed here include the various military regimes and coups in Nigeria beginning with the Major Nzeogwu Coup of 1966 to the regime of General Sani Abacha. Why each military regime came to power, what they achieved as well as their failures are highlighted; finally the opinion that military is aberration and undemocratic is popularly expressed.
HIS 620: Nation-Building in Post-Independence Africa
The course examines approaches to nation-building in the global comparative perspective. Case studies of plural societies illustrate how particular peoples and nations have dealt with the challenges of nation-building, drawing lessons for Africans countries. The problems of nation-building examined in this course include: the party systems; the problems of one-party system in a democratic polity; post-independence African political economy, foreign policy issues; problems of political stability, ethnic national boundaries; bilateral and multi-lateral relationships in Africa.
HIS 621: Colonialism, Nationalism and Independence in Africa
This course takes a look at the impact of colonialism in Africa; the internal and external factors of African nationalism; nationalist movements in Africa; the philosophy of African nationalist leaders like Kwame Nkrumah, Nnamdi Azikiwe, Ahmed Ben Bella, Gamal Abdel Nasser and Houphouet-Boigny; nationalism in settler and non-settler colonies and attainment of independence by African countries.
HIS 626: Urban History of Africa
The course deals with urbanization from prehistoric times to the present. It highlights changes wrought by technology, trade, warfare, migration, imperialism and other factors. Issues to be examined include the economy, politics and social conditions in African cities, and the rise and challenges of mega-cities in Africa.
ECONOMIC HISTORY
HIS 604: Capitalism, Communism and Mixed Economy
The course analyzes the three types of economic systems, namely Capitalism, Communism and Mixed Economy. It explains the mode of production and distribution adopted by each system as well as the problems associated with each of them.
HIS 611: Economic History of Nigeria since the 20th Century
The themes to be disused here include: the nature and pattern of external influences on Nigeria’s economic and political development; major trends and changes in the monetary and banking sectors of the economy, mining and manufacturing/industrial sector; agriculture, the Nigerian oil economy and OPEC; Indigenization, Commercialization, Deregulation and Privatization; Government agricultural development schemes, such as Operation Feed the Nation, Green Revolution, River Basin Development Authorities; Agricultural Development Projects (ADPs); Structural Adjustment Programme (SAP), National Directorate of Employment (NDE), DFRRI, Better Life for Rural Women; Family Support Programme, Poverty Alleviation Measures/Programme, NEEDS, Corruption and the Economy, etc.
HIS 623: Economic History and Developments in Africa since the 20th Century
This course examines the Dependency Theory and post-independence African economies; problems and prospects of regional economic organization; The role of the IMF and the World Bank; the place of Economic Commission for Africa (ECA) in the economic development of Africa; Africa and the global economy; produce/ exports and strategic minerals.
HIS 624: Comparative Industrial Growth and Development of Japan and China
The course examines the different approaches adopted by the industrial nations and powers like Japan and China, compares and contrasts these approaches and uses them as example for the Third World countries to emulate.
HIS 625: Land and Labour in Africa
The issue of land and labour as factors of production in the economies of African societies since the intrusion of Europeans and their commercial interests in Africa are discussed in this course. The settler and non-settler colonies in Southern Africa; the plantation economy; colonial policies on land and labour and African reactions to them are among issues to be examined.
HIS 626: Problems and Prospects of Regional Economic Co-operation in West Africa
The course examines the features of the economy in West African Sub-region and issues in its underdevelopment. It further examines the various organizations in West Africa (such as the Mano River Union, the Benin Union and ECOWAS) which have been set up by the joint efforts of states in the sub-region to facilities economic development; the problems and prospects of these efforts are to be highlighted.
HIS 642: Economic Role of Women in African History
The course examines the contributions of women to the growth and development of Africa societies in the socio-economic development of Africa. Prominent personalities like the legendary Queen Amina of Zaria, Omu Okwei, Mrs. Funmilayo Anikulapo Kuti and Mrs. Margaret Ekpo are to be studied.
INTERNATIONAL STUDIES
HIS 606: Trends in World Diplomacy
The course traces the evolution of contemporary world diplomacy from the Congress of Vienna to the present. Principles and issues like Balance of Power, continentalism, European imperialism and colonization are discussed. Also discussed are America’s policy of isolationism and non-interference by external powers in American continental affairs. The failure of the League of Nations and Collective Security, The Second World War and America’s involvement in the war; the principle of self-determination and the Atlantic Charter, the Cold War, East West Relations, the collapse of the Soviet Union (USSR), the new World Order and Globalization are also issues that come under focus
HIS 607: Theories of International Relations
The plethora of theories arose as analytical tools in the study of international relations after the Second World War. These theories hypothetically seek to establish the causes of conflicts and made suggestions on how to avoid them. The theories to be studied include: the realist theory, the game theory, the communication theory and radical political economy or Marxist theory.
HIS 608: Advanced Studies in International Law and Diplomacy in the 20th Century
The course examines the emergence of nation states in Europe and the growth of diplomatic intercourse among them. The issue of diplomacy and the emergence of international law in relation to the Holy Alliance, Vienna Congress of 1815, the Congress of Aix-la-Chapelle in 1818, the Hague system, the Concert of Europe, the British Congress, Colonialism, Trade and diplomatic theories etc. will also be discussed.
HIS 609A: International Institutions and Organizations
This course examines the genesis and historical antecedents of International Institution and Organizations. These Organizations include: The Congress of Vienna, The League of Nations; The UNO, The OAS, The EEC/EU, the OAU/AU, ECOWAS, ASEAN and the Arab League.
HIS 628: Africa and the Wider World
Issues treated here include the foreign factor in the decolonization of Africa; Independence and neo-colonialism in Africa; Africa and international organizations like the UNO, EEU/EU, social aspects of globalization; Africa and super power politics; Africa and the New World Order, etc.
HIS 641: Contemporary History of the Middle East
This course discusses the major issues and crises in the Middle East since the European colonization of the area: the Arab-Israel conflict; relation among the Arab nations; the politics of oil; the Palestinian question, The Gulf Crises and the contemporary American invasion of Iraq and Iraqi war.
Electives
HIS 609B: Studies of Strategic Issues since the 20th Century
This course deals with events and issues in the 20th and 21st Centuries that are of strategic relevance. The contribution of Hitler, Mao Zedong, Alfred Mahan, Thomas Schelling and Robert McNamara on the subject will be examined. Such modern concepts and theories as: game theory, theory of conflict and conflict resolution, deterrent strategic planning, defense policies, foreign policy analysis and the role of science and technology in strategic planning will be discussed. In addition, an attempt will be made to apply the various theories in selected case studies
HIS 613 Thematic Studies in Nigerian History
This course takes a look at the thematic study of Nigerian history from pre-colonial times. Issues to be treated include: pre-colonial history of Nigerian communities, background to British advent and conquest of Nigeria; the amalgamation, constitutional development; the nationalist movements, party and ethnic politics, the civil war, military rule, census and revenue allocation.
HIS 627: African and European Imperialism
This course makes a general survey of the internal and external development and dynamics that prepared the setting in both Europe and Africa for European Imperialism. Students are expected to study some of the theories of imperialism as propounded by thinkers like Hobson, Lenin, J.A. Schumpeter, Rosa Luxemburg and D.K. Fieldhouse. Themes to be covered include historical origin of imperialism, colonialism and neo-colonialism. Selected case studies shall be examined with particular to economic implications.
HIS 629A: Religion and the State in African History
This course deals with the issue of religion and the State in Africa in time perspective. Indigenous religious traditions and beliefs, Islam and Christianity are the major religions to be examined.
HIS 629B: Cooperation in West Africa
The course examines cooperation within the West African sub-region since 1975, the birth of ECOWAS, and other aspects of political and socio-economic, military, technical and cultural co-operations among governments within the sub-region. The impact of these diverse co-operations on socio-economic activities within the sub-region is the major thrust of this course. Bilateral and multilateral relations since 1975 form the basis of analysis.
HIS 614: Evolution of Nigerian Foreign Policy
The course exposes students to the thrust and dynamics of Nigerian foreign policy since 1960. It also addresses major issues that determine the basis of Nigeria’s foreign policies and how these have affected the development of Nigeria as a nation over the years.