Postgraduate School
Department of Political Science Master of Science in Political Science
M.Sc. Political Science
List of Academic Staff
| Names | Status and Qualification | Research Interests |
| A.R.Bakare | SeniorLecturer &Ag.Head of Department B.Sc.(Ilorin);M.Sc.(Ibadan);Ph.D.(Ilorin) | Legislative Studies, Election, Democratic Studies and Comparative Politics |
| H.A.Saliu | Professor B.Sc.(Kano);M.Sc.(Ife);Ph.D. (Kano) | International Relations & Conflict Management |
| F.A.Aremu | Professor B.Sc.(Jos);M.Sc.(Sokoto);Ph.D.(Japan); Dip. (Adult Edu.) | Research Methodology,Public Policy, International Relations |
| E.O.Ojo | Professor B.Sc.,M.Sc.,Ph.D.(Ibadan) | Comparative Politics, Federalism,Democratisation & Political Communication |
| A.J.Omede | Professor B.Sc.,M.Sc.,Ph.D.(Unilag) | Strategic Studies,International Relations,Political Economy |
| L.Saka | Reader B.Sc., M.Sc. (Ibadan),Ph.D.(Sintok), Diploma (Federal Studies,Fribourg) | Peace,Conflict and Development Studies, International Relations and Refugee Studies |
| A.A.Muhammad | Reader B.Sc.,M.Sc.(Ilorin);Ph.D.(ABU Zaria) | Federalism,Political Parties and Legislative Studies |
| O.M.Adebiyi | SeniorLecturer B.Sc.,M.Sc.,Ph.D.(Ilorin) | Democratization, Electoral Studies and Comparative Politics |
| A.J.Edun | Lecturer I B.Sc. (Sokoto); M.Sc. (Ilorin); Ph.D.(ABU, Zaria); MPA, PGDE (Ilorin) | International Relations,Conflict Management, Regional Integration |
| A.A.Isiaq | Lecturer I B.Sc.,M.Sc.(Ilorin),Ph.D.(KWASU, Malete) | Comparative Institutions, Traditional Institutions, |
| A.T.Awotunde | Lecturer I B.Sc.,M.Sc.,MPA,PGDE(Ilorin); Ph.D.(Babcock) | Comparative Politics and Public Administration |
Introduction
The programme is conceived to broaden and deepen student’s knowledge and understanding of the general issues that are of concern to the discipline. It is structured to enable students to acquire sound academic training and thus be in a position to contribute their quota to global development.
Philosophy
The philosophy of the programme is anchored on running a programme that focuses on training and skill acquisition, while also enhancing the building of a robust human resource pool that can propel socio-economic advancement and political development.
Aims and Objectives
The aim of the programme is to aid the delivery of teaching and research-oriented postgraduate degreeandproduceskilledmanpowerthatcanadvanceeffortsatnation-buildinganddevelopment. Objectives:training highly competent and versatile teachers, researchers and professionals in all areas ofPolitical Science through the teaching of relevant courses in orderto meet the development challenges of the Nigerian society in particular and humanity at large; and training manpowerthat will aid the effortsat nation-building and development across nations of the world.
Admission Requirements
For a candidate to be eligible for admission into the M.Sc. degree programme in Political Science, he/she must hold a Bachelor‘s Degree in Political Science from a recognized University with a minimum of Second Class Honours (Lower Division). Applicants, irrespective of the class of degree, shall be subjected to a qualifying examination/interview to determine their suitability for recommendation for admission. Candidates must also have at least a credit in English Language and Mathematics at Secondaryschool level and meet all other requirements set by the Post- graduate School of the University of Ilorin.
Duration of the Programme
The M.Sc. Political Science programme is run on full-time basis. The duration for the M.Sc. in Political Science is a minimum of 18 calendarmonths and a maximum of 36 calendarmonths. Candidates may, however,apply to the postgraduate school for an extension of 12 calendarMonths subject to a maximum of 2 of such extensions. To graduate, a candidate is expected to meet all requirements of the programme by passing a minimum of 35 credits including all compulsory and required courses, presentation of a seminar and writing of a dissertation.
Detailed Course Description
POS801 Research Methodsin PoliticalScience 2Credits
Basic quantitative and qualitative research techniques. Concept formation. Measurement techniques.Systematicobservationtechniques.Researchdesign:methodsofdatacollection and analysis. Empiricism and design techniques.30h(T);C
POS802 Quantitative Analysis in Political Science 2Credits
Basic elements in descriptive statistics. Probability. Inferential statistics. Measures of association. Sample and sampling techniques: variance,factor analysis,correlation and regression analysis and chi square. Statistical package for social sciences (SPSS). E-view. 30h (T); C
POS 803 Basic Problems of Political Philosophy 3 Credits Central themes of political philosophy conducted through the study of one or more worksof notable political philosophy and philosophers.45h(T);C
POS 804 Nigerian Government and Politics 3 Credits
People and geographical features of the country.Political constitutional development in Nigeria since emergence of federalism and the operation of the federal constitution: legislative,executive and the judiciary in modern Nigerian State. Critical analysis of the public service. Fiscal federalism: financing of the federation attendant problems. Party and electoral systems. Political stability and instability in Nigeria‘s political history.45h(T);C
POS805 Political Behaviour 3Credits
Process of applying the general systems theory of the study of political behaviour. Issues affecting political culture, public opinion and community power. Use of specific data base to analyse and discuss political behaviours.45h(T);C
POS 806 Theories of International Relations 3 Credits
Theories of international and foreign relations. Classical theory. Systems theories. Balance of power.Integration theory.Feminist theory.Difference.Theory of coalition and alliances. Communication theory. Games and simulation.45h(T);C
POS 807 African Government and Politics 3 Credits
Contemporary social and ethnic structures in post-colonial African States. Pattern of governmental systems in Africa. Development trajectories of African States.Basic governance challenges confronting states on the continent. Roles of the militaryin national politics. Process of democratisation and democratic consolidation in Africa. International position of selected states in Africa. Direction of foreign policyof selected states in Africa: influence on the international politics.45h(T);E
POS 808 International Organisations 3 Credits
Historical evolution of international organizations for century till date. Categorization of international organizations. Selected juridical problems of international organisation. Selected international organisation: League of Nations,United Nations, African Union, Economic Community of West African States, Non-governmental international organizations African state systems.45h(T);E
POS 809 African Political Thoughts 3 Credits
African political ideas. Concepts of authority; legitimacy and power. Pan Africanism as represented by the thought of notable Pan Africanists like: Blyden, Garvey, Du Boise and Padmore. Philosophy and thought of contemporary African Political thinkers:Kwame Nkrumah,FrancisFanon,Julius,Nyerere,Leopold Sengho,Amical Cabral,Obafemi Awolowo and Nnamdi Azikiwe. Examination of the concepts of African personality African socialism. Humanism among others.45h(T);E
POS 810 Public Policy Formulation 3 Credits
Nature of policy and the dynamics of policy formulation. Comparative study of approaches to policy formulation using Nigerian experiences at federal,state and local government levels. Discussion of major models of policy formulation.45h(T);E
POS 811 Violence and War in International Relations 3 Credits Examination of no table theories on the causes of war,Nature and types of war.Conceptsof limited war: total war,nuclear war and guerrillaear. Nature of crisis and crisis management: simulation, war games and foreign policy.45h(T);E
POS 812 Comparative Political Analysis 3 Credits
Identify concepts,Methods of data analysis. Theories with reference to specific institutions and structures of government across states. Comparative analysis of political systems focusing on political problems and issues in developed as well as in third world nations. Independent student research.45h(T);E
POS 813 Methodology of Comparative Politics 3 Credits
History and concepts of comparative politics. Scientific method and logic of comparison.Classification systems in comparative politics and case study. Analysis ad comparison of some approaches to political enquiry,Empirical research design.Contending theories. Identifiable institutions and structure. Patterns of mobilization Representations. Electoral systems in liberal- democratic and communist systems.45h(T);E
POS 814 Civil-military Relations 3 Credits
Relationship between the military institution and the society. Causes,consequences and increasing role of the military in Nigerian politics. Military in the politics of other African states up to the late 1990s,theory of civil-military relations. Conceptsof military-industrial complex. Role of the military in third world politics. Nature of military disengagement in national politics in Africa. Supremacy of the civil authority over military institution.Evaluation of the role of the military as protectors of democratic order.45h(T);E
POS815 Political Thoughts I 3Credits
Scope and importance of political thought in human society and in politics. Foundational issues and themes in western political thoughts form Plato to Aristotle, Thomas Hobbes and Jean J. Rousseau.45h(T);E
POS816 Political Thought II 3Credits
Issues and themes for nuance understanding of the philosophical roots of modern political order and disorder.Basis of philosophical positions of notable social and political philosophers from Rousseau to contemporary time: Francis Fukuyama.45h(T);E
POS 817 Marxian Political Thoughts 3 Credits
Historical development of western society: its capitalist mode and the explication of operation of capitalist societies. Liberalism as a political philosophy. Critique of liberal political philosophy. Criteria for a philosophical evaluation of world views.45h(T);E
POS 818 Studies in Nigerian Foreign Policy 3 Credits
Political, economic and sociological factors influencing Nigerian foreign policy making. Substance and process of Nigerian foreign policy. Attitude of the policy makers. Position of the policy of Pan-Africanism. Non-alignment,Disarmament, United Nation. Regional organizations: the African union. Economic community of West African states. Comparative study of Nigerian Foreign policy under military regimes and civilian regimes. Issues and themes dominating Nigerian foreign policy since the return to democratic rule in 1999.45h(T);E
POS819 ForeignPolicyAnalysis 3Credits
Issues and themes in foreign policy analysis: aims and determinants of foreign policy of states. Decision-making in foreign policy. Different theories employed to discuss and analyse foreign policy decisions of states. Casestudies of major foreign policydecisions: French decision to withdraw from the integrated NATO commands structure in 1966. Abrogation of the Anglo-Nigerian defence pact. Engagement in the first Iraqi warand second Iraqi invasion of 2003. US invasion of Afghanistan. Foreign policy posture of major powers: US and its Western Allies post-September 11. Other important foreign policy issues shaping global power configuration.45h(T);E
POS 820 International Legal Order 3 Credits
Development and present status of international legal order. Nature and sources of international law. Enforcement and sanctions in international law.International personality. Rights and duties of states in international politics and law. Succession ofstates and governments. Diplomatic recognition of new states. Territorial and criminal jurisdiction. State responsibility and treatment of aliens. Diplomatic agents. Privileges and immunities. Rule guiding extradition under international law: critical legal issues. Emerging norms,rule on the law of the sea. Law of treaties. Impact of Afro-Asian States on contemporary international legal order.45h(T);E
POS 821 International Economics Relations 3 Credits
Economics as a science. Links between political and economic aspects of international economic institutions: IMF,worldbank,AFDB,IFC,IDA,WTO,Reform of the international economic monetary system and international reserve and liquidity. Theory of international trade. Economic and monetary integration. Foreign trade: protection and import substitution. Role of petroleum exporting countries. Trade between the centrally- planned economy and the rest of the world. Politics and economics of foreign capital investments. Politics of the new international economic order.45h(T);E
POS822 The Nigerian Public Administration 3Credits
Public administration in Nigeria: earliest time, colonial era, present. Environment and ecology of Nigerian public administration. Ethics and values in Nigerian public sector. Structure, functioning and processes of levels of government. Role of public administration in national development. Challenges constraining the public sector in Nigeria.45h(T);E
POS823 Organisation and Administrative Theory I 3 Credits Theory and practice of administration: modern organisation theory. Organizational and functioning of governmental administrative system. Organizational change. Analysis of organizations and environment. Bureaucracy.45h(T);E
POS 824 Organisation and Administrative Theory II 3 Credits
Organisational behaviour.Management process in the setting of governmental administrative structures: planning,forecasting,programming,corporatemanagement and principles of departmental organisation. Analysis of organisation theory: relevance to public administration especially in developing economies.45h(T);E
POS 825 Comparative Administration 3 Credits Development,hopes and problems of comparative public administration. Analysis of principles in the study, of comparative public administration. Administration processes in selected countries: role of higher civil servants. Administration and economic development: recruitment,training,public accountability and reforms directed at enhancing the performance of the public sector.45h(T);E
POS 826 Public Finance Management 3 Credits
Concepts in public finance. Budgets at the federal, states and local government levels.Local taxation and revenues. Budgeting and financial communication. Internal audit at federal,state and local government levels. Local government finance in selected countries across the world.45h(T);E
POS827 Graduate Seminar 2Credits
Each student is expected to prepare,present, defend and submit one seminar paper on an approved topic in Political Science.90h(P);C
POS828 Dissertation 6Credits
Independent research on a topic approved by the department 270h(P);C
Graduation Requirements
For a candidate to be awarded the M.Sc.degree in Political Science,such candidate must pass a minimum of 32 Credits.
Summary
Core Courses:POS801,(2),POS802(2),POS803,(3),POS804,(3),POS805,(3),POS806(3),POS827,(2),POS899,(6) 24Credits
Political Economy Elective Courses:POS808,(3),POS810,(3),POS820,(3),POS821,(3),POS826,(3) 9credits
Total. 32Credits
International Relations
Elective Courses:POS808,(3),POS811,(3),POS818,(3),POS819,(3),POS820,(3),POS821,(3)9Credits
Total 32Credits
Comparative Politics Elective Courses:POS807,(3),POS812,(3),POS813,(2),POS814,(3),POS825,(3),9Credits
Total 32Credits
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