Course Description

This course is an introduction to Social Development with a particular emphasis on families and communities. This course will thus provide you with an overview of key theoretical perspectives and debates which underpin various approaches to social development. You will focus on the theoretical debates that inform policy and practice of social development. Throughout this course you will critically explore the assumptions, rationale and ethics of social development in thought and practice. As such, this course explores the social factors and conditions that promote or hinder social development and how this affects the well-being of individual, families, and communities in contemporary societies. The course focuses on different aspects of social development in the age of globalization, such as inequality, aid, environment, health, education, and migration.

Learning outcomes  

Upon successful completion of the course, students should be able to

·         Demonstrate an understanding of the concept of  “social development” and the role of United Nations Millennium Development Goals in shaping social development in a globalized world

·         Analyse social issues in the global and local context and apply such knowledge  work with diverse families and communities locally or internationally

·         Critically examine the role of human rights in constraining, or advancing, social development

·         Research into key social development issues confronting individuals, families, and communities in contemporary societies

·         Explore the role of social advertisement and education in promoting social development in Africa and/or around the world

Course content

·         Introduction to social theories of development and their relevance

·         Women and family in social change; family cycles, changing roles, modern trends

·         Education and development; relevance, cost of education and employment and social class and elitism.

·         Theorizing Development

·         Modernization Theory

·         Urbanisation and industrialization in developing countries

·         Rural Development: problems and strategies.

·         Concepts and strategies of integrated development: social planning; resources, objectives, structures and institutions and implementation;

·         Social indicators: identification, construction and problems as well as Social change and development–trends in the 20th century.

·         United Nations Millennium Development Goals; Sustainable Development Goals in shaping social development in a globalized world

Required Reading Materials

·         Haslam, P., Schafer, J., &Beaudet, P. (2012). Introduction to International Development: Approaches, Actors, and Issues (2nd ed.). Ontario: Oxford University Press.

·         Shaffer, D.R. (2009). Social and Personality Development (6th ed.).Belmont: Wadsworth.

Optional Reading Material

·         Peet, Richard with Elaine Hartwick 2009. Theories of Development: Contentions, Arguments, Alternatives (2nd edition). New York: Guilford.

·         Escobar, Arturo (1995). Encountering Development. Princeton University Press.

·         Goldman, Michael 2005. Imperial Nature: The World Bank and Struggles for Social Justice in the Age of Globalization. Yale University Press.

·         Li, Tania Murray 2007. The Will to Improve: Governmentality, Development and the Practice of Politics. Duke University Press.

Course Description 

Philosophers have developed powerful methods for classifying arguments, and identifying common errors in reasoning. Critical Thinking and Argumentation teaches these methods and applies them to real-life arguments, both written and spoken. It is thus an introduction to communication and applied logic. This learning area will help students develop arguments, understand audiences, evaluate source material, approach arguments rhetorically, and avoid logical fallacies. .Among the topics covered are Argument & Audience, Argument Analysis, Standards for evaluating evidence, logic, testing for validity and inductive reasoning.

Learning Outcomes

By the end of the course, students should be to

·         Discuss a range of techniques for improving reasoning and communication skill

·         Analyse arguments, both written and spoken

·         Identify errors (particularly the classic fallacies) in arguments

·         Write clearly structured essays in which arguments are set out, then criticised or defended

·         Engage in argumentation with peers in a productive and constructive manner

Course Content

·         Arguments, justifications, and explanations

·         Standards for evaluating arguments

·         Practice in analysing arguments

·         Propositional logic and truth-functional connectives

·         Testing for validity

·         Inductive reasoning

·         The nature of Causal reasoning and causal arguments

·         Techniques for evaluating causal argumenets

Compulsory Reading Materials

Armstronmg, W. S., Fogekin, R. (2010).Understanding Arguments: An Introduction to Informal Logic.(8th ed.).Belmont: Wadsworth Cengage learning.

Optional Reading

Schick, T., Vaughn, L. (2014). How to Think About Weird Things.(7_th ed.). USA: McGraw-Hill.

Course Description

Mass Communication and journalistic messages are potent tools for achieving diverse effects in audiences. On daily basis, audiences are bombarded with countless messages, which affect their psyche, emotions, behaviours and shape attitude. Consequently, the course is designed to enlighten students on elements of the mass communication process; various mass

Communication models; nature of audiences and how they react to messages. The course equips students with skills and knowledge needed in communicating with large audiences as well as arms them with theories, concepts and principles that will help nurture them into effective communicators.        

Learning outcomes

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

·         Demonstrate an understanding of the communication process

·         Conduct analyses on each of the elements of communication process

·         Discuss the various models of communication process

·         Explain how mass communication tools could be harnessed for results

·         Analyse the characteristics of audience and their impact on message effects

·         Discuss the future of mass media  

 Course Content

·         Nature and function of Mass Communication Systems

·         The Print Media

·         The Electronic Media

·         Special Mass Media Professions

·         Regulation of the Mass Media

·         Mass Media Audiences

·         The Social Impact of Mass Communication

·         Mass Communication and the Future

Compulsory Reading Materials

·         Dominick, J. R. (2010). The Dynamics of Mass Communication (11_thed.). New York: McGraw-Hill Education.

·         McQuail, Dennis. (2010).McQuail’s Mass Communication Theory (6_th ed).London: Sage Publications.

Optional Reading Material

·         Berner, R. T. & Demers, D. (2007). Fundamentals of Journalism: Reporting, Writing and Editing (Paperback ed.). US: Marquette Books.

Course Description

For aspiring journalists and writers, the first step is to understand the basic principles and techniques of news writing and reporting. This is an introductory level journalism course designed primarily for the print media. Material covered applies to print. Students will learn fundamental principles and techniques of journalistic reporting and writing, including story components, structure, origination and forms. Skills acquired would also include accurately detecting problems in style, attribution, grammar, spelling, news judgment, fairness, storytelling, and writing effectively under time constraints.

Learning outcomes

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

·         Demonstrate basic reporting skills

·         Write good news stories worthy of publication 

·         Exhibit mastery of the art of interviewing 

·         Demonstrate considerable knowledge of the techniques for writing good features 

·         Demonstrate  an understanding of role of research news writing

·         Explain the workings of the newsroom

Course content

·         Introduction to journalism

·         What is news and Types of news

·         News sources and news gathering

·         Writing the Copy

·         The Interview

·         Basic story research techniques on the Internet; Journalism and social media

·         Newsroom organization; roles of major players

·         Editing and its techniques

Compulsory Reading Materials

·         Harrower, Tim. (2010). Inside Reporting: A Practical Guide to the Craft of Journalism. New Delhi: McGraw Hill Education.

·         Hough, G. A. (1994). News Writing (5_thed.). USA: Houghton Mifflin College

Optional Reading Materials

·         Kamath, M. V. (2009). The Journalist’s Handbook. India: Vikas Publishing House Ltd.