Master of International Studies

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Philosophy

The Master of International Studies programme has been designed to provide training needs for manpower development within the context of the global environment. States have related since ancient times down to the contemporary era. It is necessary to study the relational developments, changes and transformations on the world scene in historical perspectives on the realization that the globe has been beset with crisis of different dimensions. The state of contemporary world history indicates that the increasing conflicts and the complex nature of international issues demand for systematic study and analysis. The international scene is now shrouded in intricate relationships due to the history of technological inventions and recent developments in the information and communication highways. The international boundaries that hitherto were positive determinants in the sovereignty of nation-states have drastically been eroded in importance due to these historical developments. The course is an attempt to develop ability to comprehend the history, socio-economic ideas and politics of international power relation as well as its application in the global politics.

Aim and Objectives

The aim of the programme is to expose students to issues of global importance and sharpen their intellect by instilling in them a critical mind to make them appreciate various dimensions of international issues in every facet of Nigerian, African, European, Asian and American history and other issues of international affairs.
The objectives are to:

train candidates to understand the central debates in the history of relation development.
enable candidates apply a variety of theories to specific themes and issues of international historical discourse.
enable candidates have a proper grasp of Nigeria’s past and current focus on international issues and the lessons that could be derived out of the development.
prepare candidates in the field of humanities and other disciplines wishing to pursue a career in the academic, international organizations and civil service.
enable students to avail themselves of the lessons of history and apply them as appropriate to resolving national developmental challenges.

Admission Requirements

Five O’level Credits which must include English Language, History, Government or Civic Education.
Bachelors degree with at least 2nd Class Lower Division in any discipline in Humanities from any recognized University.
3rd Class Degree with Postgraduate Diploma in relevant area.
Bachelors Degree in Professional Courses (e.g. Agriculture, Engineering, Pharmacy, Medicine, etc.) or Sciences (e.g. Mathematics, Chemistry, Biology, etc.) with classification as in i or ii above. In addition candidates must have undergone a Postgraduate Diploma in courses of Humanities from any recognized University.
In addition to i-iv above, all candidates must satisfy the University’s requirement for matriculation.

Any other qualification acceptable to the Board of Postgraduate School and Senate of the University.

Mode of Study

The M.A. International Studies programme shall be by both research and course work comprising of 30 units of taught courses and 6 units of Research Project.

Duration

A minimum of 24 and maximum of 36 calendar months.

Tuition fees: As may be determined by the University from time to time.
Career Opportunities:

The M. A. International Studies is designed to enhance the understanding and capacity building of professionals working in the foreign service, defence and security personnel, attachees within the country and missions abroad, career civil servants, Personnel of International and Regional Organizations, NGOs, staff of corporate organizations and multi-national agencies and firms.

Areas of Specialization:

Candidates could specialize in the study of the following:

International and Regional Communities/Organizations
Development issues and Transborder Resources
Wars and Peace Making
Alternative Development Strategies
Gender and Human Ri ghts Issues
Diplomatic History
Global Religious /Social Issues

Graduation Requirements
To be awarded the M.A degree in International Studies, a candidate must pass a minimum of 36 and a maximum of 44 credit units made up of as follows:

A minimum of 24 credit units of core courses.
Elective courses of at least 6 credit units.
A student will also be required to submit a Research Project of 6 credit units
The student must also satisfy all other regulations as stated in the Postgraduate guidelines of Usmanu Danfodiyo University, Sokoto.

Master of International Studies Courses

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Course Code	Course Title	Units
MIS 801	Research Methodology	3
MIS 802	Theories of International Relations	3
MIS 803	The State and International Politics	3
MIS 804	Nigeria and International Communities	3
MIS 805	International Law and Diplomacy	3
MIS 806	Resources and Development in the World Scene	3
MIS 807	Gender and International Studies	3
MIS 808	International Borders and Trans-border Resources	3
MIS 899	Research Project	6
	ICT	2
	Entrepreneurship	2

Electives

Course Code	Course Title	Units
MIS 809	International Political Economy	2
MIS 810	Alternative Development Strategies: Africa and Developing World	2
MIS 811	Religion and Politics in the International Scene	2
MIS 812	Global Human Rights Issues	2
MIS 813	War and Peace in World History	2
MIS 814	The Middle East: Regional and Strategic Issues in the 20th and 21st Centuries	2
MIS 815	Environment and International Politics	2
MIS 816	Culture, Games and Sports in the World Scene	2

11.0 Course Description

MIS 801: Research Methodology

The focus of this course will be on the theory and practice of international studies; the intellectual history of the discipline; the nature of the study; the development of international relations; present state of the discipline; problems in the discipline of international studies; search and analysis of source materials in the ICT.

MIS 802: Theories of International Relations:

The Theories of World History; the classical traditions based on Graeco-Roman world (Homer, Thucydides to Machiavelli); other approaches to the study namely; Realist, Behavioural, Marxist and Idealist paradigms (Thomas Hobbes, Marx to Morgenthau, etc.); contemporary theoretical issues on realism, liberalism, feminism and postmodernism; survey of Francis Fukuyama’s ‘The End of History and the Last Man’; ‘The End of History Thesis’ in Kant, Hegel and Marx; Huntington’s ‘Clash of Civilizations Thesis’; inter-state rivalry; Dialogue of Civilizations.

MIS 803: The State and International Politics

Meaning and functions of the State in history and politics (Africa and Europe); the nature of foreign policy; government and policy-making; state capacity in action, state decision making and implementation; conflict and resolution; limitations on state action, national interest in international issues.

MIS 804: Nigeria and International Communities

The African continental dimension-the African Union (formerly OAU); the regional organizations (ECOWAS, SARDC, (AEC), the rest of developing countries (Commonwealth, Non-Aligned Movement); Nigeria’s relations with the West (Europe and the Americas); relations with the East (USSR, and China etc); Nigeria at United Nations; the conceptual approach and global management process; role in politico-military security; role in functional-technical integration; the internal dynamics and conflicts of organizations; the League of nations; the UN and its specialized agencies; other relevant regional organizations such as the Arab League, ASEAN, Zionist Movement.

MIS 805: International Law and Diplomacy

Sources and nature of International Law; Juridical basis of International law; territoriality; jurisdiction and state responsibility; Pacific settlement of disputes; the law of treaties, human rights; World Court, International Criminal Court Hague, ECOWAS Court.

MIS 806: Resources and Development in the World Scene

Constraints for Third World development (internal and external factors); the international economic order; food and hunger; development aid; resource crises, displacement and refugees; environmental issues; women and development; urbanization problems; problems of rural development case studies of Third World development models; etc.

MIS 807: Gender in International Studies

The concept of Gender in history; problem of gender matter in international politics, ethnicity and the state; feminism; women liberation; women in politics; women in development; cross-cultural case studies of women the world over; women in leadership, women in military and intelligence service.

MIS 808: International Borders and Transborder Resources

Meaning and functions of regional and international boundaries; struggle for transborder resources; the issue of land; mines; forest and water resources; role of the multinationals in onshore and offshore resources, displacement and resettlement of border population or communities.

MIS 809: International Political Economy

The concept of international political economy; mercantilism; liberalism; Marxism; imperialism; international monetary relations; international trade relations, development and underdevelopment; multinational corporations, debt and aid; donor fatigue commodity market; the new economic order (or globalization); WTO (World Trade Organization); NAFTA (North America Free Trade Organization).

MIS 810: Alternative Development Strategies: Africa and the Developing World

The concept of development; theories of development-neoclassical and dependency schools; criticisms of the theses; alternative development strategies (capitalist, socialist or mixed economic systems); models in Africa or Asia for analysis.

MIS 811: Religion and Politics in the International Scene

The role of religion in political and social change; the transnational character of major world religions; global political implications of specific religious movements; ideology, fundamentalism, terrorism and security.

MIS 812: Global Human Rights

The philosophy of Human Rights; Human rights’ norms, its development and enforcement in society; attitudinal responses by global human rights regimes; prospects for a global human rights culture in the current century; issues of genocide; mass murder; torture; humanitarian protection for civilians in war zones; prisoners of war (POW); abuses on women; refugees; children; poverty and malnutrition.

MIS 813: War and Peace in World History

General survey of wars in history; origin and development of 1st and 2nd World Wars; consequences of the wars on world polity; assessment of regional and civil wars; other forms of conflicts (origin and history); cases and modes of reconciliation and resolution; terrorism; peacekeeping; societal implications of conflict; sustainable global peace.

MIS 814: The Middle East: Regional and Strategic Issues in the 20th and 21st Centuries

Assessment of the strategic, political, military and socio-economic significance of the Middle East; the Iran-Iraq war, Arab-Israeli war; Arab nationalism; the politics of oil, the Gulf war I and II; Regional and International actors in Middle East conflict; problems of integration; Religion and Politics.

MIS 815: Environment and International Politics

Defining the environment; the challenge of sustainable development; environmental education; deforestation and a forestation; and tenure; land degradation; international airspace; international waters and coastlines; multinational corporations and resource exploitation; impact on communities and reaction.

MIS 816: Culture, Games and Sports in the World Scene

The concept of Sports and Youth Development; emerging trends in participation in games and sports of regional and international perspectives; the international dimension of hosting; the politics of non-participation or exclusion; the Olympics; world soccer; international festival of arts; trade fairs; book fairs.

MIS 899: Research Project.