Postgraduate Diploma Migration and Refugee Studies (PGDMRS)

Philosophy
It is no doubt true that the refugee problem is a global reality, which should be a cause for concern to all well-meaning individuals and groups who have the feeling of humanity at heart. While migration can at times be peaceful, the refugee problem is never a bye-product of peaceful decisions. If it is not genocide and ethnic cleansing, it is some kind of plague or other natural disasters that cause it.
The refugee problem usually begins at a particular locality, then it spreads to and affects other areas. It starts from an early warning point in the history of peoples and their societies and then radiates to leave a lot of consequences on administration and governance (politics) at all levels and more consequences on the social and legal planes.
As the perspectives of history are holistic and as they are increasingly been refocused on the construction of a better future for humanity, it is deemed necessary by the Department of History, Usmanu Danfodiyo University, Sokoto to introduce a postgraduate course on this problem; this is to better be able have a clearer understanding and provide more critical insights into the causes of refugee problems and how to handle them.

The programme is designed to respond to the needs for professionalization in the field of Migration and Refugee problems. It is to provide candidates with an interdisciplinary framework for new forms of analysis as well as conceptual understanding of Migration and Refugee issues. Candidates will at the end of the programme be capable of working as specialists in the Refugee Management and Migration issues and will also be able to formulate policies and design projects for the benefit of various tiers of government.

Aim and Objectives

The programme is broad-based that aims at providing intellectual guidance and specialized research training in migration and refugee problems in deeper historical perspectives.

The objectives are to:

encourage nationals to appreciate peace and stability for the common good of all.
clearly delineate the variety of forces at work both at the local levels of interactions and on the global plane.
examine the phenomenon vis-à-vis African politics, media practice, etc.
acknowledge the existence of practical efforts (with a prayer that the efforts be sustained even better) being made by prominent groups.

Admission Requirements

Five O’level credits which must include English Language.
A minimum of 3rd Class degree in Migration and Refuge Studies
HND with minimum of lower credit in Migration and Refuge Studies
In addition to i-iii above, a candidate 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 PGDMRS programme is on part-time basis and shall be by both research and course work comprising of 30 units of taught courses and 6 units of Long Essay. The minimum units for graduation shall be 36 while maximum is 40.

Duration of the Programme:

Full-time Postgraduate Diploma programme shall run for a minimum of 12 and a maximum of 24 calendar months.
Part-time Postgraduate Diploma programme shall run for a minimum of 24 and a maximum of 36 calendar months

No extension shall be granted to any candidate save in circumstances

Tuition fee:
As may be determined by the University from time to time.

Career Opportunities
At the end of the programme, graduates could:

Work as a senior civil servant at local, state and federal levels.
Work as NGO managers.
Serve as migration and refugee studies tutors and related groups
Be freelance consultants for international organizations such as the United Nation High Commission for Refugees (UNHCR).

Areas of Specialization: None

Requirements for Graduation:
A candidate must pass a minimum of 36 credit units and a maximum of 40 credit units as follows:

Minimum of 18 credit units of core courses
Minimum of 12 credit units of elective courses
6 credit units of Research Project
The student must also satisfy all other requirements as stated in the Postgraduate guidelines of Usmanu Danfodiyo University, Sokoto.

Postgraduate Diploma Migration and Refugee Studies (PGDMRS)

Course Code	Course Title	Units
MRS 601	Research Methodology	3
MRS 602	Early Internal Migrations in Africa	3
MRS 603	International Trade and Slave Migration	3
MRS 604	Theories of Refugee problems	3
MRS 605	Colonialism and Displacement of Communities in Africa	3
MRS 606	Political Instability and Militarism in Africa	3
MRS 699	Research Project	6
	ICT	2
	Entrepreneurship	2

Electives

Course Code	Course Title	Units
MRS 607	Ethno-Politics, Religious Violence and Genocide in Africa	2
MRS 608	Regional and International organizations in Refugee management	2
MRS 609	Apartheid and the Displacement of People	2
MRS 610	Human Rights and the Empowerment of the Refugees	2
MRS 611	Security, Health and the Refugees	2
MRS 612	Globalization, Imperialism and Refugee Problems	2
MRS 613	Regime Change and Refugee Problems	2
MRS 614	The Urban Question, the media and the Refugees	2

MRS 601: Research Methodology (3 Units)

The course is designed to help students in understanding the various dynamics of refugee issues, and to develop their ability to expand and verify existing knowledge. Interdisciplinary approach will be used to study migration and Refugee problems especially as they relate to history, politics, economics and law. The course will also conceptualize Refugee problems in relation to social, physical and environmental issues.

MRS 602: Early Internal Migrations in Africa (3 Units)

This course treats early migrations that took place within the continent. As well as causes, and courses of the movements, the courses will also expatiate on the phenomenon of inter-group acculturation and assimilations in the early periods.

MRS 603: International Trade and Slave Migration (3 Units)

The course examines the causes, impact and consequences of the Trans-Atlantic slave trade and slave trade to the Maghreb.

MRS 604: Theories of Refugee Problems (3 Units)

This course treats variety of theoretical issues on this matter. World views are examined especially across the continents of Asia, Europe, and Latin America, etc.

MRS 605: Colonialism and Displacement of Communities in Africa (3 Units)

This course treats the course of the subjugation of African countries and the nature of the political apparatuses imposed on them, how these have displaced communities and shaped future crises in the continent.

MRS 606: Political Instability and Militarism in Africa (3 Units)

This course is a general survey of political instability and its causes, military rule and its impact across the African continent.

MRS 607: Ethno-Politics, Religious Violence and Genocide in Africa (2 Units)

This course examines the deterioration in specific instances, of ethnic politics and religion leading to the specific disaster of genocide. It further treats the act of genocide and its consequences in detail.

MRS 608: Regional and International Organizations in Refugee Management (2 Units)

This course treats the efforts of regional organizations from West Africa, through Central, East to Southern Africa in managing refugee crises. Among others, ECOMOG, ECOWAS, etc. shall be covered. Important international bodies such as the EU and AU in managing refugee crises shall also be covered. The role of the NGOs both on the continent and the global levels in managing emergent refugee crises will also be examined.

MRS 609: Apartheid and the Displacement of People (2 Units)

This course treats the concept, history and philosophy of Apartheid in Southern Africa and how it displaced the people and the future consequences all this had left in Southern Africa.

MRS 610: Human Rights and the Empowerment of the Refugees (2 Units)

This course examines the issues of human rights vis-a-vis the refugees as enunciated by various world secular, humanitarian and religious bodies.

MRS 611: Security, Health and the Refugees (2 Units)

The course examines the issue of security problems and health issues both as they affect the refugees and host communities. Possibilities of not only educating the refugees but minimizing tendencies of the spread of diseases especially in the era of HIV/AIDS shall also be treated.

MRS 612: Globalization, Imperialism and Refugee Problems (2 Units)

This course will examine imperialism and the global drive to make profits and how these impinge on the refugee question.

MRS 613: Regime Change and Refugee Problems (2 Units)

This course examines the crises which emanate in the course of political (regime) change and succession. Its negative consequences are to be highlighted.

MRS 614: The Urban Question, the Media and the Refugees (2 Units)

The phenomenon of the refugee influx into urban centers especially cities shall be covered. The possibilities of such influx and the possible impacts and how the media provided the flash points/early warning signs and human rights of the refugees shall also be examined.

MRS 699: Research Project (6 Units)

Shall be on an approved topic submitted by the candidate and considered by the Departmental PG Board.

Usmanu Danfodiyo University Sokoto

The Most Peaceful University in Nigeria

Postgraduate Diploma Migration and Refugee Studies (PGDMRS)

Postgraduate Diploma Migration and Refugee Studies (PGDMRS)