The postgraduate program in the department of Geography is designed to provide skilled and adequate manpower in planning and management of man’s environment and resources.  The problem of resources for the growing world for which the geographers must apply their skills is the basis for offering postgraduate programmes in applied geography.  Fundamental to this problem is the geographical methods of studying the inter-relationship between the physical environment, the economy, the nature of society within the context of changing situations at all levels of scale from the most local to world wide.

The purpose of the program is to produce a breed of graduates who will be concerned with man’s evaluation, exploitation and management of human and natural resources, imbued with a clear understanding of the relevant physical, behavioural and information systems, through which man can optimize his use of these resources.  This programmes is developed at a time when the pressure on Nigerian resources is increasing thus demanding a more rational and foresighted approach to resource management and allocation.

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SCOPE OF PROGRAMME

The Postgraduate programmes in the Department of Geography consist of course work and research thesis/project. Fieldwork forms an integral part of the programmes.

The program courses are in the following areas:

 i)                M.Sc Environmental Resources Management (ERM)

ii)                  M.Sc Rural Development (RD)

iii)           M.Sc Geography with options in Climatology, Population, Geomorphology &  Transportation

iv)                Post Graduate Diploma (PGD) in Environmental Management

Duration of the Programme

The minimum duration of each course is twelve months and the maximum is twenty four months, staring from October of each academic year.  The programmes are full-time and based on course work and a project report.  Seminars, field and studio/laboratory courses, form and integral part of the program.

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ENTRY REQUIREMENTS

M.Sc Environmental Resources Management

Candidates must posses at least a good Second Class Honours degree in Geography, or closely related disciplines in Environmental Sciences, Natural Sciences, Agriculture or Engineering from recognized Universities. 

M.Sc Rural Development

Candidates must posses at least a good second class Honours Degree in Geography, or closely related disciplines in Environmental Sciences, Agriculture, Engineering, Social Sciences and Management Sciences from recognized Universities.

M.Sc Geography

Candidates must posses at least a good Second Class Honours Degree in Geography, or closely related disciplines in Environmental Sciences from recognized Universities. 

PGD Environmental Management

Candidates must posses at least possess a degree in Geography, Environmental Sciences, Agriculture, Engineering, Social and Management Sciences from recognized Universities. Holders of Higher National Diploma in any of the above fields with minimum of lower credit level may also be eligible for admission.

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Job and Career Prospects.

The shortage of well educated and informed personnel in environmental resources management and rural development planning often results in serious planning lapses in a country’s drive to develop.  Therefore the products of these programmes are intended to fill a critical and growing area of manpower need at the present stage of the country’s development.  Job prospects abounds in the following areas for the graduates: Ministry of Environment, Departments of Natural resources, Community Development, Lands and survey at the state and local government levels, Urban and regional planning agencies, Agricultural development agencies, River Basin authorities, etc.

Facilities

Classrooms, studio and seminar room, three computers with printers, projector, mobile screen, photocopying machine, departmental library, offices, generator, postgraduate room etc.

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course outline              course description

COURSE OUTLINE For M.Sc RURAL DEVELOPMENT

FIRST SEMESTER: CORE COURSES

ELECTIVES

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Minimum electives to be taken is four (4) Units.

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SECOND SEMESTER: CORE COURSES

ELECTIVES

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Minimum electives to be taken is four (4) Units.

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Course Description

RD 701  Theory of Rural Development  (2 Units)

The meaning of Growth and Development.  concept and determinants of Rural Development.  Theoretical approaches to understanding agriculture and rural development, system approaches, decision making models, structural and historical approaches, limitations of each approach.  Michael Lipton urban- Bias theory, Robert Chambers thesis of Integrated rural poverty.  Six biases of rural planners and seven sins of Rural Development Planners. Rapid rural appraisal techniques and People participatory approach, Cluster approach in Rural development; capitalist growth theories and models of Rural Development in Nigeria.  Nigerian approaches to rural development: Relevance of theories and models to Rural development in Nigeria.

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RD 702 Rural Landuse and Conservation (2 Units)

Classification and Analysis of existing rural landuse, based on the records of specific areas contained in the Environmental Data Bank, Patterns of use, nature of terrain, drought and flood hazards in rural soil erosion problems. Definition and types of degradation. Principles of land conservation and techniques, including afforestation, water shed protection, slope protection and conservational agricultural practices in rural areas. Land Management, alternative uses and practices, reclamation of derelict and flooded land.

RD 703.  Rural Society & Social Problems  (2 Units)

Evolution and development of human society, Agrarian societies, concepts and nature of rural society, type of villages, the myth of village self sufficiency, rural Social Groups, primary and secondary groups, formal and Informal Groups, Informal Rural Institutions, Family, class, feudalism, caste, formal rural Institutions; village school; village wards, youth clubs; village leaders, identification of leaders, development of leaders, methods of social control in rural societies, marriages, types of marriages; polygamy; monogamy: Endogamy, Exogamy, Kinship system, rural family issues; Extended family, rural family planning, problems of deprived groups; women, minority social groups, communalism, religion, Education, population and Health problems.  Rural community organisations; principles of community organization and method of community organization.

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RD 704 Extension and Innovation Diffusion  (2 Units)

Meaning and scope of extension, objectives and history of extension in Nigeria, principles and philosophy of extension education, scope and role of extension education as a method of community development. Extension approach and teaching methods-individual, group and mass extension, Extension organisation; its structure and purpose. Needs and their determinants, Extension programmes; achievements and Impact. Communication and Innovation diffusion, SMCRE communication, model Relation between communication and diffusion, characteristics, Innovation Decision - on process, Innovativeness and Adopter categories, Rate of Adoption, role of Extension and Innovation diffusion in rural development. 

RD 705  Rural community Development  (2 Units)

Meaning and Concept of Community Development Review of the Third World development experience and its success and failures. The emergence of community/ Rural Development as alternative approach for development in the 3^rd World countries and Nigeria in particular. Nigerian Development experience since 1960 and the emergence of rural/community development as a discipline, approach, strategy, phenomenon and as a concept in Nigeria. Community development efforts:-success and failures. Theoretical concept of Rural Development Administration as its relates to the constitution of 1999, functions, structures and role of village heads and leaders. Emphasis on Village level workers, District Development Officer, Local Government Development Officers, State Development Officers etc. Women organisations, Voluntary organisations and their role in community development. The failure of Rural Community development in Nigeria. Role of government Personnel in enhancing  community and development administration at the grass root level. Alternative options and Case studies.

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RD 706 Rural Planning Workshop  (2 Units)

Workshops are tied to all taught courses and provide a vital forum for studio work, field projects and the acquisition of relevant practical skills, from skill personnel in relevant areas of specialization such as Bankers, Engineers, Demographers, planners etc within Yola and its environs. Special lectures on Social forestry for Rural Development, Aquaculture, Rural Economics, Rural Cadastral Survey, Pasture/ Fodder Bank Establishment, Rural Banking and Finance, Farm Business  Managements etc will form an integral part of this course.

RD 707  Research  Methods in Rural Studies  (2 Units)

The collection and handling of data on rural studies, Basic principles of rural research, major steps, in scientific rural research, selection and formulation of rural research problems, formulation of hypothesis, Research design and its components, Rural sampling Techniques:-Haphazard, Availability, Random, Stratified and purposive, Tools and Techniques of data collection:-use of library, use of statistical records, history and personal documents, observation, Questionnaire, processing of data, editing, coding and tabulation

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RD 708 Rural Industrialization & Appropriate Rural Technology  (2 Units)

Relevance of rural industrialization, the theory of rural Industrialization; structure of rural Industries-formal and informal sectors. Place of rural industrialization as an ingredient of rural development strategy, Gamjis

strategy of development, Schumacher’s views on rural Industrialization, structure and determinants of Rural Industries, small scale Industries and Employment generation. policy issues in small scale Industries, case studies in Rural leather manufacturing and Foot wear, Rural clothing and Textiles, manufacturing of Animal fields as concentrates.

The nature of science and technology, Intermediate and Appropriate  technology, criteria  for selection of Appropriate technology for rural development, scope of Appropriate technology, Necessity for Improving Traditional Technologies, opportunities  for application Appropriate technology in rural development. Bio-gas technology as source of Energy in rural areas. Organizations for promotion of appropriate rural technology, role of Ministry of science and Technology, Universities and missing link.

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RD 709 Rural Co-operatives and Marketing System  (2 Units)

Meaning, scope and importance of Rural Co-operatives, principles of co-operation, structure and classification of co-operatives, Growth and development of co-operative movement in Nigeria, formation and Registration of a co-operative-Society, Impact of co-operative movement on society, suggestions for development of co-operatives. The concept and meaning of Rural Markets, markets and market structures, periodic markets and rural Development, Importance and problems of Agricultural Marketing, Marketing of Farm products and Inputs, Need for rural co-operative Marketing in Nigeria, Regulated Markets. Transportation and Storage Facilities, prices for Rural products, Training and Research in Agricultural Marketing, Emphasis for Students to Form co-operative movement within them.

RD 710  Environmental Health and Sanitation (2 Units)

The concept of Environmental Health and Sanitation, status of rural Health, Socio-economic factors as a source of health problems, the Health care system in rural areas, disability and social welfare, health services and medical education, fertility and maternal health, child spacing and rural Family Planning, Family Planning methods and practice, basic Health care needs, foods and Nutrition needs, Rural sanitation, its nature and principles, collection, disposal; treatment; and utilization of waste water, stored water and garages, construction and maintenance of different types of sanitary latrines and septic tanks, sources of water in rural areas, sampling of water supply schemes in villages, overhead, surface and underground tanks, their types and capacities, distribution systems, desalinisation technology and sanitary schemes. Rural water supply in Nigeria. Significance of rural health and sanitation in rural development.

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RD 711 Rural Development Planning   (2 Units)

concept of Rural Development planning :Levels of planning, micro-level planning, L.G. Planning, District Planning;  Organisation for Rural Development:-designing and appropriate rural development organization, self employment for unemployed, financing Rural development, Implementation rural development at the grass root level, designing development projects to benefit the rural poor, General problems of Rural community Planning. Frame work for Rural planning, Rural planning for effective rural settlement plan, Rural development programmes in Nigeria; their problems and prospects. Spatial process, structure and regional development. Approaches to planning for Regional development, resource endowment, Growth centres and regional imbalance. Studio work and case study of a typical rural Physical Planning layout.

RD 712  Women and Rural Development  (2 Units)

The role of women in rural development, Gender issues and the deprived groups, status of women in health care system, women health and family planning, its impact on the health of women and children, women and Technology, organizations for promoting women roles in society, the impact of technology change on women. Case studies of women organizations such as Better Life Programme for Rural Women. The concept of Rural poverty among women, life expectancy, health care, nutrition, general characteristics of rural poor, distribution of the rural poor and measurement of rural poverty.

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RD 713  Rural Resettlement and Housing (2 Units)

Rural settlement forms, patterns, growth and scenery in Nigeria. Human settlement in Rural context. The concept of rural Resettlement, voluntary and involuntary resettlement, social economic, Administrative, Psychological, cultural and political issues in resettlement planning, Executing resettlement projects, compensation and dislodgement of rural population, policies of rural  Housing in resettlement, Types of rural Housing, Provision of Housing for rural dwellers-policy programme and projects .Rural Housing Technology:- Rural housing, Housing materials like soil, cement, Bricks, lime, wood, Timber, Roofing and their advantages/disadvantages. Integrated local building materials, village planning, house design, low-cost housing, storage structures, maintenance and source of financing schemes for rural housing. Case studies in rural  housing programmes and resettlement programmes: Kainji, Volta, Kiri-Dam, Koma and Jambutu  resettlement schemes.

RD 714  Population and Rural Development   (2 Units)

The characteristics of rural population, demographic change in rural areas, the economics of rural family, Demographic responses to rural changes-property rights, land fragmentation food supply, drought and erosion. Institutional effects on Rural development and Demographic change, the status of women in rural development, Analysis of rural fertility, mortality and growth. Importance of census planning and execution, Relative steps in census planning, census logistics, education, problems and procedure. Population growth and rural labour Absorption, migration and agricultural development. Strategies for meeting the manpower requirements for effective rural development. Case studies from Nigeria.

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RD 715  Rural Farming  Techniques (2 units).

The concept of farming systems and factors determining the farming techniques Role of Agriculture in national economy, regional variations in crop production, present status of Agriculture, basic farm problems, possibilities and scope of extending scientific technology, soil characteristics and classification, soil fertility and productivity, organic manure, Green manures and fertilizer, their use in crop production.  Basic concepts and principles of Agronomy, soil and water management, Traditional tillage implements and practices., modern tillage implements, their uses; efficiency, care and maintenance, tillage practices and operation, levelling, ploughing, harrowing, cultivating, intercultivating methods, sources of water, quality of irrigation water, methods of irrigation, problems of water management cropping practices; principles of crop rotation, importance of legume crops in rotation, soil and mixed cropping, fallowing, principles of dry farming technology. Traditional verses modern production technology as its relates and affects some selected agronomical crops such as Rice, Maize, Guinea corn, groundnut, Beans and fodder crops. Rural farm protection and planning techniques of fruits and vegetable production systems based on Nigerian farming systems. Practicals are an integral part of this course on weekly basis.

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RD 716 Rural Livestock Management Techniques (2 Units)

Importance of Animal Husbandry, its role in national economy, present status of animal Industry, low level of Animal productivity and its causes, basic problems, possibilities and scope for extending scientific technology. Important Breeds of Animals, foreign breeds used for cross breeding work in Nigeria, importance of scientific breeding, methods of breeding, natural service versus artificial insemination, advantages of artificial insemination, its use and limitations, role and importance of Nutrients in animal body, different feeds and fodder balanced ration, computing ration for various categories of animals, silage  and hay making. Common diseases, ailments and symptoms of ruminant animals such as Goats, Sheep, Cattle and Pigs. Calving and care of Calves. Housing structures and General housing of ruminant animals. An overview of livestock production in Nigeria. Importance of poultry keeping, place of poultry in rural development, important poultry breeds, breeding, incubation, hatching of eggs, rearing and bedding, principles and methods of feeding poultry, Ration formulation, management of birds, housing, importance diseases and their control, nutritive value of egg as feed, preservation and marketing of eggs and birds, General principles and marketing organization in Nigeria.

RD 797 Project I  (2 Units)

Formulation and writing of a formal research proposal including definition of research problems, statement of objectives and working hypothesis, proposed methodology and literature reviews. Presentation of research proposal seminar.

RD 798 Project II   (6 units)