Courses

GENERAL STUDIES (GST) COURSES FOR YEAR ONE 2024

(In line with Nnamdi Azikiwe University Revised Curriculum)

 

First Semester

Course Code Course Title Credit Faculties
GST 111 Communication in English

(All Faculties)

 2 All Faculties
NAU-GST 113 Humanities 2  (Faculties of Agriculture, Basic Medical Sciences, Biological Sciences, Engineering, Environmental Sciences, Health Sciences, Pharmaceutical Sciences, Physical Sciences, Medicine and Science Education

Total Credit Load for 1st Semester per Student is four (4)

 

Second Semester

Course Code Course Title Credit Faculties
GST 112 Nigerian Peoples and Culture 2 All Faculties
NAU-GST 114 Basic Igbo Studies 2 All Faculties
NAU-GST 116 History and Philosophy of Science 2 (Faculties of Arts, Law, Management Science, Social Science and Education excluding Science and Technical Education)
       

Total Credit Load for 2nd Semester per Student is Six (6)

 

COURSE DESCRIPTIONS

 GST 111: COMMUNICATION IN ENGLISH (2 Credit)

Learning Outcomes

At the end of this course, the student should be able to:

  1. Identify possible sound patterns in English Language;
  2. List notable Language skills;
  3. Classify word formation processes;
  4. Construct simple and fairly complex sentences in English;
  5. Apply logical and critical reasoning skills for meaningful presentations;
  6. Demonstrate an appreciable level of the art of public speaking and listening and
  7. Write simple and technical reports.

Course Contents

Sound patterns in English Language (vowels and consonants, phonetics and phonology). English word classes (lexical and grammatical words, definitions, forms, functions, usages, collocations). Sentence in English (types: structural and functional, simple and complex). Grammar and Usage (tense, mood, modality and concord, aspects of language use in everyday life). Logical and Critical Thinking and Reasoning Methods (Logic and Syllogism, Inductive and Deductive Argument and Reasoning Methods, Analogy, Generalization and Explanations). Ethical considerations, Copyright Rules and Infringements. Writing Activities: (Pre-writing, Writing, Post-writing, Editing and Proof-reading; Brainstorming, Outlining, Paragraphing, Types of Writing, Summary, Essays, Letter, Curriculum Vitae, Report Writing, Note making etc. Mechanics of Writing). Comprehension Strategies: (Reading and types of Reading, Comprehension Skills, 3RsQ). Information and Communication Technology in Modern Language Learning. Language skills for effective communication. Major word formation processes. Writing and reading comprehension strategies. Logical and critical reasoning for meaningful presentations. Art of public speaking and listening. Report writing.

Minimum Academic Standards

NUC MAS Requirement

 

NAU-GST 113 – HUMANITIES (2 Credits)

Senate Approved Relevance

Nnamdi Azikiwe University is founded on the philosophy that knowledge should be propagated and disseminated to individuals without let or hindrance, based on the above stated principles, NAU-GST 113 is poised to uphold the aforementioned tenets by providing the students with relevant learning and instruction materials that would meet the students’ needs and aspirations of coming to Nnamdi Azikiwe University, whose mantra remains Discipline, Self-reliance, and Excellence. The course provides students with different approaches of conforming to acceptable behavioral and attitudinal values needed in re-engineering the society to become better citizens as well as contribute meaningfully to the national development. Hence, with the course NAU-GST-113, students are led to gain knowledge of Nigerian cultures, laws, literature, education, politics, economy, expressive arts, history, trade and management, family, religion, human relations, values, self-discovery and development.

Overview 

This course exposes the students to the overall understanding of the concept of humanities: its nature and scope. It equally deals with the concepts of culture and culture patterns: evolution of man’s tradition, culture and culture; culture and society; government and development; language and culture; and also it intimates students on the relationship between education, culture and tradition as seen in the society, evaluated and analyzed in Nigerian films, music, theatre, law, history and as well as the elucidations of Nigeria belief systems; women in Nigerian culture, family and conflict and so on and so forth.

Objectives

  1. To explain to students the learning and rudiments of humanities through history, philosophy and law.
  2. To sensitize students about the culture and religious tenets of Nigeria and its people.
  3. To extol and promote the spirit of creativity in our students through Nigerian film, music and theatre industries’ evolutions and evaluations
  4. To expose the students on acceptable values and morals needed for sustainable development of Nigeria
  5. To expose students to critical analysis of the roles of literature in nation-building
  6. To expose students to the various ways through which law serves as a means of regulating human conduct in the society
  7. To enable students to understand the therapeutic interventions of Expressive Arts Therapy
  8. To enable students, recognize the creative roles of Contemporary Theatre Practice in good mental health and essential wellbeing
  9. To expose the students on acceptable values and morals needed for sustainable development of Nigeria
  10. To equip the students with the critical understanding of family and conflict
  11. To equip students with a working understand of the following concepts: Trade liberalization, Aid for Trade, African Continental Free Trade Area
  12. To expose students to some of the challenges impacting Nigeria’s participation in global trade relations

 

Learning Outcomes

At the end of teaching the course:

  1. Students should be able to identify, describe and explain two or three Material and Non-Material Nigeria culture.
  2. Students are expected to describe how Nigerian film, music, and theatre industries interrogate, appropriate and transport Nigeria cultures to the rest of the world
  3. Students should identify and explain Nigerian historic trajectories and fundamental human rights as enshrined in the Nigerian constitution
  4. Students should identify and explain the basic tenets of Nigerian religious traditions, moral principles, ethos and philosophies.
  5. Students should have a basic understanding of humanities, and its approaches and apply the same in their subsequent endeavours
  6. Identify and explain the methods through which law regulate human conduct in the society
  7. Enumerate and explain the different sources of law in Nigeria
  8. List and explain types of literature and development
  9. Explain the importance of literature
  10. Highlight and recognize the various sessions of application of Exa therapy
  11. Understanding the Values and morals in African Traditional Religion
  12. Know, understand and outline the steps involved in language documentation
  13. Identify and explain the causes of family conflict
  14. Explain family conflict, effects and resolutions
  15. Recognize the importance of international trade to Nigeria’s Economic History
  16. Describe how Nigeria’s is adopting AfT for improving trade and what are the evidence of this Nigeria’s history

 

Course Contents

Meaning of Language, linguistics and communication. Types of communication. Differences between human language and animal language. Understanding the concepts and elements of religion. Characteristics and Sources African Traditional Religion. Values and Morals in African Traditional Religion. Meaning and Nature of Law. Characteristics of Law. Sources of Law in Nigeria. Meaning of Literature and literary genres. Types of literature and their meanings with examples. Roles of literature in nation building. Forms of human relations. Self-related factors that affect human relations. Ways of promoting human relations. Application of African Traditional Religion values and morals for sustainable development. Characteristics and Sources African Traditional Religion. Components of Language Documentation. Understanding the Connection between Language and Culture. Causes of Family Conflict. Effects of Family Conflict. Family Conflict Resolutions. What is Aid for Trade and how does it connects to Nigeria’s Economic History. Nigeria’s Aid for Trade Experience. Relating Nigeria’s Trade Experience to African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA).

Minimum Academic Standards

NUC MAS Requirement

 

 

GST 112   NIGERIAN PEOPLES AND CULTURE (2 Credits)

Learning Outcomes

At the end of this course, the student should be able to:

  1. The historical foundation of the Nigerian culture and arts in pre-colonial times;
  2. List and identify the major linguistic groups in Nigeria;
  3. Explain the gradual evolution of Nigeria as a political unit;
  4. Analyses the concepts of Trade, Economic and Self-reliance status of the Nigerian peoples towards national development;
  5. Enumerate the challenges of the Nigerian State towards Nation building;
  6. Analyses the role of the Judiciary in upholding people’s fundamental rights;
  7. Identify acceptable norms and values of the major ethnic groups in Nigeria, and
  8. List and suggest possible solutions to identifiable Nigerian environmental, social and moral problems.

Course Contents

Nigerian history, culture and art, up to 1800 (Yoruba, Hausa and Igbo peoples and culture.) Peoples and culture of the ethnic minority groups. Nigeria under colonial rule (advent of colonial rule in Nigeria; Colonial administration of Nigeria). Evolution of Nigeria as a political unit (amalgamation of Nigeria in 1914. Formation of political parties in Nigeria. Nationalist movement and struggle for independence). Nigeria and challenges of nation building (military intervention in Nigerian politics, Nigerian Civil War, etc). Concept of trade and economics of self-reliance (indigenous trade and market system. Indigenous apprenticeship system among Nigeria people. Trade, skill acquisition and self-reliance). Social justices and national development (law, definition and classification. Judiciary and fundamental rights. The Individual, norms and values (basic Nigerian norms and values, patterns of citizenship acquisition. Citizenship and civic responsibilities. Indigenous languages, usage and development. Negative attitudes and conducts. Cultism, kidnapping and other related social vices). Re-orientation, moral and national values (The 3R’s – Reconstruction, Rehabilitation and Re-orientation. Re-orientation Strategies: Operation Feed the Nation (OFN), Green Revolution, Austerity Measures, War Against Indiscipline (WAI), War Against Indiscipline and Corruption (WAIC), Mass Mobilization for Self-Reliance, Social Justice and Economic Recovery (MAMSER), National Orientation Agency (NOA). Current socio-political and cultural developments in Nigeria.

Minimum Academic Standards

NUC MAS Requirement

 

NAU-GST 114 – BASIC IGBO STUDIES (2 Credits)

Senate Approved Relevance

Nnamdi Azikiwe University is built on three mission motto summarised as thus:Discipline,  Self-Reliance and Excellence.  Self-reliance is pursued and attained at its peak in every discipline.  Being able to study Igbo language, literature and culture in the target language helps to promote peace and discipline amongst the masses especially with the contemporary issues to which the course would expose the students.

Overview

Igbo Language being one of the three major languages in Nigeria should be given priority as other ones.  The course will expose the students to basic issues of the language.  It will also offer them opportunities to read, write and become creative writers in the language.

 Objectives

The objectives are to:

  1. Explain and identify the alphabets in the language;
  2. Describe the production of sounds in Igbo language and speech organs;
  3. Explain how phonemes are combined to form words, phrases and sentences;
  4. Identify the symbols used to indicate tones in the Igbo language;
  5. Explain the basic parts of speech in Igbo language and their grammatical functions;
  6. Expose the students to read and write composition on selected topics, development of outlines, paragraphs and development;
  7. State The principles of language with the view to making the students competent in the writing skills and spelling rules of the Igbo language;
  8. Describe literature and explore the three genres of literature;
  9. Explain the various aspects of Igbo culture with particular reference to thoughts; beliefs, and religious system, material and invincible aspect of the Igbo culture

 

Learning Outcomes

On completion of the course,  the students should be able to:

  1. Identify the Igbo Alphabets
  2. state the production of sounds
  3. differentiate between various phonemes
  4. categorise genres of literature
  5. conduct practical activities of telling stories with contemporary issues
  6. describe at least three Igbo cultural activities .

Course Contents

 

Igbo alphabets. Igbo grammar. Fundamental elements of Igbo literature viz: meaning, characteristics, types, genres, forms, figurative expressions, among others. Various attributes of Igbo culture viz: Igbo history, beliefs, thoughts, worldview, political, religious and eductional systems, economic and social activities, the structural organisations in contrast to other ethnic groups.

 

Minimum Academic Standards

NUC MAS Requirement

 

NAU-GST 116 – HISTORY AND PHILOSOPHY OF SCIENCE (2 Credits)

Senate Approved Relevance

It pertinent for the university senate that this course NAU- GST 116 be offered by non-science based students in order to acquaint them with elementary aspects of science which include its history, philosophy and evolutions. This course will thus, enable the non-science based students to embrace the scientific world and its dynamics in ever changing world.

Overview

The course, History and Philosophy of Science is designed to introduce the non-science based students to some selected basic topics in science and at same time expose them to the philosophical appraisal of science. The course takes the students into various aspects of science and the working principles therein with introduction of philosophy into science.

Objectives

In this course, the students are expected to:

  1. Explain to the students the concepts, meaning and history of science.
  2. Expose the students to the principles of science.
  3. Explain to the students to the boundaries of science and their relationship with man and his environment.
  4. Relate to the students the philosophic foundation of science.
  5. Explain to the students the philosophic guiding principle of science.
  6. Explain to the students to the impact of science and technology in the society.

 

Learning Outcomes

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

  1. State the types of science
  2. State the basic principles of science
  3. Explain how the atmosphere evolved
  4. Identify some microorganisms and how they relate to man
  5. Identify sources of environmental pollutions and their hazardous effect on man
  6. State the basic principles of Physics and its benefit to man and his environment
  7. Explain the importance of Science and Technology to man
  8. State the systematic or orderly procedure or process of attaining some objectives
  9. Apply the knowledge of Mathematics and Computer in solving daily problems
  10. State the basic first aid and apply emergency attitude in giving basic life support in life threatening situations
  11. Explain the philosophic foundations of Science
  12. Explain the role of Philosophy in Science.

 

Course Contents

Biology. The Science of Life. History of the Evolution of the Atmosphere. Man and Microorganisms. Environmental Pollution, Hazards and Climate Change. Influence of Physics on the Society and Natural Environment. Essence of Science and Technology in Modern Society. Methodology science. Role of Mathematics and Computer in the Society. Need for Medical Emergencies in the Society. The philosophy of any discipline. Philosophic Foundations of Science. Understanding the Fundamentals of Philosophy of Science. Philosophy and Methodology of Science. The Role of Philosophy in the Scientific World. Philosophy and Issues Surrounding Science.

 

Minimum Academic Standards

NUC MAS Requirement