GENERAL STUDIES UNIT

Philosophy

The philosophy of establishing the General Studies Programme was to train and indoctrinate Nigerian graduates with indigenous culture and tradition. There is hardly any subject taught in school that was not learnt in rudimentary form in the home. No child was confined to one area of knowledge, but by adulthood, his/her interest in one or two of say farming, engineering, agriculture, carpentry, blacksmithing, music, trading etc becomes discernible. All the ingredients of teaching and learning in the primitive home were categorized into four units of the General Studies programme – Humanities, Social Sciences, Natural Science and the Use of English Language. Aware of the fact that every human is endowed from birth with the seeds of possibilities to venture into any aspects of human life and endeavour, the General Studies programme makes explicit what is implicit in the students by reinforcing specialization and placing it in a wider perspective with the stamp of cultural significance. Another perspective is the assimilation of Nigerian culture by Western Colonial civilization. The result of this narrative is a widespread ignorance among Nigerian groups about each other and about themselves. It was on this background that the Federal government of Nigeria identified the need to inculcate in students the need for self-realization and self-expression based upon their culture. In a bid to remedy this anomaly in practical terms, the Government, on January 23, 1978, directed all Universities in Nigeria to include a compulsory course on culture and history of our various peoples, and mandated that the award of degrees be made conditional upon the passing of these courses. These measures were designed to revolutionize knowledge on Nigerian culture and heritage, and to sustain our diverse cultures in Nigeria. The General Studies programme thus gained root in Nigerian universities when the National Universities Commission (NUC) launched the General Studies courses as part requirement of a minimal standard for academic curricula and activities. This position was taken to satisfy the yearnings of students in Nigerian Universities who were desirous to have a balanced and widespread knowledge in interdisciplinary studies as obtained in Universities in other parts of the globe. The goals and general objectives for the General Studies as published by the National Universities Commission in BMAS are as follows: Goal: To produce a morally and intellectually capable graduates with vision and entrepreneurial skills in an environment of peace and social cohesiveness.

Objectives

The objectives of the General Studies programme consist of the following:

1. Acquisition, development and inculcation of the proper value-orientation for the survival of the individual and society.

2. The development of intellectual capacities of individuals to understand, appreciate and promote peaceful co-existence.

3. Production of graduates with broad knowledge of the Nigerian Nation and people with a view to inculcating in them mutual understanding and patriotism.

4. Exposing graduates of Nigerian Universities to the rudiments of ICT for computer literacy and ability to live usefully in this ICT age.

1 Prof. Bina Odogu (Director)
2 Mr. Ikani Philip (Secretary to the Director)

Functions of the General Studies Unit

1. Prepares all Time Tables (Lectures, Exam, etc) relating to GS Courses;

2. Coordinates all Lecturers handling GS Courses;

3. Coordinates the teaching and students’ performance assessment of GS Courses;

4. Regularly informs students and the University Community on issues relating to General Studies;

5. Liaises with all relevant Units/Departments, including ICT Unit, Department of Maths/Computer Science, Security, Medical Unit, Physical planning, University Time Table Committee and other Academic Staff as occasion demands for a smooth running of her activities, especially during examinations;

6. Responsible for the conduct of GS exams which are now Computer Based;

7. Responsible for uploading of result to the University’s online Results management and computation platform, not more than one week after due ratification by the GS Boards or her representative in the absence of a Board; and

8. Answers all students’ queries forwarded to the Unit through their respective HODs/Deans (All students’ queries sent to the Unit must pass through their respective HODs/ Deans of Faculty).

S/N Course Code Course Title Unit Servicing Department
1 GST 100 Computer Introduction and Application 3 Maths/Computer
2 GST 101 Use of English I 3 English & Literary Studies
3 GST 102 Use of English II 3 English & Literary Studies
4 GST 110 Nigerian Peoples and Culture 3 Sociology
5 GST 111 History and Philosophy of Science 3 Philosophy
6 GST 212 Introduction to Philosopy and Logic 3 Philosophy
7 GST 222 Peace and Conflict Resolution Studies 2 Sociology
8 GST 300 Principles and Theories of Entrepreneurship 2 Management
General Studies Unit,
Main Campus,
Niger Delta University
PMB 071,
Wilberforce Island,
Bayelsa State, Nigeria.