DEPARTMENT OF INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS
It is my pleasure to introduce the Department of International Relations (IR) of the Air Force Institute of Technology, Kaduna. The mission of the department is to create a centre of excellence by providing a conducive learning environment where students and visitors will experience the best of teaching, learning, research and transfer of knowledge in International Politics and Relations.
The Department of International Relations hopes to pride itself in attracting and producing some of the best students in the Institute. It is of utmost importance that our commitment and zeal will ensure the actualisation of this dream. Hence the Department is manned by a team of experienced academic staff who are at the forefront of teaching and research in their fields of specialisation. This handbook thus, is part of our desire to showcase the Department through a display of the range of our courses and services in a manner that is accessible to current, and prospective students and also visitors to the Institute. As a fresh, continuing or prospective student in the Department, be rest assured that you will be meeting a dedicated and hardworking team that is willing to impact knowledge and at the same time, learn from your input as we interact.
I hereby express my profound gratitude to all members of staff both academic and non-academic in the Department for their support in contributing to and at the same time going through the manuscript prior to its publication. It is indeed my privilege to be the pioneer Head, Department of International Relations who initiated this Handbook. Thank you Team IR.
The Department of International Relations established in October 2019 with 142 Students is one of six academic departments in the Faculty of Social and Management sciences. The Department was established in order to train and develop adequate and skilled manpower in the area of professional management.
The Department
Currently, the Department which started in January 2020 has the following full- time Academic staff: Assoc. Prof NC Lord-Mallam, Dr J Danfulani, MajDahiru, Mr A Adigwe, Mrs E Gimba, MrkZubairu, Mrs C Njoku, Mr A Bala and Miss S Gaddafi. The Department is supported by a team of non-academic staff headed by Miss J Onaiwu. Henceforth, the Department will work hard to ensure continuous improvement of existing programme until it becomes full blown Political Science discipline that will conform to the demands of a fast changing world.
Our Philosophy
A systematic study of Relations in the International arena that provides; a firm foundation for all-round knowledge of national and global structures and institutions; enhance understanding of social and political problems at various levels of society; stimulate the creative capacities for problem-solving and creative imagination; offer a solid basis for independent and critical thinking; and create the imperatives for character development and leadership/citizenship training.
Our Mission
The mission of the Department is to be a centre of excellence in International Relations by creating a safe and conducive environment where students and visitors will experience the best of active research and transfer of knowledge.
Our Objectives
- To develop students’ understanding of the concepts and issues that underpin the discipline of International Relations including, but not limited to, Comparative Politics, Defence/Security/Strategic Studies, International Relations’ Theories, Peace and Conflict Studies and Research Methodology.
- To stimulate students’ grasp of theoretical and practical issues in International Relations.
- To develop students’ understanding of social and political problems at various levels of society – national, regional and global.
- To enhance students’ capacities in critical thinking, with balanced and evidence-based analysis.
- To equip and enhance students’ skills and capacities in solving problems by developing creative solutions to social and political problems in both global and local contexts.
Admission Requirements
UTME:
Candidates who wish to study International Relations must have obtained a credit pass in SSCE including Mathematics and English Language, plus credit pass in either Government or History and other two subjects at the SSCE, NECO, GCE or equivalent not more than two sitting. Also required is an acceptable UTME score.
Direct Entry:
Candidates for Direct Entry admission shall possess five credit passes in the SSCE, NECO, GCE or equivalents. At least two shall be at advanced level or four unit passes of which three shall be at advanced level, provided that such passes are not counted at both levels of the examination. For emphasis, credit passes in English Language, Mathematics and any of Government or History is compulsory.
Course Requirements
Courses terminologies:
i) Core/Compulsory Course:
A course which every student must compulsorily take and pass in any particular programme at a particular level of study
ii) Elective Course:
A course that students take within or outside the faculty. Students may graduate without passing the course provided the minimum credit unit for the course had been attained.
iii) Optional Course
A course which students can take based on interest and may count towards the minimum credit unit required for graduation.
iv) Pre-requisite Course
A course which student must take and pass before taking a particular course at a higher level.
v) Required Course
A course that you take at a level of study and must be passed before graduation.
vi) For each course specified, the categories to which it belongs, the weights (units) attached to each course and the level/year they could be offered on the programme is indicated.
vii) A unit of course is defined as one contact hour of lecture/tutorial or seminar.
viii) A student must take and pass a minimum of 15 and maximum of 24 credit units of courses in any given semester. A student must accumulate at least 30 units per level to qualify for graduation.
ix) All students for the four-year programme are required to take and pass for General studies (GST) courses before graduation.
x) A student must obtain at least 75% attendance in each course registered for to be eligible to sit for the end of examinations in the course.
xi) To graduate, students must register for courses as specified in this handbook and accumulate a minimum of 120 credit units/hours in total. The minimum period allowed for candidates to complete the programme is 6 semester or 3 years for DE students and 8 semester or 4 years for UME students and the maximum period is 10 semesters or 5 years for DE and 12 semesters or 6 years for UME students.
100 LEVEL – COURSES
First Semester 100 Level Courses
| IRS 101 | History of Europe I(1300-1600) | 2 | Compulsory |
| IRS 103 | Introduction to Political Science | 3 | Compulsory |
| IRS 105 | Introduction to Management | 2 | Compulsory |
100 Level GST Courses
| GST 111 | Use of English I | 2 | Required |
| GST 113 | Nigerian Peoples and Culture | 2 | Required |
| GST 121 | Use of Library, Study Skills and ICT | 2 | Required |
| GST 123 | Introduction to French 1 | 2 | Required |
| GST 125 | Contemporary Health Issues | 2 | Required |
| SOC 101 | Introduction to Sociology | 2 | Required |
Second Semester 100 Level Courses
| IRS 102 | History of Europe II(1600-1914) | 2 | Compulsory |
| IRS 104 | Dynamics of Contemporary International System | 3 | Compulsory |
| IRS 106 | Introduction to African Politics | 3 | Compulsory |
| AFIT 101 | Introduction to French (DELF A1) | 1 | Compulsory |
| IRS 108 | Introduction to International Relations | 3 | Compulsory |
| IRS 110 | Evolution of the Contemporary International Relations | 2 | Compulsory |
200 LEVEL – COURSES
First Semester 200 level Courses
| IRS 201 | Introduction to Political Analysis | 2 | Compulsory |
| IRS 203 | Political Thought: Plato-Machiavelli | 2 | Compulsory |
| IRS 205 | Introduction to Political Economy | 2 | Compulsory |
| IRS 207 | Nigerian Government and Politics | 3 | Compulsory |
| IRS 209 | Elements of Contemporary Global Studies I | 2 | Compulsory |
| IRS 211 | Theory and Practice of Administration | 2 | Compulsory |
| SSC 201 | Introduction to Statistics for Social Science I | 2 | Required |
GST Courses for 200 Level
| GST 211 | Environmental and Sustainable Development | 2 | Required |
| GST 222 | Peace and Conflict Resolution | 2 | Required |
Second Semester 200 Level Courses
| IRS 202 | Political Thought Since Hobbes | 2 | Compulsory |
| IRS 204 | Emergence of New States in World Politics | 2 | Compulsory |
| IRS 206 | Structure of the International Society | 2 | Compulsory |
| IRS 208 | Theories of International Relations 1 | 2 | Compulsory |
| IRS 210 | International Politics of Africa | 2 | Compulsory |
| IRS 212 | International Law and Human Rights | 2 | Compulsory |
| IRS 214 | Elements of Contemporary Global Studies II | 2 | Compulsory |
| AFIT 201 | Foreign Language: French (DELF A2) | 1 | Compulsory |
| SSC 202 | Introduction to Statistics for Social Science II | 2 | Required |
GST Courses for 200 Level
| GST 223 | Introduction to Entrepreneurial Skills | 2 | Required |
| GST 224 | Leadership Skills | 2 | Required |
300 LEVEL – COURSES
First Semester 300 Level Courses
| IRS 301 | Introduction to Strategic Studies | 3 | Compulsory |
| IRS 303 | International Economic Relations I | 2 | Compulsory |
| IRS 305 | The International Political System | 2 | Compulsory |
| IRS 307 | International Politics in the Post-Cold War | 2 | Compulsory |
| IRS 309 | Theories of International Relations II | 3 | Compulsory |
| IRS 311 | International Diplomacy | 3 | Compulsory |
| IRS 313 | Logic and Methods of Political Inquiry | 2 | Compulsory |
| AFIT 301 | Foreign Language: French (DELF B1) | 1 | Compulsory |
GST Courses for 300 Level
| GST 311 | Entrepreneurship | 2 | Required |
SECOND SEMESTER 300 LEVEL
Field Trip/Students’ Industrial Work Experience Scheme (SIWES) – 6 Credit Units
Visits to any French speaking country and attachment to selected international institutions, ministries, diplomatic missions and other agencies relevant to the study and practical aspects of diplomacy. There will be a written report at the conclusion of the attachment.
400 Level Courses
First Semester 400 Level Courses
| IRS 401 | Foreign Policy Analysis | 2 | Compulsory |
| IRS 403 | Contemporary Strategic Studies | 2 | Compulsory |
| IRS 405 | Nigerian Foreign Policy | 3 | Compulsory |
| IRS 407 | Foreign Policy of Great Powers | 2 | Compulsory |
| IRS 409 | Race and Ethnicity in International Relations | 2 | Compulsory |
| IRS 411 | Technology, Ecology and Environmental Issues in International Relations | 2 | Compulsory |
| IRS 413 | Research Project | 6 | Compulsory |
Second Semester 400 Level Courses
| IRS 402 | International Institutions | 2 | Compulsory |
| IRS 404 | International Politics and Mass Communication | 2 | Compulsory |
| IRS 406 | Africa and Middle-East | 2 | Compulsory |
| IRS 408 | Asia in World Politics | 2 | Compulsory |
| IRS 410 | Europe in World Politics | 2 | Compulsory |
| IRS 412 | International Relations in North Africa and the Maghreb | 2 | Compulsory |
| IRS 414 | The Politics of International Economic Relations | 2 | Compulsory |
| IRS 416 | Middle East in World Politics | 2 | Compulsory |
| IRS 418 | International Relations in Southern Africa | 2 | Compulsory |
| AFIT 401 | Foreign Language: French (DELF B2) | nil | Optional |