DEPARTMENT OF POLITICAL SCIENCE AND PUBLIC ADMINISTRATION
About the Department
The Department of Political Science and Public Administration of the University of Dar es Salaam was established in 1965 to fulfill – among others – the following objectives: To provide education and advanced training, to conduct research in the areas of administration, international affairs and politics and to provide expert professional services to government, international and private organizations.
Programmes
The Department of Political Science and Public Administration offers one undergraduate programme and four postgraduate programmes as elaborated here under.Prior to2012, the Department offered degree programs namely (1) BA in Political Science and Public Administration, BA in Political Science and Language, BA in Political Science and Sociology, BA in Political Science and Philosophy, BA in Political Science , BA in History and Political Science were being offered by the department. In order to maintain consistency and quality, the Department decided to run only one-degree programme namely Bachelor of Arts in Political Science and Public Administration (BA PSPA).
Undergraduate Programmes
Bachelor of Arts in Political Science and Public Administration. Under this programme, from second year of study, students choose one among three areas of specialization. These are: Public Administration, International Relations and Politics.
Postgraduate Programmes
Mode of Study
The above mentioned programme are taught programmes except for Doctor of Philosophy by Thesis. Taught programme are conducted through coursework and dissertation.
Entry Requirements
Two or more principal level passes in Arts subjects. For equivalent qualifications, an applicant should hold an appropriate Diploma, recognized by the UDSM Senate, of not less than Second class or Credit standing. General University admission requirements will also apply. In both second and third years, students will be advised to choose areas of specialization in one of the three subject streams, that is, (i) Public Administration (ii) International Relations and (iii) Politics.
Courses Mapping
Shaded totals represent the minimum required credits per semester from core courses. A student is free to choose one additional optional course where and as provided under a given semester, and not from elsewhere. Compulsory second-year Practical Training (AS 299) conducted for 8 weeks during the long vacation, i.e., outside the two classroom semesters, is not included in the total minimum/maximum count. In both second and third years, students will be advised to choose areas of specialization in one of the three subject streams, that is, (i) Public Administration (ii) International Relations and (iii) Politics. PS 399 (Dissertation) may be opted only upon approval by the Head of Department.
Career Opportunities
Courses in Political Science and Public Administration prepare students for a wide range of careers such as:
|
Code |
Course title |
Status |
Credits |
|
FIRST YEAR: Semester I |
|
|
|
|
PS110: |
Introduction to Political Science I |
core |
12 |
|
PS122 |
Political Thought I |
core |
12* |
|
DS101 |
Development Perspectives I |
core |
8 |
|
AS102 |
Introduction to Social Science Research Methods I |
core |
12 |
|
PL111 |
Introduction to Critical Thinking and Argumentation |
core |
12 |
|
|
A student must choose only one course from the following |
|
|
|
PL100 |
Introduction to Philosophical Analysis |
optional |
12 |
|
HI103 |
Capitalism and Imperialism in World History |
optional |
12 |
|
EC116 |
Introductory Microeconomic Analysis I |
optional |
12 |
|
EC117 |
Introductory Macroeconomic Analysis I |
optional |
12 |
|
|
Total |
|
68 |
|
FIRST YEAR: Semester II |
|
|
|
|
PS114 |
Political Thought II |
core |
12* |
|
PS113 |
Governments and Politics in Tanzania |
core |
12 |
|
PS111 |
Introduction to Political Science II |
core |
12 |
|
AS103 |
Introduction to Social Science Research Methods II |
core |
12 |
|
DS102 |
Development Perspectives II |
core |
8 |
|
CL106 |
Communication Skills for Arts and Social Sciences |
core |
12 |
|
|
|
|
68 |
|
SECOND YEAR: Semester I |
|
|
|
|
Specialization I: Public Administration |
|
|
|
|
PS220 |
Organization Theory |
core |
12 |
|
PS231 |
African Political Thought |
core |
12 |
|
PS232 |
Contemporary Politics in East Africa |
core |
12 |
|
PS233 |
Introduction to Public Policy |
core |
12 |
|
PS235 |
African Politics |
core |
12 |
|
|
A student may choose only one course from the following |
|
|
|
HI265 |
Neo-colonialism and Revolutionary Movements |
optional |
12 |
|
AS220 |
PanAfricanism Thought and Practice I |
optional |
12 |
|
AS217 |
Introduction to Computers |
optional |
12 |
|
SO261 |
Social Planning and Administration |
optional |
12 |
|
PL211 |
Theories of Social and Moral Philosophy |
optional |
12 |
|
SO253 |
Quantitative Research Methods |
optional |
12 |
|
Specialization II: International Relations |
|
|
|
|
PS220 |
Organization Theory |
core |
12 |
|
PS222 |
International Relations I |
core |
12 |
|
PS232 |
Contemporary Politics in East Africa |
core |
12 |
|
PS233 |
Introduction to Public Policy |
core |
12 |
|
PS235 |
African Politics |
core |
12 |
|
|
|
|
60 |
|
|
A student may choose only one course from the following |
|
|
|
HI265 |
Neo-colonialism and Revolutionary Movements |
core |
12 |
|
AS220 |
PanAfricanism Thought and Practice I |
core |
12 |
|
AS217 |
Introduction to Computers |
core |
12 |
|
SO261 |
Social Planning and Administration |
core |
12 |
|
PL 211 |
Theories of Social and Moral Philosophy |
core |
12 |
|
SO253 |
Quantitative Research Methods |
core |
12 |
|
LL170 |
Advanced French I |
core |
12 |
|
Specialization III: Politics |
|
|
|
|
PS220 |
Organization Theory |
core |
12 |
|
PS231 |
African Political Thought |
core |
12 |
|
PS233 |
Introduction to Public Policy |
core |
12 |
|
PS235 |
African Politics |
core |
12 |
|
PS222 |
International Relations I |
core |
12 |
|
|
|
|
60 |
|
|
A student may choose only one course from the following |
|
|
|
HI265 |
Neo-colonialism and Revolutionary Movements |
optional |
12 |
|
AS220 |
PanAfricanism Thought and Practice I |
optional |
12 |
|
AS217 |
Introduction to Computers |
optional |
12 |
|
SO261 |
Social Planning and Administration |
optional |
12 |
|
PL 211 |
Theories of Social and Moral Philosophy |
optional |
12 |
|
SO253 |
Quantitative Research Methods |
optional |
12 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
SECOND YEAR: Semester II |
|
|
|
|
Specialization I: Public Administration |
|
|
|
|
PS236 |
Public Administration and Bureaucracies |
core |
12 |
|
PS225 |
Local Government |
core |
12 |
|
PS226 |
Legislature and Legislative Processes |
core |
12 |
|
PS227 |
International organizations |
core |
12 |
|
PS234 |
International Political Economy |
core |
12 |
|
|
|
|
60 |
|
|
A student may choose one course from the following |
|
|
|
FN202 |
Introduction to Financial Management |
optional |
12 |
|
AS221 |
PanAfricanism: Thought and Practice II |
optional |
12 |
|
DS216 |
Social Services Delivery and Development |
optional |
12 |
|
HI 266 |
War and Warfare in World History |
optional |
12 |
|
DS211 |
Entrepreneurship, SMEs and development |
optional |
12 |
|
SO282 |
Qualitative Research Methods |
optional |
12 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Specialization II: International Relations |
|
|
|
|
PS223 |
International Relations II |
core |
12 |
|
PS224 |
Comparative Political Systems: Developing Areas |
core |
12 |
|
PS227 |
International Organizations |
core |
12 |
|
PS229 |
Basic Concepts in International Law |
core |
12 |
|
PS234 |
International Political Economy |
core |
12 |
|
|
|
|
60 |
|
|
A student may choose one course from the following |
|
|
|
FN202 |
Introduction to Financial Management |
optional |
12 |
|
AS221 |
PanAfricanism: Thought and Practice II |
optional |
12 |
|
DS212 |
Globalization and Development |
optional |
12 |
|
HI 266 |
War and Warfare in World History |
optional |
12 |
|
SO282 |
Qualitative Research Methods |
optional |
12 |
|
LL 171 |
Advanced French II |
optional |
12 |
|
Specialization III: Politics |
|
|
|
|
PS224 |
Comparative Political Systems: Developing Areas |
core |
12 |
|
PS226 |
Legislature and Legislative Processes |
core |
12 |
|
PS227 |
International Organizations |
core |
12 |
|
PS234 |
International Political Economy |
core |
12 |
|
PL212 |
Applied Philosophy and Development Ethics |
core |
12 |
|
|
|
|
60 |
|
|
A student may choose one course from the following |
|
|
|
FN202 |
Introduction to Financial Management |
optional |
12 |
|
AS221 |
Pan Africanism: Thought and Practice II |
optional |
12 |
|
DS212 |
Globalization and Development |
optional |
12 |
|
HI 266 |
War and Warfare in World History |
optional |
12 |
|
SO282 |
Qualitative Research Methods |
optional |
12 |
|
AS299 |
Practical Training (during long vacation) |
core |
12 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
THIRD YEAR: Semester I |
|
|
|
|
Specialization I: Public Administration |
|
|
|
|
PS332 |
Theory and Politics of Development |
core |
12 |
|
PS334 |
Human Rights: Theory and Practice |
core |
12 |
|
PS337 |
Civil Society and the State |
core |
12 |
|
PS361 |
Administrative Law |
core |
12 |
|
PS352 |
Public Human Resource Management |
core |
12* |
|
|
|
|
60 |
|
|
A student may choose one course from the following |
|
|
|
PS344 |
Study of Selected Issues |
optional |
12 |
|
EC370 |
Labour Economics and Human Resources |
optional |
12 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Specialization II: International Relations |
|
|
|
|
PS332 |
Theory and Politics of Development |
core |
12 |
|
PS333 |
The Politics of North-South Relations |
core |
12 |
|
PS345 |
Regional Integration |
core |
12 |
|
PS337 |
Civil Society and the State |
core |
12 |
|
PS350 |
African International Relations and Foreign Policy |
core |
12 |
|
|
|
|
60 |
|
|
A student may choose one course from the following |
|
|
|
PS344 |
Study of Selected Issues |
optional |
12 |
|
EC370 |
Labour Economics and Human Resources |
optional |
12 |
|
LL 270 |
Advanced French III |
optional |
12 |
|
Specialization III: Politics |
|
|
|
|
PS332 |
Theory and Politics of Development |
core |
12 |
|
PS333 |
The Politics of North-South Relations |
core |
12 |
|
PS334 |
Human Rights: Theory and Practice |
core |
12 |
|
PS337 |
Civil Society and the State |
core |
12 |
|
PS361 |
Administrative Law |
core |
12 |
|
A student may choose one course from the following |
|||
|
PS344 |
Study of Selected Issues |
optional |
12 |
|
EC370 |
Labour Economics and Human Resources |
optional |
12 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
THIRD YEAR: Semester II |
|
|
|
|
Specialization I: Public Administration |
|
|
|
|
PS314 |
Public Finance Management |
core |
12* |
|
PS335 |
Democracy: Theory and Practice |
core |
12 |
|
PS341 |
Public Administration in Tanzania |
core |
12 |
|
PS349 |
Organizational Management and Development |
core |
12 |
|
|
A student must select one or two courses from the following |
|
|
|
PL311 |
Professional and Civic Ethics |
optional |
12 |
|
HR308 |
Industrial Relations and Labour Law |
optional |
12 |
|
PS399 |
Dissertation++ |
optional |
24 |
|
Specialization II: International Relations |
|
|
|
|
PS335 |
Democracy: Theory and Practice |
core |
12 |
|
PS342 |
Gender and Politics in Africa |
core |
12 |
|
PS346 |
Issues in International Law |
core |
12 |
|
PS347 |
Peace Making and Conflict Resolution |
core |
12 |
|
A student must select one or two courses from the following |
|||
|
PL311 |
Processional and Civic Ethics |
optional |
12 |
|
HR308 |
Industrial Relations and Labour Law |
optional |
12 |
|
LL276 |
Functional French I |
optional |
12 |
|
PS399 |
Dissertation++ |
optional |
24 |
|
|
Minimum |
|
60 |
|
Specialization III: Politics |
|
|
|
|
PS335 |
Democracy: Theory and Practice |
core |
12 |
|
PS341 |
Public Administration in Tanzania |
core |
12 |
|
PS342 |
Gender and Politics in Africa |
core |
12 |
|
PS347 |
Peace Making and Conflict Resolution |
core |
12 |
|
A student must select one or two courses from the following |
|||
|
PL311 |
Processional and Civic Ethics |
optional |
12 |
|
HR308 |
Industrial Relations and Labour Law |
optional |
12 |
|
PS399 |
Dissertation++ |
optional |
24 |
|
|
|
|
60 |
|
++A student who is invited to register PS 399 (Dissertation) which has 24 credits will have 72 credits. Total minimum number of (core) credits for B.A. (Political Science and Public Administration): 376. |
|||