Bachelor of Arts in Social Sciences
Degree awarded: BASS (Hons)
Duration
Bachelor of Bachelor Arts in Social Sciences is a three-year Degree programme. The programme is run on a semester system where the academic year constitutes two semesters. The whole course takes 6 semesters and a semester constitutes 17 weeks with 15 weeks for teaching and 2 weeks for examination.
Course Description
Social Sciences is the collection of knowledge about the nature, growth, and functioning of human societies. Social Scientist engages in research and theorizes about both aggregate and individual behaviors.
They diverge from the Arts and Humanities in that the Social Sciences emphasize the use of the scientific and rigorous standards of evidence in the study of humanity, including quantitative and qualitative methods. Because they study both subjective and objective or structural aspects of society, Social Sciences are sometimes referred to as soft sciences. This is in contrast to hard sciences, which in most focus exclusively on objective aspects of nature.
The programme has the following subjects:
- Sociology (SOC)
- Social Administration (SOA)
- Political Science (POS)
- Psychology (PSY)
- Economics (ECO)
- Gender and Development (GAD)
Programme objectives
- To equip students with theories and other bodies of knowledge, which will enhance an understanding of the nature, growth, dynamics and functioning of human societies
- To train high-level human resources with the skills to enhance national development in general and to solve specific social problems.
- To develop analytical skills in students for designing and formulating policies that are of social relevance.
- To generate knowledge about human societies, through research.
- To produce graduates who can be critical of social issues with a view to contributing to knowledge as well as identifying and providing solutions to social problems.
Field/Area
The curriculum for the BASS programme consists of six (6) fields/areas of study namely: Political Science, Sociology, Social Administration, Gender and Development, Economics and Psychology. Students may also take courses from other relevant Departments and Faculties.
First Year of Studies
First year students take any six courses each semester. Two courses from each of three different areas/fields of study per semester that is, 12 courses in the first year. The courses for First year studies are called Prerequisite or Introductory courses.
Second and Third Years
Students are required to offer a major in one area/field of study and a minor in another.
Major: A Major is a set of courses in a Field/area of specialisation in which each student is encouraged to explore the Field/Area in considerable depth. The set of courses for a Major constitutes not less than two-thirds of the Programme Load.
Minor: A Minor is a set of courses in a Field/Area that is of lesser importance than the Major. A Minor constitutes not more than a third of the Programme Load. For a minor, a student offers at least one core course in the chosen area/field of study in an academic year.
General Programme Structure
Year | Semester | No. of Courses | Contact Hours per Course/Semester | Credit Unit (CU) | Credit Hours |
1 |
1 | 6 | 45 | 3 | 18 |
2 | 6 | 45 | 3 | 18 | |
2 |
1 | 6 | 45 | 3 | 18 |
2 | 6 | 45 | 3 | 18 | |
3 |
1 | 6 | 45 | 3 | 18 |
2 | 6 | 45 | 3 | 18 | |
TOTAL | 36 | 270 | 108 |
Graduation Requirements
In order to qualify for the award of a degree of Bachelor Arts in Social Sciences of Bishop Stuart University, a student must have satisfied the University Senate in the following:
- Must have been a registered student for the prescribed six semesters of this programme.
- Must have successfully completed the prescribed number of credit units for this programme which includes development internship. (108 credit units)
Retakes
If a student fails a course, one must retake the course only when it is offered. A failed course can only be retaken twice.
Assessment
Students will be required to do progressive course works and a summative test carrying a 40% mark and a final examination carrying a 60% mark.
Grading and Classification of Awards
Each course is graded out of a maximum of one hundred (100) marks. The grading is as follows:
Marks | Letter Grade | Grade Point | Classification | ||
CGPA | Class of Degree | Class of a Degree | |||
80–100 | A | 5.0 | 4.4 – 5.0 | First Class (1) | Distinction |
75 – 79 | B+ | 4.5 | 3.60 – 4.39 | Second Class Upper Division (2:1) | Credit |
70 – 74 | B- | 4.0 | 2.80 – 3.59 | Second Class Lower Division (2:2) | |
65 – 69 | C+ | 3.5 | 2.0 – 2.9 | Pass (3) | Pass |
60– 64 | C | 3.0 | 0 – 1.9 | Failure | Failure |
55-59 | D+ | 2.5 | |||
50-54 | D | 2.0 | |||
0-49 | F | 0 |