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Bachelor of Planning and Community Development

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Degree awarded: BPCM(Hons)

Duration: 3 Years full-time

Bachelor of Planning and Community Development is a three-year degree programme run on a semester system where the Academic Year constitutes of two semesters. The whole course takes six (6) semesters and a semester constitutes 17 weeks with 15 weeks for teaching and 2 weeks for examination.

Course Description

This unique, professionally-oriented course is a new program to be introduced in the department of Psychology and Development Management under the Faculty of Business and Development Studies. This program is meant to enable the department to contribute towards promoting community development by producing qualified and skilled community planners and development practitioners.

It is run alongside other programs in the Department and seeks to create a pool of highly skilled graduates who are able to initiate planning and manage community projects and programs. It targets students who have completed an Advanced Certificate or its equivalent.

Entry Requirements

Students applying for this programme must have at least 2 Principal passes at A’ level obtained at the same sitting, beholders of diploma (or equivalent qualification) from a recognized institution, holders of a degree from a recognized institution, and accredited by the National Council for Higher Education (NCHE) who want to pursue this programme can also apply.

Students can also be admitted after sitting Mature Age Entry Examinations after obtaining 50% and above. However, NCHE shall first accredit the Mature Age Entry Examination. Full entry requirements

Rationale

This programme is premised on a multidisciplinary approach that integrates the perspectives and ideas of multiple disciplines to build effective community planners and development practitioners. The programme enables students to acquire planning skills that demonstrate inclusive thinking and techniques of integration in order to move towards a multidisciplinary approach to decision making and problem-solving for community development.

The programme further provides a basis for students to understand community needs from a policy perspective and be able to link theoretical analysis with conceptual debates in the field of planning and community development. The students also acquire a diverse range of skills in areas such as theory application, community organizing, finance, planning, and management.

The programme is introduced in response to the current need for development that requires a balanced scientific approach and liberal inclination towards community development. The program trains career professionals who are able to design basic projects and programmes suitable for transforming communities and societies.  Besides the academic qualification imparted and taught, the major characteristic of this programme is its practical relevance that starts with fieldwork and is complemented with continuous community outreaches. The programme creates a pool of graduates who are good community planners and development practitioners

Programme objectives

The programme objectives are to enable students to:

  1. Understand the dynamic and complex nature of rural and urban community challenges and develop models based on a multidisciplinary approach in handling such challenges.
  2. Administer the process of sustainable development both in rural and urban communities and be able to shape the direction towards transforming and capacitating such societies to handle their development needs.
  3. Critically appreciate the existing policy framework for community planning and development in relation to Government, civil societies, and the Private sector so as to add value and facilitate societal transformation.
  4. Mobilize resources for the development of both urban and rural communities and devise strategies in which such resources can be maintained and increased for the benefit of communities.

Expected outcomes

  1. To produce students with community planning knowledge and skills
  2. To produce students with entrepreneur skills for business enterprises and development.
  3. Develop student’s capacities, skills and knowledge for organizational success.
  4. To produce students who can apply the appropriate skills and knowledge to rural and urban development challenges.

Graduation requirements

In order to qualify for the award of a degree of Bachelor of Planning and Community Development, a student must have satisfied the University Senate in the following:

  1. Must have been a registered student for the prescribed six semesters of this programme.
  2. Must have successfully completed the prescribed number of credit units for this programme which include 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.

Programme credit unit

The programme structure shall be on a credit unit basis. A credit unit shall be equivalent to a lecture hour or two practical hours.

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 will be graded out of a maximum of one hundred (100) marks. The grading will be 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