Philosophy Department

The Department of Philosophy, Madonna University started in the year 2002 with just two students, one a Nigerian and the other a Sierra Leonean. The pioneer head of the department was Assoc. Prof. Fr. Reginald Nnamdi who saw the department grow and go through its first successful Nigerian Universities Commission (NUC) accreditation in 2007. Since its commencement the department has graduated a good number of persons some of whom are now priests, civil servants, politicians, teachers, and some have gone ahead to pursue further studies in Philosophy and are presently gainfully employed as university lecturers and administrators. Others are excelling in their chosen fields of endeavour. The department produced her only first class graduate so far in 2009 seven years after inception. In 2012 the department was subjected to another accreditation exercise and as in 2007 it got full accreditation this time under the headship of the seasoned academic and administrator, Assoc. Prof. J. O. Eneh.

Following the success at undergraduate programme the department has been given approval to run Postgraduate Diploma (PGD) and Master of Arts (M. A.) degree at postgraduate level with effect from 2016/2017 academic session. As a result of the maturity most often exhibited by the students of Philosophy the department has on several occasions produced inspirational student leaders. Amongst the departments in the University, Philosophy boasts of one the most conducive and best equipped departmental libraries. Consequently, students and staff of sister departments visit the library regularly for various researches. In terms of staffing the Department of Philosophy has always had seasoned professors and lecturers. This partly accounts for the full accreditation the department got on each of the two occasions that NUC came for inspection. It is also for the same reason, among others, that NUC did not hesitate in approving the postgraduate programme in Philosophy.

Our philosophy is that our students should be trained in a manner that will equip them with the necessary requirements for success in personal and social affairs. The programme is designed to provide a solid foundation for thorough instruction in the major areas of philosophy and seeks to ground students in the principles, and methods of Philosophy – reflection, critique, analysis, etc. The programme also seeks to give students the professional training and experience to make career in Philosophy as well as moral strength for honest living.

Objective

The objectives of the programme agree with those set out in the preamble to Arts courses generally. The programme specifically aims to achieve the followings:

a) De-emphasize abstraction and system building in the programme and seek instead to bridge between academic/professional philosophy and social practice in Nigeria specially and Africa as a whole.

b) Seek to discover and/or create and establish the African contribution to global philosophy and to other philosophies thereby showcasing the universality of philosophy.

c) Take cognizance of the existence of other “philosophies” and introduce the student to them, e.g. Oriental philosophy.

d) Provide courses which would be of interest to other departments and disciplines as a way of encouraging an inter-disciplinary approach to the study of philosophy; and of recognizing the wide-ranging nature of the subject.

e) Prepare students for administrative, policy-making, teaching, counseling, and other endeavours.

f) Provide a solid foundation in philosophy for those who want to do professional/academic philosophy.

g) Provide a thorough instruction in the traditional quadrivium of philosophy, viz: Epistemology and Metaphysics, History of Philosophy, Logic, and Values, including Ethics and Aesthetics, Social and Political Philosophy.

Scope

The programme is designed to cover the core areas of Western Philosophy covering the traditional areas of philosophy – metaphysics, epistemology, history of philosophy, logic, values (ethics and aesthetics), and socio-political philosophy as taught nationally and internationally. It also covers African Philosophy as a way of critiquing, reevaluating, and promoting African heritage as contained in the cultural practices and institutions. The programme intends to expose the students to other disciplines other than Philosophy hence, a number of courses have been outlined as ancillary or electives.

Admission Requirements

a) Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME): 4 – Year Degree Programme

The Senior Secondary School (SSS) Certificate with Credits in English Language, Mathematics and three (3) other relevant subjects. The Senior Secondary School (SSSC) Certificate should give a clear indication of equivalents with West African School Certificate (WASC) or the General Certificate of Education (GCE) Ordinary Level and the National Examination Council (NECO). In addition to this, an acceptable score at the Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME) is required. The person shall be screened for eligibility.

b) Direct Entry (DE): 3-Year Degree Programme

A minimum of two (2) GCE A/L in any Arts or Social and Management Sciences and three (3) O/L papers including a credit in English Language and credit or pass in Mathematics; or a Diploma in Law or Social and Management Sciences. Candidates with other degrees, Higher National Diploma (H.N.D.), Ordinary National Diploma (O. N. D.) or National Certificate of Education (N. C. E.) certificates may be admitted into the Direct Entry programme.

c) Inter-university transfer

Students can seek for transfer into the Department of Philosophy from other recognized universities whose Philosophy programmes are approved and accredited by National Universities Commission (NUC). Such persons shall present certified transcripts, be of good conduct, must have a Cumulative Grade Point Average (CGPA) of a minimum of 1.0 and must meet the requirements of Madonna University. Such persons may only be admitted into year two and not into a higher level.

d) Intra-university transfer

Students can seek for transfer into the Department of Philosophy from other relevant programmes in Madonna University. Such students must have basic admission requirements and must have completed at least one academic session in the respective department and must have Cumulative Grade Point Average (CGPA) of a minimum of 1.0.

Graduation

Requirements for graduation are as stipulated by Senate of Madonna University. The degree programme in Philosophy shall be based on the prescribed courses throughout the four (4) or three (3) year duration as the case may be. A student is expected to have taken a minimum of 150 credit units to be eligible for graduation.

JOB OPPORTUNITES

The Madonna University Programme in Philosophy is so designed as to equip the graduates well enough to serve as administrators and teachers at all levels of post primary institutions, welfare and community officers, legislative officers, civil and public analysts, military, security and intelligent officers; career advisers as well as public relations and cultural officers. They are also equipped for active politics, business, and entrepreneurship.

LEARNING OUTCOMES

a) Regime of Subject Knowledge

The programme is theoretically and logistically detailed in historical, traditional and modern systematic development of philosophical thoughts.

b) Competence and Skills

The programme prepares students to be competent in the analysis and demonstration of the effect of knowledge acquired in their various learning processes.

c) Behavioural Attributes

The programme is designed to teach the students to reflect on the acquired knowledge and to be precise, polite, ethical, logical and upright in all spheres of life disposition.

COURSE LOAD

Every student is required to register for an approved combination of courses with a minimum of 15 units and a maximum of 24 units per a semester and a total minimum of 150 units to qualify for graduation.

GRADE POINT AVERAGE (GPA)

i. A grading system using both letter (A – F) and figure (5 – 0) respectively is the approved system of degree classification.

ii. The minimum score to earn a Grade Point of 1.0 point is 40%. Also, the minimum CGPA required for graduation is 1.0.

iii. The Percentage Score, Letter Grades, Grade Point Average (GPA), Cumulative Grade Point Average (CGPA) and Classes of Degree, are shown in Tables 1 and 2.

Definitions of Grade Point, Grade Point Average and Cumulative Grade Point Average

i. Grade Point (GP)

The Grade Point derives from the actual raw score in percentage for a given course. The raw score is converted into a letter grade and a grade point.

ii. Grade Point Average (GPA)

This is the average of weighted grade points earned in the courses taken during the semester. The Grade Point Average is obtained by multiplying the Grade Point in each course by the number of Credit Units assigned to that course, and then summing these up and dividing by the total number of Credit Units taken during the semester.

iii. Cumulative Grade Point Average (CGPA)

This is the up-to-date mean of the Grade Point earned by the student in a programme of study. It is an indication of the student’s overall performance at any point in the training programme. To compute the Cumulative Grade Point Average, the total of Grade Points multiplied by the respective Credit Units for all the semesters are added and then divided by the total number of Credit Units for all courses registered by the student.

SEMESTER EXAMINATIONS

Examinations are administered at the end of each course and usually at the end of the semester.

COURSE EVALUATION

Course delivery is by lecture and tutorial. The various techniques for evaluation include semester examinations and Continuous Assessment (CA). Assessment of students is by means of quizzes, term papers, assignments and end of semester examinations. The end of semester examination has 70% and continuous assessment has 30%. Final year students are required to defend their projects in the presence of an external examiner appointed by the university. The External Examiner also certifies the overall performance of the graduating students, as well as the quality of facilities and teaching.

A letter grade and a numerical point shall be awarded to each student based on total scores on all the evaluation criteria. The final marks a student may score, the corresponding letter grades and the numerical points are clearly indicated as shown below:

Table 1: Score and Grade Point Calculation

(i) Credit Units

(ii) Percentage Score

(iii) Letter Grade

(iv) Grade Point (GP)

(v) Grade Point Average (GPA)

(iv) Cumulative Grade Point Average (CGPA)

According to Contact Hours assigned to each course per week per semester. 70-100 A 5 Derived by multiplying (i) and (iv) and dividing by total Credit Units. Derived by multiplying (i) and (iv) and dividing by total Credit Units for Courses registered till date.

The class of degree to be awarded is dependent on the Cumulative Grade Point Average (CGPA) which is obtained by computing the grades in all the courses for the semester. Where a student repeats the same course or its substitute, once or more before passing it, grades scored at each and all attempts shall be included in the computation of the Grade Point Average (GPA).

CLASSIFICATION OF DEGREES

Degrees offered by the university are classified based on the Cumulative Grade Point Average (CGPA) obtained by the student. The details are presented below:

Table 2: Degree Classification based on CGPA

RE-SIT EXAMINATIONS, PROBATIONS AND WITHDRAWALS

(a) There is no re-sit examination.

(b) The Cumulative Grade Point Average (CGPA) is used as a guide for assessing students for withdrawal and probation taking into account the minimum CGPA of 1.0 required for graduation.

(c) Subject to the conditions for withdrawal and probation, a student may be allowed to repeat failed course(s) at the next available opportunity, provided that the total number of credit units carried during that semester does not exceed 24, and the Grade Point (GP) earned at all attempts shall count towards the CGPA.

(d) Probation is a status granted to a student whose academic performance falls below an acceptable standard. A student whose Cumulative Grade Point Average is below 1.0 at the end of a particular year of study, earns a period of probation for one academic session.

(e) A candidate whose Cumulative Grade Point Average is below 1.0 at the end of a particular period of probation shall be required to withdraw from the University. However, where a student has demonstrated early poor performance with CGPA of less than 1.0 in the first and second semesters of 100 Level, the student shall be advised to withdraw from the programme.

COMPUTATION OF GPA AND CGPA

To determine the quality points (QPs) obtained in each course, the credit units (CUs) assigned to courses are multiplied by the grade points (GPs) earned by the student in the course. For instance, PHL 101 has 2 units; if a student scored 75% (A) which is 5 points, the quality points is 2  4  8. Grade Point Average (GPA) is obtained by dividing the quality point earned in a given semester by the credit units registered for the semester. For instance, if a student measured 68 quality points in a semester that has 16 credit units, the GPA is 68  16  4.25.

DURATION

The minimum number of years to be spent for the award of a first degree in Philosophy (B.A. in Philosophy) is four (4) years for entry through UTME and three (3) years for Direct Entry mode, and shall not exceed an additional 50% of the normal duration of training for the programme if the student fails to graduate within the minimum number of years. As such, a student shall not spend more than six (6) years in completing the programme. Generally, the maximum duration on the programme for graduation shall not exceed 150% of the normal training period.

No student shall be deemed to have fulfilled the requirements for the award of the degree if he or she fails to attain the stipulated minimum years of training.

DEFINITION OF TERMS

Core Course

A core course is a course which every student must take and pass in any particular programme.

Required Ancillary Course

A course which may not necessarily be a core course in a discipline, but which is required to be taken and passed before graduation.

Elective Course

A course that students take within or outside the department based on personal choice from a specified list or area of study.

Prerequisite Course

A course which a student must take and pass before a follow-up course at the same or higher level.

Minimum Credit Load per Semester

The minimum credit load per semester is the lowest acceptable total number of credit units required to be taken and passed by a student.

STRESS AREAS

   Introductory Courses 0

   Metaphysics 1

   Epistemology 2

   Logic and Methodology 3

   Ethics/Aesthetics 4

   History of Philosophy 5

   Political and Social Philosophy 6

   African Philosophy 7

   Project 9