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Academic Programmes August 29, 2026

Bachelor of Arts in Political Science and Public Administration

August 29, 20264 min read

Programme Description

The overall objective of this programme is to prepare professionals with accurate expression and practice, as well as clear and concise analysis of political, economic and social issues at local and global scale. Specifically, the programme endeavors to address the following: • To produce qualified and practically competent graduates in the field of Political Science and Public Administration. • To produce candidates who are able to address development challenges in both public and private socio-economic ventures, welfare and production services. • To create a pool of well-trained graduates who can work as analysts, administrators and advisors in public service organizations and development institutions in Tanzania.

Learning Outcomes

  • Demonstrate knowledge of theory and practice of central issues in the field of Political Science and Public Administration.
  • Devise innovative methods/approaches to effectively deal with increasingly complex 142 political, public policy, and public management issues.
  • Analyze and define the broader economic, social and political issues in the contemporary societies at local and global scale.

Programme Structure

Year 1

Semester One

Code Course Title Status Credits
DS 102 Development Perspectives Core 7.5
LG 102 Communication Skills Core 7.5
PO 111 Introduction to Political Science I Core 10.5
PO 112 Introduction to Public Administration Core 7.5
IR 111 Introduction to International Relations I Core 7.5
IT 111 Introduction to Information Technology Core 7.5
DS 111 Poverty and Socio-Economic Development Elective 10.5
PM 111 Introduction to Project Planning and Management Elective 10.5

Semester Two

Code Course Title Status Credits
PO 121 Introduction to Political Science II Core 10.5
PO 122 Introduction to Political Economy Core 7.5
PO 123 Government and Politics in Tanzania Core 7.5
PO 124 Local Government System in Tanzania Core 7.5
PO 125 Theory and Practice of Management Core 10.5
IR 121 Introduction to International Relations II Core 7.5
IR 122 Foreign Policy and Diplomacy Elective 10.5
DS 123 Governance, Civil Society, and Development Elective 10.5

Year 2

Semester One

Code Course Title Status Credits
PO 211 Qualitative Social Science Research Methods Core 10.5
PO 212 African Political Thought Core 7.5
PO 213 Comparative Public Administration Core 7.5
PO 214 Decision Making: Theory and Practice Core 10.5
PL 212 Critical Thinking and Argumentation Core 10.5
PO 215 Comparative Political Systems Core 7.5
DS 214 Democracy, Governance, and Development Elective 7.5
IR 212 International Organizations and Global Governance Elective 7.5

Semester Two

Code Course Title Status Credits
PO 221 Quantitative Social Science Research Methods Core 10.5
PO 222 Comparative Political Thought Core 7.5
PO 223 Public Policy Making and Analysis Core 10.5
PO 224 Human Resources Management: Theory and Core 10.5
PL 221 Professional and Civic Ethics Core 7.5

Special Programme Requirements

Field Practical (FP) provides students with an excellent opportunity for witnessing and taking part in real life implementation of theories taught in class. This is a six- week programme conducted towards the end of the academic year, after the completion of second semester examinations. Students are allocated to relevant organizations, firms, agencies, etc., in order to gain hands-on experience in all works related to the theory and practice of the programme. During the PT, students work and write comprehensive reports under close supervision of professional training officers at their respective placements. To complement the supervision provided by the professional training officers, the students are visited by an academic supervisor from the college/department at least once during their placements. To ensure adequate coverage in terms of both depth and breadth of the training, students are given exposure to a wide variety of activities pertaining to the programme. The cost of FP is covered by sponsors of respective students. According to the current UDOM fee structure, each student is paid TZS 10,000 per day, which amounts to the sum of TZS 420,000 for six weeks.

Practical Training

Core 9.6 One Elective Course Elective 7.5 Total 63.6 Electives Code Course Title Status Credits DS 225 Decentralization and Development Elective 7.5 PL 223 History of African Philosophy Elective 7.5 Year Three Semester One PO 311 Public Bureaucracies and Organizations Core 7.5 PO 312 Administrative and Labour Laws Core 10.5 PO 313 Strategic Planning and Management Core 10.5 PO 314 Human Rights: Theory and Practice Core 10.5 PO 315 Politics in Africa Core 7.5 PO 316 Legislature and Legislative Processes Core 7.5 One Elective Course Elective 7.5 Total 61.5 Electives DS 311 Globalization and Socio-Economic Development Elective 7.5 DS 312 Industrialization and Development Elective 7.5 Semester Two PO 321 Management of Public Resources Core 10.5 PO 322 Public Administration in Tanzania Core 10.5 PO 323 Gender and Politics in Africa Core 7.5 PO 324 Democracy: Theory and Practice Core 10.5 PO 325 Civil Society and the State Core 10.5 One Elective Course Elective 10.5 Total 60 144 Code Course Title Status Credits Electives PO 326 Contemporary Issues in Public Administration Elective 10.5 DS 323 Public and Private Sector Management Elective 10.5

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