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Academic Programmes August 29, 2026

Bachelor of Arts in International Relations

August 29, 20264 min read

Programme Description

The overall objective of the programme is to prepare professionals with a unique blend of theories and approaches of the understanding of major global and multicultural perspectives that stimulate intellectual knowledge of international relations through critical analysis of historical, political, economic, legal and cultural forces that frame the field of study. Specifically, the programme endeavors to: • Produce qualified and practically competent graduates in the field of International Relations. • Produce graduates who are able to address contemporary challenges facing global politics and economy; and their influence on both public and private ventures, welfare, and production services. • Develop a pool of intellectual minds capable of addressing emerging concerns to humankind such as international peace and security, conflict resolution and management, economic diplomacy, and international trade and negotiations.

Learning Outcomes

  • Demonstrate knowledge of theory and practice of methodologies and approaches of addressing major concerns in the ever-increasing interconnected world.
  • Analyse issues and give policy-oriented advice related to international relations in the context of Tanzania and beyond.
  • Apply different approaches and mechanisms of addressing social, political, and economic issues related to sustainable development in the society.
  • Apply appropriate skills in dealing with dynamics and challenges facing the world today and in the future.

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
IR 111 Introduction to International Relations I Core 7.5
IR 112 International Relations Theories Core 10.5
PO 111 Introduction to Political Science I Core 10.5
IT 111 Introduction to Information Technology Core 7.5

Semester Two

Code Course Title Status Credits
IR 121 Introduction to International Relations II Core 7.5
IR 122 Foreign Policy and Diplomacy Core 10.5
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 10.5
PO 124 Local Government System in Tanzania Core 7.5
OC 124 Elementary Chinese Reading II Elective 7.5 Other 146

Year 2

Semester One

Code Course Title Status Credits
IR 211 International Trade and Negotiations Core 7.5
IR 212 International Organizations and Global Core 7.5
PO 211 Qualitative Social Science Research Methods Core 10.5
PO 214 Decision Making: Theory and Practice Core 10.5
PL 212 Critical Thinking and Argumentation Core 10.5
PO 212 African Political Thought Core 7.5
PO 214 Decision Making: Theory and Practice 10. 5 Core 64.5
FR 211 Methods and Techniques of Oral and Written French II Elective 7.5

Semester Two

Code Course Title Status Credits
IR 221 Conflict Management: Theory and Practice Core 10.5
IR 222 Public International Law and Ethics Core 7.5
PO 221 Quantitative Social Science Research Methods Core 10.5
PO 223 Public Policy: Making and Analysis Core 10.5
PO 224 Human Resources Management: Theory and Practice 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 the 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. To ensure adequate coverage in terms of both depth and breadth of the training, the students are exposed to a wide variety of activities pertaining to the programme. The cost of PT 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 Total 66.6 Electives FR 224 Functional French Elective 7.5 OC 222 Intermediate Chinese Listening II Elective 7.5 Year Three Semester One IR 311 Regional Integration: Theory and Practice Core 10.5 IR 312 Contemporary Issues in International Relations Core 10.5 PO 311 Public Bureaucracies and Organizations Core 7.5 PO 314 Human Rights: Theory and Practice Core 10.5 PO 315 Politics in Africa Core 7.5 Two Elective Courses Elective 15 147 Code Course Title Status Credits Total 61.5 Electives DS 311 Globalization and Socio-Economic Development Elective 7.5 FR 311 Syntactic Description of French Elective 7.5 OC 311 Advanced Comprehensive Chinese I Elective 7.5 PO 313 Strategic Planning and Management Elective 10.5 PO 316 Legislature and Legislative Processes Elective 7.5 Semester Two IR 321 International Political Economy Core 10.5 IR 322 Economic Diplomacy Core 10.5 IR 323 Politics of North-South Relations 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 Electives PO 321 Management of Public Resources Elective 10.5 FR 322 French Novel Elective 10.5 OC 322 Advanced Chinese Listening II Elective 10.5

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