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THE STRUCTURE OF
MZUMBE UNIVERSITY PROGRAMMES
Semester and Quarter System
The undergraduate, Diploma and Certificate programmes are based on a
Semester system. One academic year consists of two semesters, each
of 17 weeks. Graduate programmes are based on the quarter system.
There are FIVE quarters each of 12weeks. The first, second, third
and fourth quarters are for coursework while the fifth quarter shall
be for Research and Thesis writing.
The departments offer a series of prescribed courses to each
programme. Each course is a complete unit. Course objectives are
specified and all other relevant information is included in the
course structures.
Some courses are common i.e. to be taken by students in several
programmes. Others are tailored to only one programme. Some
programmes allow one elective course to be chosen from a menu in the
last semester of study.
Mode of Teaching
All Mzumbe University courses are taught in plenary sessions
combined with seminars each week. The plenary sessions are mainly
for “one-way” information from the lecturer to the students. These
groups, therefore, may consist of many students and from different
programmes (in common course).
The seminar groups are small (approximately 30 students) and
generally students are divided into seminars according to their
programmes. The seminars and plenary lectures are equally important.
The student-teacher relationship in the seminars is close and a
variety of different learning methods are used. Home assignments and
tests for course work evaluation are usually conducted by the
lecturer leading the seminar.
Mzumbe University students are responsible for their own learning.
Self studies and group discussions are considered as important as
lectures and seminars. For each course there will be an outline
given to the students. The course outline is a plan for all plenary
sessions and seminars in a particular course. The course outline
specifies the detailed timing and sequencing of each topic. The
students are expected to prepare themselves and follow up with self
studies on each topic.
Faculty members of the Mzumbe University are available on
appointment for individual student counselling.
Students’ Workload and Credit Points
On average, a Degree, Diploma or Certificate Course student is
expected to spend a total of 50 hours per week, for 15 weeks, on
academic work. This total weekly workload of 50 hours is set to 10
credit points (cp) per semester.
All courses offered in a semester have a total workload of 10 cp,
and each course unit is assigned 2 cp weight reflecting the
estimated work load. The 2 cp weight includes plenary lectures,
seminars as well as self studies, group work etc.
Bachelors Degree Programmes consist of 6 semesters, each of 10 cp.
This requires the students to complete a total of 60 credit points
(including the field project) in the course of three years.
Certificate Programmes consist of 2 semesters, each of 10 cp. This
requires the students to complete a total of 20 credit points during
the one year. (Certificate in Law students are required to clear 25
cp to cover the Field Attachment).
For Diploma in Law the total number of credit points is 47. 10 cp
are granted each of the four semesters and 7 cp cover the Field
Attachment between the two years of study.
Workload and Credit Points for Graduate Students
The workload and evaluation of the Graduate students is based on the
quarter system. The quarter, consisting of 10 weeks of class work,
is set for rigorous professional training and subsequent evaluation
takes place. Each course unit in a quarter is given 2 credit points
and carries 100%. A graduate student is expected to spend a total of
60 hours a week on academic work. This total weekly workload is set
to 8 credit points per quarter. Total course work for graduate
students covers 4 quarters totaling 32 credit points.
Thesis work must be completed by students in the period of thirteen
weeks. In this period the student will prepare a research proposal
and undertake field research leading to the thesis writing. In the
event a student is unable to complete his work in the prescribed
period, a written permission must be sought by the student for time
extension to complete the work. The period of the extension is at
the discretion of management of the university. In any case the time
extended shall not exceed three years from the date of registration.
Graduate Students’ Field Work
Graduate Students go for their Field Research Project in the fifth
quarter of the academic year. The field research project carries an
equivalent of eight (8) course units, i.e. 16 credit points and is
equivalent to 100%. The student must score an equivalent of 50% for
the thesis to be admissible for Graduation.
Field Attachment and Term Paper Writing
The field attachment for Mzumbe University Undergraduate Students is
meant to provide a practical element in the study programmes. In
their field attachment period, students are placed in organisations
and given an opportunity to practice some of the theoretical
concepts learned in classroom.
The field attachment is integrated into the programme and allocated
one full semester of study (20 weeks).
Before students go to the field, they use part of their fourth
semester to prepare a field study programme in the form of a project
proposal. The various departments are responsible for helping the
students to plan and carry out their projects. Each student is
therefore attached to a Professor or Lecturer who will supervise the
student throughout the various phases of the project. Students can
work in a field project individually or as a group. A field project
carries a full 10 credit points as per one semester. In cooperation
with the organisation/institution, the student is also given a field
supervisor from the organisation/institution.
The field project is evaluated in three phases. The field supervisor
sends a confidential report to the respective Dean or Institute
Director rating the student on scale of 0 to 20. The Mzumbe
University Research Supervisor evaluates the student on a scale of 0
- 20 basing on two of the field supervision visits and finally the
Field Report paper is evaluated on a scale of 0 - 60. Total possible
score is 100%. The Field Report paper is evaluated only if
the student has passed the field supervisions evaluation.
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