Religious Studies is unarguably one of the core subjects studied in the Nigeria’s primary and secondary schools today. The subject has also been developed for tertiary level of education system in Nigeria. This systematic and comprehensive development of the subject is largely due to the central role it plays in the development of the society and in finding solutions to man’s quest for ultimate reality.

It is our firm hope that the subject will continue to develop as an exciting course of study in Nigeria. This handbook has therefore been written for all degree students offering Education Religion at Ebonyi State College of Education, Ikwo in affiliation with Ebonyi State University, Abakaliki.

The primary aim of the handbook is to guide students through the National University Commission (NUC) minimum standards and the University requirements for the award of Bachelor degree in Religion education. 

The staff and students of Religious Studies Education department, Ebonyi State College of Education, Ikwo, in affiliation with Ebonyi State University, Abakaliki express their heartfelt gratitude to the National University Commission (NUC) for using her material in the minimum standards for Barchelor of science in Religion Education, as a guide in the preparation of this handbook.  

Dr O. I Eze                                   

Head, Department of Religion Education 

Philosophy of the Programme 

The philosophy of Religious Studies Education programme is geared towards

Investigating and explaining man and his nature especially his multifaceted relationships with the world around him and beyond.

Objectives of the Programme are:

1. To acquaint the students with a basic knowledge in the study of the main content of the major religious traditions in the country, viz: Christianity, Islam, and African Traditional Religion. 
2. To acquaint the students with broad knowledge of the various methods of teaching religious studies in junior secondary and senior secondary levels of education.
3. To help satisfy the quest for higher education among our youths who desire to be equipped for the scientific age.
4. To inculcate the right type of values and attitudes for the survival of the individual and the Nigeria society.

Job Opportunities 

The students who graduate in religion education can find profitable employment anywhere in the country and beyond, particularly a teaching job in secondary schools, social welfare department, moral instructors, administrative staff in ministries, government parastatal/agencies as well as commercial ventures amongst others.

ACADEMIC REGULATIONS

(c)      Admission requirements:

(i)       A minimum of 5 credit passes in the relevant subject areas in the SSCE or the GCE, O' Level obtained in not more than 2 sittings plus an acceptable score in the JAMB/UME. The subjects must include English Language, CRS, and mathematics.

(ii)       Four merit/credit passes at the NCE level.

Admission Requirements for Three Year Programme

-         Candidates with a minimum of merits at the NCE could also be considered for a three year programme provided the three core subjects: English, CRS and Mathematics are passed at Advanced level or at credit level at the O’Level GCE /SSCE.

Two or more advanced level papers in GCE, one of which must be relevant to the course of study (Education Religion).

A credit or merits in two-year diploma course of the Arts and Social Science Education plus 5 credits at O'Level in GCE, SSCE or its equivalent at not more than two sittings.

Note: A student in Education Religion will spend four sessions to graduate in this discipline, a candidate with excellent NCE results may spend three sessions to graduate. The period of internship (Teaching practice) of not less than 12 weeks is built into the programme. 

Minimum / Maximum Duration

The minimum duration of Religious Studies Education programme is four academic sessions or eight (8) consecutively-run semesters for candidates who enter through the UTME Mode. 

 Direct Entry candidates admitted to the 200 level of their programmes will spend a minimum of three academic sessions or six (6) consecutively-run semesters. The maximum length of time allowed to obtain an honours degree in the department shall be twelve semesters for the 4-year degree programme and ten semesters for students admitted directly into the 200 level. 

Graduation Requirements

A student shall qualify for the award of a degree when he/she has:

a) completed and passed the prescribed number of courses including all compulsory courses.

b) obtained a minimum CGPA specified by the University but not less than 1.50

c) earned the minimum credit units of not less than 120 for UTME and 90 for DE

candidates.

 Course System

Credits are weights attached to a course. One credit is equivalent to one hour per week per semester of 15 weeks of lectures or three hours of studio/workshop work per week per semester of 15 weeks.

Definition of Course System

This should be understood to mean a quantitative system of organization of the curriculum in which subject areas are broken down into unit courses which are examinable and for which students earn credit(s) if passed. The courses are arranged in levels of academic progress.

There are four levels of courses numbered 101-199, 201-299, 301-399 and 401-499 in the department. For ease of identification, course numbers are prefixed by a three-character programme/subject code. 

The second aspect of the system is that courses are assigned weights allied to Units. Units consist of specified number of student-teacher contact hours per week per semester. Units are used in two complementary ways: one, as a measure of course weighting, and the other, as an indicator of student work load.

i) As a measure of course weighting for each Unit course (e.g REL 105, REL 203, REL 404), the credit unit to be earned for satisfactorily completing the course is specified; e.g. a 2-credit unit course may mean two 1-hour lecture per week per semester or one 1-hour lecture plus 3-hour practical per week per semester.

ii) As a measure of work load, “One Credit Unit” means one hour of lecture or one hour of tutorial per week per semester.

The minimum number of credit units for the award of a degree is 120 units, subject to the usual Department and school requirements. A student shall therefore qualify for the award of a degree when he/she has met the conditions.

The minimum credit load per semester is 15 credit units. For the purpose of calculating a student’s cumulative GPA(CGPA) in order to determine the class of Degree to be awarded, grades obtained in ALL the courses whether compulsory or optional and whether passed or failed must be included in the computation. Even when a student repeats the same course once or more before passing it or substitutes another course for a failed optional course, grades scored at each and all attempts shall be included in the computation of the GPA. Pre-requisite courses must be taken and passed before a particular course at a higher level.

Standard Terminologies

The following standard terminologies are used for different categories of courses in the department.

Core/Compulsory Courses:

Courses which every student must compulsorily take and pass. 

Elective Courses

Courses that students take within or outside the department. Students may graduate without passing these courses provided the minimum credit unit for the course had been attained.

Optional Courses

Courses which students can take based on interest and may count towards the minimum credit unit required for graduation.

Pre-requisite Courses

Courses which students must take and pass before taking a particular course at a higher level.

Required Courses

Courses that you take at a level of study and must be passed before graduation.

Academic Staff

The guideline on staff/student ratio for the department is 1:30 as stipulated by the NUC Benchmark.

 The department has a total number of ten (10) academic staff; seven (7) out of which are 

full-time Staff, while three (3) staff are serving on part time capacity.

There are eight (8) academic staff with Ph D degree in the department as well as sufficient professional experiences.

Rules and Regulations Governing the conduct of Semester and Final Examinations

Examination

Setting, conduct, evaluation schemes, moderation schemes internal and external for Degree examinations and issuance of results.

Examinations are set by various lecturers handling various courses. The questions are sent to the Head of Department, who at appropriate time summons the meeting of the Examination committee. It is the responsibility of the committee to moderate and select questions for the examination. The examination is taken by students on dates and time stipulated by the college examination time table, under staff invigilators. Examination scripts are graded by academic staff who taught the courses in compliance with the college standard.. After the questions have gone through the Departmental Examination Committee, they are sent to the external examiner who moderates and vets the questions and modifies them where necessary before appending his/her signature. The examination is taken by students on dates and time stipulated by the college examination time table, under staff invigilators. The results of the examination now go through the Departmental Board, then to the School Board for approval. After which, the result is sent to the external examiner who moderates and vets it.  The final approval is by the College Board. Following approval by the College Board, the results then go to the registry from where they are issued. The approved results are displayed on Departmental notice boards for students to see.

Handling of Academic grievances

The first point of call of an aggrieved student is his academic adviser. If the case is still unresolved there, it is referred to one of the Departmental Committees or Department Board meeting. In some circumstances the case is referred to school academic board meeting.     

Student academic advising

Every student on admission is attached to a staff adviser who guides him both academically and psychologically throughout his/her studies. 

Case of Examination Malpractices

This is handled by the college examination malpractice committee. Student found guilty of examination malpractice is sanctioned according to the college laid rules in this regard, which include expulsion from the college. 

Students’ Evaluation of Courses

There is an established mechanism in the department (in most cases in the form of questionnaires), where students evaluate courses delivered to them at the end of each semester. This serves as feedback mechanism for achieving the following:

i) Improvement in the effectiveness of course delivery.

ii) Continual update of lecture materials to incorporate emerging new concepts.

iii) Effective usage of teaching aids and tools to maximize impact of knowledge on

students.

iv) Improvement in students’ performance through effective delivery of tutorials, timely presentation of continuous assessment and high quality examination.

Grading System

Grading of Courses

Grading of courses shall be done by a combination of percentage marks and letter grades translated into a graduated system of Grade Point . 

Grade Point System

Mark %         Letter Grade         Grade Point

70 – 100              A                        5

60 – 69                B                        4

50 – 59                C                        3

45 – 49                D                       2

0 – 44                   F                       0

Grade Point Average and Cumulative Grade Point Average

For the purpose of determining a student’s standing at the end of every semester, the Grade Point Average (GPA) system shall be used. The GPA is computed by dividing the total number of Units x Grade Point (TUGP) by the total number of units (TNU) for all the courses taken in the semester.

The Cumulative Grade Point Average (CGPA) over a period of semesters is calculated in the same manner as the GPA by using the grade points of all the courses taken during the period.

Calculation of GPA or CGPA

CGPA Scale in Nigerian Universities Performance in semester examinations and assessments for courses/subjects/modules are classified into letter Grades (from A, B, C, D, E, to F) which represent a range of score or marks a student can obtain. A particular grade point is assigned to these grades, see below.

 Calculating Grade Point Average (GPA)

Every Course/subject/module carries a fixed number of Credit Units (CU). Quality points (QP) are derived from multiplying the Credit Units (CU) for a course by the Grade Point (GP) earned by the student in that course.

Example: If in a 3 Credit Unit course, a student scores 63% which is a B with a Grade Point of 4, the Quality points for the student in that course is 3 x 4 = 12. Grade Point Average (GPA) is derived by dividing the Total Quality point (TQP) for the semester by the Total Credit Unit (TCU) for that semester.

Example: If in a semester, a student earned 56 quality points for 18 Credit Units, the students GPA is 56/18 = 3.11.
Cumulative Grade Point Average (CGPA) is derived by adding the Total Quality Points (TQP) for all semesters to date and dividing by the Total Credit Units (TCU) for all semesters to date.

Example: If a student earns a QP of 56 for 18 CU in the first semester and earns QP of 67 for 20 CU in the second semester, His CGPA is TQP/TCU = (56 + 67) / (18 + 20) = 123/38 =3.24
Degree Classifications

The following regulations shall govern the conditions for the award of an honours degree.

i) Candidates admitted through the UTME mode shall have registered for and passed at least 120 units of courses during the 4-year degree programme.

ii) Candidates must have registered and passed all the compulsory courses specified for the programme.

The determination of the class of degree shall be based on the Cumulative Grade Point Average (CGPA) earned at the end of the programme. The CGPA shall be used in the determination of the class of degree as summarized in the Table below. It is important tonote that the CGPA shall be calculated and expressed correct totwo decimal places.

Degree Classification

Cumulative Grade Point Average (CGPA)                 Class of Degree

4.50 – 5.00                                                               1st Class Honours

4.49 – 3.50                                                                2nd Class Honours (Upper Division)

2.40 – 3.49                                                                2nd Class Honours (Lower Division)

1.50 – 2.39                                                                3rd Class Honours

Probation

A student whose Cumulative Grade Point Average is below 1.50 at the end of a particular year of study, earns a period of probation for one academic session. A student on probation is allowed to register for courses at the next higher level in addition to his/her probation level courses provided that:

i) the regulation in respect of student work-load is complied with; and

ii) The pre-requisite courses for the higher level courses have been passed.

Withdrawal

A candidate whose Cumulative Grade Point Average is below 1.5 at the end of a particular year of probation shall withdraw from the department (and of course the University). However, in order to minimize waste of human resources, consideration may be given to withdrawal from programme of study and possible transfer to other programmes within our institution.

Evaluation

Evaluation is done from different perspectives in the department:

First, students are assessed through continuous assessment, examination and external examination.

Second, students will evaluate courses, staff, equipment, space, and other aspects of the programme.

Techniques of Student Assessment

(a)Tutorials

The timetable for courses are designed to make provision for tutorials of at least

one hour for every four hours of lecture. Thus, a 3 credit unit course of 45 hours per semester should attract about 10 hours of tutorials.

(b) Continuous Assessments

Continuous assessment is conducted through quiz and take home assignment.

Scores from continuous assessment normally constitute 30 per cent of

the full marks for courses which are primarily theoretical.

(c) Examinations

In addition to continuous assessment, final examinations are normally conducted for every course at the end of each semester. All courses are graded out of a maximum of 100 marks comprising:

Final Examination: 70%

Continuous assessment (Quizzes and Assignment,): 30%

Each course is normally completed and examined at the end of the semester in

which it is offered.

External Examiners’ System

The Department has an External examiner who moderates the examination questions, marking schemes and scripts of the final year students.

COURSE CODE DESCRIPTION 

The first digit of the course code represents the year. The middle digit represents the stress or course option. The last digit has odd numbers for the first semester courses while even numbers are used for second semester courses.

The following abbreviations are interpreted as:

EDU:  Represent Education Foundation Courses

REL:   Represent Religion Major Based Courses

EAS:  Represents Education Arts and Social Science Based Courses

STRUCTURES OF THE PROGRAMME

100 LEVEL

FIRST SEMESTER 

SECOND SEMESTER

200 LEVEL

FIRST SEMESTER 

SECOND SEMESTER

300 LEVEL

FIRST SEMESTER 

SECOND SEMESTER

400 LEVEL

FIRST SEMESTER 

SECOND SEMESTER

       THREE YEAR RELIGION EDUCATION ACADEMIC PROGRAMME

200 LEVEL

FIRST SEMESTER 

SECOND SEMESTER

300 LEVEL

FIRST SEMESTER 

SECOND SEMESTER

400 LEVEL

FIRST SEMESTER 

SECOND SEMESTER

COURSE DESCRIPTION FOR RELIGIOUS STUDIES EDUCATION

REL 103: Introduction to African Traditional Religion

This course is a general introduction to African Traditional Religion. Emphasis will be on the problem of defining A.T.R. is characteristic features, problems of nomenclature, sources, wrong application of terms in characterizing ATR and the relevant of ATR in contemporary African situation.

REL 111: History and People of Old Testament

An in-depth study of the background of the Old Testament with particular reference to Mesopotamia, Egypt and Palestine. The geography, institutions, customs, religious life and communities of Palestine before and after the conquest. The emergence of the Hebrews from the Ancient Near Eastern environments. The period of Israelites: Joshua to Exile.

REL 115: Background of the New Testament

The course deals with the cultural, literary and ideological background to Palestinian Judaism and Hellenism. Torah Religion and sets, the sacred writing and apocalyptic literature, the message and method of apocalyptic.

REL 116- History of Christianity in West Africa

This course deals with the voyages of discovery, the first attempt to introduce Latin Christianity of Africa, the persecution and abolition of slave trade. The funding of Sierra-Leone and Liberia, Calabar, Yoruba and Igbo land. The scramble for Africa. Bishop Crowther and the Niger mission. Thoughts about an indigenous African church and the roles of Edward Blyden, James Johnson, and Henry Venn in the development of Christianity in West Africa. The Edinburgh settlement in 1910.

EAS 121 Introduction to the Teaching of the Pentateuch- Outlines of its content is given, the place of torah in Jewish scripture, the authorship is discussed in relation  to the bible , the issue of DOCMENTARY hypothesis via Graf Wellhausten development hypothesis 

EAS 123  History and Religion of Israel

This course makes a survey using the following periods as model for exposition i.e. Abraham.

1. From the Hebrew patriarchs to the period of the Judges
2. From the Hebrew settlement (Monarchy) in Canaan to the fall of Judah in 587 BC.
3. The Emergence of Modern Jewish state.

EAS 122: The Teaching of the Synoptic Gospels. This course will survey the first three books of the NT, unveil reasons for the writing the gospels as well as reasons for delay. It deals with preliterate phases of the gospel materials, oral traditions, synoptic problems and solutions, sources of the materials and a detail study of any of them.

EAS 124: Survey of African Traditional Religious practices 

sources of African Religion; myths, legends, proverbs, folklores, folk tales, arts and craft, oral traditional etc, the states hitherto reached in the study.

REL 209 CRITICAL INTRODUCTION OF OLD TESTAMENT 

The course centres on  a discussion of some introductory issues about the Old Testament. The course also examines the following major divisions of Old Testament Canon critically: The Law, The Prophets and The Writings. Some pertinent theological questions regarding the Old Testament are equally identified and discussed. 

REL 215: African Church Fathers

The course discusses the lives and contributions of African Church Fathers of the first five Century of Christianity, with emphasis on these five: Origen, Tertullian, St Augustine of Hippo, Cyprian of Carthage and Athanasius. Their contributions in the formation and protection of Christian doctrines especially the doctrine of Trinity, should be highlighted.

EAS 221: Teaching History and Religion of Israel

This course makes a survey using the following periods as model for exposition i.e. Abraham. From the Hebrew patriarchs to the period of the Judges

From the Hebrew settlement (Monarchy) in Canaan to the fall of Judahin587 BC.

The Emergence of Modern Jewish state.

EAS 222: Teaching the Interaction of Religions

The course is designed to stimulate students into accepting mutual respect, complementary and development across religious in Nigeria. It involves the identification of contributions beliefs and practices of other world religion. As well as help to show religions Fanaticism and its effect in the unity of the country.

EAS 223- Ancestorship in African Traditional Religion

The course discusses in details the importance of ancestors as the living dead; define the process of attaining status and assess their place among various ethics groups in Africa, its effect even on modern African Christians.

EAS 225: Basic Issues in CRS Curriculum - This course aim at exposing students on the content on religious curriculum, factors that affective implementation of CRS curriculum, CRS curriculum development, problems associated with curriculum development and design etc.

EAS 239 Value and Civic Education

Meaning of value, characteristics of value, value system, factors that influence value systems, classification of value, ways of teaching values, factors affecting the teaching of values, ways of promoting the teaching of values.

REL 289: Introduction to the Philosophy of Religion 

The task of philosophy is given. The course seeks to answer the main questions raised against religious themes as well as understanding these philosophical objections.

EAS 308: Inspection and Supervision - This course exposes student on the concept of inspection and supervision as it affect education. Origin of school inspection, areas of school inspection, types of inspection and concept of supervision, models of supervision and importance of supervision will be exposed. 

REL 316 Earliest Christianity: Life and works of St Paul - The course deals with the major terms in the life, works and theology of St. Paul, and St. Paul’s theological thoughts on how righteousness, freedom, Christian ethics, eschatology and Christology are examined from his letters.   

 EAS 320: Method Courses in Religion Education II – Based on EAS 325 the course goes deeper into exploring knowledge and roles of religious teachers in imparting good morals; and strategies adopted for moulding and building personality traits among student.

EAS 323: Introduction to the Teachings of the Prophets in Israel

This course gives a general and brief introduction of the rise to prophecy in Israel and its significance for our faith. The major role of the Prophets will also be studied.

EAS 324: Teaching Religious Dialogue in a Pluralistic Society

This course studies the nature and role of dialogue in a society that is varied in its ethic, social, religious and political view, inference from the major religions in Nigeria viz: Islam and Christianity.

EAS325:  Method Courses in Religious Studies I – The student is expose to various methods employed for various disciplines. The course than makes a distinction between the empirical and numinous where are within the numinous there are differences in the science of interpretation. Method of proper documentation of facts and proper references styles will be exposed. 

EAS 326: Religious Values and Moral Education – This course aims at exposing students to basic concepts like religious values and moral education, factors in human values, differences in both personal and societal values, teachers roles in inculcating moral values and how human values could affect his moral behaviour. REL 383: Sociology of Religion

A study of the psychological and sociological functions of religion, its interaction wit social, economic and political factors in the society. Methods, theories and results of empirical research regarding the psychological and sociological functions of religion; how these factors influence religion, religion as a cultural system and religion in industrial societies.

REL 413: Christian Theology in Africa

The themes of creation, salvation and eschatology as found in Africa theological writings, interpretation of Christian theory within the context of African traditional experience.

EAS 421: Exegesis to the Gospel of St. Paul

This course provides a study to the fourth gospel, showing the distinct traditions, language, and theology it contains. It outlined and discusses in depth some critical issues relating to the Johnnie Gospel. Basic teachings of the gospel as regard to moral teaching will be studied.

EAS 424:  The Nigerian Christian History (1880-1960)

The study of the activities of Christian missionaries in Nigeria during this period is out lined. The course takes pains to cover both south and northern parts of Nigeria. The emergence of indigenous church organizations based on foreign missionaries is recognized.

EAS 425:  Phenomenology of Religion

This course makes a comparative study to some of the various concepts of religion: The deity, myth, rite, sacrifice etc.

EAS 426: principles and application of situation ethics – this course is aimed at exploring various ethical principles, relevant argument for upholding situation ethics, the teachings of Joseph Fletcher. Approaches to Fletcher’s claims will also be surveyed along side with his fundamental propositions.   

REL 469-Religious Ethics

The course focuses on special studies in the origin, definition and classification of ethical systems, morality and religion, biblical ethics (NT). Traditional African ethics and values, conscience, the same positive law and the democratic ideas. It was also give a practical dimension to the day to day ethical problems facing Nigeria. Factors influencing religion, and then religion as a cultural system religion in industrial societies.

REL 485- Independent Churches in Africa

The course x-rays the causes of the rise of independent African church movements. The history of their founders e.g. William Wade Harris. Garrick Sokari Braid, Joseph Ayo Babalola, Massima Ebossa, Oshoffa, etc and the distinguishing feature of the main movement. The ecumenical problems of the emerging church. The contemporary situation Nigeria.

EDU 498: Research Project

Independent investigation of topics pertinent to the development of Religion Education in Nigeria. A report of the empirical is required.

LIST OF STAFF IN DEPARTMENT OF RELIGION EDUCATION