HIST 110 - Themes in African History(3 Credits)
The course provides students with a general survey of social and economic aspects of African society from the origins of agriculture to the present. Themes covered include state formation; long distance trade; mercantile capital; slave trade; European imperialism, colonial administrative systems, colonial development policies, and African reactions; the impact of Christianity and Western education; growth of African nationalism and the struggles for independence.
HIST 111 - Historical Reserach Methods (3 Credits)
The course examines the nature of history and the techniques used for research and writing in the discipline – collection, evaluation, analysis and interpretation of data as well as the presentation of the data in a coherent, meaningful account in support of a point of view.
HIST 112 - Europe (1789-1919) (3 Credits)
This is an in-depth study of the political development of Modern Europe, the French Revolution, Napoleon and Europe, Vienna settlement and the Congress system; the revolutions of 1830 and 1848, the Eastern Question in the 19th century, the rise of nationalism and the nation-state, international alignments of 1870-1914, and the First World War.
ENGL 108-Theories of Criticism (3 Credits)
Covers the functions of language and manifested in literature – a selection of texts is made to demonstrate this. As a higher order course, it draws upon several disciplines: linguistics literary criticism, literary history, theories of literature, sociology and psychology among others.
HIST 120 - Historiography (3 Credits)
The course examines the major schools of historical writing as well as the various methodologies within the discipline. It deals with the theoretical and philosophical aspects of history and its main focus will be on the African response to Western Historiography.
HIST 121 - The making of Contemporary Europe (Since 1919) (3 Credits)
This course aims to provide students with a basic understanding of the history of 20th Century Europe as a background to European and world history. Students who complete this course should be familiar with the basic data and main historiographical issues concerning this subject. The course will be taught mainly in chronological sequence. The starting point is Europe after the First World War; the end is the fall of the Soviet Union and the beginning of the post-Cold-War world.
HIST 122 - Pre-Colonial Zimbabwe (Up to 1890) (3 Credits)
The course examines the development of kingdoms and states in pre-colonial Zimbabwe. States examined include Mapungubwe, Great Zimbabwe, Torwa, Mutapa, Rozvi and Ndebele. The course deepens and broadens the study of pre- colonial history, with particular reference to Zimbabwe. The course will trace the main stages in the development of human cultures and examine the ceramic sequences and traditions from different parts of Zimbabwe and show how they relate to other traditions in the southern African region.
HIST 210 - Historical Perspective on Gender in Africa (3 Credits)
The course locates and places women in the study of History which has often been accused of being androcentric. It employs a feminist perspective to the study of history and unpacks issues that face women.
HIST 211 - Southern Africa before the Mineral Revolution (3 Credits)
The course introduces students to the historical developments of 19th century Southern Africa so that they can be able to appreciate and understand not only the past but later history up to the present. The course begins with consideration of the overlapping frontiers of African peoples and coastal colonial powers south the Zambezi and Kunene rivers in the 18th century. It then considers the growth of African polities trading with the coast, and raises historical debate about the rise of military-states during the Mfecane/ Difeqane wars.
HIST 213 - History of the Middle-East & North Africa (Since 1900) (3 Credits)
The course concentrates on the imposition of colonial rule, the alienation of land and labour, and the extension of white settlement. The fourth part concerns the rise of nationalism and socialism, and bitter anti-colonial insurgence in Algeria. The fifth part compares the post-colonial political and economic development of Maghreb states, and contemporary problems particularly that of Islamic fundamentalism. Furthermore, it examines the colonisation of the Middle East, self-determination, the rise of nation-states, enduring Arab-Israeli conflicts, the Cold War, the Iran Revolution, the Arab Spring, the rise of political Islam and relations with the wider world.
HIST 214 - History of West Africa (3 Credits)
This course aims at introducing students to the history of pre-colonial West African societies, post-colonial West Africa as well as the historiography of West Africa. It starts off by examining West Africa’s contact with Islam, the nature growth of their states, their economic and social organizations and the impact of the slave trade as well as the Scramble for and colonization of Africa. Post-colonial West Africa will consider the early period of independence and its schemes of popular betterment, and the alienation of politicians from populace resulting in a series of military- bureaucratic coups. Furthermore, the course will consider the age of economic structural adjustment enforced by the World Bank/IMF and concomitant moves towards multiparty democracy.
HIST 216 - 20th Century East Africa (3 Credits)
The course examines the major events and experiences that have characterized the nations and peoples of East Asia such as China, Japan, Korea, Malaysia, Singapore, Indonesia, the Philippines and Vietnam. The course attempts to bring comparisons with other continents. The course will also focus on the intra-regional conflicts over a period of time that eventually resulted in development paths that have made the East Asian states among the highly developed states in the world economy.
HIST 219 - History of Zimbababwe (Since 1890) (3 Credits)
This course explores the social, economic and political developments in Zimbabwe since colonization in 1890, to the present. Students will be introduced to the historiography of Zimbabwe which will be the entry-point into helping the student understand and analyze developments. Issues to be explored in the course include, the development of the settler economy and the underdevelopment of the African peasantry economy, colonial labor policies, African land dispossession; urbanization and the growth of the manufacturing sector, trade unions and the beginnings of nationalism; the Federation of Rhodesia and Nyasaland; UDI and sanctions as well the War of Liberation. The post-colonial period examines political developments within the state such as civil strife, the one-party state debate, Zimbabwe’s international relations, and various development paradigms such as Growth with Equity, Neo-liberalism, Grassroots Approaches and De-Linking.
HIST 400 - Research Project (3 Credits)
This is a whole year course in which students must prepare and submit a research project of 60-80 pages within the area of the programme concerned. Students make a public presentation of their proposed research project and submit by the end of November an independent research project. Draft chapters of the research essay must be submitted by stipulated dates and the completed project submitted by the end of November. Late submission will be allowed only in the most exceptional circumstances at the discretion of the Dean and Head of Department. By the end of this course, students should be able to use existing evidence to answer well-formed, historiographical driven and relevant questions about history.
HIST 412 - Demography, Land & Agrarian Isues in Africa (3 Credits)
The course looks at the issue of land from the pre-colonial to post-colonial period. It examines land expropriation by colonialists, land tenure systems, the state of agriculture at independence, food security, and small and large scale agricultural production.
HIST 413 - Conflict, Peace & Security in Africa (3 Credits)
The course examines the major paradigms in Peace and Conflict studies on the African continent. Students are exposed to a holistic conceptualisation of peace and security which emphasises human security as opposed to militaristic peace and security. Issues to be explored include poverty, disease (HIV/AIDS, Ebola), climate change, water scarcity, terrorism, international criminal networks, and inequitable international system as threats to peace and stability. Furthermore, the course proceeds to discuss the strategies of conflict resolution, transformation and management of conflict on the continent through regional blocs such as SADC, ECOWAS, IGAD as well as peacebuilding strategies and preventive diplomacy.
HIST 421 - Economic History of Africa (3 Credits)
The course explores debates and approaches to the study of economic history in Africa, placing Zimbabwe economic history within the context of the continent as a whole. It introduces new perspectives on African economic and social history developed in the global south. It examines the economic legacies of colonialism (including the differences between settler and non-settler colonies), and the place of institutions in the growth and development of the continent. Furthermore, the course tracks the changing place of Africa in the global economy.
HIST 422 - Intro to Foreign Policy, International relations & Diplomacy (3 Credits)
This course aims at introducing to and equipping students with concepts and knowledge of diplomacy, foreign policy and international relations, as well as their historical evolution. After completing the course, students will have a thorough understanding of the operation of the international system and role of big powers thereon. An understanding the structure of the international system and the concepts upon which it is built is a must for students of history and peace and conflict studies. This course will be taught to equip the beneficiaries with such knowledge and the capacity to operate within the system.
ATWE 300 - Attachment: Work Experience (3 Credits)
Collaboration with local, regional, national and international conflict and peace organizations provides students with a wide range of internships/attachments. The internship/attachment will be 3 months long at the end of the students’ 2nd year of study. At the completion of internship/attachment, each student will be required to write and submit a report of 2500 to 4000 words. Assessment of the internship/attachment will be in accordance with the university’s regulation.