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ARD202Agricultural Sciences2 Unitsintermediate

INTRODUCTION TO RURAL SOCIOLOGY

This course introduces students to the fundamental principles of rural sociology. It explores the concept of rurality, sociological terms, settlement patterns, and the role of infrastructure in rural areas. The course also examines major social institutions, social interactions, and the dynamics of rural development in Nigeria. Furthermore, it covers agricultural communication and social change, equipping students with the knowledge to analyze and address challenges in rural communities.

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26h
Study Time
13
Weeks
2h
Per Week
none
Math Level
Course Keywords
Rural SociologySocial InstitutionsRural DevelopmentCommunicationSocial Change

Course Overview

Everything you need to know about this course

Course Difficulty

Intermediate Level
Builds on foundational knowledge
65%
intermediate
📚
Math Level
No Math
📖
Learning Type
Theoretical Focus

Course Topics

Key areas covered in this course

1

Rural Sociology Concepts

2

Social Institutions in Rural Areas

3

Rural Development Strategies

4

Communication in Rural Communities

5

Social Change in Rural Nigeria

6

Settlement Patterns and Infrastructure

Total Topics6 topics

Ready to Start

No specific requirements needed

This course is designed to be accessible to all students. You can start immediately without any prior knowledge or specific preparation.

Assessment Methods

How your progress will be evaluated (3 methods)

Assignments

Comprehensive evaluation of course material understanding

Written Assessment

Tutor-Marked Assessments

Comprehensive evaluation of course material understanding

Written Assessment

Final Examination

Comprehensive evaluation of course material understanding

Computer Based Test

Career Opportunities

Explore the career paths this course opens up for you

Rural Development Officer

Apply your skills in this growing field

Agricultural Extension Worker

Apply your skills in this growing field

Community Development Specialist

Apply your skills in this growing field

Social Researcher

Apply your skills in this growing field

Policy Analyst

Apply your skills in this growing field

Industry Applications

Real-world sectors where you can apply your knowledge

AgricultureCommunity DevelopmentGovernment AgenciesNon-Governmental Organizations (NGOs)Research Institutions

Study Schedule Beta

A structured 13-week journey through the course content

Week
1

Module 1: Introduction

2h

Unit 1: Definition and Concept of Rural Sociology

2 study hours
  • •Read the definition and explanation of rural sociology.
  • •Understand the concept of rurality and its indicators.
  • •Explain the meaning of sociology and its relevance to rural studies.
  • •Discuss the importance of rural sociology to national development.
Week
2

Module 1: Introduction

2h

Unit 2: Definitions of Sociological Terms and Historical development of Rural Sociology

2 study hours
  • •Define and describe basic sociological terms such as culture, norms, statuses, and roles.
  • •Explain the historical development of rural sociology in Nigeria.
  • •Discuss the important events in the development of rural sociology.
Week
3

Module 1: Introduction

2h

Unit 3: The Rural and Urban Livings/Settings

2 study hours
  • •Explain the concepts of rural and urban settings.
  • •Identify and discuss the factors responsible for rural-urban differentiation, including size, population density, and occupation.
Week
4

Module 1: Introduction

2h

Unit 4: Settlement Pattern and Village Organisation

2 study hours
  • •Define settlement pattern and village organization.
  • •Explain the factors associated with settlement patterns.
  • •Discuss the characteristics, merits, and demerits of cluster and dispersed settlement patterns.
Week
5

Module 1: Introduction

2h

Unit 5: Rural Infrastructure

2 study hours
  • •Define rural infrastructure and its characteristics.
  • •Identify and explain the typology of rural infrastructure.
  • •Discuss the effects of rural infrastructure on production, income, and welfare.
  • •State the methods for providing rural infrastructure.
Week
6

Module 2: Major Rural Social Institutions in Nigeria

2h

Unit 1: Marriage and the Family

2 study hours
  • •Define marriage and the family.
  • •Identify and discuss the features of the rural family.
  • •Explain the functions of the family in rural society.
  • •Identify the stages in the family life of a rural farmer.
  • •Discuss the different forms of marriage in Nigeria.
Week
7

Module 2: Major Rural Social Institutions in Nigeria

2h

Unit 2: The Rural School System

2 study hours
  • •Define education and its functions.
  • •Identify the types of education available in rural Nigeria.
  • •Discuss the problems of the rural school system and their solutions.
Week
8

Module 2: Major Rural Social Institutions in Nigeria

2h

Unit 3: The Religious Institution

2 study hours
  • •Explain the meaning of religion.
  • •Identify the three major forms of religion in Nigeria.
  • •Discuss the universal functions of religion in rural communities.
Week
9

Module 2: Major Rural Social Institutions in Nigeria

2h

Unit 4: The Political Institution

2 study hours
  • •Explain the concept of political institutions.
  • •Identify the features of local government in rural areas.
  • •Describe how rural people participate in political activities.
Week
10

Module 2: Major Rural Social Institutions in Nigeria

2h

Unit 5: The Rural Economic Institution

2 study hours
  • •Explain the meaning of economic institutions.
  • •Identify the significance of economic institutions to rural farmers.
  • •Discuss the provision of farm credit, land acquisition, labor supply, and marketing of farm produce.
Week
11

Module 3: Socialisation and Development of Rural Area

4h

Unit 1: Social Interactions

2 study hours
  • •Explain the concept of social interaction.
  • •Identify and discuss the different types of social interaction, including cooperation, competition, conflict, accommodation, assimilation, and acculturation.

Unit 3: Rural Communities

2 study hours
  • •Define the term 'community'.
  • •Describe the community life process.
  • •Identify the characteristics of a community.
Week
12

Module 3: Socialisation and Development of Rural Area

3h

Unit 2: Rural Development in Nigeria

3 study hours
  • •Explain the meaning of rural development.
  • •Discuss the goals, strategies, and approaches to rural development.
  • •Identify the stages and predicaments of rural development in Nigeria.
Week
13

Module 4: Agricultural Communication and Change in the Society

4h

Unit 1: Communication in Rural Society

2 study hours
  • •Explain the meaning of communication.
  • •Identify and explain the types of communication.
  • •State the principles of communication pertinent to agriculture in rural areas.
  • •Explain the concept of communication and technological transfer.

Unit 2: Social Change

2 study hours
  • •Define rural social change.
  • •Identify and explain the typology of rural social change.
  • •Discuss the characteristics and sources of social change.
  • •Explain the factors influencing the rate of change in the society.

This study schedule is in beta and may not be accurate. Please use it as a guide and consult the course outline for the most accurate information.

Course PDF Material

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Study Tips & Exam Preparation

Expert tips to help you succeed in this course

1

Review all unit objectives and summaries to reinforce key concepts.

2

Create concept maps linking social institutions (Units 6-10) to rural development strategies (Unit 12).

3

Practice applying communication principles (Unit 14) to real-world scenarios in rural communities.

4

Focus on understanding the factors influencing social change (Unit 15) and their impact on rural life.

5

Allocate study time proportionally based on the study hours recommended for each unit.

6

Review all Tutor-Marked Assignments (TMAs) and feedback to identify areas for improvement.

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