Master of Science in Population Studies

RATIONALE OF THE PROGRAM

The first ever, national population policy was promulgated only in 1993. The objective was harmonizing the rate of population growth with that of country’s capacity of development in order to improve the quality of the life of citizens. There are two way interactions between demographic factors and development indicators which will lead to sound fertility and, mortality reduction. However, there were/are no structured strategies and define organizational structure to implement the objectives of policy.

The initiative and the decision to launch this program was mainly based on the basic need assessment result conducted at national level. The need assessment was conducted to assess the relevance of Population Studies program at post graduate level. The need assessment has shown that the demand for experts under this area at different sectors was very high and most of the vacant places for this profession are occupied by other related professions. An increasing number of administrative, planning and statistical offices at Federal and Regional levels, research organizations, Universities and the private sectors have shown interest in employing persons whose training and expertise is in the use and analysis of populationdata.  Hence, the rationale for the launching of population study program at masters level is: to provide qualified human resource capable of addressing the population and development problems.  It is also to provide qualified human resource capable of addressing the population and development problems which includesformulating national development policies, plans and programs by integrating countrywide population information and education program up to small family size and its relationship with human welfare and environmental security.

ADMISSION REQUIREMENT AND DURATION OF STUDY

To be eligible for admission to MSc in Population Studies candidates shall comply with the general regulations for admission to the Graduate Program of Bahir Dar University. Candidates who have completed undergraduate degrees from recognized university/college in Sociology, Economics, Geography and Environmental Studies, Mathematics, Psychology, Anthropology, Social Work,  Statistics, Natural resources, Agro-economics, Disaster and risk management, biology, Land Administration are considered for admission into the program upon passing an entrance examination. The curriculum extends for three years both for evening and summer studies. Extending the duration beyond this requires the permission of the Faculty Council and Graduate School.

GRADUATION REQUIREMENTS

• Students will be eligible for graduation upon successful completion of all the courses (26 credit hours).  The minimum grade point average (GPA) required for graduation is 3.0 with no "F" grade.
• Successful thesis defense (6 credits), which must be preceded by a pre-submission seminar are required for graduation.

 DEGREE NOMENCLATURE

After completion of the program, Students will be awarded with a degree of:

v 

in English as: Master of Science (M Sc) in Population Studies  and,

v 

in Amharic as:  “ሳይንስ  ማስትሬት ” በሥነሕዝብጥናት”  add degree in Amharic

Modules of The Program