If you are passionate about how communities grow, how people work together, and how shared economic systems can transform lives, the B.Sc. Cooperative Management and Rural Development gives you a strong and practical foundation for understanding these processes. You will study how cooperative organisations function, how rural communities organise themselves, and how development initiatives can be planned, managed, and sustained.
This programme allows you to explore cooperative principles, collective decision-making, community-based enterprises, and the social and economic structures of rural environments. You will learn how to analyse development challenges, strengthen cooperative institutions, enhance rural livelihoods, and support organisational growth through effective management practices. The course prepares you to contribute meaningfully to rural transformation, social development, and cooperative-led economic advancement.
Course Overview
The course runs for four years (or three years for Direct Entry students). It provides you with the knowledge and skills to manage cooperative organisations, promote rural development projects, and address the unique challenges faced by rural communities.
You will study subjects such as principles of cooperatives, rural sociology, community development, project management, agricultural economics, and development finance. The course is multidisciplinary, combining economics, management, and social sciences to give you a broad perspective on rural and cooperative development.
By the end of the programme, you will be equipped to work in cooperative societies, rural development agencies, non-governmental organisations (NGOs), financial institutions, and international development organisations. You will also be well prepared to further your studies in cooperative management, rural development, or related fields.
Course Curriculum
The curriculum is drawn from the Core Curriculum and Minimum Academic Standards (CCMAS) of the National Universities Commission (NUC).
It combines general education, cooperative and development studies, and practical training through the Student Industrial Work Experience Scheme (SIWES).
You will begin with introductory courses in business, economics, and social sciences:
- Principles of Economics
- Introduction to Business
- Principles of Management
- Communication in English
- Nigerian Peoples and Culture
- Business Mathematics
Here, you start building your knowledge of cooperative organisations and rural issues:
- Principles of Cooperatives
- Rural Sociology
- Agricultural Economics
- Business Statistics
- Introduction to Accounting
- Community Development
At this stage, you study development issues in more depth:
- Cooperative Finance and Management
- Rural Development Planning
- Development Finance
- Comparative Cooperative Systems
- Research Methods in Social Sciences
- Small Business Management
In your final year, you will develop strategic insights into rural and cooperative development:
- Project Planning and Evaluation
- Cooperative Law and Practice
- Development Administration
- Entrepreneurship in Rural Development
- International Development Studies
- Research Project in Cooperative and Rural Development
As part of the programme, you will also complete the Student Industrial Work Experience Scheme (SIWES), which allows you to gain hands-on experience in cooperative organisations, development agencies, and rural-based projects.
Entry Requirements
You can gain admission into the course through the Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME) or Direct Entry:
1. UTME Entry (Four-Year Programme):
- You must have at least five credit passes in the Senior School Certificate Examination (SSCE) or its equivalent at not more than two sittings. These must include English Language, Mathematics, Economics, and two other relevant subjects such as Government, Geography, Commerce, or Agricultural Science.
- You must sit for the UTME with the correct subject combination: English Language, Mathematics, Economics, and one other relevant subject.
- You must also pass the University’s Post-UTME screening exercise.
2. Direct Entry (Three-Year Programme):
- You may be admitted into 200 Level if you hold A-Level passes in at least two subjects such as Economics, Geography, or Government.
- Holders of National Diploma (ND), Higher National Diploma (HND), or equivalent qualifications in related fields may also be considered, provided they meet the O’Level requirements.
Why study at OOU?
Our course gives you the unique opportunity to study how communities can be transformed through cooperative societies and sustainable development initiatives. You will be taught by lecturers who specialise in both academic research and practical rural development work, ensuring that you gain both theoretical knowledge and practical insights.
The programme provides hands-on exposure through the Student Industrial Work Experience Scheme (SIWES), where you will work with cooperative organisations, rural development projects, and agencies involved in community transformation.
By choosing this course, you position yourself as a change-maker equipped with leadership, analytical, and problem-solving skills. You will graduate with the confidence to design and implement solutions that address poverty, unemployment, and underdevelopment in rural areas.
Research Project
In your final year, you will complete a supervised research project in Cooperative Management and Rural Development. This project allows you to explore critical issues such as the role of cooperatives in poverty reduction, financing rural development, women’s participation in cooperatives, or the evaluation of rural development policies.
The project strengthens your ability to design and conduct research, analyse information, and present findings that can influence both academic knowledge and practical development initiatives. It also helps you link classroom learning with real challenges in rural communities and cooperative enterprises.
Graduation Requirements
To graduate with a Bachelor of Science (B.Sc.) in Cooperative Management and Rural Development, you must:
- Complete at least four academic sessions (or three for Direct Entry students).
- Earn the minimum credit units prescribed, including general studies, compulsory and elective courses, and the Student Industrial Work Experience Scheme (SIWES).
- Pass all compulsory courses in cooperative studies, rural development, management, and related fields.
- Successfully complete and defend a supervised final year research project.
- Maintain good academic standing, acceptable conduct, and compliance with University regulations.
Your final degree classification will be based on your Cumulative Grade Point Average (CGPA), which determines whether you graduate with First Class, Second Class (Upper or Lower), or Third Class Honours.
Career Opportunities
Graduates of Cooperative Management and Rural Development course are prepared for careers in government, the private sector, and development agencies. You can work as a:
- Cooperative Manager or Officer
- Rural Development Specialist
- Project Planning and Evaluation Officer
- Development Finance Officer
- Community Development Adviser
- Non-Governmental Organisation (NGO) Programme Manager
- Consultant in rural enterprise and development projects
You will also have the knowledge to establish your own cooperative society, consultancy, or development initiative. In addition, the course prepares you for postgraduate study and professional growth in development studies, economics, and management.
How to Apply?
1. UTME Entry (Four-Year Programme):
- Register for the Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME) through the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB).
- Select Cooperative and Rural Development as your preferred course of study and choose the university as your first choice.
- Sit for the UTME with the appropriate subject combination: English Language, Mathematics, Economics, and one other relevant subject.
- Apply for and pass the Post-UTME screening exercise.
2. Direct Entry (Three-Year Programme):
- Apply through JAMB Direct Entry, selecting Cooperative and Rural Development.
- Provide evidence of A-Level passes, National Diploma (ND), Higher National Diploma (HND), or equivalent qualifications in relevant areas.
- Participate in the university’s screening exercise and upload the required documents.
Course Coordinator
The programme is coordinated by academic staff in the Department of Cooperative and Rural Development, Faculty of Administration and Management Sciences.
The current programme coordinator is:
Dr [Full Name]
Contact Information:
- Email:
- Phone:
- Office:
Course Overview
- Next Admission Process
- Current Academic Year
- Associated programmes = Undergraduate
- Course Duration = 4 Years
- Degree = Bachelor of Science (B.Sc.)
- Faculty = Administration and Management Sciences (AMS)
- Course Type = Full Time
- Course Delivery = On campus
- Location = Faculty of Administration and Management Sciences, Main Campus
- Scholarship opportunities