Overview
Mass communication is an excitingly dynamic field and expensive that channels multiple
interests and talents into one discipline, which can be applied to virtually every aspect of
personal and professional life. This programme offers students a wide selection of
opportunities to pursue a career in traditional communication fields such as journalism, public
relations, advertising, broadcasting and film; or use their skills in healthcare, financial services,
information technology, government agencies, private sector and non-profits. In this
programme, students will examine how communication and media work; and how they affect
our society. They will learn more about the history, theories and criticisms surrounding
communication and mass media – from how mass media is used to drive an economy to the
ways communication industries are used to disseminate news and entertainment; how to
choose and use the most effective communication tools and strategies to promote messages,
products and programmes; understand the world communication order and mass media; be
prepared to tackle the most complex global and business challenges using communication and
media; and examine the psychology and behavioural aspects of communication and media
messages. There are three sequences:
1. Journalism;
2. Public relations and advertising (PRAD); and
3. Broadcast and film.
These three sequences define the scope and depth of knowledge, skills and competences in
the programme.
Philosophy
The philosophy of this programme, therefore, is anchored on the theory and practice of how
journalism, public relations, advertising, broadcasting and film create value, distribute value
and earn value in the era of media convergence.
Objectives
The objectives of BSc Mass Communication programme include but not limited to the
following:
1. offer an undergraduate professionally oriented programme for the aspiring nigerian
communicators, journalists, public relations and advertising practitioners, broadcasters
and film makers;
2. train and/or retrain Nigerian journalists, public relations and advertising practitioners,
broadcasters and film makers for leadership positions in the mass media organisations
and its adjuncts in Nigeria and the world;
3. instil in the mass communication students the ability to respect deadlines and work under
constant pressure;
4. train and encourage nigerian mass communicators to be effective communicators by
being able to think quickly, research creatively and write or broadcast concisely to the
mass audience;
5. bridge the divergent perspectives of news gathering and dissemination;
6. provide the mass communication students with the opportunity to master the art of
communicating with the masses that transcends all disciplines, whether in writing or
broadcasting for an on-line website, newscast, or writing a speech for a company chief
181executive officer (ceo), or writing advertising or public relation copy to sell or promote a
product to the masses;
7. raise and sustain the professional status of journalism in nigeria – to produce nigerian
mass communicators who will continue to protect the basic principles of the people’s right
to know as the fourth branch of government or the fourth estate of the realm;
8. train nigerian media men and women that would act as the trustees of the public trust
and that would be socially responsible to the communities, they serve by being accurate,
fair, balanced and objective in their reportage of societal issues;
9. it is expected that at the end of the degree programme in mass communication, the mass
communication graduate should be able to differentiate “soft news” from “hard news”,
truth from falsehood, responsible journalism from irresponsible journalism; and
10. prepare the products for post-graduate studies in journalism, public relations, advertising,
broadcasting and film or other cognate disciplines.
Unique Features of the Programme
1. Mass Communication careers in journalism, public relations, advertising, book publishing,
broadcasting and film have been combined in a programme that is academic and industry
oriented.
2. All the sequences are laced with practical session, which makes the students industry
ready.
3. The programme draws its resources from the linkages of theory, practice and technology.
Employability skills
Mass media and communication industries that are growing exponentially. This growth is a
direct response to the environment; and in particular, the impact of technology and
globalization on communication, media, entertainment and education. Mass media and
communication industries being an area of increasing importance driven by cutting-edge
technology demand highly skilled manpower to sustain it.
This programme, therefore, opens up vast career opportunities in various aspects of mass
communication (journalism, public relations, advertising, broadcasting and film) value chain,
both nationally and internationally.
Employability skills are:
1. those which cover all aspects of the
innovative/aesthetic/creative/entrepreneurial/managerial/technological dimensions of
content development, media production, photography, website development and
management, management of social media handles, fact checking, data-driven journalism
and infographics, desktop publishing, entrepreneurship for journalism, public relations,
advertising, broadcasting and film in an era of media convergence;
2. competencies in studio operations, computer literacy, photo reporting, camera operations
and some repairs; create advertising messages; and design messages for behavioural
change communication activities;
3. those which cover the philosophical/ethical/legal/cognitive vectors of media and
communication careers i.e., ability to quickly identify news and news values; recognize
and respond to the social responsibilities of the press; capability to manage human beings
under pressure in the newsrooms and on the news beats/ media house/ public relation
and advertising agencies/publishing house/film production house; and ability to
demonstrate commitment to professional excellence right from the media attachment
programmes and activities for the award of the degree; and
4. behavioural attributes which cover the understanding and appreciation of the socio
cultural, and socio-political settings of the operating context and communities they serve;
182and set the agenda for the public discourse in reportage, editorials, features etc.; see
TRUTH as the corner stone of good and responsive journalism; uncovering rather than
cover-up corruption in the society; understanding the psychology of human behaviour so
as to be able to write logically about them; serving as the VOICE for the VOICELESS in
the community they serve; demonstration of superb public relations at all times; and
engaging in relevant development communication support services.
21st Century skills
Mass communication is a programme that creates, distributes and earns value across media
and communication industries (journalism, public relations, advertising, broadcasting and
film); healthcare, finance and information technology sectors, government agencies, private
sector and non-profits. As such the programme has emphasized some key 21st century skills
applicable to any work setting, including:
Writing
Speaking
Public relations
Content development and production
Interpersonal communication
Innovation
Creativity
New media
Digital literary
Critical thinking
Analysis
Problem solving
Teamwork
Networking
Advocacy
Social mobilization
Community engagement
Media and information management
Admission and Graduation Requirements
Candidates are admitted into the degree programmes in any of the following two ways:
1. Indirect Entry.
2. Direct Entry.
Four-year Degree Programme
In addition to acceptable passes in UTME, candidates must obtain at credit level, passes in
the Senior Secondary Certificate (SSC) in five subjects including Mathematics, English
Language and three other arts or social science subjects in not more than two sittings.
Direct Entry Mode
Any one of the following qualifications is acceptable for the three-year degree programme.
1. A pass at merit level in a diploma programme in Mass Communication, Journalism or
related disciplines (provided the SSC requirements are satisfied).
2. Two passes in relevant subject areas at advanced level.
3. Passes in two major subjects in relevant areas in the NCE.
4. Two passes at the IJMB (Interim Joint Matriculation Board) examination
183184
In addition, the candidate must possess five credit level passes in five subjects at Senior
Secondary Certificate Examination (SSCE), which must include Mathematics, English Language
and three other relevant subjects.
Graduation Requirements
The following regulations shall govern the conditions for the award of a honours degree:
1. Candidates admitted through the UTME mode shall have registered for at least 120 units
of courses during the 4-year degree programme.
2. 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
100 Level
| Course code | Course title | Units | Statu | LH | PH | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| s | |||||||
| GST 111 | Communication in English | 2 | C | 30 | |||
| GST 112 | Nigerian Peoples and Culture | 2 | C | 30 | |||
| CMS 101 | Introduction to Human Communication | 2 | C | 30 | |||
| CMS 103 | Writing for the Media | 2 | C | 30 | |||
| MCM 101 | Foundations of Broadcasting and Film | 3 | C | 45 | – | ||
| MCM 102 | Principles of Public Relations | 2 | C | 30 | – | ||
| MCM 103 | Introduction to Advertising | 2 | C | 30 | |||
| MCM 104 | Introduction to News Writing | 2 | C | 30 | |||
| MCM 105 | Introduction to Book Publishing | 2 | C | 30 | |||
| MCM 106 | African Communication Systems | 2 | C | 30 | – | ||
| MCM 107 | Introduction to Photojournalism | 2 | C | 30 | |||
| 23 | |||||||
200 Level
300 Level
400 Level
| Course code | Course title | Total Units | Status | LH | PH |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| CMS 401 | International Communication | 2 | C | 30 | – |
| CMS 402 | Communication and Society | 2 | C | 30 | – |
| MCM 401 & 402 | Original Research Project | 4 | C | 60 | |
| MCM 403 | Media attachment | 2 | C | 30 | |
| MCM 404 | Mass Media Ethics | 2 | C | 30 | |
| MCM 405 | Mass Media Law | 2 | C | 30 | |
| MCM 406 | Communication for Development | 2 | C | 30 | |
| MCM 407 | Message Design for Development | 2 | C | 30 | |
| MCM 409 | Community Media and Relations | 2 | C | 30 | |
| 20 | – |
