The founders of the University of Nigeria believed that there was need to train Nigerians locally and in sufficient numbers for the formidable task of informing and guiding contemporary and future generations. On the basis of this philosophy, the University had as one of its original curricula, this degree in communication education.
It was hoped that graduates of the programme would be able to contribute to the development of the country through the power of the pen applied not only through the press but through the vast reaches of the broadcast media, film production and allied persuasive fields namely, public relations and advertising.
The objectives of the undergraduate degree programme in Mass Communication are:
- to prepare the graduates of the department to respond to the industrial and national needs of Nigeria’s developing economy,
- to produce graduates who would work for and then manage media institutions,
- to offer training in communication skills and
- to expose students to a broad liberal education within the University’s philosophy of turning out the total man.
SCOPE
The department offers three- and four-year first degree programmes in Mass Communication. This curriculum is designed to enable students to gain expertise in various areas of the mass media and grounding in liberal education through exposure to courses in such areas as General Studies, major courses, required ancillary and elective courses. Recommended areas of study for the elective courses include Economics, English, History, Languages, Philosophy, Political Science, Psychology and Sociology.
The professional courses in Mass Communication provide the student with an understanding of the principles of mass communication and an opportunity to develop techniques in written and audio-visual communication. The required and elective courses give the student the essential background knowledge which he/she requires for effective communication in modern society. The department provides practical training in newspaper and magazine reporting, editing and publishing as well as in broadcasting.
ENTRY REQUIREMENTS
There are two modes of admission into the department: U.M.E. and Direct Entry. Candidates seeking admission through the U.M.E. are required to have five credit level passes in the Senior Secondary Certificate Examination (S.S.C.E.) or its equivalent. These should include English Language, Literature in English and an approved science subject. A pass in Mathematics is also required.
To qualify for Direct Entry, an applicant must possess the Higher School Certificate/General Certificate of Education (G.C.E.) A’ levels with pass in two Arts subjects. In addition, he/she should have credit passes in English Language, Literature in English and an approved science subject plus a pass in Mathematics in the S.S.C.E. or its equivalent.
Also qualified for Direct Entry are those holding the Diploma in Mass Communication of the University of Nigeria or the Ordinary National Diploma (O.N.D.) in Mass Communication from any recognised institution with at least a merit or lower credit grade. Such candidates should also have four credit level passes including English Language, Literature in English and an approved science subject plus a pass in Mathematics in the S.S.C.E. or its equivalent.
To be admitted into the three-year standard degree programme, candidates should have the University of Nigeria Diploma in Mass Communication with at least a credit grade or an O.N.D. in Mass Communication from any recognised institution with at least an upper credit grade.
JOB OPPORTUNITIES
Graduates of the bachelor’s degree programme in Mass Communication can work as journalists in the print and broadcast media as well as in the new media such as the World Wide Web (WWW). They can serve as press secretaries and advisers/assistants on information and media matters to political leaders. They can also work as programme producers and presenters in broadcast stations; as editorial staff in book and magazine publishing outfits; as managers, copy writers and client service personnel in advertising agencies; as public relations officers and corporate affairs personnel in agencies, companies and institutions and as information officers at every tier of government.
