Mass Communication Department

Mass Communication is the art or the technique of gathering, processing and disseminating of news and information for the good of the society. It seeks to have a general understanding of the society and therefore endeavours to monitor and report the activities of government institutions, social and political development.

The major concerns of the mass media are to:

a. Educate the society.

b. Inform the society and

c. Entertain the society.

It must be noted that the philosophical foundation of Mass Communication is generally derived from the following concepts;-

– That information is power.

– That information is a propeller for both vertical and horizontal development of the society.

– That information is an acceleration to any meaningful and sustainable democracy, and

– That information is an equivocator, which can provoke and un-provoke. Therefore Mass Communication as a discipline seeks to train and supply middle level manpower for the societal information needs for national integration and development.

Aims and Objective of Mass Communication Programme

The major aims and objectives of Mass Communication include the following:

1. For daily newscasts or writing a speech for the company Chief Executive Officer (CEO) or Advertising or Public Relations copy to sell or promote a product to the masses.
2. To instill in the Mass Communication students the ability to respect deadline and work under constant pressure. 
3. To train and encourage the Nigerian Mass communicators to be effective communicators by being able to think quickly, research creatively and write or broadcast concisely to the mass audience. 
4. To train Nigerian media men and women that would act as the trustees of public trust and that would be socially responsible to the communities they serve by being accurate, fair, balance and objective in their reportage of societal issues. 
5. To produce Nigerian mass communicators who will continue to protect the basic principles of the peoples’ right to know as the fourth branch of government or the fourth (4th) Estate of the Realm. 
6. 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. 
7. At the end of the degree programme in Mass Communication, it is expected that the graduate should be equipped enough to establish his/her own newspaper, magazines, public relations and advertising agency, or even his/her own radio and/or television stations.

Scope

The department is offering eight-semester (for UTME) and six-semester (for Direct Entry) 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 English, Psychology, Languages, Philosophy, Political Science, and Law

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. 

Admission Requirements

UTME 

A minimum of five (5) credits in the Senior Secondary School Certificate Examination, G.C.E O’Level, or National Examination Certificate (NECO) or their equivalents. The five (5) credits must include English Language, English Literature, a minimum pass (P7) in Mathematics and must be obtained in not more than two sittings. All Students must come in through Joint Admission and Matriculation Board (JAMB) Examination.

DIRECT ENTRY   

Candidates must possess a minimum of five (5) O’Level passes in G.C.E or its equivalents plus passes at principal level in HSC or G.C.E. Advanced Level in at least two relevant subjects obtained in one sitting or they must possess five credits including, English Language, English Literature and a minimum of pass in Mathematics plus OND (Upper Credit) in Mass Communication. The basic entry requirements of the credit level passes in five relevant subjects should be obtained in not more than two sittings or they must possess five credits including English Language, English Literature and a minimum of pass in Mathematics plus NCE Certificate, HND or first Degree.

Candidates admitted through UME Entrance Examination enroll in the four-year degree programme while those with Direct Entry take three years to complete the programme. Direct Entry students who are expected to begin at the 200 level may be required to take all GST courses simultaneously. 

Job Opportunities

Graduates of Mass Communication can work in the print media as well as broadcast industry. They could be employed in the advertising, public relations photojournalism and the public sector as press secretaries or media relations personnel for public office holders as well as press attaché of the diplomatic corps in Nigerian embassies abroad.

STRESS AREAS CODES

Foundation Courses 0

Broadcast Courses 1

Print courses 2

Writing Courses 3

Public Relations and Advertising courses 4

Theories 5

Film and Photojournalism Courses 6

Research 7

Seminar 8

Media attachment 9