With the unbundling of Mass Communication programme in Nigeria, the face of communication education in the country has changed. The programme has transited into a full college/faculty while individual courses have adapted to the change. While several new courses now exist in the seven new departments, some of the courses you used to know before have also taken a new shape. We have done a thorough research on what these courses offer in universities across the world; and we have provided prototype syllabus for students to study ahead. This is also to assist lecturers who might be facing new challenges with several new courses to have an idea of what the syllabus of each course offers.
There are common courses to be offered by all the seven departments. These are Faculty-wide courses which every student in the Communication and Media Studies Faculty or College must pass before graduating. We have provided the syllabus for each of these common/compulsory courses, particular the ones that have to do with communication and media studies. This excludes the ones from other departments such as Introduction to Statistics or Introduction to Computer & Computer Applications. Our focus is on Communication and Media Studies courses that were made common courses in the curriculum approved by the National Universities Commission (NUC). Here’s the syllabus for common courses in Communication Media Studies Faculty.
See List of Common Courses in Communication and Media Studies Faculty (Which we worked on)
CMS 101 INTRODUCTION TO COMMUNICATION I
CMS 102 INTRODUCTION TO COMMUNICATION II
CMS 103 HISTORY OF NIGERIAN MEDIA
CMS 104 WRITING FOR THE MEDIA
CMS 105 TRADITIONAL AFRICAN COMMUNICATION SYSTEMS
CMS 106 INTRODUCTION TO COMPUTER & COMPUTER APPLICATIONS
CMS 107 INTRODUCTION TO STATISTICS I
CMS 201 FEATURE WRITING
CMS 202 CRITICAL AND REVIEW WRITING
CMS 203 EDITING & GRAPHICS OF COMMUNICATION
CMS 204 THEORIES OF COMMUNICATION
CMS 205 FOUNDATIONS OF COMMUNICATION RESEARCH
CMS 209: MEDIA AND INFORMATION LITERACY
CMS 301 INTERNATIONAL COMMUNICATION
CMS 302 COMMUNICATION AND SOCIETY
CMS 303 GENDER & COMMUNICATION
CMS 401 MEDIA LAW
CMS 402 MEDIA ETHICS
CMS 403 DATA ANALYSIS IN COMMUNICATION RESEARCH
CMS 404 SAFETY OF MEDIA PROFESSIONALS
CMS 405 MEDIA ECONOMICS AND SUSTAINABILITY
CMS 406 COMMUNICATION FOR DEVELOPMENT
Course Syllabus
CMS 101 INTRODUCTION TO COMMUNICATION I
Course Compact
Faculty: Communication and Media Studies
Department: (All Departments)
Course Code: CMS101 Unit(s): 2 Semester: First
Course Title: Introduction To Communication I
Lecturer: Programme: B.Sc.
(A). BRIEF OVERVIEW OF COURSE
This course is designed to provide a global overview of the history, institutions and functions of communication in human society. It further examines the concepts, levels/categories and elements of human communication. Students will be exposed to the role and influence of cultural beliefs and practices as well as changing technologies in human communication. The basic concepts of communication and the skills necessary to communicate in a variety of contexts will be discussed in this course. There will be a special focus on communication theories and techniques used in various communication scenarios – interpersonal, group, public, intercultural and mass communication. At the end of this course, students should be able to explain and illustrate the forms and purposes of human communication in diverse contexts.
(B). COURSE OBJECTIVES/GOALS
By the end of this course, students will have learned:
- Basic concepts of communication
- History/institutions and Functions of communication
- Elements of human communication
- Influence of cultural beliefs and practices on human communication
- Changing technologies in human communication
- Communication skills
- Theories and techniques used in different communication situations – interpersonal, group, public, intercultural, and mass communication.
(C). METHOD OF LECTURE DELIVERY
- Lectures
- Quizzes
- Assignments
- Practical Classroom Sessions
(D). Grading Scale
Grade Requirement
A 70 – 100
B 60 – 69
C 50 – 59
D 40 – 49
F Below 40
(E). COURSE OUTLINE
1. Introduction
Definition of communication
Basic communication concepts/Elements of communication process (sender/receiver, message, channel, encoding/decoding process, feedback, noise, environment, frame of reference)
2. Basic categories/types of communication
(verbal/ non-verbal, formal/information, written, visual)
3. Levels (contexts) of communication
Intrapersonal
Interpersonal
Group Communication
Public Communication
Mass Communication (non-interactive),
Computer Mediated Communication (interactive))
4. Functions of communication
Control
Motivation
Emotional expression
Information
5. History of communication
How did communication begin?
Ancient communication
15th and 16th century communication
17th century communication
18th century communication
19th century communication
20th century communication
21st century communication
6. Influence of cultural beliefs and practices on human communication
What is culture?
Cultural beliefs and practices
Culture and human communication
How culture controls human communication
7. Changing technologies in human communication
Communication technologies
The new media
New media and human communication
How technology has changed human interaction
8. Communication skills
Active listening, Adapting your communication style to your audience, Friendliness, Confidence, Giving and receiving feedback, Volume and clarity, Empathy, Respect, Understanding nonverbal cues, Responsiveness (etc.).
9. Theories of Human communication
What is theory?
Concept of human communication theory
Specific human communication theories
10. Techniques used in different communication situations
Intrapersonal communication
Interpersonal communication
Group communication
Public communication
Intercultural communication
Mass communication
11. Group activities/practical assignments
(F). RECOMMENDED TEXTS
Beebe, S. A., Beebe, S. J., & Ivy, D. K. (2010). Communication: Principles for lifetime (4th ed.). Boston: Allyn & Bacon.
DeVito, Joseph, A. (2015). Human Communication: The Basic Course. Boston, MA: Pearson.
(G). IMPORTANT LINKS
Click on the following links to read articles;
Types and levels of communication
What is communication and functions of communication:
Theories of Human Communication (Littlejohn and Foss, 2011, tenth edition):
A Brief History of Communication and Innovations that Changed the Game:
CMS 102 INTRODUCTION TO COMMUNICATION II
Course Compact
Faculty: Communication and Media Studies
Department: (All Departments)
Course Code: CMS102 Unit(s): 2 Semester: Second
Course Title: Introduction To Communication II
Lecturer: Programme: B.Sc.
(A). BRIEF OVERVIEW OF COURSE
This is an extension of the first part (Introduction to Communication I) done in the first semester. It consists of additional discourses on global overview of the history, institutions and functions of communication in human society. It involves a continuation of a number of topics taught in the first part of the course with additional ones such as media communications as a sub-type of human communication, an overview of the progress; models, and elements of media communications; survey of the media, including their adjuncts. At the end of this course, students should be able to explain and illustrate the characteristics, functions, contents, operations and impact of the media as well as national media systems and communication between/across nations.
(B). COURSE OBJECTIVES/GOALS
By the end of this course, students will have learned:
- Concepts of human communication; types of human communication (a brief review)
- What is media communication?
- Elements of media communications
- Characteristics of the media
- Models and functions of the media
- Adjuncts of the media (their nature and operations)
- Contents, operations and impact of the media
- National media systems/comparative media systems
- Communication patterns between/across nations
(C). METHOD OF LECTURE DELIVERY
- Lectures
- Quizzes
- Assignments
- Practical Classroom Sessions
(D). Grading Scale
Grade Requirement
A 70 – 100
B 60 – 69
C 50 – 59
D 40 – 49
F Below 40
(E). COURSE OUTLINE
1. Introduction
Concepts of human communication; types of human communication (a brief review)
2. Definition of media communication
(various channels of human communication)
3. Elements of media communications
(audience, messages, channels, etc.; relate them to media communication process)
4. Functions of the media
Surveillance of the Environment
The Correlation Function
Cultural Transmission and Influencing Societal Norms
Education and Entertainment
5. Types and Characteristics of the media
Types (print, broadcast, outdoor, internet)
Characteristics (what makes each type unique?)
6. Models of the media
7. Contents, operations and impact of the media
Media contents (news, adverts, various programmes, audio/visual)
Media operations (how media business works)
Impact of the media in the society
8. Adjuncts of the media
(Nature and operations of news agencies; advertising, public relations).
9. National media systems/comparative media systems
What is media system?
Types of media systems (Western Media System, Revolutionary Media System, Communist Media System, Development Media System, Authoritarian Media System)
Indicators of a Media System
Media systems in Africa
Globalization and media systems
10. Communication patterns between/across nations
Communication and culture
New World Information and Communication Order (NWICO) Debate
Globalization
11. Group activities/practical assignments
(F). RECOMMENDED TEXTS
Beebe, S. A., Beebe, S. J., & Ivy, D. K. (2010). Communication: Principles for lifetime (4th ed.). Boston: Allyn & Bacon.
DeVito, Joseph,A. (2015). Human Communication: The Basic Course. Boston, MA: Pearson.
Beauchamp, S. R. & Baran, S. (2019). Introduction to Human Communication: Perception, Meaning, and Identity, Second Edition. Oxford University Press.
(G). IMPORTANT LINKS
Click on the following links to read articles;
Adjunct and impact of the mass media:
Communication Styles as Dimensions of National Culture:
Media systems beyond national boundaries: Towards a new paradigm?
What Does Medium Mean in the Communication Process?
Media: Types of media, characteristics, advantages and disadvantages:
CMS 103 HISTORY OF NIGERIAN MEDIA
COURSE COMPACT
Faculty: Communication and Media Studies
Department: Journalism & Media Studies
Course Code: CMS103 Unit(s): 2 Semester: First
Course Title: History of Nigerian Media
Lecturer: Programme: B.Sc.
(A). BRIEF OVERVIEW OF COURSE
This course is designed to discuss the major trends in the development of the communication and media in Nigeria. It further examines the contributions of the media to the political, religious, economic and social development in Nigeria at various points in history. It explains the evolution of the Nigerian media, contributions of early newspapers in nationalist struggles, the media in the colonial and post colonial era, including contemporary media in Nigeria.
(B). COURSE OBJECTIVES/GOALS
By the end of this course, students will have learned:
- Contributions of missionaries to Nigerian press history
- Evolution of the media in Nigeria
- The media in the colonial era
- The media in the post colonial era
- The media in the era of military regimes
- The history of print and broadcast media in Nigeria
- Contemporary media in Nigeria (the new media era)
(C). METHOD OF LECTURE DELIVERY
- Lectures
- Quizzes
- Assignments
- Practical Classroom Sessions
(D). Grading Scale
Grade Requirement
A 70 – 100
B 60 – 69
C 50 – 59
D 40 – 49
F Below 40
(E). COURSE OUTLINE
1. Introduction
Overview of Nigerian Media (landscape)
2. Media Evolution in Nigeria
(From the print to broadcast media; missionaries and Nigerian press history)
3. Nationalism and Nigerian press history
(Zik and the West African Pilot; various nationalists and their newspapers)
4. Local Language newspapers and Nigerian media history
5. Colonial Newspapers
6. Post Independence Media in Nigeria
7. Nigerian media under Military Regimes
8. Evolution of Radio/TV Broadcasting in Nigeria
9. Contemporary Media in Nigeria (the new media era)
10. Class activities/Assignments
(F). IMPORTANT LINKS
Click on the following links to read articles;
Top 10 Local language newspapers in Nigeria
Aro, O.I. (2011). Nigerian Press: The Journey So Far.
CLICK ON THE LINKS BELOW TO SEE OTHERS
READ ALSO: Syllabus for Writing For The Media (CMS 104)
READ ALSO: Syllabus for Traditional African Communication Systems (CMS 105)
READ ALSO: Syllabus for Feature Writing (CMS 201)
READ ALSO: Syllabus for Critical and Review Writing (CMS 202)
READ ALSO: Syllabus for Editing & Graphics of Communication (CMS 203)
READ ALSO: Syllabus for Theories of Communication (CMS 204)
READ ALSO: Syllabus for Foundations of Communication Research (CMS 205)
READ ALSO: Syllabus for Media and Information Literacy (CMS 209)
READ ALSO: Syllabus for International Communication (CMS 301)
READ ALSO: Syllabus for Communication and Society (CMS 302)
READ ALSO: Syllabus for Gender & Communication (CMS 303)
READ ALSO: Syllabus for Media Law (CMS 401)
READ ALSO:Syllabus for Media Ethics (CMS 402)
READ ALSO: Syllabus for Data Analysis in Communication Research (CMS 403)
READ ALSO: Syllabus for Safety of Media Professionals (CMS 404)
READ ALSO: Syllabus for Media Economics and Sustainability (CMS 405)
READ ALSO: Syllabus for Communication for Development (CMS 406)