Thursday , March 28 2024

Syllabus for All Compulsory Courses In Communication & Media Studies Faculty

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:

  1. Basic concepts of communication
  2. History/institutions and Functions of communication
  3. Elements of human communication
  4. Influence of cultural beliefs and practices on human communication
  5. Changing technologies in human communication
  6. Communication skills
  7. Theories and techniques used in different communication situations – interpersonal, group, public, intercultural, and mass communication.

 

 (C). METHOD OF LECTURE DELIVERY

  1. Lectures
  2. Quizzes
  3. Assignments
  4. 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:

Communication skills:

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:

  1. Concepts of human communication; types of human communication (a brief review)
  2. What is media communication?
  3. Elements of media communications
  4. Characteristics of the media
  5. Models and functions of the media
  6. Adjuncts of the media (their nature and operations)
  7. Contents, operations and impact of the media
  8. National media systems/comparative media systems
  9. Communication patterns between/across nations

(C). METHOD OF LECTURE DELIVERY

  1. Lectures
  2. Quizzes
  3. Assignments
  4. 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:

  1. Contributions of missionaries to Nigerian press history
  2. Evolution of the media in Nigeria
  3. The media in the colonial era
  4. The media in the post colonial era
  5. The media in the era of military regimes
  6. The history of print and broadcast media in Nigeria
  7. Contemporary media in Nigeria (the new media era)

 (C). METHOD OF LECTURE DELIVERY

  1. Lectures
  2. Quizzes
  3. Assignments
  4. 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;

Aimufu, E. (2007). Press and National Integration: Analysis of the Role of the Nigerian Press in the Promotion of Nigerian National Identity

Top 10 Local language newspapers in Nigeria

 Omoloso, A.I & Abdulrauf-Salau, A. (2014). Indigenous Language Newspapers in Nigeria from 1914-2013: A Review,

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)

 

About Chinenye Nwabueze

Nwabueze is a writer with passion for cutting-edge news

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