Syllabus for Journalism & Media Studies Courses: Communication for Development (CMS 406)

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.

COURSE COMPACT

Faculty: Communication and Media Studies                          Department: Journalism & Media Studies

Course Code: CMS 406                                          Unit(s): 2          Semester: Second

Course Title: Communication for Development

Lecturer:                                                       Programme: B.Sc.

(A). BRIEF OVERVIEW OF COURSE

This course is designed to teach students the role of communication in the development process.  It discusses relevance and application of the media   in   relation   to   interpersonal   networks,   including   the   multi-media   approach   to communication in the development process. It further exposes students to the dynamics of development and communication variables that influence development. A variety of Communication for Development theories and methods is explored. The course also examines the institutional and organisational contexts surrounding Communication for Development. It further explores ICT and new media for social change by reflecting on their integration into existing media, communication and international development contexts as well as their changing forms and practices, including social media context. This course will also trace the theory and the research in the development communication and further highlight the present and future trends in the area. The nature and component of development process, background and role of International development programs and agencies will also be discussed. In addition to above the role of mass media in agriculture, health, education, population planning, sanitation, environment protection and socio economic development of the Third world countries in general and Nigeria in particular will be discussed. At the completion of this course, students have the requisite skills to independently plan, implement and evaluate a Communication for Development intervention.

(B). COURSE OBJECTIVES/GOALS

By the end of this course, students will have learned:

1. Concept of communication, development, development communication

2. Theories of communication for development

3. Theory and research in communication for development

4, Planning, implementing and evaluating communication for development campaign

5. Institutional and organisational contexts surrounding Communication for Development

6. Nature and component of development process

7. Mass media roles in development communication

8. Participatory media approaches to development

9. A deepened understanding of the role of new media and other ICT for development

10. Ability to analyse the content of specific media, communication for social change and cultural products

11. In-depth knowledge of relationship between development cooperation organizations and their communication for development initiatives and strategies

(C). METHOD OF LECTURE DELIVERY

1. Lectures
2. Quizzes
3. Assignments
4. Practical Classroom Sessions

(D). COURSE OUTLINE

1. Introduction

Definition of key concepts (communication, development communication)

Course overview

2. Understanding the Concept of Development

Meaning of development

Nature and component of development process

3. Theories of Development Communication

Dominant theory

Self reliance theory

Diffusion theory

Dependent and inter-dependence theory

4. Media of Communication for Development

Interpersonal communication media

Mass media

New media

Traditional media

Role of the media in communication for development

Participatory media approaches to development

5. Perspectives of Development

Social development

Economic development

Political development

Cultural development

6. Prospects and challenges of Development Communication in Nigeria

Trends in development communication in Nigeria

Prospects and challenges of Development Communication in Nigeria

7. Approaches to Development Communication

Diffusion/extension approach

Mass Media approach

Development support communication approach

Institutional approach

Integrated approach

Localized approach to Dev Com

Planned strategy to Dev Com

8. Planning a Communication Campaign for Development

What is a communication campaign?

Stages in developing communication campaign (design, concept development, testing, production, and dissemination)

Development communication campaign process

Evaluating communication for development campaign

9. Communication campaign for development

Research in communication for development

Institutional and organisational contexts surrounding Communication for Development

A deepened understanding of the role of new media and other ICT for development

Communication for social change and cultural products

Relationship between development cooperation organizations and their communication for development initiatives and strategies

10. Class Activities

Practical exercises and case studies

(E). RECOMMENDED TEXTS

Lennie, June. & Tacchi, Jo. (2013). Evaluating communication for development: a framework for social change. New York: Routledge.

Wilkins, Karin. Tufte, Thomas and Obregon, Rafael (eds.) (2014) The Handbook of Development Communication and Social Change. Oxford: Wiley-Blackwel

Servaes, J. (2008). Communication for Development and Social Change. New Delhi: SAGE.

(F). IMPORTANT LINKS

Good Practices in Development Communication

Writing a Communication Strategy for Development Programmes

Development Communication: The Emerging Participatory Communication Paradigm

Media and Development Communication: A Perspective

Communication for Development and Social Change

 

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