Friday , November 24 2023

Syllabus for Journalism & Media Studies Courses: Intro to Communication I

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 for Introduction to Communication I

Faculty: Communication and Media Studies                                           

Department: Journalism & Media Studies

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:

 

READ ALSO: Syllabus for Journalism & Media Studies Courses: Intro to Communication I (CMS 101)

READ ALSO: Syllabus for Journalism & Media Studies Courses: Introduction To Communication II (CMS 102)

READ ALSO: Syllabus for Journalism & Media Studies Courses: History of Nigerian Media (CMS 103)

READ ALSO: Syllabus for Journalism & Media Studies Courses: Traditional African Communication Systems (CMS 105)

READ ALSO: Syllabus for Journalism & Media Studies Courses: Editing & Graphics of Communication (CMS 203)

READ ALSO: Syllabus for Journalism & Media Studies Courses: Foundations of Communication Research (CMS 205)

READ ALSO: Syllabus for Journalism & Media Studies Courses: Introduction To Communication II (CMS 102)

READ ALSO: Syllabus for Journalism & Media Studies Courses: Media and Information Literacy (CMS 209)

READ ALSO: Syllabus for Journalism & Media Studies Courses: Media Economics and Sustainability (CMS 405)

READ ALSO: Syllabus for Journalism & Media Studies Courses: Media Law (CMS 401)

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

About Chinenye Nwabueze

Nwabueze is a writer with passion for cutting-edge news

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