B. A. Mass Communication

Goals & Objectives

GOAL: To promote communication education that leads to modern, ethical and creative media practices, with a positive bearing on individual, industry and society

OBJECTIVE: Over the last decade, a very large number of colleges and universities have begun to offer communication education at the Bachelor’s level, more as a response to growth in the media industry than as a measure to promote responsible media practices, particularly, in the field of journalism

Still, such mushrooming presents, both, challenge and an opportunity to institutions that understand the power and responsibility of media in society.

While sound communication practices call for strong foundational training at the level of skills, given the larger role of media and journalism, theoretical base and understanding of society call for equal or more emphasis even at the Bachelor’s level.

Fortunately, UNESCO released a model curriculum for J-Schools in Singapore last year. Prepared by world’s most renowned media practitioners and social scientists, it now beckons all media schools interested in contributing to socially relevant journalism.

The rising popularity of media studies at the Bachelor’s level coupled with the higher objective of promoting well-being in society through meaningful media practices, provide a sound rationale for introducing a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Mass Communication by using the underlying principles of model curriculum.

Specifically then, the larger objectives are as follows:

1. To provide a strong foundation in news media practices across media

2. To promote an understanding of news media and their role in society

3. To promote depth in media education by laying a foundation in Arts

Course Description

The B.A Mass Communication programme has six semesters covering a span of three years, with five papers dealing with news practice, news studies and arts each semester. By the end of the course, news practice and modules in arts would have constituted about 40% each in the curriculum and news studies would have comprised the remaining 20%.

Every student desirous of obtaining an B. A. ( Mass Communication) Degree will have to study all the six semesters. Each student must earn a minimum of 15 credits every semester and amass 90 credits in all to obtain the B. A. (Mass Communication) Degree. Respective credits are mentioned in the third column of each table.

Semester I

S. No.	Name of the Paper	Credits
1.	Writing	3
2.	Understanding News	3
3.	Indian History	3
4.	Indian Constitution	3
5.	Computer Skills	3

Semester II

S. No.	Name of the Paper	Credits
1.	News Writing	3
2.	Reporting	3
3.	Geography & Environment	3
4.	Media Laws	3
5.	Web designing	3

Semester III

S. No.	Name of the Paper	Credits
1.	Feature Writing	3
2.	News Editing	3
3.	Economics	3
4.	Journalism Ethics	3
5.	Online News	3

Semester IV

S. No.	Name of the Paper	Credits
1.	In depth Journalism I	3
2.	Layout & Design	3
3.	Political Science	3
4.	Communication Theory	3
5.	Radio Basics	3

Semester V

S. No.	Name of the Paper	Credits
1.	In depth Journalism II	3
2.	Indian Democracy	3
3.	Sociology	3
4.	Research Methodology	3
5.	Video Basics	3

Semester VI

S. No.	Name of the Paper	Credits
1.	Seminars	3
2.	News Projects	3
3.	Media Organizations	3
4.	Internship	6

All the subjects mentioned are compulsory. A few electives may be added subject to the approval of the university's academic bodies.