M. A. 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: Amrita University’s entry into communication is an appropriate response to society’s rising expectations of its media institutions, some of which, stemming from the momentous changes that have occurred in our social, technological, economic and cultural landscape. It is indeed at such junctures that media have a significant role to play in influencing people‘s lives, opinions and aspirations. But following economic liberalization, even as the country’s communication sector grew, its practitioners have had to deal with diverse interests and reflect on complex changes confronting our society. To address such complexities, media demands professionals who are avant garde in thought, free spirited, highly creative, strongly aesthetic, deeply analytical and knowledgeable of the systems and processes that bear upon our nation. On the other hand, new opportunities are also knocking the doors of students in the area of communication. There is a need therefore to promote the wide-spectrum abilities amongst Amrita’s media students, and to enable them to pursue new and allied areas that have emerged in the communication field.

Course Description

Every student desirous of obtaining an M. A. (Communication) Degree will have to study all the four semesters.

Each student must earn a minimum of 16 credits every semester and amass 64 credits in all to obtain the M. A. (Communication) Degree. Respective credits are mentioned in the third column of each table.

Semester I

S. No.	Name of the Paper	Credits
1.	Media Laws & Ethics	2
2.	Understanding India: Polity & Constitution	2
3.	Reporting & Editing for Print Media	2
4.	An Introduction to Web	2
5.	Media Management	2
6.	Video Basics & Film Studies	2
7.	Graphics & Animation I	2
8.	IMC: Advertising & Sales Promotion	2

Semester II

S. No.	Name of the Paper	Credits
1.	Communication Theory	4
2.	Understanding India: Land, Economy & Development	4
3.	Newspaper Production	4
4.	Content Design & Site Management	4
5.	Introduction to Television News	4
6.	TV Studio Production	4
7.	Graphics & Animation II	4
8.	IMC: Brand Management	4

Semester III

S. No.	Name of the Paper	Credits
1.	Communication Research	4
2.	Understanding India: Culture & Contemporary History	4
3.	Feature Writing	4
4.	New Media: Theory & Practice	4
5.	TV News Gathering & Production	4
6.	Short Filmmaking & Documentary Research	4
7.	Graphics & Animation III	4
8.	IMC: Public Relations & Event Management	4

Semester IV

S. No.	Name of the Paper	Credits
1.	Contemporary Global Society	4
2.	News Studies	4
3.	Development Journalism	4
4.	Web Content & Design (Project)	4
5.	Introduction to Broadcast News Technology	4
6.	Documentary Filmmaking	4
7.	Graphics & Animation IVIII	4
8.	IMC: Advertising Practice	4

Each of the above tables have 8 rows of papers:

All the papers in row 1 are CORE modules common to all career streams.

All the papers in row 2 are CORE modules common to all journalism streams.

All the papers in row 3 are modules leading to a career in Print Media Journalism.

All the papers in row 4 are modules leading to a career in Web design and Content.

All the papers in row 5 are modules leading to a career in Television News.

All the papers in row 6 are modules leading to a career in Film, Serials and Documentary Television.

All the papers in row 7 are modules leading to a career in Animation.

All the papers in row 8 are modules leading to a career in PR and Advertising.

During Semester I, all modules are compulsory to all the students. This is meant to give a taste of all the career streams open to students. Students can then make an informed decision about at least two career streams.