Journalism and Media Studies Program Offered at University of Nairobi

Bachelors Degree 4 years Fulltime Fee: on application Intake: Ongoing

Bachelors Degree (Accredited by: University of Nairobi)

About Journalism and Media Studies Bachelors Degree program.

University of Nairobi's Journalism and Media studies program focuses The general objective of the Bachelor of Arts in Journalism and Media Studies programme is to equip the student with foundational, scientifically derived and practically grounded knowledge, understanding and skills of communication in its widest meaning in mediated, group, interpersonal, mass and intercultural forms.

Objectives of Journalism and Media Studies

This Bachelor of Arts in Journalism and Media Studies programme aims at developing talents in reporting, writing and presenting information across platforms—online, in print, and on radio and TV.

In particular the programme aims to:

  • Equip students to be critical and creative thinkers, who are highly intellectually competent in the interpretation of development and communication from the international, regional and national perspectives;
  • Provide students with sound academic and theoretical foundations, as well as practical skills in communication and development, and the effective and efficient application of this to their practice.
  • Ground students in the multidisciplinary perspective: this includes exposure to the basic tenets in selected liberal arts and social science disciplines, in the context of communication and media.
  • Prepare students to be flexible and able to adapt easily to various communication environments.
  • Provide students with the necessary academic competence to pursue higher studies in communication related disciplines.
  • Prepare students to be compliant with emerging technological advances.

Entry requirements for Journalism and Media Studies

Entry requirements for a Bachelors of Arts in Communication Studies shall be:

  1. Holders of KCSE with a mean grade of C+ and a minimum of C+ in English or Kiswahili or its equivalent.
  2. Holders of the KCSE with a mean grade of C plain and a minimum of C+ in English or Kiswahili or equivalent; or KCE Division III or equivalent; or EACE Division III or equivalent, with a minimum of a credit pass in English or Kiswahili PLUS a Diploma or equivalent from a recognized post-secondary institution.
  3. Holders of the Kenya Advanced Certificate of Education (KACE) with a minimum of 2 Principal passes and one subsidiary pass, and a minimum of a credit pass in English or Kiswahili at the KCE level.
  4. Holders of a degree from a recognised University or its equivalent.

Journalism and Media Studies Course Subjects

PRINT JOURNALISM

Course Structure

First Year Courses

First Semester

  • Communication Skills
  • Science &Technology in Development
  • Elements in Economics
  • Introduction to Communication Anthropology
  • English for Journalists
  • Kiswahili for Journalists

Second Semester

  • HIV/AIDS
  • Communications and Society
  • The Psychology of Communication
  • History of Mass Communication
  • Culture and Performing Studies
  • Computer Applications

Second Year

First Semester

  • Fundamentals of Mass Comm.
  • Fundamentals of Development
  • Fundamentals of Communication Theories
  • New Infor. & Communication Technologies
  • Creative Writing
  • Critical Thinking in Communication

Second Semester

  • Development Communication
  • Fundamentals of Print Journalism
  • Fundamentals of Broadcast Journalism
  • Fundamentals of Public Relations & Advert.
  • Media Ethics
  • Political Communication

Third Year

First Semester

  • Introduction to Communication Research
  • Media and Entertainment Law
  • News Writing and Reporting
  • Feature Writing
  • Elective Courses (Select 2 courses)
  • Reporting on Admin.of Justice
  • Reporting on Sports
  • Business Reporting and Writing
  • Human Rights Journalism
  • Reporting on Science & Technology

Second Semester

  • Communication Research
  • Photojournalism
  • Editing and Desktop Publishing
  • Elective Courses (Select 3 courses)
  • Human Health Communication
  • Environmental Journalism
  • News Agency Reporting
  • Reporting on Education
  • Critical Review and Writing
  • Industrial Attachment

Fourth Year

First Semester

  • Online Journalism
  • Advanced Media Reporting & Editing
  • Newspaper Management and Production
  • Elective Courses (Select 3 courses)
  • Advanced Photojournalism
  • Reporting on Humanitarian Issues
  • Media and Gender
  • Media and Conflict Resolution 45
  • Reporting on ICTs

Second Semester

  • Management and Entrepreneurship
  • Investigative Journalism
  • Stylistics
  • Project
  • Elective Courses (Select 2 courses)
  • Opinion and Editorial Writing
  • Multi-Media Graphics and Communication
  • Magazine Writing, Editing and Production
  • Public Opinion and Propaganda

BROADCAST JOURNALISM Course Structure

First Year Courses

First Semester

  • Communication Skills
  • Science &Technology in Development
  • Elements in Economics
  • Introduction to Communication Anthropology
  • English for Journalists
  • Kiswahili for Journalists

Second Semester

  • HIV/AIDS
  • Communications and Society
  • The Psychology of Communication
  • History of Mass Communication
  • Culture and Performing Studies
  • Computer Applications

Second Year

First Semester

  • Fundamentals of Mass Comm.
  • Fundamentals of Development
  • Fundamentals of Communication Theories
  • New Infor. & Communication Technologies
  • Creative Writing
  • Critical Thinking in Communication

Second Semester

  • Development Communication
  • Fundamentals of Print Journalism
  • Fundamentals of Broadcast Journalism
  • Fundamentals of Public Relations & Advert.
  • Media Ethics
  • Political Communication

Third Year

First Semester

  • Introduction to Communication Research
  • Media and Entertainment Law
  • Broadcast News Production
  • Scriptwriting
  • Elective Courses (Select 2 courses)
  • Script Writing for Radio
  • Script Writing for Television
  • Reporting on Administration of Justice
  • Reporting on Sports
  • Business Reporting and Writing
  • Human rights Journalism

Second Semester

  • Communication Research
  • Studio Equipment Operations
  • Radio News Program Writing & Production
  • TV News Programme Writing & Production
  • Investigative Journalism
  • Elective Courses (Select 1 course)
  • Drama and Documentary Production
  • Advanced Broadcast Interviewing
  • Human Health Communication
  • Environmental Journalism
  • Industrial Attachment

Fourth Year

First Semester

  • Production Planning, Research & Management
  • Advanced Radio Production and Directing Techniques
  • Advanced TV Production and Directing Techniques
  • Online Journalism
  • Elective Courses (Select 2 courses)
  • Community Broadcasting, Operations and Management
  • Production for Children
  • Audio and Visual Animation
  • Media and Conflict resolution
  • Reporting on Science and Technology
  • Media and Gender
  • Reporting on ICTs
  • Reporting on Humanitarian issues

Second Semester

  • Media Management and Entrepreneurship
  • Station Management and Operations
  • Editing for Radio and Television
  • Project
  • Elective Courses (Select 2 courses)
  • Educational Broadcasting
  • Broadcasting in the Digital Interactive Revolution
  • Announcing and Presentation Techniques
  • Drama and Performing Arts
  • Religious Broadcasting
  • Broadcast Audiences

PUBLIC RELATIONS

Course Structure

First Year Courses

First Semester

  • Communication Skills
  • Science &Technology in Development
  • Elements in Economics
  • Introduction to Communication Anthropology
  • English for Journalists
  • Kiswahili for Journalists

Second Semester

  • HIV/AIDS
  • Communications and Society
  • The Psychology of Communication
  • History of Mass Communication
  • Culture and Performing Studies
  • Computer Applications

Second Year

First Semester

  • Fundamentals of Mass Comm.
  • Fundamentals of Development
  • Fundamentals of Communication Theories
  • New Infor. & Communication Technologies
  • Creative Writing
  • Critical Thinking in Communication

Second Semester

  • Development Communication
  • Fundamentals of Print Journalism
  • Fundamentals of Broadcast Journalism
  • Fundamentals of Public Relations & Advert.
  • Media Ethics
  • Political Communication

Third Year

First Semester

  • Introduction to Communication Research
  • Media and Entertainment Law
  • Public Speaking
  • Principles, Practices and Theory of Public Relations
  • Elective Courses (Select 3 Courses)
  • Integrated Marketing Communication
  • Corporate Communication
  • Fundamentals of layout and design
  • Communication and Conflict

Second Semester

  • Communication Research
  • Public Relations Techniques
  • Principles of Advertising
  • Communication and Human rights
  • Elective Courses (Choose 4)
  • International Public Relations
  • Crisis Communication
  • Advertising Copy Writing and Consumer Behaviour
  • Print Media commercials Production
  • Communication and Conflict
  • Industrial Attachment

Fourth Year

First Semester

  • Public Relations Management I
  • Management and Entrepreneurship
  • Photography for Public Relations
  • Elective Courses (Choose 3)
  • Industrial Relations
  • Ethics & Professionalism in Public Relations
  • Broadcast Commercials Production
  • Financial Public Relations
  • Lobbying

Second Semester

  • Public Relations Management II
  • Fundraising and Sponsorship
  • Project
  • Elective Courses (Select 3 courses)
  • Customer Relations
  • Media Relations
  • Case Studies in Specialized Public Relations
  • Public Relations for Government
  • Communication and Humanitarian issues

DEVELOPMENT COMMUNICATION

Course Structure

First Year Courses

First Semester

  • Communication Skills
  • Science &Technology in Development
  • Elements in Economics
  • Introduction to Communication Anthropology
  • English for Journalists
  • Kiswahili for Journalists

Second Semester

  • HIV/AIDS
  • Communications and Society
  • The Psychology of Communication
  • History of Mass Communication
  • Culture and Performing Studies
  • Computer Applications

Second Year

First Semester

  • Fundamentals of Mass Comm.
  • Fundamentals of Development

About University of Nairobi

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