BACHELOR OF ARTS IN JOURNALISM (BA JOURNALISM)
Programme Description
The basis of journalism is information - discovering, collecting, assembling, analysing and presenting information. To do this effectively, journalists require highly developed skills in language, a good understanding of the media, an interest in current affairs and a broad general knowledge. By undertaking this course, students graduate with highly developed skills in written communication, problem-solving, critical thinking and interpersonal understanding. A holistic approach in terms of blend of subjects has been adopted to broaden students’ knowledge in other fields, thus expanding their opportunities to work in different areas of journalism.
Contemporary Journalism practice is very demanding and challenging in that it requires Practitioners to go beyond the immediate and obvious to produce well-researched stories and analytical pieces that reflect all sides of a subject matter. Stories should be rich in depth, balance, context and multiple sources. The programme has therefore been designed to meet these requirements.
Programme Objectives
The objectives of the programme are as follows:
· To provide a fundamental knowledge and understanding of the major concepts, models and theories of journalism and mass communication, management, research and gender issues.
· To provide knowledge of media laws, media ethics, journalism processes and principal features of media systems which reflects today’s age of high technological advancement, competitive industries and tough economy.
· To enable students apply concepts, models, theories, laws, ethics and management skills to solve practical journalism problems.
· To prepare students for postgraduate studies and to enable them to develop as autonomous and knowledgeable developing professionals.
- To equip students with the competencies to develop strategies for writing good and analytical stories
Curriculum Structure
Core courses
|
Course Code |
Course Name |
Credit |
|
BCC 101 |
Digital Fluency |
4 |
|
BCC 103 |
Introduction to Leadership development |
4 |
|
BCC 105 |
Scholarly Writing |
4 |
|
BCC 107 |
Communication Skills |
4 |
|
BAJ 104 |
Introduction to Journalism and Mass Communication |
4 |
|
BAJ 102 |
News Reporting – I |
4 |
|
BAJ 207 |
Introduction to Media Law and Ethics |
4 |
|
BAJ 307 |
Practicals |
4 |
|
BCC107 |
Communication Skills |
4 |
|
BAJ 106 |
Critical Thinking and Argumentation |
4 |
|
BAJ 108 |
Concepts and Theories of Social Development |
4 |
|
BAJ 203 |
News Reporting – II |
4 |
|
BAJ 202 |
Features and Opinion Writing |
4 |
|
BAJ 305 |
Photo Journalism |
4 |
|
BAJ 204 |
Media Law and Ethics |
4 |
|
BAJ 201 |
Editing, Layout and Graphics |
4 |
|
BAJ 205 |
Media Research |
4 |
|
BAJ 206 |
Broadcasting: Radio, Television |
4 |
|
BAJ 208 |
Specialized Reporting: Edutainment, Court Reporting, Political Reporting and Business |
4 |
|
BAJ 301 |
Specialized Reporting: Health, Environment |
4 |
|
BAJ 303 |
New Media Technologies |
4 |
|
BAJ 302 |
Media Management |
4 |
|
BAJ 306 |
Investigative Journalism |
4 |
|
BAJ 308 |
Dissertation |
8 |
|
Total Credit |
96 |
|
Elective courses
|
BAJ 304 |
French |
4 |
Semester by Semester Course Structure
YEAR ONE- First Semester
|
Code |
Course Title |
Credit Hours |
|
BCC 101 |
Digital Fluency |
4 |
|
BCC 103 |
Introduction to Leadership development |
4 |
|
BCC 105 |
Scholarly Writing |
4 |
|
BCC 107 |
Communication Skills |
4 |
|
Total Credit |
16 |
|
YEAR ONE- Second Semester
|
Course Code |
Course Name |
Credit |
|
BAJ 102 |
News Reporting – I |
4 |
|
BAJ 104 |
Introduction to Journalism and Mass Communication |
4 |
|
BAJ 106 |
Critical Thinking and Argumentation |
4 |
|
BAJ 108 |
Concepts and Theories of Social Development |
4 |
|
Total Credit |
16 |
|
YEAR TWO- First Semester
|
Course Code |
Course Name |
Credit |
|
BAJ 201 |
Editing, Layout and Graphics |
4 |
|
BAJ 203 |
News Reporting II |
4 |
|
BAJ 205 |
Media Research |
4 |
|
BAJ 207 |
Introduction to Media Law and Ethics |
4 |
|
Total Credit |
16 |
|
YEAR TWO- Second semester
|
Course Code |
Course Name |
Credit |
|
BAJ 202 |
Feature and Opinion Writing |
4 |
|
BAJ 204 |
Media Law and Ethics |
4 |
|
BAJ 206 |
Broadcasting: Radio, Television |
4 |
|
BAJ 208 |
Specialized Reporting: Edutainment, Court Reporting, Political Reporting and Business |
4 |
|
Total Credit |
16 |
|
YEAR THREE- Semester One
|
Course code |
Course Name |
Credit |
|
BAJ 301 |
Specialized Reporting: Health, Environment |
4 |
|
BAJ 303 |
New Media Technologies |
4 |
|
BAJ 305 |
Photo Journalism |
4 |
|
BAJ 307 |
Practical’s (Internship) |
4 |
|
Total Credit |
16 |
|
YEAR THREE - Semester Two
|
Course Code |
Course Name |
Credit |
|
BAJ 302 |
Media Management |
4 |
|
BAJ 304 |
French |
4 |
|
BAJ 306 |
Investigative Journalism |
4 |
|
BAJ 308 |
Dissertation |
8 |
|
Total Credit |
20 |
|
|
Grand Total |
100 |
|