OBJECTIVES OF DEGREE PROGRAMME The M Sc in the Department of Communication and Development Studies is designed to offer the opportunity for advanced academic work in Communication and Development Studies to candidates who have successfully completed their First Degree and wish to advance their studies. ADMISSION REQUIREMENTS i. Candidates must hold at least Second-Class Honors Degree or any other qualification deemed equivalent by the department, from The University of Bamenda or any other recognized educational institution. Candidates with other degrees would be accepted but a strong background in the Social Sciences and Humanities is considered desirable. Candidates other than those holding a First degree or its equivalent from The University of Bamenda shall provide official transcripts of both their undergraduate and graduate work. ii. Candidates without a background in Communication and Development Studies should expect to complete additional undergraduate and/or postgraduate course(s) deemed relevant by the department. The admission of such candidates shall be confirmed subject to the successful completion of the required additional course(s). iii. In addition, candidates seeking admission under (i) and (ii) above must submit to the Head of Department at the time of application, a brief description of their intended programme of research. iv. Admission to the graduate program is competitive. Only candidates with a GPA of 2.5/4 or above will be admitted into the MA. However, candidates with higher GPAs and work experience will have an added advantage. Employment Opportunities The programme blends theory and practice to prepare students for advanced study or careers in communication and development, all within the context of a rigorous liberal arts education ADMISSION PROCEDURE Admission of students shall be done by a duly constituted committee set up by the Dean which shall evaluate the application files. Candidates shall be selected on merit based on the application file which shall comprise an application form, original academic transcripts and three letters of reference. GRADUATION REQUIREMENTS The award of the Professional M Sc and M Sc degrees in Communication and Development Studies shall be subject to: a) The University of Bamenda general regulations governing the award of M.Sc. degree, and b) The fulfillment of the specific programme and assessment requirements detailed below. M Sc Communication and Development Studies Requirements The M Sc in Communication and Development Studies qualifies candidates to enter PhD programme. A GPA of 3.5 is required for M Sc Communication and Development Studies students to proceed to the M Sc with thesis programme upon the recommendation of a three-professor committee, including the adviser. Students are required to choose courses (18 credits) in their area of specialization. In general, the Professional M Sc in Communication and Development provides training in communication and development studies together with an area of specialization. Students are required to take three core theory courses designed to acquaint them with dominant theoretical approaches in their area of specialization. Other General Requirements The degree of M Sc is awarded in recognition of the successful completion of a programme of supervised research, culminating in a thesis, which demonstrates originality and critical judgment. To progress to the final semester of the M Sc programme, the student must attain a required level of performance in the assessed course units and must have achieved satisfactory progress in the development of the thesis. During the second year of the programme, the student's activities are focused on his or her research and on the writing of the thesis. The student is expected to participate in appropriate workshops and seminars organized by research groups within the Department of Communication and Development Studies and to offer one workshop or seminar each year. Other specifics include: (i) Upon admission, a candidate shall be assigned a main supervisor and a second, supervisor who are deemed competent in the candidate’s chosen area of research. Subject to the approval of Department, the candidate may change supervisor(s) if the need arises. (ii) The Master’s degree shall be awarded to candidates who have earned at least 120 credits of approved graduate-level work (including at least 96 compulsory credits and 24 elective credits). Duration and Minimum GPA for the M Sc in Communication and Development Studies Students are required to complete a minimum of 120 credit hours maintaining a minimum GPA of at least 3.00 (‘B’ grade or 60% marks) per semester. To earn credit for a course at the Professional M Sc level, the student must score at least a B grade. The normal duration of the program is three semesters (two years). The candidate shall have to complete the program in a maximum period of six semesters (three years). The 120 credit hours are divided as follows: • Compulsory courses 72 Communication (24); Development (24) Area of Specialization (18) • Elective courses 18 • Quantitative Research Course 6 • Dissertation 42 TOTAL 120 Medium of Instruction, Attendance and Class-Schedule English shall be the medium of instruction and examinations. Candidates are expected to maintain a minimum attendance of 70% to qualify for examinations. Lectures would be scheduled on weekdays. SKILLS TO BE ACQUIRED At the end of the course, M Sc graduates are expected to formulate social scientific theory by carrying out skilled research and becoming well-read and knowledgeable in varied aspects of Communication and Development Studies. COMPULSORY COURSES Communication (24) 1. CADA6101: Issues in Mass Communication Theory 2. CADA6202: Communication Campaigns and Advocacy for Social Change 3. CADA6103: Advanced Reporting and Writing 4. CADA6109: Multimedia and Online Communication Development (24) 1. CADA6105: Globalization and Development 2. CADA6107: Environment and Sustainable Development 3. CADA6204: Industrial and Urban Development 4. CADA6111: Agriculture and Development Area of Specialization (18) 1. 2. 3. Electives (18) Communication : CADA6113: Science Communication CADA6115: Intercultural Communication CADA6212: Mass Media, Culture and Society CADA6214: Ethics in Mass Communication Development: • CADA6117: Technology for Development • CADA6119: Comparative Development Experience • CADA6216: Social Policy and Development • CADA6218: Land use, Planning and Development
Duration: 2 years
