Department of Mass Communication

1.INTRODUCTION

The view used
to be held, until quite recently that communication or journalism did not
require to be studied at all, let alone studying it at the University level.
Many had thought that all it required to practice journalism and other forms of
communication was to be able to read and write or be bold enough to mount
rostrum.

However, it is
now recognized that successful globalization of the world requires expert
managers of communication. Communication is transactional and to maximize the gains
of every communication encounter demands knowledge, expertise and skill. To
infuse these qualities in the professionals that must, in the words of Harold
Lasswell, survey and correlate the environment and manage the intelligence
(information) gathered, a carefully packaged programme of training must be put
in place.

It is in an
attempt to fulfill this purpose that this revised students’ handbook has been
prepared. It details the courses offered at the Department of Mass
Communication of Al- Hikmah University, and other important information as highlighted
in the Table of Contents. It offers an insight into what is available for a
student to make an informed decision about seeking admission into the
Department.

2.
BRIEF HISTORY OF THE PROGRAMME

Al- Hikmah
University was licenced by the Federal Government of Nigeria in January, 2005.
The University commenced fully in 2006 with Undergraduate programmes in three
(3) Colleges: the Humanities, Management Sciences and Natural Sciences.
Department of Mass Communication is one of the academic Departments in the
College of the Humanities and Social Sciences.

The Bachelor
of Science Degree in Mass Communication was designed to equip students who
intend to make a career in Communication with professional and academic
training in line with the unfolding realities of ICT-oriented media practice.
Towards this end, the programme focuses on the general areas of Communication,
which include: Journalism, Public Relations and Advertising, Book Publishing,
Broadcasting and Cinematography. With a crop of experienced professionals in
the various fields of communication, the programme prepares students for
competence, proficiency and self-reliance in the media profession through a
carefully integrated curriculum enriched with practical assignments.

3.  JUSTIFICATION

The revised
academic Curriculum for the Mass Communication
Programme of the University is premised on the following imperatives:

• The old Curriculum has been in use since inception
  of Mass Communication
  program of the University, spanning eight academic session
  (2009/2010-2016/2017). Hence, the revision, which, technically, is expected to
  take place
  every four years, is long overdue.
• More pertinent is the need to align the Curriculum
  with prevailing realities in the
  field of Mass Communication and the global media environment, as well as
  requirements of associated regulatory professional bodies like APCON
  (Advertizing Practitioners Council of Nigeria) and NJPR (Nigerian Institute of
  Public Relations) for the purpose of programme accreditation.

4. PHILOSOPHY

The media industry is, no doubt, highly
challenging and competitive and requires sound theoretical and practical
knowledge in order to excel in the practice of the profession. The revised
academic curriculum for the B.Sc. Mass Communication programme is,
therefore, designed to meet five key requirements:

1. National University Commission Benchmark Minimum
   Academic Standards
   (BMAS) for Undergraduate Programmes in Nigerian Universities.
2. The revised requirements for the award of
   professional certificate of the Nigerian Institute of Journalism (NIJ);
3. The requirements for the award of the professional
   Diploma/Certificate of the
   Advertizing Practitioners Council of Nigeria (APCON),
4. The requirements for the award of the professional
   Diploma of the Nigerian
   Institute of Public Relations (NIPR),
5. Dynamic changes and developments in the theory and
   practice of the Mass
   Communication profession in Nigeria and in the world.

5. AIMS

Within the framework of the University
mission, the aims of the revised Curriculum are to produce skilful
professionals in the areas of print journalism. Broadcasting. Online Journalism, advertizing and public relations
as well as book publishing. The revised Curriculum
aims at providing students with quality Mass Communication education as
well as professional skills enmeshed in
high moral/ethical refinement, that would enable them function and practice
Mass Communication effectively in any media environment.

6.
 OBJECTIVES OF THE PROGRAMME

At the end of the programme, the Course/ Department
should be able to:

• Provide requisite knowledge and tools for
  understanding and analyzing problems in public relations, advertising,
  communication processes, journalism and broadcasting.
• Expose the students to both theoretical and
  practical skills required for recognizing and defining problems in Mass
  Communication, and taking appropriate decisions using scientific techniques.
• Produce high caliber Mass Communication graduates
  capable of taking up responsible positions in the print and electronic media,
  business organisations, Ministries of Information, Social and Economic
  Development.
•  Equip the
  graduates with the required analytical and managerial skills necessary for
  preparing them for challenges of middle and top management positions in the
  media industry.

7.  VISION

 To bethe topmost Department
in the training of mass communicators in Nigeria and beyond.

8.   MISSION STATEMENT

•  Foster entrepreneurial spirit among Mass
  Communication students.
•  Produce students with requisite knowledge and
  skills for the communication industry.
•   Train students who abide by ethical and
  professional standards.
•    Provide consultancy services in the field of
  Mass Communication. 

9. INTERNAL
ADMINISTRATION OF THE DEPARTMENT

There
are two categories of staff in the department. These are academic and
administrative or support staff. Both are headed by the Head of department who
must not be less in rank than a Senior Lecturer. The administrative staff
members are headed by a Professional Secretary who in turn is responsible to
the Head of the Department. The Head of the Department is in turn responsible
to the Dean of the Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences.

10.       STAFF
LIST

TEACHING
STAFF

Name of Staff	Rank/Designation Salary Scale, date of first appointment.	F/T Or Ass.	Qualifications, dates obtained and specialization, membership of professional association and number of publications
Dr. Akashoro, G.O.	Reader	F/T	B.Sc – Mass Comm.(1987) M.Sc –Mass Comm. (1998) Ph.D – Mass Comm (2013)
Dr. L.A. Azeez	Reader	Associate	B.Sc Mass Comm. (1997) M.Sc Mass Comm. (2002) Ph.D Mass Comm. (2008)
Dr. Ajijola, B.A.	Senior Lecturer	Full Time	B.Sc (Mass Comm.) 1989 M.Sc (Mass Comm.) 2004 Ph.D (Mass Comm.) 2016
Dr. Ganiu, M.A.	Lecturer I	Full-Time	B.A. (Comm. & Lang. Arts) 2001 M.A (Comm. & Lang. Arts) 2009 Ph.D (Communication) 2018
Mr. Suleman, A.S.	Lecturer I	Full Time	NCE (Islamic Std/Pol. Sc.) 2003 B.Sc (Journalism) 2007 M.Sc (Mass Comm) 2012 Ph.D (Mass Comm) in view
Mr. Sule, M.O.	Lecturer II	Full Time	B.Sc Mass Comm. (1991) M.Sc. Mass Comm. (2010) Ph.D (Mass Comm) in view
Mrs. Wonuola, M.M.	Lecturer II	Full Time	B.Sc Mass Comm. (2005) M.Sc. Mass Comm. (2012)
Mrs.Sheriff, A.O.	Lecturer II	Full Time	B.Sc Mass Comm. (2013) M.Sc Mass Comm. 2016

Administrative/Non-teaching
Staff

Name of Staff	Rank/Designation Salary Scale and Date of First Appointment	Qualification and Dates Obtained
Mr. Wonuola Tajudeen	2012	ND. Mass Communication (2008) HND. Mass Communication (2012) BSc (Mass Comm) in view
Mr. Padonu, O.J.	2014	B.Sc Photo Journalism and Cinematography (2010)
Mr. Adewusi, A.D.	2014	HND Graphic Art  (2003)
Miss. Seye Roheemat, Damilola	2016	Credit (Certificate in Information Technology) 2015 WASSC  June 2010
Miss  Dosunmu Zainab	2010	Diploma in Desktop Publishing 2010 WASSC  Nov./Dec. 2011

11.   ADMISSION REQUIREMENTS

The
general admission requirements of existing Universities in Nigeria and the
Minimum Academic Standards (or Bench Marks) of the National Universities
Commission (NUC) have been closely studied and are being closely followed as a
guide for the determination of the academic qualifications for students’
admission and graduation at Al-Hikmah University. Such requirements are being
strictly followed for the admission of students into the undergraduate degree
programmes especially in the Department of Mass Communication.

UTME ADMISSION

For
a candidate to secure admission for undergraduate programmes of Al-Hikmah
University into 100 Level through the Unified Tertiary Matriculation
Examination (UTME) of the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB),
he/she must satisfy the following basic requirements:

1.       Obtain the required scores in the Unified
   Tertiary Matriculation Examinations (UTME) conducted during the year admission
   is sought.
2.       Must have obtained the SSCE through
   examination conducted by WEAC or NECO or GCE (O/Level) or Senior Islamic School
   Certificate (SISC) or the Teachers’ Grade II Certificate with Credit pass or
   equivalent in five (5) relevant subjects at not more than two (2) sittings,
   including English Language for Humanity-based or Social Science – based disciplines,
    and a pass in Mathematics.
3.       A Credit pass in English Language of the
   IJMB at the O/level is equivalent to the SSCE/GCE o/level or NECO for the
   purpose of admission into undergraduate programmes of the University.

DIRECT ENTRY ADMISSION

Candidate
for Direct Entry admission must satisfy the minimum requirements of at least
two (2) A/Level passes in relevant subjects or any other equivalent
qualifications. Such candidates must, in addition, obtain the SSCE or NECO, GCE
(O/Level) or SISC with credit passes in five (5) subjects at not more than two
sittings, including English Language.