THE DEPARTMENT OF COMMUNICATION AND MEDIA STUDIES
The Department of Communication and Media Studies formerly called Department of Communication and Language Arts, is one of the pioneer departments with which the University commenced academic activities in 2005.
In 2006/2007 academic session, the name of the Department was changed to Department of Communication and Media Studies in order to reflect more properly, the scope of its work and provide training in mass communication for the individual’s social, professional and intellectual growth. The change of the name and consequent review of the programme curricular were a very significant change in the development and study o Journalism and Mass Communication as an academic discipline in the University. In addition, its subsequent broadening to encompass skill acquisition in all the professional areas and adjuncts of Mass Communication has made it even more relevant to the country’s communication needs.
The Philosophy of the Mass Communication Programme of the Department of Communication and Media Studies is to produce graduate imbued and equipped with solid foundation of knowledge and skills in all the scholarship and professional areas of Mass Communication, to contribute enthusiastically and creditably to the development of Nigeria, Africa and the World at large. The Journalism and Mass Communication programme of our curriculum of the department is relevant to both national and global demands, as it is designed to prepare students for the challenge of the 21st century. The Department has no doubt contributed it quota to manpower development in the nation. Indeed as a result of the relevance of mass communication in all sectors of the economy, the number of our graduates employed in various sectors has increased phenomenally since 2009 when its first set of students graduated. The programme and products of the department enjoy wide acceptability in the print and broadcast media, advertising, public relations, oil and gas, banking telecommunications, publishing and the industries. Also, there have been continual testimonies in respect of superlative performance of the graduates of the department who get enrolled on postgraduate programmes in some other universities.
The Department offers a standardized programme leading to the award of Bachelor of Science (B.Sc.), in Mass Communication. The programme is fully accredited by the National Universities Commission (NUC) and Advertising Practitioners’ Council of Nigeria (APCON).
INFRASTRUCTURAL AND TRAINING FACILITIES
The department has a sizeable and befitting building in which there are well equipped classrooms with facilities for practical demonstrations. The department if equipped with training studios and facilities namely: Radio Studio, Television Studio, Public Relations and Advertising Studio and Resource Centre, Digital Photojournalism Studio and Print News Room. Having realized how central is acquisition of practical skills to professional excellence in journalism and Mass Communication, the University has fortified all the studios and practical centres with sophisticated and state-of-the-art equipment that has distinguished the department from many others in the country. Rich exposure of the students of the department to various areas and basic segments of media production has continually made the students industry-ready. The department is proud owner o two training publications – ACULIGHT, a newspaper being published every first semester, and ACUHERITAGE, a magazine being published every second semester. The Department brings practical application to what is learnt in the classroom. Students produce radio and television programmes, advert newspapers, magazines and documentaries. At 300 level, students embark on a six-month industrial training during the second semester all as part of their training in the Department.
The Department of Communication and Media Studies is blessed with quality and experienced faculty who are committed to the social, professional and intellectual growth of their students.
