The Department of Mass Communication and Journalism at the University of Dhaka is regarded as the top-ranking Department of its kind in the country. Over the years it has produced brilliant graduates who are now working in the leading national newspapers and electronic media, government and nongovernmental organizations, international organizations, advertising agencies, bank and business organizations, and academic institutions.
The Department aims to ensure quality education, develop a strong sense of accuracy, fairness and diversity, and create an awareness of the rights and responsibilities of media professionals and scholars.
The Department offers a four-year undergraduate programme. It lays emphasis on the process, uses and effects of different types and forms of communication, interrelationships between media and society, structure, organization and history of mass communication, emerging forms of communication technology, international communication, techniques of media reporting and editing, and communication research methodology.
The theory, syntactic, semantics and pragmatics of mass communication are given considerable importance in the entire gamut of the academic programme. The culture and heritage of the country, political and socio-economic perspectives, and contemporary national and international affairs are well integrated into the course structure. The courses are designed so as to enable the students to have a broad view of media, society and culture, with a good grounding in the theory and practice of mass communication.
The course instructors are at the cutting edge of their profession. They are consistently serious about enhancing their knowledge and skill for the benefit of the students.
Students will take 32 courses in eight semesters. They need to earn a total of 128 credits in fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of BSS.
41 courses · 164 credit hours across 8 terms
| Code | Course title | Credits | |
|---|---|---|---|
| MCJ 102 | Concepts of Journalism | 4 |
It enables them to be well-grounded in understanding the key concepts and the structure, process, functions and implications of journalism. Defining journalism from different perspectives, the course throws light on news, feature, editorial and post-editorial, op-ed page, news writing structure, elements and types of news, interviewing, and pressure on the press. It puts emphasis on newspapers, addressing its roles, responsibilities, management and basic issues of ethics in journalism; it gives a brief view of journalism as practised in television, radio and new media. |
| MCJ 103 | Mass Media in Bangladesh | 4 |
It deals with the emergence, growth and development of newspaper, electronic media, film and the new media. As the history of Bangladeshi media is linked to that of undivided India, the issue will be addressed from the root periodically. Important topics include the historical growth of the media in the context of socio-cultural, political and economic environs, media during Bangladesh War of Liberation and post-independence period. It also discusses media structure, performance and effects of media; profile of media personalities; emerging media and media institutions/ organisations of the country. |
| MCJ 104 | Journalistic Writing Skills: Bangla | 4 |
There is no fundamental difference between lucid literary writing and good journalistic writing. Basing on this postulate this course is designed to familiarize the students with examples of good Bangla taken from selected literary writings and selected features and news stories taken from newspapers. Students will read the selected texts intensively. Close familiarity with the texts will help them in writing good Bangla. The instructor will evaluate the students’ intensity of involvement in reading the texts. Students will go through a continuous process of writing in the classroom and at home with regularity and unremitting seriousness. They will write simple, graphic descriptions/ narratives of events, people and places, nature and everyday life, simple news stories and features for the newspapers. They will also translate into Bangla some of the features and news published by BBC News, the New York Times and the Guardian to learn more about style. While discussing the writing exercises of the students, the instructor will throw light on the good styles of writing, some basic rules of effective writing and pay attention to rectifying spelling errors the students may make and discuss the relevant rules of correct spelling and proper use of punctuation. |
| MCJ 101 | Concepts of Communication | 4 |
It discusses the meaning of communication, describes the nature, scope and purpose of communication and highlights the value of the study of communication. Throwing light on the types, forms and functions, the course explains the models of the process of communication. It discusses the self and perception, listening, verbal and nonverbal messages. The entire course is discussed in the context of culture. It touches on the changing pattern of human communication against the backdrop of rapid growth of new information technologies. |
| Code | Course title | Credits | |
|---|---|---|---|
| MCJ 105 | Interpersonal and Group Communication | 4 |
Topics of interpersonal communication underscore universals and axioms in interpersonal communication, effectiveness in interpersonal communication, self in interpersonal communication: self-awareness, self-disclosure, assertiveness, shyness, communication apprehension, non-verbal and verbal communication, interpersonal relationships: functions, stages, emotions, conflicts. The discussion of group communication includes group structure, development, dynamics, cohesiveness, group-think, leadership, conflict resolution. The course throws light on structure of organizational communication, power, decision making and communication patterns in organizations. |
| MCJ 106 | Mass Communication: Structure and Process | 4 |
It discusses the meaning of mass communication and range of its functions. It discusses media structure and performance, media support system, composition and nature of media audience, process of media effects, barriers to communication, language and meaning, cognitive dissonance. It also throws light on the comparative media systems and the communication revolution. |
| MCJ 107 | Bangladesh Culture and Heritage | 4 |
It discusses the origin and development of the Bengalis as a nation, political developments from the medieval period to the 19th century, origin and growth of Bengali language and literature, Renaissance and the social reformations in 19th century. It sheds light on different components of Bengali culture and heritage such as music, theatre, architectural trends, sculptures, folk culture and cultures of indigenous societies. The course will give a brief overview of dress, food, festivals and other forms of culture in different ages. |
| MCJ 108 | Journalistic Writing Skills: English | 4 |
It is primarily designed to help students improve communication skills, especially writing and reading. They will learn and appreciate a range of styles and forms of expressions through prediction, inference, summarizing, and analyzing academic and beyond academic contexts with emphasis on journalistic view point. The course lays particular emphasis on writing process, paragraph structure, patterns of paragraph, paragraph development by narration, description, listing or examples, comparison or contrast, definition, classification, cause and effect and problem solution, practicing grammar and building vocabulary based on the students’ need assessment. It throws light on writing simple features and letters to the editor. Students will be encouraged to think and write with confidence in ways that reflect their individual perspective and identity. |
| Code | Course title | Credits | |
|---|---|---|---|
| MCJ 201 | News Gathering and Writing | 4 |
Highlighting the importance of news gathering, it discusses the techniques of writing news, arranging news structure, writing different types of intro. The students will learn how to report accident, public speech, death and simple social and cultural events. The course helps the students identify the key points of news and the sources, how to get background information and how to develop resources to make the coverage balanced and effective. |
| MCJ 202 | ICT Skills | 4 |
The course gives hands-on experience in certain computer skills like office programs (Word, Excel, Power Point, Access) and graphics. Students will get familiar with computer terminologies and brief history of computer from socio-cultural perspective. Internet and mobile experience have become integral part of journalism in contemporary world. This course pays particular attention to how the students can build internet and mobile phone experience more effectively. They are familiarized with the various uses of internet with specific purposes. They will learn the basics of mobile photography and video, which is of considerable use in the making of Mojos. |
| MCJ 203 | Social Processes and Institutions | 4 |
It makes an analysis of the interplay among social institutions, culture and individuals by drawing on various perspectives and major theories of sociology. Students are instructed to critically examine contemporary social changes and underlying causes of social problems. A wide range of topics in the course includes family, social class, race and religion, gender, social inequality, power differentials, social movements, and other social phenomena. The course discusses different approaches to studying the impact of social processes on our lives. |
| MCJ 204 | Contemporary Bangladesh Affairs | 4 |
It discusses the emergence of Bangladesh as an independent country and its evolving political reality, economics and socio-cultural aspects. To give a background, it throws light on the development of movements against British rule from the early phase of the twentieth century, creation of Pakistan, growth of the sense of Bengali nationality through language movement, cultural movements and movements in more concrete political forms such as Six-point Programme, Eleven Points Programmes, mass upsurge in 1969, general election of 1970, the Liberation War and independence in 1971. The course discusses a wide range of post-independence issues highlighting the Constitution and its amendments, assassination of Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, jail killing, rise of military rule and anti-military movements, concept of caretaker government, present state of democracy, economic growth and social advancement. |
| Code | Course title | Credits | |
|---|---|---|---|
| MCJ 205 | Introduction to Editing | 4 |
It is concerned with editing skills that are required for working in the newspaper. The focus will be on copy editing, rewriting, headline writing, simple page make-up of a newspaper and translation. The course is a good combination of the concepts of news editing technique and practice. |
| MCJ 206 | Mass Communication Theories | 4 |
The course lays emphasis on the theories of media and society, media structure and performance, media content, audience and effect. A wide range of topics include information theory, theory of uses and gratifications, theories of power and social change relating to the media, agenda setting and so forth. The course sheds light on violence and erotica, basics of semiotics, cultural and alternative viewpoints, uses and implications of new media. |
| MCJ 207 | Political Processes and Institutions | 4 |
The course relates the thoughts of political thinkers from Plato to Marx to the explication of political realities, processes and institutions. It enables the students to comprehend and critically assess the ways in which political culture, democracy and electoral process, authoritarian regimes, political party, government, bureaucracies, political participation, political socialization, social movements, and public policies are operative. The course discusses the influences of political art, music, film, political content in the media and advertisement on politicization. |
| MCJ 208 | Contemporary World Affairs | 4 |
It sheds light on the scale of global change in terms of crisis, conflict, cooperation and conformity from the early phase of the 20th century. It discusses the world wars, revolutions and the period between the world wars with an emphasis on the great depression, rise of fascism and Nazism, spread of communism, near-breakdown of capitalism, end of old empires and growth of neo-imperialism. It examines rivalry between the U.S. and U.S.S.R. in the cold war, peaceful coexistence and dismemberment of the USSR. It looks critically at the increase in mass unemployment, cyclical slumps, growing economic inequality from mid-1970s to the present. Some of the major conflicts like the Vietnam War, war and turmoil in the Middle East, wars in former Yugoslavia, wars in Afghanistan and war on terrorism come under the purview of the course. |
| Code | Course title | Credits | |
|---|---|---|---|
| MCJ 301 | Newspaper Reporting | 4 |
It is designed to stimulate the investigative and interpretative bent of mind of the students in gathering and writing news. In addition to writing news regularly on a variety of issues, the students will read good reports selected from Bengali newspapers, the Washington Post, the New York Times, The Independent (UK) and The Guardian. Particular emphasis will be laid on writing news related to politics, different issues and debates in development, complex socio-cultural issues. The instructor critically discusses the students’ reporting exercises and makes an evaluation of their reading of selected news stories. |
| MCJ 302 | Media Laws and Ethics | 4 |
It reviews the press freedom and press influence, responsibility of press, factors that affect the functioning of journalism such as truth, lies, manipulation, temptation, bias, fairness. It discusses the laws related to the mass media in Bangladesh. A wide range of topics include defamation, decency and morality, contempt of court, parliament, copyright, media employees, official secrecy, press council, censorship, declaration and registration etc. It also discusses fundamental human rights, the constitution of Bangladesh and its amendments. |
| MCJ 303 | Economic Processes and Institutions | 4 |
Throwing brief light on some basic concepts of economics, it discusses forms of market, national income, money, banking, investment, budgetary action, export and import, economic growth, inflation, employment, wealth and income distribution. It sheds brief light on development perspectives and views the part played by manufactures, traders and consumers in the national economy, the role of multinational corporations and international financial institutions. |
| MCJ 304 | Communication Research Methodology | 4 |
It gives an overview of the concepts, methods, and tools, by which communication research is designed, conducted and recorded. It enables the students to identify and avoid errors in enquiry, select research topic and define concepts/terms used in a research project, design research plans, formulate research questions and hypotheses and review literature. Topics include survey method, content analysis, focus group discussion, experimental method, ethnographic/field research. Students are instructed in making an effective research proposal. |
| Code | Course title | Credits | |
|---|---|---|---|
| MCJ 305 | Media, Society and Culture | 4 |
It examines the connectedness of media with culture and society, throwing light on effects studies, political economy of communication and cultural studies. It investigates pattern of media ownership, media manipulation of consent, role of the media in the social construction of reality, impact of media-disseminated messages on individuals. It pays particular attention to the knotty issue of how the media shape contemporary ideology and culture and look at the ways in which human identity is increasingly influenced by media representations. These issues will be addressed mainly from the perspectives of Adorno and Horkheirmer’s Culture Industry, Herman and Chomsky’s propaganda model, Benjamin’s analysis of art in the age of mechanical reproduction, Mosco’s political economy perspective, During’s discussion of culture and McChesney’s analysis of media and globalization. The discussion will lead to the Bangladesh context with a view to relating the theoretical perspectives to local realities. |
| MCJ 306 | Statistics in Communication Research | 4 |
It attempts to explain measures of central tendency and variability in statistical data; principles of sampling and probability; hypothesis testing; strength of association between variables; computing and interpreting regression equations. The course enables the students to acquire competence in using statistical software in data analysis. |
| MCJ 307 | International Communication | 4 |
It enables the students to identify and critically analyze issues and trends in international communication from theoretical perspectives. Students of this course develop an insight into various issues in this field by studying evolution, channels, processes, dimensions, and politics of international communication. They understand various implications of global media by analyzing the relationship between globalization and media. The course seeks answers to some cardinal questions: Why is the flow of global news and information extremely one way? Who controls the flow of information and news in a global context? What is cultural or media imperialism? It discusses critically the use of empowering technologies of Internet, satellite television, and digital video by different groups, governments, and individuals, role and impact of media in international relations with an emphasis on war and peace and ethical issues in international communication. |
| MCJ 308 | Editing and Publishing | 4 |
Students in this course go for continuous practices of editing/writing news stories in different forms and with emphases. They will be able to understand the preparation of schedule, layout and page make up of a national daily. They learn the more advanced forms of page makeup using different methods. They are given hands-on experience in the production and publication of newspapers. Topics include techniques of editing complex stories; layout and page make up; grading and beautification process of newspapers; process of printing system; comparative analysis of news of different newspapers. |
| Code | Course title | Credits | |
|---|---|---|---|
| MCJ 401 | Communication and Information Technologies | 4 |
It focuses on the foundations of modern information technologies including the new media, throwing some light on the history of the technologies. It discusses the technological structures and functions of the following technologies: computer hardware and software, internet, wireless technology and mobile phone, and satellite. The varied aspects of social media and issues like privacy, obscenity, security, digital divide, gender and ICT, political economy of new media, civil movement and new media, and internet governance are included in the scope of this course. |
| MCJ 402 | Gender and Communication | 4 |
It explains the basic concepts of gender studies, including patriarchy, feminism(s) and the formation of gender identities and roles. It focuses on the gendered nature of communication in various contexts, such as, family and social relationships, educational and professional environments, print and electronic media. It looks at gender in the context of the rapid growth of technology. The gender stereotypes at all levels of communication and culture are discussed with a view to highlighting the necessity of a comprehensive gender sensitive media policy. |
| MCJ 403 | Broadcast Journalism | 4 |
It focuses on the unique nature of picture, footage and sound, special skills, knowledge and background that the students need to learn the craft of broadcast reporting. It covers different forms of broadcast news, finding, gathering and capturing news. Topics include sourcing stories, reporting with sound, good interviewing technique, writing broadcast copies, audio and video storytelling and feature making, ethics and law of broadcast journalism. The course lays emphasis on preparing broadcast bulletins, news presentation and visiting television and radio stations. |
| MCJ 404 | Development Communication | 4 |
It discusses the misconceptions of the nature of development, distinction between development and underdevelopment, essential features of development, issues of inequality and poverty, and influences of communication policies and strategies on the process of development. By drawing on theoretical and methodological perspectives it discusses the prospects and limitations of development-related communication approaches and the critical views on media’s role in reinforcement/removal of inequality. |
| Code | Course title | Credits | |
|---|---|---|---|
| MCJ 405 | Video Production | 4 |
It familiarizes the students with the role and technical characteristics of video technologies, production process, script writing, news gathering, lighting, sound, editing (aesthetic and technical perspectives) etc. Topics include development of video, camera controls, camera facilities, video production, production approaches, choosing microphones, functions of microphones, aims of lighting, basic lighting approaches, editing principles, aims of makeup. The topics are discussed at both theoretical and practical levels. |
| MCJ 406 | Photo Journalism | 4 |
It helps the students learn the techniques of press photography to be visual storytellers. Emphasis is laid on the practical and theoretical aspects of photography, overview of history of press photography, and the broad nature and scope of photo journalism. Students learn about camera configuration, techniques of composition, sharpness, focusing techniques, lighting techniques, caption writing and extending photo journalism to social experiences. They also become familiar with the properties and techniques of digital and analog photography. |
| MCJ 407 | Economic and Business Journalism | 4 |
It covers news and features, articles about people, places and issues of business organizations. Students learn how to report about a wide variety of issues, such as, budget, stock market, stock exchange, bond market, major business and industrial issues, SME issues, monetary and fiscal policy, business persons and consumers. |
| MCJ 408 | Graphic Communication | 4 |
It covers the theoretical aspects of graphic communication and influences of visual communication on audience. Topics include evolution of graphic communication, verbal and visual elements of communication and design and production of graphic communication, graphic design technology used in traditional and new media. It discusses the difference of type, image and three-dimensional graphics, copywriting for graphic communication, graphical representation of data and its use. Students are expected to participate in a term project on designing effective graphic communication material. |
| MCJ 409 | Online Journalism | 4 |
It briefly introduces the fundamentals of cyberspace and its culture. Topics include the nature, advantages and disadvantages of online journalism, difference between traditional print journalism and online journalism, advertising on the web, circulation of web newspapers, citizen journalism and future of web journalism. The course throws light on both global and Bangladesh contexts. It lays emphasis on practices using online platforms, writing news stories, features and articles on the web, presentation and layout of web newspapers and magazines. |
| MCJ 410 | Public Speaking and Broadcast Presentation | 4 |
This course gives instruction in preparing and delivering speeches within a group discussion and public setting. The topics include overview of a speech, types of speeches, effective coordination between verbal and non-verbal communication, audience analysis, speech content and its organisation and effective delivery. Students prepare and deliver speeches on a variety of issues as part of practical exercises. They also give close reading of selected great speeches and try to study the art of speaking by listening to the speeches. This course familiarizes the students with certain presentation techniques for broadcast media. |
| MCJ 411 | Feature, Editorial and Op-Ed Writing | 4 |
It attempts to present two types of writing: one is writing in the form of story-telling in a narrative style, the other is writing in a relatively serious manner. The first kind focuses on the importance of interviews in feature writing, learning the art of adapting the tone of writing to different categories of subject matter, using apt introductions to play up a strong news angle or maximise a story's human interest. Feature writing explores eyewitness and offbeat approaches. The second kind focuses on effective editorial/opinion writing. It is intended to help students in writing clear, stylish and logically sound editorials, columns and op-eds. Emphasis is laid on the role of opinion writing, gaining credibility through careful writing and developing a style. Besides regular writing exercises, the students will read selected significant features, editorials and op-eds. The course instructor will make an evaluation of the depth of their reading. |
| MCJ 412 | Magazine Editing and Production | 4 |
It describes how to conceptualize a magazine; plan issues and work with writers; check an article’s fit and tone, structure, lead and conclusion; check facts and grammar; consider the ethical issues. It relates the process of producing a magazine; provides a behind-the-scenes look at the making of well-known magazines; analyzes the future of magazines in a digital environment and ongoing importance of magazine journalism. The course gives a brief overview of the magazines in Bangladesh from a socio-cultural perspective. |
| MCJ 413 | Business Communication and Corporate Social Responsibility | 4 |
It focuses on various issues of business communication and covers a wide range of topics, such as, concepts and principles of business communication, barriers to business communication, essentials of good business communication and building blocks for effective business communication. It discusses strategic corporate communication, listening in business, body sports, creating goodwill, good writing, presentation, group discussion, interview, time management, working in a team, conflict handling, report and proposal writing, teleworking. It also throws light on business sustainability and CSR and overall effects of CSR on business and society. |
| MCJ 414 | Development Support and Strategic Communication | 4 |
It gives an overview of the concepts of Development Support Communication (DSC), its origin, features and emerging trends. It attempts to elucidate the process of communicating organization policy strategically and understand the actors that drive communication in the public sphere and modulate public perception. Both DSC and strategic communication aim at reaching the benefits of development to the broader sections of the people; therefore the combination of the two is expected to contribute to the dynamism of communication and eventually to socio-economic amelioration. The course discusses the planning of DSC campaign with a focus on the advantages of campaign, creating the plan, techniques of campaign, selecting media and method, prospects and challenges of DSC in Bangladesh. In order to relate the discussion to strategic communication the course throws light on the context of strategic communication, theories of strategic communication, strategic planning, messaging strategies, implementing plans, issue and crisis management. Case study: Students will work on developing a communication strategy for a development project of their own choice. |
| MCJ 415 | Research | 4 |
The student conducts a rigorous study under the supervision of a teacher throughout the semester. Regular meeting with the supervisor for proper guidance is an integral part of the course. S/he will write a research proposal and finally submit a complete monograph. |
| MCJ 416 | Internship | 4 |
A student undergoing internship will be under the primary supervision of a teacher of the Department and guidance of a responsible person in the place of internship. S/he will meet the supervisor at the Department on a regular basis, keep a diary and write a paper drawing on theories of communication/journalism to give a theoretical basis of his/her practical work. Finally s/he will submit a report. |
| MCJ 417 | Comprehensive | 4 |
It has two parts –written comprehensive and oral comprehensive. There is no specific course work here. The purpose of the comprehensive examination is to evaluate the cumulative knowledge the students have acquired through the four-year period. |