UNIVERSITY OF DAR ES SALAAM
SCHOOL OF JOURNALISM AND MASS COMMUNICATION (SJMC)

Postgraduate Diploma

The programme is intended to cater for the needs of those individuals either without the qualifications to join a degree programme or with interest in pursuing areas of mass communication but have not taken a relevant degree programme.

    The general objectives of the course:

   (a)       To provide specialised training in specific fields of Mass Communication.

   (b)       To enhance competence and skills in specialised areas of Mass Communication, Journalism, Public Relations and Advertising.

   (c)       To facilitate possible upgrading for B.A.  Mass Communication, B.A.  Journalism and B.A.  Public Relations and Advertising   degree holders who do not have the requisite GPA to be admitted into the                 M.A. programme.

 


Entry Qualifications

(a)       To pursue a postgraduate diploma in Mass Communication, a candidate must have a good first degree or Masters from a recognised University; OR

(b)       Possess an Advanced Diploma in any discipline.

 

Duration

The Postgraduate Diploma in Mass Communication is offered as a full-time and an evening programme. The fulltime programme lasts for one academic year whereas the evening/part-time programme lasts for 18-24 months. The evening programme is suited for candidates who cannot manage to undertake full-time studies.

 

Examination regulations

In addition to general University examination regulations, the following examination regulations shall apply:

 

a)         Each course shall be subjected to a final examination at the end of the semester/course.

b)        The final examination shall contribute 50% to the final grade of a course and the continuous            assessment shall contribute 50%.

c)         A full-time or evening candidate whose overall GPA at the end of semester two is below 2.7 shall be discontinued from the programme.

d)        A full-time or evening candidate whose overall GPA at the end of a second semester is 2.7 or above but has failed in one or more courses shall be required to sit for a supplementary examination in the courses.

e)         A candidate who fails in any subject in a supplementary examination shall be allowed to repeat the failed subject during the semester in which the subject is offered; no candidate shall be allowed to repeat a failed subject twice.

f)         The minimum attainable grade in a supplementary examination shall be “B”.

g)         A candidate who fails any subject in a supplementary examination shall be allowed to continue to the next semester but shall be required to repeat the failed subject during the semester in which the subject is offered.  No candidate shall be allowed to repeat a failed subject twice.

h)        Candidates will be required to write a research project paper. Each student shall be allocated a supervisor, with whom the student should have regular contact during the period of           research.  The proposals for the project shall be submitted by the middle of the second semester.                 

The project shall carry a total of 12 credits.

 

Semester 1

Candidates will be required to take at least 72 credits from the following courses:

 

Core Courses

Code                                                                                          

Course Title                                                                                

Credits                                                              

CO 500

Introduction to Mass Communication Theory                

12

CO 502

Writing for the Media 

12

CO 503a

Radio Broadcasting

6

CO 503b

Television Broadcasting                                        

6

CO 505

Photojournalism 

12

CO 506

Media Law                                                              

12

CO 510

Public Relations and Advertising                          

12

 

Optional Courses

Code                                                                                          

Course Title                                                                                

Credits                                                             

CO 501

Journalism Issues and History                             

12

CO 504

Editing, Layout and Graphics                               

12

 

Semester 2

Candidates will be required to take at least 72 credits from the following courses:

Core courses

Code                                                                                          

Course Title                                                                                

Credits                                                             

CO 507

Journalism Ethics

12

CO 508

Mass Communication  Research

12

CO 511

Media Management               

12

CO 513

Advanced Print Journalism

12

CO 514

Advanced Broadcast Journalism

12

CO 515

Advanced Public Relations and Advertising

12

CO 599

Research Report

12

 

Optional Courses

Code                                                                                          

Course Title                                                                                

Credits                                                              

CO 509

Public Information Programme

12

CO 512

Specialised Writing             

12

 

 

COURSES FOR THE EVENING PROGRAMME

The courses for the evening programme shall be conducted as follows:

 

Year 1

Semester 1

Candidates are required to take all 72 credits of the following courses:

 

Core Courses

Code                                                                                          

Course Title                                                                                 

Credits                                                              

CO 500

Introduction to Mass Communication Theory   

12

CO 502

Writing for the Media                                        

12

CO 503a

Radio and Television                                       

12

CO 503b

Television Broadcasting                                    

12

CO 501

Journalism Issues and History                          

12

CO 504

Editing, Layout and Graphics                             

12

 

Semester 2

Candidates are required to take at all 72 credits

Code                                                                                          

Course Title                                                                                

Credits                                                             

CO 505

Photojournalism

12

CO 506

Media Law

12

CO 510

Public Relations and Advertising                      

12

CO 507

Journalism Ethics                                              

12

CO 509

Public Information Programme                        

12

CO 511

Media Management

12

CO 512

Specialised Writing

12

 

Year 2

Semester 1  

Code                                                                                          

Course Title                                                                                

Credits                                                             

CO 508

Mass Communication Research                       

12

CO 513

Advanced Print Journalism

12

CO 514a

Advanced Radio Broadcast                               

12

CO 514b

Advanced Television Broadcasting                  

12

CO 515

Advanced Public Relations and Advertising      

12

CO 599

Research Report

12