About the Faculty

      ... of Communication

Introduction to the Field of Communications

In the communications field, ideas are transmitted through mass media. Communications professionals seek to inform, educate, persuade, or entertain masses of people, using books, newspapers, magazines, radio, TV, film, advertising and public relations.

The Faculty of Communication emphasizes the study of the nature, diversity, and impact of communication on the development of the individual, group and institutions within society. Attention is given to theoretical perspectives on the nature of communication as a process involving messages, meanings and media; investigation of the variety of ways in which communication is practiced in everyday life; and evaluation and analysis of the outcome that differing communicative choices entail for individuals and institutions.

Communication and Journalism/Mass Media graduates find opportunities in a wide variety of careers in business, education, government and the non-profit sectors. Skills in verbal and written communication are one of the most sought after characteristics employers look for when hiring. Radio and TV, advertising and public relations, publishing, sales, financial services, and university student services are but a few of the many areas in which these graduates find employment. Any work that involves communicating as its focal point is a potential career field. The communications industry is a competitive one, however, and experience is a must.

While most graduates work in a related occupation, others choose different directions. Experience has allowed many to progress without further education. However, an advanced degree can offer an edge, particularly with larger corporations. Many careers do not require a specific major but rather a wide range of demonstrated skills and accomplishments. Regardless of your career choices, increase your marketability to employers through internships, responsible work experience and good grades.

Working in the Field

The degree offers students the opportunity of pursuing careers in a wide range of areas such as:

Admissions Counselor Convention Organizer Advertising Director Copy Writer Fundraiser Public Information Officer Corporate Trainer Correspondent Human Resource Administrator Public Relations Specialist Audio-visual Consultant Critic Journalist Radio/TV Newscaster Biographer Customer Relations Rep. Librarian

Sales Representative Lobbyist Screen/Script Writer Circulation Director Editor Market Researcher Station Programmer Columnist Entertainment Agent Media Buyer Technical Writer Commentator Film/TV Director Media Production Assistant Tour Guide Consumer Advocate Personnel Recruiter

Types of Employers

An employer is a person or institution that hires employees or workers and may include everything from individuals hiring a single person to governments and businesses which hire many thousands of employees. In most western societies governments are the largest single employers, but most of the work force is employed in small and medium businesses in the private sector. The following types of employers are relevant to Communication majors:

Advertising Agencies Magazines Book Publishers Community Organizations Diplomatic Services Manufacturing Firms Educational Organizations Newspapers

Entertainment Firms Professional Associations Public Relations Firms Health Organizations Radio Stations Telecommunications Firms Libraries/Museums Television Stations

The Faculty

The Faculty of Communication presents specialized programmes and courses in its particular field. The Faculty is renowned for its quality tuition and students can expect to receive professional guidance by highly qualified professors and tutors, supported by excellent learning support material throughout your period of study. The programmes and courses presented are described below.

Career-Oriented Degrees

Our undergraduate degree, with its three programmes (Cert., Dip. and Bachelor) presenting more than 9 communication courses are designed to educate you for a career in Communications. The B.Coms degree is suitable not only for students who wish to acquire a broad-based training for a career in the Communication sector, but also for graduates who wish to complement their degrees with a more humanity-oriented qualification.

Learning Programmes

The Faculty presents the following six learning programmes:

• Certificate in Communication (Cert Coms)
• Diploma in Communication (Dip Coms)
• Bachelor of Communication (B.Coms)
• Bachelor of Communication (Honours) (B.Coms (Hons))
• Master of Communication (M.Coms)
• Doctor of Communication (D.Coms)

Compulsory Courses

Our 14 prescribed courses presented for the above programmes are:

• Study Skills
• Introduction to Communication
• Interpersonal Communication
• Public Speaking
• Technical Communication
• *English for Careers
• *Academic Vocabulary
• Mass Media
• Classroom Communication
• Non-Verbal Communication
• Asking Critical Questions
• Journalism
• *English for Careers
• Social Misunderstanding

The course marked *asterisk may be replaced by english first language speakers.
Two courses from other faculties are recommended to be selected during the
first two programmes (Cert and Dip.):

• Psychology of Life
• Social Psychology

Choice of Courses

On the third and fourth year (B.Coms and B.Coms Hons) levels, students have a choice from 8 additional courses in order to complete the required number of credits for that particular level. Courses may also be chosen from other faculties. Students may choose from the following courses:

• Politeness
• Feature Writing
• Allocution, Voice & Diction
• Teaching a Foreign Language
• Film Communication
• Persuasion
• Rhetorical Communication
• Argumentation

Programme Syllabi

For details on the courses presented in our learning programmes, please refer to the programme syllabi.

Further Readings

You can read more on the following related subjects:

• Faculty creed
• Communication programmes
• Programme summaries
• The tuition model
• The course professor
• The academic tutor

The sitemap and the index place these and other valuable information at your fingertips

Postgraduate Study

The Faculty offers more than undergraduate study. Once you have obtained a degree in our Faculty, you may register for an honours degree or a postgraduate diploma. After passing your honours degree, you may register for a Master's degree for which you have to submit a dissertation. On completion of the Master's degree, a Doctor's degree represents the highest step on your academic ladder (also called academic path).

The academic ladder is schematically presented as follows:

See Communication Course Fees

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