About Us.

Generally the department admits students that have been recruited at a national level through the ministry of education. Students who have successfully completed the courses offered in preparatory schools are admitted to the department. Thus students of any high school background with reasonable English language mastery can join the department. Moreover, interested applicants who had diploma in any field from a recognized institution can be admitted as advanced standing students.

 

Duration of Study.

Since its inception, the BA degree program in Journalism and Communications has been offered for three years full time study. However, the findings of the research conducted on the need assessments of the graduates as well as the stake holders suggested that it is difficult to produce effective and well qualified professionals in this short period of time as students hardly had any sense of this discipline in their previous study in the high school. Thus, by taking in to account the necessary professional skills and knowledge they should gain in the training and to make true our dream of producing professional journalists and communication expertise, a four-year full time BA degree program curriculum was forwarded for consideration at the national council. However, based on the recommendations by the council to employ some other means to overcoming the problems rather than extending training time, the department designed a three-year full-time degree program which emphasizes on a range of active methodologies and practice-oriented course offering approaches.

 

  

Graduation Requirement.

Students will be eligible for graduation upon:

·         Successful completion of all courses in major and supportive courses with a minimum of CGPA of 2.00 in the overall 112 credit hours, and

·         Having no “F” grade scored in any of the courses taken.

 

 

Degree Nomenclature.

English:  The Degree of Bachelor of Arts in Journalism and Communications

Amharic: ¾›`ƒe v‹K` Ç=Ó] uÒ²?Ö˜’ƒ “ ¢S<’>Ÿ?i”e

 

Course Delivery Methods.

The department uses gapped-lecture as a major means of transferring knowledge; however, practical subjects are taught through learning by doing. For this purpose, students are arranged in a manageable size group and coached to practical journalistic ends with course instructors and studio technicians. Moreover, an on campus newspaper will be organized soon to engage students in various practical journalistic activities.  Demonstration, presentation, laboratory, discussion, seminars, field work and media monitoring are among methods of teaching which are generally applicable across various disciplines.

 

Assessment and Evaluation of Courses.

The department generally uses an eight-point letter-grade evaluation system (A,B+, B,C+, C,D+, D and F), with A being the highest, and F, the lowest possible grades. A student must not have an F in any of the courses and should score an average of C (2.0) in order to successfully complete his/her studies and obtain a degree in Journalism and Communications. Every “+” sign multiplies by 0.5 and hence differs from grades without a “+” sign. Criteria reference grading system is adopted.

 

The department generally follows a continuous/progressive evaluation procedure, unless and otherwise the nature of the course requires otherwise.

 

Thus, it basically follows the following procedures:

  • For course work:
    • Continuous assessment
    • Mid-semester examination
    • Final examination
    • Seminars
    • Reflection paper
  • For practical courses:
    • Studio report/ Field report
    • Practical examination
    • Written examination
    • Reflection paper