Bachelor of Science (BS) in Media and Communication Studies (CMS)

Overview:

COMSATS University Islamabad (CUI) is a prestigious educational institute with highly developed computer labs, excellent faculty, and a professional working environment. The university provides a complete educational ecosystem that facilitates and promotes the training of future graduates and professionals in various disciplines that enjoy great market value. The launching of BS Media and Communication Studies, a 4-year program, in Fall 2022 at CUI, Islamabad campus is yet another significant contribution of CUI to promoting quality education in the country. This program will open many avenues for graduates at the national and global levels by enabling them to excel in Journalism and other related specializations such as Advertising, Public Relations, Print Media , Electronic Media, Social Media, and Film, Theatre and Television, thereby enhancing their employability.

The curriculum has been designed in line with the needs of emerging media trends to fulfill theoretical, practical and job placement requirements. The Program includes courses in Electronic Media, Print Media, Social Media, Advertising, Public Relations, Development Communication, Information Technology and Media Management. These courses shall shape media graduates who will not only get prominent jobs in the media industry but will also become Media Entrepreneurs which is yet again a new dimension in Media education.

Program Objectives

The BS Media and Communication Studies aims at helping students to become better communicators. The program will develop different skills for writing and editing news stories. It will help the students to understand different kinds of media in-depth besides providing good quality education in the field of Journalism for assuming different roles in print, electronic and social media. Such roles include writers, producers, directors, and so on. It aims at offering market driven knowledge and skill set to the students of this program. The program focuses on polishing of skills in advertising for organizing effective media campaigns and preparing better and more effective communicators to meet the challenges in Public Relations domain. It will equip future media practitioners with essential professional skills and competencies and enhance their critical abilities in conducting media research. The BS Media and Communication program will inculcate a sense of media literacy to overcome the challenges of media globalization.

Curriculum:

Minimum Duration:

• Number of Years: 04
• Number of Semesters: 08

Course work (Min No. of Courses) (Min No. of Credit Hours) Core Courses 14 42 Discipline Specific Foundation Courses 10 30 Institutional Courses 9 27 General Courses Chosen from Other Departments 8 24 Elective Courses with Specialization 4 12

Total No. of Courses of the Program: 45

Total No. of Credit Hours of the Program: 135

TENTATIVE PLAN OF STUDIES

SEMESTER - I

No.	Course Code	Course Title	Credit Hours
1.	CMS101	Introduction to mass communication	3(3,0)
2.	HUM104	Functional English	3(3,0)
3.	HUM110	Islamic studies	3(3,0)
4.	CMS104	Computer skills for mass communication	3(3,0)
5.	HUM220	Introduction to psychology	3(3,0)
6.	CMS406	Introduction to social media	3(3,0)

SEMESTER -II

No.	Course Code	Course Title	Credit Hours
1.	CMS408	Introduction to Advertising and Public Relation	3(3,0)
2.	HUM105	Writing and presentation skills	3(3,0)
3.	HUM111	Pakistan Studies	3(3,0)
4.	CMS273	Introduction to History	3(3,0)
5.	HUM320	Introduction to sociology	3(3,0)
6.	CMS483	Online journalism	3(3,0)

SEMESTER -III

No.	Course Code	Course Title	Credit Hours
1.	CMS306	Fundamentals of Broadcast media	3(3,0)
2.	HUM221	International relations	3(3,0)
3.	CMS309	Fundamentals of news reporting (English/Urdu)	3(3,0)
4.	HUM103	Communication skills	3(3,0)
5.	CMS494	Photo Journalism	3(3,0)
6.	CMS419	Introduction to human rights	3(3,0)

SEMESTER -IV

No.	Course Code	Course Title	Credit Hours
1.	CMS423	Communication theories I	3(3,0)
2.	CMS461	Sub-editing and page designing (Theory & practice)	3(3,0)
3.	MTH004	Calculus and analytical geometry	3(3,0)
4.	HUM115	Functional Urdu	3(3,0)
5.	CMS307	Current affairs	3(3,0)
6.	HUM202	Creative thinking and decision making	3(3,0)

SEMESTER -V

No.	Course Code	Course Title	Credit Hours
1.	HUM223	Introduction to philosophy	3(3,0)
2.	CMS418	Reporting and editing workshop	3(3,0)
3.	CMS396	Feature, column and editorial writing	3(3,0)
4.	CMS403	Development support communication	3(3,0)
5.	POL201	Political Science	3(3,0)
6.	CMS413	Media ethics and law	3(3,0)

SEMESTER -VI

No.	Course Code	Course Title	Credit Hours
1.	CMS201	Mass media in Pakistan	3(3,0)
2.	CMS433	Media seminar	3(3,0)
3.	CMS439	International communication	3(3,0)
4.	CMS442	Research methods I	3(3,0)
5.	MTH161	Introduction to statistics	3(3,0)
6.	ECO400	Business economics	3(3,0)

SEMESTER -VII

No.	Course Code	Course Title	Credit Hours
1.	CMS456	Communication theories II	3(3,0)
2.	CMS462	Research methods II	3(3,0)
3.	CMS407	Journalism, (specialization)	3(3,0)
4.	CMS474	Internship	3(3,0)
5.	Specialized subject I	3(3,0)
6.	Specialized subject II	3(3,0)

SEMESTER -VIII

No.	Course Code	Course Title	Credit Hours
1.	CMS488	Media Entrepreneurship	3(3,0)
2.	CMS499	Final Project/Research report	6(6,0)
3.	Specialized III	3(3,0)
4.	Specialized IV	3(3,0)

Specialization Courses

Print Media

1.	CMS409	Advanced Reporting	3(3,0)
2.	CMS419	Introduction to Human Rights	3(3,0)
3.	CMS429	Advanced Subbing	3(3,0)
4	CMS341	Magazine and Book Production	3(3,0)

Electronic Media

1.	CMS449	Radio News Reporting and Production	3(3,0)
2.	CMS459	TV News Reporting & Production	3(3,0)
3.	CMS469	Radio Program Production	3(3,0)
4.	CMS479	TV Program Production	3(3,0)

Advertising & Public Relations

1.	CMS482	Advertising I	3(3,0)
2.	CMS492	Public Relations I	3(3,0)
3.	CMS495	Advertising II	3(3,0)	CMS482
4.	CMS497	Public Relations II	3(3,0)	CMS492

Development Support Communication

1.	CMS481	Development Communication and Society	3(3,0)
2.	CMS493	Development Journalism	3(3,0)
3.	CMS496	Rural and Urban Sociology	3(3,0)
4.	CMS498	Advocacy and DSC Campaign (Practicum)	3(3,0)

Social Media

1.	CMS421	Social Media and Journalism	3(3,0)
2.	CMS431	Social Media Production	3(3,0)
3.	CMS441	Social Media Strategy and Marketing	3(3,0)
4.	CMS451	Social Media Project	3(3,0)

Film, Theatre and Television

1.	CMS465	Film and Theatre	3(3,0)
2.	CMS480	Film Essentials	3(3,0)

Career Opportunities:

The Media and Communication Studies program is often associated with Journalism, but the graduates of this program can be part of diverse fields. The scope of the degree varies with the student's choice of the type of area selected as their specialized fields, such as Print Media, Electronic Media, Advertising & Public Relations, Development Support Communication, Social Media, Film, Theatre and Television. 

The candidates admitted to BS Media and Communication Studies can choose a wide range of career options. They can work as a journalist in print / electronic media. Public relations officers in different national and multinationals or be part of various NGOs and help in development projects in the country. These graduates can work as successful entrepreneurs and advertisers and effectively boost the economy using social media platforms. They can work freelance or become directors, producers, and writers in the entertainment industry. Likewise, they can be part of film, theatre, and television and consequently, enrich the field of Art and Literature. Furthermore, they can play a constructive role in society by joining the teaching and research domain.

Admission Requirements:

As per the existing criteria of CUI for Humanities undergraduate programs.

Minimum qualification for admission

Intermediate or equivalent qualification with minimum 50% marks from an accredited institution.

Scholarships available:

Contact US

Ms Rakhshanda Cheema
Email: rakhshanda.cheema@comsats.edu.pk
Tel: 051-90496040