(Note: The Diploma in Journalism and the Mass Communications can be offered by any university, college, or institution like a vocational school or NGO training center. The institution must however be accredited or recognized by the home government. Individual students wishing to participate in the course must find an institution in their home communities through which they can enroll)

1. The Diploma in Journalism and the Mass Communications will be a two-year distance education program that will combine mass media theories and practical work in research, layout and design. Students will also be expected to take nonjournalism courses and internship at the end of their program.

 2. Prerequisites.

i. Students must have completed secondary or high school

ii. Students must have completed Certificate in Journalism-level Volume 1 Introduction to the Mass Media and Community Journalism, and Volume 2 Basic Writing Skills. Evidence of completion will be a certificate issued by the Indiana University of Pennsylvania in partnership with African Virtual University.

 3. English proficiency requirement. In order to graduate students must pass a TOEFL level English proficiency test. The program will offer English grammar and spelling exercises.

 4.  The Diploma in Journalism and Mass Communications will be issued, subject to the satisfactory completion of the program by institution, as part of the African Virtual University – Indiana University of Pennsylvania Partnership.

 5. Fees will be determined through a protocol established by the African Virtual University and the institution.

 6. Technology requirements. The institution offering the course will be required to adopt the African Virtual University technology requirements for the distance education classroom BEFORE any classes can start.

 7. They will include:

              I.      A networked computer with a dedicated Internet connection.

            II.      Speakers and a microphone connected to the computer to enable students to listen to real-time lectures and to interact with the instructor.

          III.      An overhead projector.

          IV.      A laboratory with enough computers to enable students to type their assignments and take on-line tests. If a lab is not available for the program arrangements can be made for students to access the Internet elsewhere.

            V.      A DVD player

 8. Facilitator. The program will require a course facilitator to manage the class.

 9. IT. The course will also require an Information Technology person to manage the distance education technology.

 10. Content. Each class will be issued with:

              I.      DVD lectures for all the courses

            II.      webCT ID and password

          III.      Interwise account

 At the end of the course students will be issued with a Diploma in Journalism and Mass Communications.

 11. Program details.

 12 Year 1.

 12.1. Semester 1

 Program introduction.

i. Administrative session though Interwise. Course instructor will hold a session with administrators and facilitators before classes start.

ii. Introduction to information and communications technology for all students. All students must demonstrate practical skills in using webCT before they can begin the course.

 Volume 1. Introduction to Pan African studies.

Duration: 10 weeks

 This course will help students understand the politics, history and approaches to the studies of Africa and Pan Africanism. The course is essential for the journalists to have an intellectual understanding of the continent they will be writing about.

 Assignments:

Book report. Each student will be required to read a book on Africa and Pan Africanism and write a report.

Tests. There will be TWO online based tests

Volume 2. Introduction to journalism and mass communication theories

Duration: 10 weeks

 This course will introduce students to mass communication theories

Assignments:

Paper on the mass media in student’s country

Tests. There will be two online based tests

 12.2. Semester 2.

 Volume 3. Introduction to Social Science Research.

Duration: 10 weeks

 Students will be introduced to social science journalism and research methods. This is increasingly relevant skill for journalism in Africa.

 Assignments:

Individual research assignments. Each student will work on a research instrument which will require the student to interview members of the community.

Class survey assignment. The class as whole will undertake a major survey of a substantial number of members of the community on some major national issue.

One test

 13. Year Two

 13. 1 Semester 1

Volume 4. Introduction to African political systems

Duration: 10 weeks

Students will learn more about African politics, regional and international organizations, development and other issues confronting Africa today.

Assignments:

Paper. Students will choose a topic relevant to Africa, research and write a term paper.

Tests: There will be three tests

Volume 5. Practicum on Broadcasting

Duration: 10 weeks

Students will produce materials for broadcasting. Where no broadcasting facilities students will record their material on tapes and offer them for distribution through Internet broadcasting.

13.2 Semester 2

Volume 6. The Editorial Process

The course will introduce students to mass media management, editing, photojournalism, layout and design. Students will also learn how to design advertisements

Assignments:

1. Students will be required to take photojournalistic pictures.
2. Two tests
3. Students will produce a paper.
4. Students will also produce an online publication
5. Students will design advertisements

Volume 7. Internship

Students will identify institutions in their country for an internship of not less than three months.

GRADUATION:   Certificates in the Diploma in Journalism will be issued to the participating institution. Signatures for the Diploma in Journalism will be drawn from the host institutions, African Virtual University and Indiana University of Pennsylvania.

For information about establishing a Diploma in Journalism and Mass Communications at your institution please contact:

Sidiki Traore, AVU Regional manager

African Virtual University

71 Maalim Juma Rd, Kilimani

P.O. Box 25405 - 00603

Nairobi, Kenya

Tel: +254.20.2712056

Email: contact@avu.org

or

Bureau Régional de l’Afrique de l’Ouest

Sicap Liberté VI Extension

Villa No. 8 VDN, B.P. 50609

Dakar, Sénégal

Tel: +221 867 0327 .

Email: bureauregional@uva.org

For information about  the course content and syllabus please contact :

Dr. Stanford G. Mukasa

Instructor: AVU-IUP Journalism and Mass Communication Program

Associate professor

Stanford G. Mukasa, Ph.D.

Associate Professor

Journalism Department

Indiana University of Pennsylvania

434 Davis Hall

Indiana PA15705

Phone/VoiceMail: (724)3573097

Cell: (724)4670001

Fax: (724)3577845

Email: mukasa@iup.edu

URL: http://www.chss.iup.edu/mukasa/