BA (Hons) in Social Sciences with major in Media Studies

Program Overview

Areas: Media and Mass Communication, Social Sciences, Print Journalism, Electronic Media, Advertising, Public Relations, New Media, Production, Writing and Copy-editing, Development Communication, Mass Media Research

Duration: 8 semesters, 4 years

Credits: 130

Career Paths: Print or Broadcast Journalist, editor, copywriter, PRO, Marketer/Advertiser, Audio/Video Producer, Reporter, Anchor Person.

• Program Description

  Keeping in view the political, economic, social forces that shape media and cultural industries in the contemporary world, there is a need to change the dynamics of media education in Pakistan. The four–year BA (Hons) in Social Sciences with Major in Media Studies has been designed to serve the same purpose. The degree is a combination of social sciences/ liberal arts and media courses. It is aimed at developing in students an in-depth understanding of the social, political, cultural and economic contexts in which mediated communication takes place and its impact on the society. The new degree will equip the students with the analytical abilities, knowledge, skills and awareness required to achieve personal and professional success in today’s media-rich world.

  This four-year degree is ideal for any individual who is looking for a career through which they can make a difference in contemporary society. It will prepare students to work as creative and versatile media innovators and leaders who are equipped to respond to new situations within an ever-changing and dynamic industry. This degree will enhance students’ employability across media and cultural industries and in business, government and third sector organizations.

• Admission Requirement

  To be eligible for admission to BA (Hons) in Social Sciences with major in Media Studies , a candidate must satisfy the following requirements: -

  • Educational Criteria
    • FA / F.Sc with at least 2nd division (i.e. 495 marks).
    • O-levels (in at least 6 subjects) and 3 A-levels. Advanced Subsidiary (AS) will not be taken into account.
    • High School Diploma and International Baccalaureate (IB) result with at least 2.5 CGPA
    • Equivalence certificate from IBCC IBCC for all international qualifications i.e. O-Levels/A-Levels, High School Diploma, International Baccalaureate etc.

    Students awaiting their FA/ F.Sc/A-Level results may apply for admission at BNU. Selected candidates will be granted provisional admission only, which may be regularized after they have been declared successful and meet the admission requirements of the university.

  • Written / aptitude test
  • Interview

• Courses

  • Distribution of courses:

    	No. of credit hours
    Media Studies courses (MS)	86
    HEC compulsory courses (M)	11
    Social Sciences and Liberal Arts courses (SS)	33
    Total no. of credit hours	130

     

    Key: MS = Media Studies, M= Mandatory, SMC= Combined, SS= Social Sciences and Liberal Arts

  • Semester I

    Course Title	Course Category	Credit Hrs.
    Intro to Media Studies	MS	3
    Introduction to Film	MS	3
    Introduction to Social Anthropology	SS	3
    Introduction to Political Thought	SS	3
    Academic Writing	SS	3
    	Total	15

  • Semester II

    Course Title	Course Category	Credit Hrs.
    Transnational Media & Popular Culture	SMC/SS	3
    Intro to Broadcast Media	SMC	3
    Islamic Studies/Pakistan Studies	M	1.5 + 1.5
    Reporting	MS	3
    Political Economy Or History of Modern World	SS	3
    Creative Writing Or Introduction to World Literature	SS	3
    	Total	18

  • Semester III

    Course Title	Course Category	Credit Hrs.
    Editorial and Opinion Writing	MS	3
    Computer Skills	M	2
    Photography	SMC	3
    TV Production-1	MS	3
    Pakistan: Perspective on State, Society and Economics	SS	3
    Communication Skills 1	M	3
    	Total	17

  • Semester IV

    Course Title	Course Category	Credit Hrs.
    Mass Media Theories	MS	3
    TV Production-2	MS	3
    Magazine Journalism/Production	MS	4
    Technology and Social Change	SMC-SS	3
    Globalization: Politics, Economics and Culture	SS	3
    	Total	16

  • Semester V

    Course Title	Course Category	Credit Hrs.
    Media Laws and Ethics	MS	3
    Advertising	MS	3
    Public Relations	MS	3
    Development Journalism	MS	3
    Communication Skills 2	M	3
    One of three courses offered by SLASS ***	SS	3
    	Total	18

  • Semester VI

    Course Title	Course Category	Credit Hrs.
    New Media	MS	3
    Radio Journalism	MS	3
    Documentary	MS	3
    Community Media	MS	3
    Media and Gender	SS	3
    	Total	15

  • Semester VII

    Course Title	Course Category	Credit Hrs.
    Research Methods	MS	3
    Graphics, Animation and Visuals	MS	3
    Convergence Journalism	MS	3
    TV News/ Current Affairs (Production-3)	MS	4
    One of three courses offered by SLASS ***	SS	3
    	Total	16

  • Semester VIII

    Course Title	Course Category	Credit Hrs.
    Media and Society	MS	3
    Social Media Marketing	MS	3
    Media Entrepreneurship	MS	3
    Thesis OR Two optional courses	MS	6 OR 3+3
    	Total	15

  • Important Notes:

    • Islamic Studies ( HEC mandatory 1.5 credit hours) and Pakistan Studies (HEC mandatory 1.5 credit hours) will be taught as one course of 3 credit hour in the second semester
    • Students can take two courses in lieu of thesis
    • Electives to be taken from the list of elective courses offered by Media Studies, TFT, Social Sciences and Liberal Arts. The electives courses are given in the third column of the next table.

  • Division of Major and Elective Courses

    Major Courses – Media Studies	Major Courses – Social Sciences	Electives***
    Intro to Media Studies	History of the Modern World	History of India/Subcontinent, including the British Raj and Nationalist Movements
    Introduction to Film	Academic Writing	Colonialism: Strategies of Power in Asia and Africa
    Transnational Media and Popular Culture	Introduction to Social Anthropology	The Idea of Democracy and Political History in Pakistan
    Introduction to Broadcast Media	Introduction to Political Thought	Pakistan: Roots of Dictatorships
    Technology and Social Change	Colonialism in South Asia	Introduction to Cultural Anthropology
    Photography	Islam and Modernity	Modern Political Theory/Philosophy
    New Media	Pakistan and the World: Key Relationships and Conflicts	Pakistan: Ethnography, Language, Culture
    Mass Media Theories	Globalization: Politics, Economics and Culture	Global Political Economy
    Opinion and Editorial Writing	Fundamentals of Economic Thought	Globalization: Promises and Perils
    Media laws and Ethics		Identity Politics: Race, Ethnicity, Nationality
    Reporting	Pakistan: Perspective on State, Society & Economies	Class and Power
    Magazine Journalism/ Production	Introduction to World literature	Modern Philosophy
    Advertising	Introduction to Philosophy	Europe: Reformation, Renaissance, Enlightenment
    Public Relations	Media and Gender	Introduction to Logic and Methods of Scientific Inquiry
    TV Production-1		Performance Literature
    Social Media Marketing		South Asian Literature
    TV Production-2		European Literature
    Documentary		Television: Information, Entertainment and Thought-Control
    Development Journalism		Media: Local, National, Global
    Media and Society		Reformist Thought in Islam
    Research Methods		Islam: First 300 years
    Radio Journalism
    Community Media
    TV News/ Current Affairs (Production-3)
    Graphics, Animation and Visuals
    Convergence Journalism
    Media Entrepreneurship
    Thesis

• Degree Requirement

  Successful completion of 130 credit hours of course work along with thesis/elective subjects