Overview of Department

The Department of Communication Studies (Decs) offers a Development Communication programmes at both the undergratduate and postgraduate levels. The Department finds it necessary to focus on Development Communication within the context of the dire need for participatory development and information for accelerated development. Graduates in Development Communication are needed in the country to ensure that communication processes and techniques are applied scientifically for proper coordination of the development process and analyses of risk management, project design, and active engagement (empowerment) of beneficiaries of the process. This underscores the relevance of the programme to national development agenda. International multilateral institutions such as UNESCO, UNICEF, UNDP and the FAO have over the years demonstrated strong interest in Development Communication both as a field of study and at practical levels by collaborating with academic and media-related institutions and civil society organizations to share its human and material resources in a bid to ensure sustainable human development. The programme provides opportunities for collaboration with such development agencies, donors and other academic institutions to conduct research and provide development-support information.

Objectives

The Department aims at training a critical breed of graduates who can use their enhanced research and analytical skills to explore ways of applying information, technology and communications to address various development challenges.

Our progrommes

Programmes currently on offer in the department include the following:

  1. PhD Development Communication (3-year regular programme)
    Though a PhD in Development Communication programme is not unique to SDD-UBIDS, the content of this University’s programme stands it out as a specialized programme targeted at training highly qualified persons to work in the emerging knowledge economy, which offers broad opportunities for innovative ways of enhancing productivity at various levels of the national economy. Aside equipping students with skills in communication research, knowledge of the philosophies and theories of development communication as well as mass media theories and practices, this programme is tailored towards giving the student a cultural philosophy of development communication. It aims at enhancing research around the social, cultural and environmental dynamics of African development challenges and how communication theory and practice could address such unique challenges.
  2. MPhil Development Communication
    The MPhil Development Communication trains professionals for policy level decision making that takes into account the crucial role of communication as a facilitator in development processes. Unlike many development communication programmes in Ghana that seem to focus on training professionals in mainstream mediated communication, DECS programme takes into account the importance of communication processes and media that can facilitate people’s involvement in sustainable development.
  3. MA Development Communication (Sandwich)
    The programme is meant to provide research training for students wishing to go on to MPhil/PhD research in the media, communication and development field and for entry to a variety of media, communication and development related careers. It also offers opportunities for students to specialize in particular areas of interest in the field of media, development and communication with an emphasis on development challenges in deprived communities of the country.
  4. BA Development Communication
    Development Communication offers a unique opportunity for students to learn how to use the processes of communication to achieve development, particularly within deprived segments of society. Therefore, the aim of the programme is to equip students with knowledge, relevant skills and theories and practical experiences in Development Communication that would enable them to mainstream communication into development programmes in agencies/institutions at the beginning and throughout the programme cycle, thereby making development efforts broad-based, transparent and participatory.
  5. Diploma in Social and Behaviour Change Communication (SBCC)
    The programme is structured to fill gaps in the communication, information and education approaches of private and public organisations to executing campaigns and programmes targeted at tacking development problems such as environmental disasters, social conflicts and health-related issues. development activities both public and private environmental sanitation, health and safety issues. Products of SBCC bring onboard much needed knowledge and skills for designing and developing innovative communication strategies to strengthen approaches of private and public organisations aimed at addressing development problems in various sectors – health, environment, education and agriculture in an emerging communication and information savvy society.

Career Prospects

Graduates of the Department could be employed in various universities and research institutions. They could also be employed in the public and private sectors, including but not limited to public and civil services, teaching/research institutions, communication and media industry, and local and international non-governmental organizations (NGOs) as well as donor agencies. Those who pursue the Department’s graduate programmes could set up their own research or consultancy agencies to offer consultancy services to both the private and public sectors of Ghana, as well as to international institutions. Based on their competence and resourcefulness, products of the programme would fit well into the dynamic and competitive job market.

Enquiries

Email: lnaaikuur@ubids.edu.gh ;

Mobile: +233 ….

Admissions

Call: +233(0)392097256 or +233(0)392097257; 

Email: admissions@ubids.edu.gh ; WhatsApp: +233550918837