School of Communication Studies

About School of Communication Studies

 

The School of Communication Studies at Panjab University is the oldest in South Asia, having started its innings in 1941 at the University of Punjab, Lahore. The founding father of the School was Professor PP Singh who studied journalism in the University of Missouri, Columbia, USA. The school prepares the students to perform a vital and challenging function of finding out the truth amid complicated situations, usually under a time constraint, and communicating it in a clear, engaging fashion to the public. The school also educates scholars of communications and journalism, and functions as a significant guiding force in journalism and inculcates in its students the habit of thinking of themselves as leaders for change and improvement in the profession.

The School strives to adapt to changes in the profession, to respond to new developments in the way news is delivered and to prepare students to work in different environments. The coursework and syllabi are regularly updated to be in tune with the latest industry trends. In over 70 years the school has produced alumni who work not only in traditional journalism careers as reporters, editors and broadcasters, but also are public relations executives, media entrepreneurs, advertising professionals, Web publishers and journalism educators.

Our programmes - PhD in Mass Communication, Master of Arts (Journalism and Mass Communications), PG Diploma in Advertising and Public Relations, PG Diploma in Hindi Journalism, PG Diploma in Punjabi Journalism, are intensive, rigorous and demanding. The quality, vitality and innovation of our programs remain unsurpassed, providing the foundation and opportunity for students not only to succeed, but to shape the future of journalism and mass communication. Our students avail of internship in prestigious media organizations including a mini internship (online) with international news agency UPI.

The School runs the following courses:

1. PhD programme: Students already registered with SCS for their PhD are working in areas as varied as photojournalism, feature writing, sports journalism, participatory journalism, press laws, science communication, investigative journalism, readability studies and communication theories. Expertise for supervision is available in the areas of Print journalism (including business, environment, science, life style and citizen journalism), media management, advertising, press laws, online media, development communication and health communication.
2. Master of Arts (Journalism and Mass Communication): It is a comprehensive course including all areas of the study of Mass Communication. The course covers, Print Journalism, Broadcast Journalism, Media Management, Public Relations, Advertising and Communication Research. Internship is provided to each student in prestigious media organizations for a two month period during their last semester at the School. A number of practical training activities on a day to day basis are undertaken by the students in all the courses offered by the School and the evaluation hinges upon a continuous assessment of the students.
3. Post graduate diploma in Advertising and Public Relations: Advertising and Public Relations are areas of specialized knowledge. Through this course, the students are trained in these areas.
4. Post graduate diploma in Hindi journalism: Considering the fast growth of Hindi press in the last decade, this course caters specifically to the requirement of the Hindi media.
5. Post graduate diploma in Punjabi journalism: The growth in regional language press had led to a great demand for qualified journalists. This diploma caters specifically to the requirement of the Punjabi media in the region.

Our faculty is experienced, independent thinkers with a history of professional accomplishment who are deeply committed to teaching, challenging, and supporting their students. The part-time/visiting faculty of the School comprises of eminent, veteran and award-winning reporters, columnists, authors, magazine editors, documentary filmmakers, and digital media specialists.

The School of Communication Studies has recently been awarded with the prestigious Chanakya award, for the ` Business Communication School of the Year (National) 2011-2012., by the Global Conclave of Public Relations Council of India.

Jyotirgamaya: 91.2 MHz
91.2 MHz, Jyotirgamaya, the CRS (Community Radio Station) of the Panjab University is being run by the School of Communication Studies for more than a year now. It was inaugurated on 13th February, 2011 and is acting as a unifying agent amongst the university faculty, students and also the community. Having started its journey with just a half-an-hour broadcast per day, today the station proudly offers four broadcasts a day that include a total of nine programs running for over 10 hours.

The aim of setting up the CRS is to impart knowledge and information related to education, health, environment, social, cultural and local issues and announcements specific to the community, and to provide a platform for showcasing the talents and expertise of the local people in the vicinity of the CRS which comprises of 30 villages. The CRS also acts as a training ground for the community and also for the students of electronic media.

EMMRC (Educational Multimedia Research Centre)
An Educational Multimedia Research Centre (EMMRC) is on its way to be set up in the School of Communication Studies. The foundation stone of the Centre was laid on 13th February, 2011. The EMMRC will be linked with the EMMRCs all over the country for making education more inclusive. The centre will also be able to produce socially relevant documentaries.