Bachelor in Media Studies
Kathmandu University (KU)
Kathmandu University is an autonomous, non- for-profit, non- government public institute of higher learning. It was established in November 1991 by an Act of parliament. The university’s main campus is located at Dhulikhel, Kavre.
KU is open to all disciplines of learning and research. With an aim to producing qualified work force and promoting education and research up to the advanced levels in various branches of learning, the university has launched several programs successfully in the undergraduate and postgraduate levels in its different Schools.
School of Arts
The School of Arts is one of the six schools at KU established to impart education in humanities and social sciences. The Dean of the School is Dr. Mahesh Banskota.
The School offers Diploma and Bachelor level programs in Music and Fine Arts, a Bachelor program in Buddhist Studies, and two-year Master programs in Human and Natural Resource Studies and Development Studies. Two Bachelor level programs in Social Work and Development Studies are running at the affiliated colleges in Kathmandu.
The program in Media Studies was launched in February 2006 under the Department of Languages and Mass Communication.
Bachelor in Media Studies
The Bachelor in Media Studies is an intensive four-year program. Besides consolidating knowledge in the discipline area, the students will get opportunities to broaden their understanding of the uses of information technology, appreciate the relevance of other allied subjects as useful for a media graduate, have an overview of subjects as diverse as statistics and philosophy, develop a strong base of communication skills, media literacy and an ability to carry out project works independently.
The program primarily aims to produce media professionals to fulfill the increasing demands of skilled and trained human resources in media organizations and media support services, and also to meet the requirements of educational institutions, development agencies and other service sectors.
What is Media Studies?
Media Studies focuses primarily on theories and practices in media of communication and media-related issues in view of the media’s primary role in cultural domain of contemporary human society. Students of Media Studies are exposed to various mass communication theories with interdisciplinary perspectives. In addition, they get opportunity to develop theoretical and professional knowledge on diverse media support services including advertising and public relations.
The Media Studies curriculum at KU, in addition, places emphasis on learning by doing, on the learning of the kinds of communication that are mediated by technology with concentration on the New Media.
Why Study Media?
Because mass communication media have a central place in social, cultural, political, economic and global upliftment of contemporary human life especially for those countries which have entered, or are seeking to enter, the age of information society, mass media provide vast career opportunities.
Since the traditional media of communication are today complemented by new technologies, a new generation of media professionals is required to work in this converging atmosphere. We want to prepare people who have the skills and knowledge to thrive in the ever-changing competitive environment.
Who Is Eligible?
Very truly, anyone who is young and serious in pursuing a career in several media sectors is the eligible person. But, admission to the program requires 10+2 or equivalent level in any discipline from a recognized institution with at least second division marks.
How Do Teachers of Media Studies Regard Their Students?
The teachers consider their students prospective leaders to transform the traditional society into the information society as per the nation’s need to cope with global changes. They will be determined to understand and cultivate individual talents of the students, and to facilitate their commitment towards professional and/or academic achievements in the field of mass media and media support services.
The nature of some of the subjects makes the learning atmosphere informal, though students cannot afford not to be serious at most times. The teachers will give prime importance to the development of independent and collective work habit.
What Do the Students Study?
Students have to study a wide range of areas from core media disciplines to social sciences, languages, computer technology and statistics. They don’t just attend lectures and try to reproduce them in assignments and exams. For instance, they don’t just learn grammar and its rules, but learn the language to use it appropriately to express their ideas, feelings, etc. They don’t just learn statistics as another subject that uses some numbers, but to apply its knowledge to prove a point through analysis
They will learn to work with peers and teachers. They will learn to work in a varied and complicated atmosphere. Above all, they will learn to respond to challenges appropriately.
Where Will the Students Work?
In classrooms, audio/visual lab, computer lab, photography lab, seminar halls, and any other assigned fields. And, in fact, in all the areas where a future media professional is expected to reach- a radio/TV station, a publication house, and any “happening place”.
The Courses
In order to be awarded a Bachelor Degree, the students must complete 136 credits hours from the categories listed below:
| S.N. |
Description of the Courses |
Credits |
| |
Language (Nepali & English) | 20 |
| |
Allied (Computer) | 5 |
| |
Allied (Nepal Studies, Sociology, Anthropology, Psychology, Economics, Philosophy, Statistics) | 23 |
| |
Discipline [Taught] | 61 |
| |
Discipline [Practicum] (Group Activities, Workshops, Projects, Summer Training) | 10 |
| |
Independent Study | 3 |
| |
Internship | 3 |
| |
Dissertation | 6 |
| TOTAL |
131 |
|
COURSE LIST FOR BATCH 2009
FIRST YEAR
| Semester I |
Semester II |
||||
| Code |
Course Title |
Cr |
Code |
Course Title |
Credit |
| NEPL 151 | 
|
3 |
NEPL 152 |  |
3 |
| ENGL 151 | English I | 3 |
ENGL 152 | English II | 3 |
| NEPS 151 | Nepal Studies | 2 |
SOCL 152 | Social Science II | 3 |
| SOCL 151 | Social Science I | 3 |
MEDS 102 | State and Role of Media in Nepal | 3 |
| COMP 101 | Computer Foundation | 2 |
STAT 116 | Statistics and Probability | 3 |
| MEDS 101 | Intro. Communication Theories | 3 |
MEDS 111 | Group Activity 2 | 1 |
| MEDS 110 | Group Activity 1 | 1 |
|
||
| Total Credits |
17 |
Total Credits |
16 |
||
SECOND YEAR
| Semester I |
Semester II |
||||
| Code |
Course Title |
Credit |
Code |
Course Title |
Cr |
| NEPL 201 |  |
2 |
PSYC 251 | Introduction to Psychology | 3 |
| ENGL 201 | Functional English | 2 |
COMP 251 | Internet Technology* | 2+1 |
| ECON 251 | Economics | 3 |
MEDS 203 | Journalism I | 3 |
| PHIL 201 | Philosophy | 3 |
MEDS 205 | Advertising | 3 |
| MEDS 201 | Global Media | 3 |
MEDS 206 | Public Relations | 3 |
| MEDS 202 | Media, Culture & Society | 3 |
MEDS 211 | Media Project | 2 |
| MEDS 210 | Media Workshop | 2 |
|
||
| Total Credits |
18 |
Total Credits |
17 |
||
*The code is subject to change.
THIRD YEAR
| Semester I |
Semester II |
||||
| Code |
Course Title |
Credit |
Code |
Course Title |
Credit |
| NEPL 301 | ?????? ??????????? ???? | 2 |
ENGL 301 | English Creative Writing | 2 |
| MEDS 301 | Research Methodology | 3 |
MEDS 305 | Media Ethics and Law | 3 |
| MEDS 302 | Text and Audience | 2 |
MEDS 306 | Visual Media | 3 |
| MEDS 303 | Journalism II | 3 |
MEDS 307 | Broadcasting & New Media | 3 |
| MEDS 304 | Media Mgmt. & Marketing | 3 |
MEDS 308 | Multimedia Applications | 3 |
| MEDS 351 | Human Rights &Conflict MGMT | 3 |
MEDS 311 | Summer Training (2 weeks) | 1 |
| MEDS 310 | Media Workshop | 2 |
|
|
|
| Total Credits |
18 |
Total Credits |
15 |
||
FOURTH YEAR
| Semester I |
Semester II |
||||
| Code |
Course Title |
Credit |
Code |
Course Title |
Credit |
| MEDS 401 | Media Entrepreneurship | 3 |
MEDS 405 | Online Media | 3 |
| MEDS 402 | Print Media | 3 |
MEDS 406 | Television | 3 |
| MEDS 403 | Radio | 3 |
MEDS 450 | Thesis | 6 |
| MEDS 404 | Integrated Marketing Communications (IMC) | 3 |
MEDS 441 | INTERNSHIP (12 weeks) | 3 |
| MEDS 440 | Independent Project | 3 |
|
||
| Total Credits |
15 |
Total Credits |
15 |
||
Total credits earned: 131
The courses in the first two years (four semesters), in particular, will provide students exposure to the diverse fields of humanities and social sciences along with a foundation on computing skills and statistics. The course will introduce the basics of the field. Additionally, students will have adequate time to practice English and Nepali so as to acquire linguistic competence needed to a media professional.
Group Activities and Project Works provide students the opportunity to work with peers, teachers, and media professionals within and out of the campus. Students will work in classrooms, laboratories, studios and happening places. The objective of these courses is to introduce the idea of teamwork as functional in professional media environment and to familiarize students with the ways of information gathering, arrangement and presentation so that they realize their own potential roles for future.
Apart from the regular credited lectures and practical works, the Department of Languages and Mass Communication has provisions to organize non-credit/guest lectures and interaction programs by renowned personalities of both discipline and allied fields. The focus areas of these programs are workshops and seminars on Creative Writing, Media Criticism, and Contemporary issues on language, literature, sociology, politics, etc.
Students are expected to work in diverse settings depending on the fields of specialization they choose in the final year. The university encourages them to get acquainted with contemporary media industries through occasional scheduled visits and outdoor training packages. In the final year, they will go for an intensive phase of internship in a media institution before they finally qualify for a degree.
Admission Procedure
In order to be admitted for the program, the students are required to pass a written entrance test and participate in a group discussion. The final selection will be done after a personal interview by the concerned faculties and subject experts.
Cost of the Program
The total expense for the entire 4-year program is Nrs. 237000.
For Contact:
Department of Languages and Mass Communication
School Of Arts
Kathmandu University
Dhulikhel, Kavre
P. O. Box: 6250, Kathmandu, Nepal
Phone: +977-11- 661399
Fax: +977-11-661443
Email: media@ku.edu.np; dolmc@ku.edu.np
URL: www.ku.edu.np