Ph.D. Mass Communication

Doctor of Philosophy in Mass Communication

Ph.D. Mass Communication

  1. List of Academic Staff
NameStatus and QualificationResearch Interests
Kehinde K. KadiriReader & Ag. Head of Department.
B.Sc. (Unilag, Lagos); M.A. (Uni. of Legon, Legon, Ghana); Ph.D. (UUM, Utara, Malaysia)		Health Communication, Public Relations and Advertising
A.L. AzeezProfessor,
B.Sc., M.Sc., M.A. (Unilag, Lagos); Ph.D. (Leeds, UK)		Communication    Theory,                             Research, Social          Communication                    and Advertising
Saudat S. AbdulbaqiReader,
B.A. (BUK, Kano); M.Sc. (Unilag, Lagos); Ph.D. (UUM, Utara, Malaysia)		Development Communication, Public Relations and Advertising, Research
L.K. MustaphaReader,
B.Sc., M.Sc., (Unilag, Lagos); Ph.D. (IIU, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia)		Political Communication, Corporate Communication, Media Effects, and New Media Studies
R.M. AdisaReader,
B.A. (BUK, Kano); M.Sc. (Unilag, Lagos); Ph.D. (UIM, Utara, Malaysia)		Journalism, Media Conflict  and Media Framing Studies
P. UdendeReader,
B.A., M.Sc., Ph.D. (BSU, Makurdi)		Political Communication, New Media Studies, and Public Relations and Advertising
O.A. La‘aroSenior Lecturer,
B.Sc., M.Sc., (Unilag, Lagos); Ph.D. (UIM, Utara, Malaysia)		Broadcasting, Media Literacy, and Development Communication
Aishat Abdulrauf- SalauSenior Lecturer,
B.Sc., M.Sc., (ABU, Zaria); Ph.D. (UUM, Utara, Malaysia)		New      Media     and             Development Communication, Social Media and Political Participation
Aisha I. OmolosoSenior Lecturer,
B.A. (BUK, Kano); M.Sc. (Unilag, Lagos); Ph.D. (UUM, Utara, Malaysia)		Health    Communication,               Audience Research, and Media Studies
I.Y. AbubakarSenior Lecturer,
B.A. (King Saudi University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia); M.A. (BUK, Kano); Ph.D. (IIU, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia)		Broadcasting,                                   Global Communication, and Media Effect Research
*A.O. IssaProfessor,
BLS,  MLS  (ABU,  Zaria);  PGDE (UDUS, Sokoto); Ph.D.(UI, Ibadan)		Research Methods
*Omenogo V. MejabiProfessor,
B.Sc. (UI, Ibadan); PGD, M.Sc. (Aston, UK); Ph.D. (Unilorin, Ilorin)		Multimedia and Information Science
*A. TellaProfessor,
B.Ed., M.Ed., MLIS (UI, Ibadan); Ph.D. (Gabrone, Botswana)		Information Processing and Data Analysis
*H. IjayaProfessor,
LLB. (Unijos, Jos); LLM., Ph.D. (OAU, Ile-Ife,)		Communication Law

*Lecturers from other Departments

B. Introduction

The Ph.D. programme is designed to bring together teaching and research in media and communication that cut across the social sciences and arts, with the purpose of producing scholars and researchers, who would be versatile in the philosophy and sociology of Mass Communication. The programme will emphasize excellence in research and teaching of all facets of Mass Communication by incorporating a wide variety of theoretical and methodological approaches to understanding the mass media as a social institution, and understanding the centrality of communication as a social interaction.

C. Philosophy

The philosophy of this programme is the provision of unique opportunities for learning and obtaining a deep theoretical understanding of the structures, processes and effects of media outputs. It is, indeed, the provision of an understanding of the diverse perspectives explaining the dynamics of modern media practices in our contemporary times.

D. Aim and Objectives

The aim of the Ph.D. programme in Mass Communication is to provide students with advanced and critical knowledge of media process and key paradigm shifts in the study of media studies. The specific objectives are to:

  1. provide advanced methodological training in qualitative, quantitative, mixed methods and critical skills for understanding and studying mass communication as a social activity;
  2. provide a diverse, multi-disciplinary and theoretically oriented education on approaches to contemporary developments, issues and debates in Mass Communication;
  3. provide a critical engagement with diverse, theoretical, conceptual and empirical developments in research on media and communication that will prepare students for critical analysis of the media institutions, texts and effects;
  4. build on the media professional skills that might have been acquired at the lower level of studying mass communication by focusing on the theoretical underpinnings of the various specialized skills;.
  5. prepare students to contribute to research and scholarship in the field and profession of mass communication; and
  6. broaden students‘ knowledge on the various critical and methodological issues in mass communication.

E. Admission Requirements

Candidates eligible for admission into the programme must satisfy the following requirements:

  1. At least 5 ‗O‘ Level Credit Pass in Arts, Social Sciences or Sciences including English language and Mathematics.
  2. A first degree in Mass Communication, Journalism/Communication Studies/Arts from any recognized university with at least Second Class Lower Division.
  3. A Master degree (M.Sc. or M.A.) in Mass Communication, Journalism or Communication Studies from any recognised university with at least 60% or CGPA of not less than 4.
  4. In addition, all candidates that satisfy any of the requirements above must have an interactive session with members of staff of the Department.

F. Duration of the Programme

Full-time programme shall run for a minimum of 36 calendar months while part-time programme shall run for a minimum of 42 calendar months. The maximum duration of the programme is 54 calendar months for full-time students and 66 calendar months for part-time students.

G. Detailed Course Description

MAC 901 Philosophy and Theory of Mass Communication 3 Credits

Levels, elements and process of human communication: main branches of philosophy: major schools of thoughts. Communication and language in relation to reality. Nature of knowledge, value, freedom, truth, and objectivity. Issues in non- mediated and mediated communication. Traditional and contemporary schools of philosophy: Idealist, Realist, Rationalist, Empiricist, Pragmatist, Positivist, Marxist. Intensive readings on classic works. Role of the mass media in the political, economic and social development. Principles and values that undergird media policies. Degrees of control exerts by State/Government on mass media system. Missions, visions and strategies of media organisations. Advanced Mass Communication theories. Practical application of the theories to social realities. Functions,  elements,  activities,  effects  of  Mass  Communication. 45h (T); C

MAC 902   Traditions of Mass Communication Research 3 Credits

Research traditions as a confluence of the key factors in systematic inquiry: subject and problem under investigation, theorisation, and methodology. Major communication and mass communication research traditions: Lazarsfeld, Lewin, Lasswell, Hovland, Breed, McCombs, Katz, Rogers. Exploration of post-positivist, interpretive and critical perspectives to investigating mass communication phenomena. 45h (T); C

MAC 903 Data Analysis and Interpretation in Communication Research 3 Credits

Advanced analysis and interpretation of quantitative and qualitative data. Data analysis process: sorting of data, summarizing of data, resolving research questions, testing of hypothesis, making inferences from data. Statistical techniques for analyzing quantitative data. Use of various computer analysis software/tools in both quantitative and qualitative data analysis. 45h (T); C

MAC 955 Seminar 4 Credits

Pre-field seminar, entailing presentation of candidate‘s research design with emphasis on problematisation of the research topic, explication conceptualization/operationalization), literature review and theorization as well as methods of collecting and analysing data for the research. 180h (P); C

MAC 999 Thesis 6 Credits

Independent research project demonstrating knowledge of research methods in addition to quantitative and or qualitative analysis. Field research by students. Submission of a thesis that will not be less than 100, 000 words. Presentation and examination of the thesis. 270h (P); C


  • Graduation Requirements

Candidates must register for and pass a minimum 19 credits of core courses including, essentially, the Ph.D. thesis.

I. Summary Core Courses

MAC 901(3), 902(3), 903(3), MAC 955 (4), MAC 999 (6) = 19 Credits

Compulsory Courses             = 19 Credits

Optional/Elective Courses    = NilTotal   = 19 Credits

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