Vision

To create an intellectually grounded learning environment with local, national and international relevance for training the future communication/journalism/media professionals.

Mission

To train socially responsible communication/journalism/media professionals/researchers. To enable students to acquire wholesome knowledge with a good mix of theoretical/ and research content, skill-oriented content and community/societal development-oriented content.

Programmes Offered

M. A. in Mass Communication

M.Phil and Ph.D. programmes are offered in Mass Communication. Candidates with fellowships can apply by mailing their interest to hodmedia@cutn.ac.in. Candidates without fellowship need to take up the CUCET. To join the M.A. in Mass Communication programme, the candidates have to attend the all-India CUCET entrance examination, which stands for Central Universities Common Entrance Test. Every year, CUCET is conducted by a consortium of Central universities. CUCET is conducted at over 50 centres across the country for admission to various under-graduate, post-graduate and research programmes.

Eligibility Criteria:

Any Bachelor’s degree from a recognized university with at least 55% marks for General Category, 50% marks for EWS/OBC (Non-creamy Layer) and 45% marks for SC/ST/PWD candidates at Graduate level.

Duration of the programme: Two Years (Four Semesters)

Mode of Selection: CUET Score

Sanctioned Strength: 30

Curriculum:

• Syllabus
• OBE Syllabus

Ph.D. in Mass Communication

Eligibility Criteria:

A consistently good academic record possessing a Degree in Mass Communication /Journalism and Mass Communication/Communication, obtained from a recognized University /Institute or Foreign University equivalent (approved by AIU).

Curriculum:

• Syllabus

MA and PhD Syllabi

• MA Mass Communication 2013
• MA Mass Communication 2016
• MA Mass Communication 2018
• MA Mass Communication 2021
• MA Mass Communication 2023
• PhD Mass Communication 2018
• PhD Mass Communication 2021

Highlights – Innovative Syllabi

The highlight of the MA programme is the innovative syllabus, which besides seeking to meet the requirements of NCRF (National Credit Framework) and NEP 2020 (New Education Policy 2020), aims to be locally relevant, nationally significant and internationally attractive. The syllabus is focussed equally on theoretical, community and skill oriented courses. For the first time in India, the syllabus introduces papers on local sound cultures, local visual cultures, media and child rights, alternative story telling, community video production and community radio production.

When the syllabus of the MA Mass Communication programmes was revised in 2021, four community communication and media production courses were introduced for the first time in India. They are: i) Community video production, ii) Community audio production ii) Local sound cultures, performing arts and communication and iv) Local visual cultures. These courses are the backbone of the new community oriented communication initiative of the Dept. (Local Community, Culture and Communication Linkages LCCCL).

Revamping of the MA Mass Communication syllabus with the objective of providing approx.30% local community oriented production courses proved to be a remarkable move. This project brings together the teachers of the Dept. who are offering community communication oriented courses, masters students and school children/youth of neighbouring villages of CUTN and result in outputs ranging from publications to documentary films.
Similarly, the PhD programme also scores well on the innovative courses it embodies. Traditions, Theories and Concepts in Communication Studies and Gender, Human Rights and Communication are offered for the first time in India at the PhD level. In offering these programmes, the Dept. seeks to look beyond scholarly gains. The Dept. stresses on field based and practice oriented learning.

Highlights – International Lecture Series -Critical Communication Studies Lecture Series (CCSLS)

1) Critical Communication Studies Lecture Series (CCSLS) was inaugurated on April 09 2021 with special lectures by Prof.Brenda Beck (Canada) on My Fifty Year Study of an Oral Epic from Kongu Nadu:Some Surprising Results.Prof.Terada Yoshitaka (Japan) on Drumming and Marginalised Community:Documentation of a Cultural Heritage in the Making.and Prof.Biswajit Das (India) Communication Studies in India.Online.
2) Critical Communication Studies Lecture Series (CCSLS) Session 2. Intersectional Communication, Gender and Consent in Shakespeare, Prof.Artemis Preeshl, Faculty Member, Loyola University/Elon University,USA. 14 July 2021.Online.
3) Critical Communication Studies Lecture Series (CCSLS) Session 3. Literature, Colonialism,Nationalism and Indian Diaspora: Invisibilization of Indians in the Republic of Vietnam (1955-1975).Dr Pham Phuong Chi, Tenure Researcher, Vietnam Academy of Social Sciences and Alexandre Von Humboldt Post Doctoral Research Fellow, University of Hamburg.Germany. 11 August 2021.Online.
4) Critical Communication Studies Lecture Series (CCSLS) Session 4. Culture, communicaiton, Tholkappiyam/Sangam Literature: A Bird’s Eyeview, Prof.Meenakshi Bharathi, Former Professor and Head, Dept.of Tamil, Institute of Distance Education, Madurai Kamaraj University. India. 01 September 2021.Online.
5) Critical Communication Studies Lecture Series (CCSLS) Session 5. The Untold Story of India’s First Newspaper, Mr Andrew Otis, Fulbright Fellow 2021-2014. PhD Research Scholar, Philip Merril College of Journalism, University of Maryland, USA. 06 October 2021.Online.
6) Critical Communication Studies Lecture Series (CCSLS) Session 6.Foreshadowing the Great Re b e l l i o n – Ve l l o r e Re v o l t 1 8 0 6 . Re l e v a n c e o f Co r r e s p o n d e n c e a n d Communication.Prof.K.A.Manikumar, Fmr. Vice Chancellor, Swami Vivekanand University, Sagar and Registrar-in-Charge/Professor of History (Retd.), Manonmaniam Sundaranar University. India. 12 November 2021.Online.
7) Critical Communication Studies Lecture Series (CCSLS) Session 7.”Matchmaking in the Age of Network Technologies” Vibodh Parthasarathy, Associate Professor, Centre for Culture, Media and Governance (CCMG), Jamia Milia Islamia, New Delhi. India. 23 December 2021.Online.
8) Critical Communication Studies Lecture Series (CCSLS) Session 8. “Researching/Rethinking Folklore, Communication and Kannagi in Tamil Nadu.” Dr Eric Miller, Director World Storytelling Institute. 06 May 2022. Online.
9) Critical Communication Studies Lecture Series (CCSLS) Session 9.”Gracefully Ageing Preparation.” Prof.Jantima Kheokao, Associate Professor in communication, University of the Thai Chamber of Commerce, Bangkok, Thailand. 25 05 2022. Online.

Infrastructure

• Media Studio for audio video production works
• 100 Seater theatre for screening audio video projects and films
• Apple Computers-based lab for working on students’ projects

List of Mentor and Mentee

• 2019 – 2021

Ph.D. Awarded

The first PhD candidate to have the PhD viva voce examination will be Mr Vishnu Achutha Menon, who worked under the supervision of Dr N.Boobalakrishnan, Assistant Professor. His viva voce examination for the thesis on Gestural Communication in Kathakali will be held on August 30,2023.

Head of the Department
Department of Media and Communication
Central University of Tamil Nadu
Thiruvarur – 610 005
Phone : +91-4366-277230
Email : hodmedia@cutn.ac.in