The Department of Media and Communication Studies is an interdisciplinary unit, based on academic traditions from both the Humanities and the Social Sciences. The Department offers a Bachelor’s degree in Media and Communication Studies, and a Masters in Media and Communication Studies, and a Masters in Communication for Development. The Department was established as Department of Mass Communication at the University of Zambia in 1984. The first students in Mass Communication graduated in 1989. In addition to offering major and minor programmes in Media and Communication Studies, the Department also runs a campus radio station, UNZA Radio. Established in 2004, the station acts as a teaching radio station for students pursuing Media and Communication Studies. The Department also offers courses under the UNZA Radio Academy established in 2015. The Academy offers an Advanced Certificate course in community radio which has three sessions per year.
Many of our graduates work in traditional communication fields such as advertising and public relations, broadcasting, and politics, but increasingly our graduates’ expertise and knowledge are sought after in law, healthcare, tourism, IT, and in community organisations. Above all, our graduates are informed and adaptable to new challenges, and they are able to synthesize and see patterns in complex ideas. It’s no wonder so many of our students quickly become skilled professionals, launching rewarding and productive careers while helping to shape the future of the Media and Communication field.
Undergraduate Programmes in the Department
Postgraduate Programmes in the Department
