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University of Nairobi - Bachelor and Masters of Arts Development Communication

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Overview of Programme/Course

The general objective of the 4-year Bachelor of Arts in Communication Studies with the specialisation in Development Communication is to equip the student with foundational, scientifically derived and practically grounded knowledge, and understanding  of communication in its widest meaning in mediated, group, interpersonal, mass and intercultural forms.

It seeks to offers students a myriad of opportunities in the market place especially in the areas of behaviour change expertise, information education and communication consultancy, health communication, community development, conflict management, and in mainstreaming communication as a key driver to development efforts.

Masters of Arts in Communication Studies Development Communication option seeks to prepare students for careers in communication and media in public and private sectors, civil society, and international and inter-governmental organisations. The programme  exposes students to broad interdisciplinary perspectives on communication, including communication research techniques; communication for social change; strategic communication; monitoring, management and evaluation of communication; and, journalism and media studies. Emphasis is placed on mastery of knowledge and acquisition of the skills necessary for demonstration first-rate techniques in writing and editing, and communication planning.

Courses and Curriculum

Over the four-year students of the Bachelors Degree in Development Communication are required to take 50 courses.  The courses on offer include the following: 

  • Introduction to Communication Research
  • Media and Entertainment Law
  • Organisational Communication
  • Advanced Development Communication
  • Communication and Development Practice
  • Gender, Communication and Development
  • Intercultural and Cross-cultural Communication
  • Communication and Behaviour Change
  • Communication Research Methods
  • Information, Education, Communication – IECs
  • Project Specialisations and Proposal Writing
  • K Statistical Methods
  • Management  and Entrepreneurship
  • Social Marketing
  • Communication and Human Rights
  • Health Communication and Development
  • African Communications Systems
  • Contemporary Issues in communication
  • Industrial Attachment
  • Communication Policy I
  • Monitoring and Evaluation of IEC Programmes
  • Case Studies in Development Communication
  • Communication and Conflict
  • Communication and Technology
  • Communication and Human Rights
  • Health Communication and Development
  • Political Communication and Development
  • Strategic Communications for Development Projects
  • Communication Policy II
  • Media Production Project Writing
  • Communication Planning
  • Participatory Communication Methods
  • Media Diplomacy
  • Communication and Sustainable Development
  • Communication, Science and Technology
  • Communication for Public and Private Sector reforms
  • Communication and Humanitarian Issues


Click here for the full list of courses on offer, as well as additional information on each course.

The  Masters Degree requires a total of 18 course units comprising of six core communication units - five in development communication and three electives. Candidates must complete the core course units successfully before embarking on specialisations and the electives. After completing course work, students undertake a research project that is equivalent to four course units.
The courses on offer are as follows:

Core courses:

  • Theories of Communication
  • Communication on Law and Ethics
  • Research Methods
  • Critical Analysis
  • Media Production I

Specialisation:

  • Development Communication Theories, Planning, and Practice
  • Communication in Development Planning and Implementation
  • Communication, Leadership, and Development
  • Issues in Global Communication.
  • Audience Research
University
University of Nairobi
Teaching Process

The Bachelor course is comprised of both lectures and practical projects, which are designed to equip students with hands-on, practical skills and experience. Students also conduct various field visits to engage with different organisations working in diverse areas.  For their projects students are required to conceptualise, plan, propose, design and develop communication projects including developing communication strategies for different organisations, programmes and project evaluation strategies, media-based projects, among others.

The The Master of Arts in Communication Studies with Development Communication is delivered using lecturers, seminars, practical assignments (including fieldwork), research presentation, and final project.  It takes a minimum of four semesters and a maximum of 12 semesters. Each semester is 15 weeks long.  The course has both fulltime and part-time programmes.

Faculty Publications


Click here to find out more about publications by key faculty staff (click on the faculty staff name and scroll down.)

Some recent examples include:

  • Gathigi, G.  2017.  How the media covered Kenya’s general election. The Conversation.
  • Gathigi, G.  2016.  How striking Kenyan medical workers are using social media to tell their stories. The Conversation
  • Gathigi, G.W. (2015) FM Radio Broadcasting in Local Languages Triggering Rural Empowerment in Kenya. In Jahazi Journal of Arts and Culture, Vol 2 (1).
  • Gathigi, G.W. &Waititu, E.M. (2012). Coding for Development in the Silicon Savannah: The Emerging Role of Digital Technology in Kenya. In Chukwuka Omwechili (Ed) Re-Imagining Development Communication. Lexington Books
  • Ndeti, N, Mecha E.  2016.  Assessment of the Use of Contraceptives among young Women in Nairobi. Journal of African Communication Research. Vol. 7(No. 1):pg103to117.
  • Oriaso, SO.  2014.  The Influence of social models in behavior transformation process of poor women living in HIV/AIDs-risk contexts. Africa Communication Research. 1, 2(June)
  • Mulwa, MM, Waema TM.  2016.  The Role of the Actor Network Theory in Mobile Banking. A case Study of Selected Mobile Banking Products in Kenya. International Journal of Innovation in the Digital Economy. 7(1):54-68.
  • Kamau, MM, Ndavula JO, Mberia HK.  2015.  Online Campaign in Kenya : Implementing the Facebook Campaign in the 2013 General Elections. International Journal of Education and Research. Vol. 3(No. 7):255-266.
  • Mogambi, H.  2016.  Moving health forward: Communication and elimination of Obstetric Fistula in Kenya. Journal of Humanities And Social Science (IOSR-JHSS. Volume 21(4):67-80.
  • Mogambi, H, Muchemi L, ndeti ndati.  2016.  Interpreting Green Advertising messages: A Perspective of Environmentally-informed consumers in Kenya. Scientific Research Journal (SCIR). 4(5):17-26.
  • Busolo, DN, Samuel Ngigi.  2016.  Assessing Sustainability of Rural Community Radio in Kenya: A Case of Radio Mangelete. New Media and Mass Communication. 53:23-32.

Academic Staff

Dr. George Gathigi - heads the course on Development Communication and teaches courses on research, development communication and health communication and also supervises students at PhD, Master’s and undergraduate levels.

Dr. Ndeti Ndati - is the head of the School of Journalism and Mass Communication and also a senior lecturer.

Click here for a full list of teaching staff involved in the Development Communication specialisation. 

Background Information:

The school of Journalism and Mass Communication (SOJMC) was started in 1970 as a project of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) with support from Denmark, Norway, and Austria. The school has four specialisations: print journalism; broadcast journalism; public relations, and development communication.

The Bachelor and Masters of Arts programmes in Communication Studies have been designed to respond to the emerging trends that present critical communication challenges to Africa. This curriculum is based on the work of UNESCO, which conducted an assessment on communication training in Africa in collaboration with communication and media scholars. The exercise resulted in the publication of a model training curriculum in communication training at different levels. Since the mid-1990s, several communication learning institutions in Africa, including the School of Journalism and Mass Communication (SOJMC), have been engaged in the revision of their curricula. This has been partly propelled by the need to embrace political, social, economic, technological and educational changes in the global context.