The curriculum of the Masters in Media Studies (MMS) program is designed as an intensive two-year program divided into four semesters. It offers different courses/papers for a total of 60 credit hours. It aims at fine blending of both the knowledge and skills dimensions of media and communication. The curriculum consists of a unique combination of theory, analytical techniques, production skills, research approach, communication competence, and so on, which are required for professionals in the field of media and media support systems.

Career prospects

• pursue a career in journalism or any particular field of media industry such as managing editors, radio station managers, television producers, scenarists
• pursue a career in research agencies, advertising agencies, PR companies
• pursue a career in the governmental and non-governmental institutions
• pursue a career as a staffer or freelancer as a media consultant, Media planner, Communication strategist, Social media manager, Content manager, Arts administrator, Media monitor, Researcher, and so on
• to work as independent media entrepreneurs
• pursue higher education and academic endeavors

Course Structure

 First Year, Second Semester

 Second Year, First Semester

Second Year, Second Semester

Elective  Courses

The major methods used comprise classroom lectures, presentations, focused readings, discussions, practicum in the lab as well as field, case study analyses, visits and observations, seminars, internships, and so on. The program emphasizes students’ active participation and involvement in the learning process. Students are facilitated to cultivate individual talents and foster commitment towards professional as well as academic achievements in the media industry, media support services, governmental or non-governmental information agencies, development agencies, and other sectors.

Whereas the courses offered in the first year (two semesters) are compulsory courses, the second year (two semesters) is designed to provide the students an opportunity for specialization. The courses offered in the first year are to develop strong research and analytical foundation among the students. The courses offered in the second year are to further enhance research and analytical skills among them and prepare the students as qualified professionals in the field of specialization. The scope for specialization is ensured not only by offering wide options to choose from among the elective courses, but also by facilitating students to do media production/media projects, internship, and dissertation in the specialized field of their interests.

Objectives

Masters in Media Studies (MMS) program aims to provide its students with:

• sound knowledge of principles and theories as well as practical skills in the field
• a critical understanding of media and advanced analytical skills
• an ability for media production in the field of specialization
• an ability to undertake research in the field of media and communication in particular and the social sciences in general
• an ability to design and implement communication strategies and promotional communication campaigns
• a preparedness for a leadership role in the media industry
• a strong foundation for further academic endeavors such as M.Phil or Ph.D. any research degree in liberal arts and social sciences.

Key Features

• Need-based: The program is designed to address the human resource requirements of academia, media industry, and media support systems as well as the governmental and non-governmental institutions in the contemporary multicultural, glocal and technocentric environment. The dynamic curricular mechanism in KU provides more opportunities for need-based implementation of the program.
• Practice-based and skills-oriented: The courses offered to ensure pertinent emphasis on practice-based learning and translating knowledge into skills in general. Students can specialize in media production in the digital and emerging media environment. Moreover, the curriculum consists of plenty of practicum that involve employing the latest tools and techniques.
• A strong foundation of theory and analytical techniques: The program is designed to encompass a wide range of concepts, principles, theories, and analytical techniques from within the communication discipline as well as other disciplines of knowledge, and employ them in various contexts.
• Substantial emphasis on research application: In addition to specialized courses for both quantitative and qualitative research, virtually all of the courses in Master of Media Studies are designed in such a way that students have greater scope for research-orientated assignments and research application.
• Multicultural, multidisciplinary, and context-sensitive approach: Multicultural, multidisciplinary, and context-sensitive approach is employed in order to enhance the students’ ability to accurately perceive their own emotional and physiological state, and react in appropriate ways to different life situations.
• Focus on developing individual competence and efficacious group dynamics: The program highly emphasizes developing the individual competence of the students by imparting knowledge, skills, and moral values, and there are provisions for plenty of group activities that provide opportunities for them to develop skills required for group settings online and offline.
• Wide career options and high employability: Due to a fine combination of theory, analytical techniques, research, hands-on approach to technology, production skills, and communication competence, the students will have wide career options and high employability after the completion of Masters in Media Studies from KU. Need-based curricular implementation is expected to increase the scope of employability.
• Conducive learning environment: High-quality human resources from within and beyond the university will be ensured to run the program. Media lab and other facilities essential for the program also will be ensured in the university’s own right as well as in collaboration with the media industry, media support systems and other stakeholders.
• Internationally comparable: The Masters in Media Studies at KU has been developed after a thorough survey of the Master’s Course in the related field in various universities across the world. The proposed curriculum has been presented in different seminars within and out of KU. Besides, feedback and insights from international academic fraternity also have been incorporated in order to ensure “international standard”. The students will come out with knowledge and skills sound enough to work in international arena.

Eligibility

Applicants must have a Bachelor or equivalent degree in any discipline from a recognized institution with a minimum aggregate of  45 percent or 2 CGPA or equivalent to second division. In addition, securing an acceptable level of ranking in the entrance test administered to measure required competencies including language proficiency and analytical ability will be essential. Only the candidates who pass the written exam will be selected for the interview, on the basis of which final selection will be made.

Duration and credit hours

The proposed Masters in Media Studies (MMS) is of two-year duration that is divided into four semesters. During the four semesters, each student has to study as many as 60 cr hrs. A three credit hour course requires 48 contact hours.

Number of studentsper intake: 20Fee structure: 

The fees in total is NRs. 400,000 that is payable in eight installments (for 2022 Batch).

Scholarships: 

Some full and partial scholarships are available.

Evaluation scheme

There will be in-semester and end semester evaluations (50% each) except for the courses designed as “Practicum”. The “Practicum” courses are subjected to in-semester evaluations only. End-semester evaluations will be as per the KU standard procedure of examinations. In-semester evaluation will be based on well defined indicators for e.g.: attendance, participation, presentation, class test or lab assignment, Mid-term exam, term paper or small scale production, take home exam or demo, viva voce, and so on.

For Media Production/Media Project and Thesis, the production/research process and final outcome will be evaluated based on in-semester supervision by the designated supervisors and presentation by the student as per the provision of the department. For Internship, the evaluation will be based on work-log, host institution’s evaluation and student’s presentation.

Grading System

Masters in Media Studies program follows the standard KUSOA grading system. Grades for students shall be reported by the following letters: A, A-, B, B+, B-, C+, C, C-, D, or F.

The grades of A, A-, B+, B, B-, C+, C, C-, D, and F indicate a graduation in quality from Excellent to Failure and are assigned the following grade-point equivalents:

CGPA requirement for graduation

The student must maintain an aggregate CGPA of 3.00 or above after completing the required 60 credit hours. If the aggregate CGPA is less than 3.00, the student will have to repeat certain courses until he/she maintains the required CGPA.

Graduation

• Individual students will be awarded a degree of MASTERS IN MEDIA STUDIES after successful completion of all of the 60 credit hour courses as per the KU rule.
• For the students who would prefer just to complete 30 credit hours from the first year (two semesters) and earn a degree, they will be awarded a degree of Postgraduate Diploma In Media Studies.