Lady Irwin College - M. Sc. Development Communication and Extension

The Department of Development Communication and Extension strives to train a cadre of professionals to work as development practitioners and researchers. The Department curriculum provides strong theoretical foundations and experiential learning to meet the existing market demands for trained professionals in participatory development processes and communication.

The key components of the curriculum are :

• C4D-Communication for Development
• Extension and Programme Management
• Sustainable Development
• Gender and Development
• Training for Life Skills
• Participatory Communication
• Community Media

Click here for the Department of Development Communication & Extension Brochure [2016].

Click here for more information on the Departmental website.

The courses offered for this 2-year M. Sc. are as follows:

Semester I

Statistics and Computer Applications - includes the following units:

• Introduction to Statistics, Measurement and Computation
• Organisation and Presentation of Data
• Probability and Normal Distribution
• Statistical Tests
• Analysis and Interpretation

Community Organization and Extension Systems - includes the following units:

• Community - Concepts and Perspectives
• Dynamics of Change in Community
• Extension Systems and Development
• Stakeholders in Development

Communication Systems: Theory and Perspectives - includes the following units:

• Communication Perspectives
• Communication Dimensions
• Communication Behaviour of Individuals and Small Groups
• Mass Mediated Communication

Socio Economic Environment and Sustainable Development - includes the following units:

• Approaches to Development
• Sustainable Development Perspectives
• Indian Economic Environment
• Economic Planning

Practical: Dialoguing Change - include the following units:

• Oral and visual communication
• Processes and techniques of working in a community.

Semester II

Research Methods and Seminar - includes the following units:

• Introduction to Research
• Outline of Research Study
• Research Design
• Ethical Issues
• Presentation and Multi-media

Gender and Development - includes the following units:

• Social Construction of Gender
• Gender and Development Perspectives
• Gender Issues and Empowerment
• Gender and Advocacy

Program Development and Evaluation - includes the following units:

• Planned Social change
• Planning Development Programmes
• Monitoring and Implementation of Development Programmes
• Programme Evaluation

Development Communication and Journalism: Theory and Practice - includes the following units:

• Development Communication- Perspectives and Approaches
• Development Journalism
• Elements of Media
• Media and Development

Practical: Technologies and Skills for Planned Change I - units include:

• Programme Development and Evaluation
• Radio Management and Production

Semester III:

Organisational Management and Training - units include:

• Management of Development Organisations
• Resource Mobilisation for Development Organisations
• Training for Development
• Training Strategies and Design

Communication Research, Advertising and Social Marketing - includes the following units:

• Communication Research
• Media Planning
• Advertising
• Social Marketing

Any one of the following courses:
Advocacy and Behavior Change Communication: Health - includes the following units:

• Health - Development Perspectives
• Community Health Issues
• Programmes and Policy
• Health Communication and Advocacy

Advocacy and Behavior Change Communication: Environment - includes the following units:

• Understanding the Environment
• Environmental Challenges
• Pollution Control and Management
• Environmental Advocacy and Action

Advocacy and Behavior Change Communication: Peace and Human Rights - includes the following units:

• Concepts and Approaches
• Cultural Influence on Conflict and Peace
• Perspectives and Framework
• Techniques and Strategies for Conflict Transformation

Advocacy and Behavior Change Communication: Consumption and Public Policy - includes the following units"

• Consumption Behaviour of Families
• Consumption Development and Public Policy
• Citizen's Rights and Responsibilities in a Globalising Environment
• Consumer Education Advocacy and Action

Practcal: Technologies and Skills for Planned Change II - includes:

• Film Appreciation and Video Production
• Training and Capacity Building

Internship - The student will be required to undergo a field placement for a total duration of 4-6 weeks in their chosen area of interest.
Dissertation

Semester IV:

Media Management - includes the following units:

• Media Environment
• Print Media Management
• Broadcast Media Management
• Advertising and PR Management

Livelihood Systems and Entrepreneurship development - includes the following units:

• Livelihood Systems and Opportunities
• Avenues for Sustainable Livelihood
• Livelihood Systems and Capacity Building
• Enterprise Management

Any one of the following courses :
Rural Marketing - includes the following units

• Rural Marketing Environment
• Rural Consumer Behaviour
• Product, Pricing, Distribution & Communication Strategies
• Innovations and Future of Rural Marketing

Corporate Communication and Public Relations - includes the following units

• Corporate Communication - Principles & Concepts
• Crisis Communication
• Public Relations
• Public Relations organization and management

Corporate Social responsibility - includes the following units

• Corporate Social Responsibility - Definition, Concept, Linkages to Development
• CSR & Development
• CSR Strategy and Leadership
• Ethics, CSR & Corporate Behaviour

Urban Governance and Civil Society - includes the following units

• Urban Growth: Prospects and Challenges
• Urban Governance: Approaches and Perspectives
• Civil Society: Meaning, Origin, and Interpretation
• Civil Society: Development and Democracy

Practical: Technologies and Skills for Planned Change III - includes the following units:

• ICTS and New Media Development
• Portfolio - Media portfolio comprising of a collection of student work that exhibits the student’s efforts, progress and achievements in the design and development of communication media on a selected advocacy theme.

Dissertation

Add-on course:
The department offers a short-term course (20 hours) on Corporate Social Responsibility with Business and Community Foundation, a certified CSR training organisation recognised by the Institute of Chartered Accountants of India. The course provides insights about the evolution of CSR, its types, actors and drivers. All students have to complete this course.

The teaching-learning process involves an eclectic mix of theoretical understanding through lectures, as well as opportunities to practically apply the knowledge to solve real world problems. The programme involves students in a critique of theory, its affirmation through research, and its application through outreach projects. Academicians, experts and practitioners from the development sector are frequently invited to enrich the learning process. Participation in seminars, conferences, workshops, and training programmes is encouraged. Assessment is done through individual as well as group assignments. Participatory processes are used to facilitate learning of students from diverse socio-cultural backgrounds. The department also ensures that teaching is bilingual (English and Hindi) to the extent possible.  Independent thinking, creativity, and innovation are valued and efforts are made to offer a just and inclusive learning environment.

Click here for publications emerging out of this department, including M.Sc. and Ph.D. Thesis publications. 

Click here for details on faculty staff.