Undergraduate degree program
Since its offering of the first agricultural communication course in 1960, and becoming into a full-fledged program in 1974, CDC’s BS Development Communication curriculum has undergone several reviews throughout the years to ensure that the program addresses the needs of the time. In 2011, the curriculum was revised from one with four major fields of specialization (development journalism, community broadcasting, educational communication, and science communication) to the generalist track. Under the generalist curriculum, students are trained to have skills in four general areas of competency: reportage; media- based learning systems; multi-media materials design, production, and management; and management and communication of technical information.
The graduates of BS Development Communication program are expected to be:
Proactive members of society, promoting social change through communication; and
Highly skilled professionals in devcom teaching, research, and practice.
The curriculum is guided by eleven program learning outcomes to help the students achieve the program goals above. Graduates of BS Development Communication program must be able to:
Assess problems and issues of development in the local, national, and global contexts;
Practice interpersonal and participatory communication skills;
Perform skills in development reportage and writing;
Plan, design, and produce multi-media materials for development projects;
Manage and evaluate media-based and non-media based development communication campaigns and projects;
Implement media-based learning systems for development;
Process information to facilitate communication for science and technology;
Conduct and critique development communication research;
Address development problems and issues using concepts, principles, and theories of development communication;
Uphold professional ethics and standards at all times; and
Practice creative, entrepreneurial, critical thinking, and problem-solving skills in development communication praxis.
To get the degree, students are required to pass 145 units of academic workload. This includes 27 units of General Education courses, 6 units of foundation courses, 46 units of core courses, 33 units of specialization courses, 21 units of technical elective, 12 units of social science electives, and Physical Education and National Service Training Program (NSTP) courses.
Undergraduate Courses:
DEVC 10. Introduction to Development Communication (3). Introduction to concepts, theories, principles, and practice of communication in development. 3 hrs (2 class, 1 recit). PR. None. (1,2)
DEVC 11. Introduction to Media Writing for Development (3). Principles and practice of preparing development-oriented written materials for the print, broadcast, audio-visual, and emerging media.
5 hrs (2 class, 3 lab). PR. None. (1,2)
DEVC 20. Fundamentals of Development Journalism (3). Principles of gathering and writing of developmental news and information, with emphasis on news recognition and accuracy. 3 hrs (2 class, 1 recit). PR. DEVC 11 or COI. (1,2)
DEVC 30. Fundamentals of Community Broadcasting (3). Concepts of community broadcasting; nature of the broadcast media; basic principles of writing, planning, and production. 3 hrs (2 class, 1 recit) PR. DEVC 11 or COI. (1,2)
DEVC 40. Fundamentals of Educational Communication and Technology (3). Theories, principles, and concepts of educational communication and technology; practice in planning and designing of media-based learning systems. 3 hrs (2 class, 1 recit). PR. DEVC 11 or COI. (1,2).
DEVC 50. Introduction to Science Communication (3). Nature, structure, and tools of science communication. 3 hrs (2 class, 1 recit). PR. DEVC 11 or COI. (1,2)
DEVC 70. Interpersonal Communication in Development (3). Theories, principles, concepts, and processes of person-to-person communication and their application to development work. 5 hrs (2 class, 3 lab). PR. DEVC 10. (1, 2)
DEVC 80. Communication and Society (3). The role of communication in society with special reference to the Asian situation; rights and responsibilities of the communication media. 3 hrs (class). PR. DEVC 10. (1,2)
DEVC 101. Introduction to Communication Theory (3). Communication theories, their foundations and application to development communication studies. 3 hrs (class). PR. DEVC 10. (1,2)
DEVC 103. Visual and Audiovisual Media Production (3). Concepts, principles, and techniques in visual and audiovisual media production; with emphasis on design and development of visual materials, photography, and videography. 5 hrs (2 class, 3 lab). PR. DEVC 40. (1, 2)
DEVC 125. Writing and Reporting for Development (3). Basic principles, concepts, theories, and practices in news and features writing and reporting for development using various platforms. 5 hrs (2 class, 3 lab). PR. DEVC 20 and DEVC 30. (1, 2)
DEVC 126. Participatory Development Journalism (3). Data gathering/ collection and storytelling techniques, broadcast performance types, and ethical issues in participatory development journalism.
7 hrs (1 class, 6 lab). PR. DEVC 125. (1)
DEVC 127. Data Journalism for Development (3) Tools, techniques, and approaches in data journalism for development. 5 hrs (2 class, 3 lab). PR. DEVC 125. (1)
DEVC 128. Science Journalism (3). Theories, processes, and tools for writing and reporting science topics in the context of development. 3 hrs (2 class, 1 recit). PR. DEVC 125. (2)
DEVC 135. Multi-media Materials Planning and Design (3). Principles and practice of planning and design of various multi-media materials within the context of the development process. 5 hrs (2 class, 3 lab). PR. DEVC 103. (1,2)
DEVC 136. Multi-media Materials Production and Management (3). Principles, techniques, and steps in the production and management of various communication media and materials in the context of development. 7 hrs (1 class, 6 lab). PR: DEVC 135. (2)
DEVC 144. Media-based Learning Systems (3). Production and management of media-based learning systems for development. 5 hrs (2 class, 3 lab). PR. DEVC 135. (1,2)
DEVC 145. Distance Learning Systems in Development Communication Practice (3). Planning, design, management, and evaluation of distance learning systems in development communication. 7 hrs (1 class, 6 lab). PR. DEVC 144. (1)
DEVC 153. Managing Information for Development (3). Processes and tools in managing information for development. 3 hrs (class). PR. DEVC 50. (1)
DEVC 154. Communicating Science for Development (3). Concepts, principles, and processes of communicating science at various levels for specific stakeholders. 5 hrs (2 class, 3 lab). PR. DEVC 50 and COI (must have passed 1 technical elective and be taken simultaneously with another technical elective). (2)
DEVC 155. Knowledge Management for Development (3). Principles, tools, and applications of knowledge management in development contexts. 5 hrs (2 class, 3 lab). PR. DEVC 153. (2)
DEVC 180. Communication Campaigns and Programs (3). Planning and evaluation of educational and promotional campaigns and programs. 3 hrs (class). PR. COI. (1,2)
DEVC 195. Introduction to Communication Research (3). Principles and techniques of communication research in relation to social change and development. 3 hrs (2 class, 1 recit). PR. STAT 166. (1,2)
DEVC 198. Internship (3). Supervised work experience in development communication in press, publication, broadcasting, and audio-visual offices. 200 hrs. PR. at least 7 specialized courses. (1,2,S)
DEVC 199. Undergraduate Seminar (1). PR. DEVC 195. (1,2) Note: to be taken simultaneously with last 3 units of DEVC 200
DEVC 200. Undergraduate Thesis (1-6). PR. DEVC 195.
Master’s degree program
CDC started to offer a Master’s degree program in agricultural communication in 1965. It was renamed as Master of Science in Development Communication in 1973. Many curricular reviews and revisions had been made since then to keep the contents and skills up to date, the most recent of which was approved in 2015. The program was designed to emphasize four competencies of an MSDC graduate: (1) Analysis of communication and development theories and paradigms, current and emerging development issues and the role of communication in development; (2) Development of education and training programs that address development issues and challenges; (3) Conduct research and evaluation; and (4) Design and management of systems, programs and projects in development.
The graduates of MS Development Communication program should be able to:
Compare and contrast theories, principles, strategies and schools of thought of communication in the context of development;
Analyze issues and challenges in development that may be addressed by education and training in development communication;
Conduct research and evaluation in development communication; and
Apply development communication concepts and skills in the design and management of systems, programs, and projects in development.
To get the degree, students are required to pass 33-37 units of academic workload. This includes 11-13 units of core courses, 7-9 units of elective courses, 9 units of cognate courses, and 6 units of Master’s thesis. Aside from these requirements, all MSDC students are required to pass an oral comprehensive examination and a final examination. The thesis must undergo external review, and a journal article based on the MS thesis is also needed to get the degree.
Master of Science Courses:
DEVC 202: Communication Theory in Development
DEVC 205: Communication and Development
DEVC 208: Communication Approaches in Development Programs
DEVC 212: Environmental Communication
DEVC 215: Communication and Culture
DEVC 230: Educational Communication Systems
DEVC 231: Educational Communication Systems Management
DEVC 234: Information and Communication Technologies for Development
DEVC 290: Special Problems
DEVC 291: Special Topics
DEVC 295: Development Communication Research
DEVC 299: Graduate Seminar in Development Communication
DEVC 300: Master’s thesis
Doctor of Philosophy degree
CDC instituted its PhD degree program – the first of its kind – in 1977. Since then, the program has produced many PhD graduates here and abroad that contributed largely in their respective fields and careers. The curriculum was revised in 2015 to sharpen the competencies and goals of the program. The revised curriculum aims to train PhD students in four competencies: (1) Critique and construction of theories; (2) Conduct and management of research in development communication; (3) Exercise of professional leadership in development communication education and practice; and (4) Formulation of communication policies for development programs.
Graduates of the PhD in Development Communication program should be able to:
Explain the process of theory construction and critiquing towards theory formulation in development communication;
Analyze the research and research management process in development communication programs;
Conduct development communication research;
Examine issues and challenges towards setting directions in development communication education and practice; and
Formulate development communication policies for development programs.
To get the degree, students are required to pass 42-49 units of academic workload. This includes 20-22 units of core courses, 3 units of elective courses, 9-12 units of cognate courses, and 12 units of Doctoral dissertation. Aside from these requirements, all PhD in Devcom students are required to pass a qualifying examination, oral and written comprehensive examinations, and a final examination. The dissertation must undergo external review, and a journal article based on the dissertation is also needed to get the degree.
Doctor of Philosophy courses*
DEVC 310: Theorizing in Development Communication
DEVC 311: Organizational Communication and Leadership
DEVC 320: Communication Systems Policies and Planning
DEVC 363: Public Communication of Science
DEVC 393: Qualitative Approaches to Communication Research
DEVC 390: Special Problems
DEVC 391: Special Topics
DEVC 399: Graduate Seminar in Development Communication
DEVC 400: Dissertation
*PhD students are also required to enroll AERS 281: Theory Construction.