Mass Communication After 12th: Complete Course & Career Guide

Last Updated on July 31, 2023 by Vishnu Nambiar

In this article, you will be reading about Mass Communication courses (Degree and Diploma), which can be pursued after completing 12th standard. Topics covered in this article include- different formats of mass communication courses available in India, course details, eligibility criteria, admission process, pg courses, specializations, career prospects and job profiles.

Mass Communication: An Introduction

In simple words, mass communication is the process of disseminating information through a medium to a large and diverse audience. It is a form of public communication, where the message/information is transmitted electronically or mechanically.

In our day to day lives, we enjoy watching TV programs, Radio talk shows, Movies etc. Many of us go through newspapers, watch news channels and read news on internet entities. All these are forms of mass media!

Mass Media is the ‘medium’ or ‘agent’ through which information/message is disseminated. The whole process of spreading/circulating the information by a person, through a medium (mass media), so that it reaches vast audience is called mass communication.

The spreading of message/information is done for various purposes. It could be for- entertaining, educating or informing the audience/masses. Sometimes, it is also done for the purpose of advertising!

A mass communication course studies how a person/organization/entity could disseminate information and make it reach the general public. It focuses on mass media, the information being transmitted and its effects on the recipients.

Earlier, forms of mass media were mostly print based, like- newspapers, magazines and books. Then came radio and television. These new arrivals brought a revolution in the field of mass communication. The latest arrival is internet. These days, large amount of information and news are consumed by people through internet entities.

All these forms of mass media make it easy for journalists to spread news/information. This has contributed greatly towards the development of mass communication. In short, there are numerous job opportunities associated with the field of mass communication, ranging from journalism to technical jobs.

Mass Communication is made up of branches like journalism, PR, advertising and mass media. This is the main reason why journalism is an important part of many mass communication programs. In fact, Journalism and Mass Communication is a very well known course combination! Also check – good computer courses & list of courses after 12th.

Mass Communication courses in India

There are 3 main formats of mass communication course available in India. They are- Degree programs, Diploma programs and Certificate programs. When it comes to value and usefulness, Degree and Diploma courses are the best ones. I’ll be listing only Degree and Diploma programs here.

1. BA in Mass Communication– 3 years long undergraduate degree program
2. BA in Journalism and Mass Communication– 3 years long undergraduate degree program
3. Bachelor of Mass Media and Journalism– 3 years long undergraduate degree program
4. Bachelor of Communication and Journalism– 3 years long undergraduate degree program
5. B.Sc. in Journalism and Mass Communication– 3 years long undergraduate science degree program
6. B.Sc. in Mass Communication, Journalism and Advertising– 3 years long undergraduate science degree program
7. BA in Media and Communication– 3 years long undergraduate degree program
8. BA in Media Studies– 3 years long undergraduate degree program
9. Bachelor of Mass Media– 3 years long undergraduate degree program
10. BBA in Mass Communication and Journalism– 3 years long undergraduate management degree program
11. Diploma in Mass Communication– 1 year long Diploma program

The above mentioned Degree and Diploma courses belong to undergraduate level.

Eligibility criteria

10+2 passed (any stream- Science/Commerce/Arts) from a recognized board is the minimum qualification required to pursue the above mentioned mass communication courses. Some institutes do have a minimum marks criteria (at least 50% aggregate marks in 10+2 subjects) present in eligibility criteria.

Admission process

Most institutes follow ‘direct admission’ process. Seats are allotted to eligible candidates based on the marks scored by them in board examination (and in some cases state wise entrance tests too). In case of some reputed institutes, they have their own entrance test/qualifying examination, for screening candidates.

PG courses and specializations

Pursuing a postgraduate level course definitely adds more skills to a graduate’s skill set. It makes him/her more employable. The same theory is applicable in the field of mass communication. Pursuing a PG course will also help one specialize in a particular discipline within the field of mass communication.

Common PG courses available in front of graduates are-

1. MA in Journalism and Mass Communication
2. M.Sc. in Journalism and Mass Communication
3. MA in Advertising and Mass Communication
4. MA in Mass Communication
5. Master of Mass Media
6. M.Sc. in Mass Communication
7. Master of Media Studies

For folks looking for Diploma programs, PG Diploma courses are also available. Other than the traditional PG mass media courses, graduates may also go for management courses. MBA is the best course available at the moment. Relevant MBA specializations such as Media Management, Advertising and Mass Communication will add to the value of a graduate’s CV!

Career prospects and job opportunities

Electronic media has dominated the mass communication field for a while now. These days, internet has also emerged as a key player in this sector. Most lucrative job opportunities are associated with these forms of media. TV channels, radio channels and online portals are the best places where one may find a job.

You may also check –

Visual Communication courses

BJMC course

Though print media forms like Newspapers and magazines have been overtaken by the electronic media, they still do enjoy decent consumption. It is safe to say that mass communication graduates may find a job at print media sector too (mostly newspapers and magazines).

Since mass communication is made up of parts like journalism, mass media etc, there are numerous job profiles available within this field. The job that one lands depends upon one’s specialization, to an extent. Some common job profiles available are-

• Journalist
• Editor
• Photographer
• Sound Engineer
• Technical writer/writer
• Director
• Producer/Associate Producer
• Anchor
• Transmission technician
• Cameraman
• Printing technician

Some well known places where graduates may find a job includes-

• TV Channels/Production houses
• Radio Channels
• Newspapers
• Magazines
• Film production firms
• Internet entities

Vishnu Nambiar

I am Vishnu Nambiar a career and educational blogger from India. I am also a full time educational consultant having more than 12 years of experience in the educational sector.

I share articles related to courses, colleges, careers, exam tips and more here.