When should i declare my major?

BA Communication students should decide what area of study they will concentrate on by second year. Currently, the areas of study are Print, Electronic, Advertising, or Public Relations. After making the decision, they should declare their major by informing the registrar’s office. Declaring one’s major by second year enables students to start taking prerequisite classes in their area of study early enough to ensure they finish their academic programme in the projected time.

Can i take a prerequisite together with the course that follows it?

No. Prerequisite courses are designed to be done to provide a foundation that is then needed for the course that follows. The Daystar University catalogue provides guidelines for print and electronic media on how to select classes while observing the prerequisite requirement. For advertising students, the guideline is available under Question 7 below. NB: The department DOES NOT give notes to the registrar’s office to allow students to do a prerequisite with the course that follows it.

What is the procedure for going on practicum?

In fourth year after completion of course work, students have the option of going on practicum/internship or doing a senior project. For students who have no job experience, the department strongly encourages them to go on internship where they gain valuable exposure to the workplace. Frequently, many of those students are absorbed in that organization or elsewhere. Many workplaces prefer to keep interns for about three months which is encouraged. The department requires that the student complete 7 weeks of practicum (280 working hours).

Students should begin practicum after:
- Completing most courses in their area of concentration
- Completing the prerequisite course for their area of study (Electronic Media COM 467; Advertising:      COM 459/ COM 472/3; Print Media: COM 436/COM 459/ COM 474)
- Registering for COM 507
- Getting departmental clearance.

To apply for practicum, students should take the following steps:
a) Complete the required prerequisites as per the course description above. Under no circumstances may a student begin a practicum without fulfilling the prerequisites or without getting department clearance.
b) Register for COM 507.
c) Request the latest audit from the registrar. Submit the audit to Continuing Education Office (in Nairobi Campus) or communication administrator (in Athi River Campus). A copy of the audit should be submitted to the MFS department. At this point permission to do the practicum is granted by the Practicum Coordinators using the requisite slip.
d) The student receives an official letter from the Department, which is used to identify an organisation for practicum.
e) Once an organisation has been identified, the student should ensure they get an official letter from the organisation, where they will attached. Submit details about the organisation on the sheet that will be provided by MFS department.
f) The student is assigned a supervisor from the Department.
g) The student then receives two documents. One is a worksheet, which is to be photocopied to fit the seven weeks required by the University. Students are required to fill worksheets on a daily basis describing tasks given and specific work undertaken. The student must also ensure that the workplace supervisor signs daily, against each task. The second document the student receives details guidelines for writing the practicum report.
h) The department supervisor engages the student and a visit to the organisation is planned in conjunction with the workplace supervisor.
i) The student completes the seven weeks practicum and submits a report using the report writing guidelines. Please note that most practicums are three months. Students are encouraged to stay for the full three months or longer depending on the contract.
j) In addition to the report, the student is assessed separately by the workplace supervisor using the assessment form provided by the Department.

What is a senior project?

A senior project is an independent project that a student can opt to take in their final year. It is worth 4 credit hours and entails a student doing research on a topic of their choice with the guidance of a faculty advisor. On completion, the student submits a research report for assessment. If a student wishes to do a senior project, they approach the HoD in the semester they wish to do it, so that they can be allocated a faculty supervisor to guide them.

What does it mean to be on academic probation?

Diploma and undergraduate students who do not attain a grade point average of at least 2.0 will face probation. If a student is placed on probation, they receive a letter from the registrar’s office notifying them of their status. A student gets three chances to improve their GPA. After that, if the student does not get a GPA that is 2.0 and above, they are discontinued.

Many students who get notice of discontinuation often choose to come to the department to plead for a chance to be readmitted. The department has NO OBLIGATION to support a student for readmission. Students on probation should make every effort to get out of probation with the chances already given. They should seek academic advice early from members of faculty, and aim to address the issues causing their poor classroom performance before being discontinued.

What happens when i have a question/complaint about a grade?

If a student only wishes to understand why they attained a particular grade, they can have a discussion with the lecturer concerned.

However, if the student has a complaint/dispute concerning the grade they attained in a particular course, they should fill in a grade complaint form available from the school administrator. The form is then submitted to the department’s exam officer who addresses the matter administratively.

How should i choose classes to be able to complete my program of study while following prerequisites and other requirements?

The Daystar University catalogue provides a guideline for Print and Electronic Media majors on the order of courses they should take. This order of courses also ensures that prerequisites are done as required. Advertising students can use the guideline below.