University of the West Indies

Department: Caribbean Institute of Media and Communication (CARIMAC)

Location: Jamaica

Description: The Caribbean Institute of Media and Communication (CARIMAC) offers courses in
communication from the certificate to the graduate level as well as Short summer courses in media
and communication. The Institute trains students for professional work in print, radio, video, multimedia, public relations and social marketing. As the only internationally recognised tertiary level training institution in media and communication in the Caribbean, CARIMAC is the regional representative in JOURNET - The network of Global Journalism Training Institutions.

The Institute was established by the Government of Jamaica in 1974, but it is built on a Caribbean
tradition of integration and development. It is department of the Faculty of Humanities and
Education of the University of West Indies. The institute offers programmes in other Caribbean
territories such as St. Lucia, Trinidad & Tobago and Belize, as well as short term courses and workshops in many other Caribbean countries. CARIMAC was established by the Government of Jamaica with assistance from UNESCO, the Friedrich Ebert Stiftung of Germany and the Association of Advertising Agencies in Jamaica (AAAJ).

Programmes

1. MA in Communication for Social and Behaviour Change

This programme provides students with a foundation in theory, research methods and practice. Students are prepared to develop, deliver, manage and evaluate communication campaigns and other interventions for social and behaviour change as well as to design and disseminate information to a wide variety of potential audiences. The programme also seeks to instill in students a lifelong commitment to high ethical practices and standards in health and
development support communication, including risk and crisis communication.

The programme claims to be the first of its kind in the Caribbean. It is designed to produce communicators with special skills in behaviour change communication planning and strategy design, especially applicable to Small Island Developing States (SIDS) and other developing countries in Africa, Asia and South America.

The Masters degree is offered with the option of extension to an MPhil or Ph.D.

Areas of concentration:

1. Health and behaviour change communication with focus on
   
   1. Reproductive health and HIV/AIDS prevention
   2. Substance abuse prevention
   3. Environmental health, and
   4. Occupational health

2. Social change and development communication
3. Disaster preparedness, emergency and risk communication
4. Programme management including design, implementation, monitoring and evaluation

Gender, policy, legal and ethical issues - all important aspects in health, social and behaviour change communication - will be addressed from different perspectives throughout the programme.

The programme is offered on a yearly basis and begins in January of each year.

2. MA in Communication Studies

The Masters in Communication Studies programme consists of teaching courses and research and is
taught over two years. The formal instruction is in six core courses taught over three hours per week. The taught element of each course consists of a combination of lectures and seminars given by an interdisciplinary team of academics and practising local, regional and international professionals. At the end of the course, students are expected to be able to demonstrate knowledge and understanding of relevant communication theories and their application, as well as strategic media management.

Admission:

Admission to the MA in Communication Studies is limited to the September term. There is an intake every two years (2004 - 2006, etc). Applications can be submitted between November and January of the intake year. It is a part-time-only programme with evening sessions.

Admission to the MA in Communication for Social and Behavior Change is in January every year. Applications are open between Jan - March of the year preceding intake.

Applications should be submitted to the University of the West Indies, Mona Office of Graduate Studies and Research.

Contact:

For details regarding the Masters programmes, please contact:

Ms. Patricia Donald

patricia.donald02@uwimona.edu.jm

or

Dr. Nancy Muturi

nancy.muturi@uwimona.edu.jm

or

Dr. Marjan de Bruin

Director of CARIMAC

marjan.debruin@uwimona.edu.jm

To request an application please contact:

The Department of Graduate Studies and Research

University of the West Indies

Mona, Kingston 7

postgrad@uwimona.edu.jm

For specific questions regarding other programmes at CARIMAC, please contact:

The Caribbean Institute of Media and Communication

University of the West Indies

Kingston 7,

Jamaica

Tel: (876) 977-0898; 927-1481

Fax: (876) 977-1597

carimac@uwimona.edu.jm