Determinants of Undergraduates’ Decision to Study Mass Communication at the University of Ilorin, Nigeria

Abstract

Every student that applies for a course at any tertiary institution has a rationale for the choice. Therefore, this study investigated the factors that influence undergraduates’ decision to study Mass Communication at the University of lorin, Nigeria. The population of the study was all the 214 registered students during the 2015/2016 academic session that cut across the four levels in the Department of Mass Communication. Since the study population was not large, all the students constituted sample for the study. The instrument of data collection was questionnaire. Complementing this instrument was in-depth interview which 20 students purposively selected were involved. Findings showed that, majority (61%) who voluntarily applied to study Mass Communication at the University of Horin was due to array of staff, facilities at the department (52%), and reputation of the University as a whole (41%), just as more than half of respondents (66%) indicated that they feel fulfilled studying Mass Communication at the University of Morin. The study concluded that although other factors with varying degrees of response rate including peer influence, parental role, job prospects, and proximity are responsible for students’ decision to study Mass Communication, these factors are secondary. It therefore recommended, among other things, that the University and the Department, in particular, should sustain its standard so as to satisfy students” expectation and remain ttractive to potential Mass Communication students.