HYDERABAD: The Osmania University has decided to revamp its journalism course and make it a regular two year Master’s programme. The varsity is going to merge its current one-year courses in Bachelor of Communication and Journalism (BCJ) and Masters of Communication and Journalism (MCJ) to start a new two-year master's programme from 2011-12. It has also given permission to the Rachana College of Journalism to run a two-year MCJ course from the next academic year.   

 The university standing committee approved the decision after the board of studies, Department of Journalism and Mass Communication passed a unanimous resolution, Prof T Krishna Rao, director, Admissions told Express.

 He said the university will give a chance to those who are currently pursing BCJ to study MCJ in their second year. It will conduct an entrance exam for BCJ students for the one-year of MCJ in the academic year 2011-12.

 As per guidelines outlined by the University Grants Commission on post-graduate courses, OU authorities decided to scrap the one-year BCJ course, which was till now being offered as a PG course. Prof Rao said the UGC had recently stated all PG courses should be of a minimum two-year tenure.

 Associate professor B Balaswamy, chairman, board of studies, Journalism and Mass Communication department, said the course intake would be 54 for the two-year MCJ course and 40 seats for the course at Rachana Journalism College. He said Osmania University was the first varsity in the country to start a course in journalism. Students who have completed graduation in any stream or are pursuing their final year are eligible for the MCJ course, he added.