Career Choice and Influence of Academic Factors among Students of Mass Communication in Nigeria

Abstract

The study examines most preferred mass communication professions among students of mass communication in Nigerian universities and polytechnics. It also, investigates the academic factors that motivate career choice of students. The study adopted quantitative survey research method to gather data from 11 sampled public higher institutions across Nigeria. It focused on the final year students of mass communication in Nigerian pioneer public universities and polytechnics that started mass communication academic programmes in the six geo-political zones. The Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) was used in analyzing the data. The findings indicated that Broadcast journalism, advertising and public relations are found to be the major mass communication professions preferred by the students. Equally, courses taught, lecturers and learning facilities are the major academic factors that motivate career choice in mass communication among the students. The study concluded that the most preferred professions by students of mass communication in Nigeria are broadcast journalism, advertising and public relations. It was recommended that the stakeholders of these professions should prepare to accommodate the teaming potential mass communication graduates that will build their career after graduation.