The philosophy and mission statement underlying the B.Sc. Mass Communication programme is to produce graduates imbued with the ability to understand and make contribution to the development of Nigeria and the global Community. The mission of the programme is to foster an understanding of the rapidly changing world including issues of globalisation and a ‘border-less world’ as well as relationships between various ‘worlds’. This broad philosophy can be achieved by equipping students with a solid foundation as well as specialised knowledge in Communication discipline; preparing graduates to meet the human resources needs; fostering in graduates entrepreneurial knowledge, the ability to apprehend current changes as well as a sense of public responsibility and a spirit of self-reliance.
The Senate of the Lagos State University (LASU), at its 98th Statutory Meeting held on the 9th of July, 2000, approved the recommendations of an Eleven- man Committee, to set up the LASU School of Communication (LASUSOC). Full academic activities began on 5th June 2001, during the 2000/2001 academic session, with the following degree programmes: Print Journalism, Book Publishing and Development; Communication Technology; Human Communication, Photojournalism and Cinematography, Public Relations and Advertising, and Radio and Television Broadcast.
In 2008, in line with the National Universities Commission (NUC) recommendations, the seven programmes in the School were collapsed to one, (B.Sc. Mass Communication), while the School was restructured along three academic departments, namely Journalism, Broadcasting, and Public Relations and Advertising departments. The School now awards bachelor’s degree (B.Sc. Mass Communication), Postgraduate Diploma (Communication Studies); academic Master’s degree (M.Sc. Communication Studies); Professional Master’s degree (Masters in Communication Studies-M.C.S.) and Doctorate degree (PhD, Communication Studies). The School in headed by a Dean, who also manages the LASU Radio, on behalf the Vice-Chancellor of the University. LASU Radio 95.7 FM has a state of the art Studio and ranks one of the best in the country.
In addition to the pioneer Head of Campus and Acting Deans, LASUSOC has, since inception, also produced three professors, and substantive Deans including: Professor Idowu Sobowale (Pioneer Dean and Professor of Journalism); Professor Lai Oso- Dean ( immediate past Dean Professor of Mass Communication); and Professor Rotimi Williams. Olatunji (current Dean and Professor, Public Relations and Advertising).
Following the unbundling of Mass Communication programme into seven distinct degrees by the National Universities Commission (NUC) plans are underway to commence the following bachelors’ (B.Sc,) degree programmes: Advertising, Broadcasting, Development Communication, Film & Multimedia Studies, Journalism & Media Studies, Information Science & Media Studies, and Public Relations.
The School of Communication currently has an international exchange programme with School of Media, Birmingham University, United Kingdom, under the Erasmus+ Higher Education International Credit Mobility (ICM) Programme. Students of the School have also excelled in several competitions, including emerging National Champions in the Inter-Collegiate Debate organized by the Public Affairs Section of the United States of America Consular General, Lagos, Nigeria during the 2017 World Press Freedom day celebration.
Students in the School of Communication have also excelled in several competitions. Local Organizing Committee (LOC) of the 2018 ITTF Challenge Nigeria Open, awarded (2) Media Internship Placements to undergraduate Students of the Lagos State University School of Communication. The internship afforded undergraduates from Nigerian Tertiary Institutions once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to garner experience as aspiring young media professionals. Similarly, Johnson Toyin and Marian Ileyemi won The Mamman Marshal Scholarship for Women in Journalism programme 2018 Edition. The students emerged winners following a set of rigorous selection processes. The scholarship award covers tuition, accommodation and stipends for the beneficiaries throughout their first degree academic programme.
The LASU Radio is currently into partnership with Deutsche Welle (DWC) German Radio Corporation for event coverage on Migration issues that was held in University of Benin in 2018, as well as to develop the social media potentials of LASU Radio. Sequel to the terms of the MoU, Deutsche Welle German Radio Corporation had had funded LASU RADIO broadcast activities to the tune of 1,500 Euro. In response to this, the LASU Management, through the Vice Chancellor, Professor Olanrewaju Adigun Fagbohun, PhD, SAN had written an official letter of appreciation to DWC.