SNDT Women�s University was established in 1916 with the view of giving women an opportunity to come out and join the mainstream of education and public life. It has over the years very creditably performed this role and it has introduced courses and departments to train young women for the market needs of tomorrow.
One such innovative course introduced in 1984, by the SNDT College of Home Science, Pune was COMMUNICATION MEDIA FOR CHILDREN. It offers a two years master's program.
THE DEPARTMENT
The department of Communication Media for Children is a Unique one and only one of its kinds in India. The Master�s course offered is innovative and multidisciplinary. It focuses on both educational and recreational needs of children between 3-12 years and trains women in producing a variety of media material in traditional (Puppets), electronic media (audio-video/ computers) as well as writing for children.
Broadly the objectives of the department are:
1. To train women into a fast growing field of mass media with special interest in producing material for children 2. To develop prototype media material for children and test its effectiveness.
3. To develop a resource center and become a clearinghouse of media material for and about children.
4. To develop a research center dealing with children and media.
DEPARTMENTAL ACTIVITIES
RESOURCE CENTER
A variety of material in the form of children's books, video programs, audio programs, art and craft activities, games and other recreational material for children are being collected at the resource center. Students use this regularly as it enables them to become sensitive and aware of material already available.
RESEARCH CENTER
In the past few years we have identified and initiated research in the field of children and media. Our areas of research have been, Media Education, Children�s literature, Use of Media for therapeutic purposes, Children and Media Violence, Media Utilization by children, etc.
MEDIA LABORATORY
The department has professional digital, Beta cam shooting & editing equipment, a still photography lab, with facility of black and white developing and an acoustically treated studio facility with lights
DEVELOPMENT OF MATERIALS
Illustrated literature in Indian languages, audio and video programs for children and about children have been developed. Video programs for telecast on U.G.C. Country Wide Class Room have also been produced in collaboration with Educational Media Research Center's in University of Pune and Gujarat University, Ahmedabad. Programs for school children have been produced in collaboration with the State Institute of Educational Technology, Pune,
MASTER'S PROGRAM
The department offers a two-year master's course in Communication Media for Children with the objective of training professionals in the field of media, who are sensitive to the needs of the children. There are three focus areas of study:
a. Electronic Media
b. Puppetry & Theatre
c. Writing
The program focuses equally on theoretical course work and practical experience. Other than regular subjects offered in mass communication courses, there are innovative courses like `Social Impact of Media', `Children & Television', `Creative Media for Children� and `Communicating to Children�. These courses have been especially designed to meet the needs of this program.
The department has fully equipped latest Digital equipment and studio facility.
COURSES
MEDIA RELATED SUBJECTS
Media & Society
Media Audiences
Understanding Cinema
Children & Television
Visual Communication
Development Communication
Introduction to Mass Communication
OTHER RELATED SUBJECTS
Social Psychology of Recreation
Communicating to Children
Research Methods
Statistics
PRACTICALS
Still Photography
Writing for Children
Audio-Video Production
Puppetry & Theatre
Internship
Seminars
