COMMUNICATIONS STUDIES

AREA: BUSINESS

  • Sales
  • Customer Service
  • Management
  • Human Resources
  • Training and Development
  • Labor Relations
  • Writing/Editing
  • Office Management

EMPLOYERS

  • Product and service organizations
  • Retail stores
  • Hotels
  • Restaurants
  • Manufacturers
  • Financial companies
  • Insurance companies
  • Hospitals and other healthcare organizations
  • Print and electronic media
  • Other business corporations

STRATEGIES

  • Develop strong verbal and written communication skills.
  • Demonstrate excellent interpersonal skills.
  • Learn to work well on a team.
  • Join related professional associations. Get involved in other campus organizations.
  • Take business courses or earn a business minor.
  • Gain experience through internships, part-time, or summer jobs.
  • Develop computer skills in areas such as spreadsheets, databases, and presentation software.

AREA: PUBLIC RELATIONS/ADVERTISING

  • Public Relations
  • Advertising
  • Marketing
  • Corporate Public Affairs
  • Development
  • Media Analysis/Planning
  • Creative Directing
  • Writing/Editing
  • Audience Analysis
  • Public Opinion Research

EMPLOYERS

  • Private corporations
  • Public service organizations
  • Public opinion research firms
  • Public relations firms
  • Advertising agencies
  • Public opinion organizations
  • Radio and television companies
  • Sports and entertainment organizations
  • Hospitality and tourism industry
  • Nonprofit organizations
  • Consulting firms
  • Freelance

STRATEGIES

  • Develop excellent writing skills.
  • Gain experience through internships, even if unpaid.
  • Serve as public relations officer of an organization.
  • Take additional courses in marketing, advertising, public relations, or other area of interest.
  • Develop a portfolio of writing samples, ad campaigns, and other relevant work.
  • Join related professional associations.
  • Be willing to move to locations with greater numbers of job opportunities.
  • Be prepared to start at the bottom and work to more desirable positions.

AREA: MEDIA

  • Writing
  • Editing
  • Copywriting
  • Publishing
  • Producing
  • Managing/Directing
  • Research
  • Media Sales

EMPLOYERS

  • Publishing firms including newspaper, magazine and book
  • Internet sites
  • Television and radio stations
  • Film industry

STRATEGIES

  • Develop excellent interpersonal and presentation skills.
  • Take elective courses in journalism, broadcasting, public relations, and advertising.
  • Develop research skills.
  • Work for campus or local newspaper, radio station, or television station.
  • Get related experience through internships, even if unpaid.
  • Learn desktop publishing, webpage design, and other computer skills.

AREA: NONPROFIT

  • Administration
  • Program Coordination
  • Grant Writing
  • Writing/Editing
  • Fundraising
  • Volunteer Coordination

EMPLOYERS

  • Nonprofit organizations
  • Professional associations
  • Chambers of commerce
  • Community centers
  • Philanthropies
  • Hospitals

STRATEGIES

Take courses in psychology, sociology, or social work to broaden perspective. Volunteer with community and campus organizations. Learn to work well with different types of people.
Develop a wide array of skills including writing, speaking, budgeting, grant writing, and leadership.

AREA: GOVERNMENT

  • Public Information
  • Campaigning
  • Programming
  • Legislative Assistance
  • Research
  • Lobbying
  • Conflict Negotiation

EMPLOYERS

  • All branches of local, state and federal government
  • Political parties
  • Political action committees

STRATEGIES

Learn local, state, and federal government job application process. Take courses in conflict management and develop negotiation skills. Volunteer to work on a local political campaign.
Join related student organizations and earn leadership roles. Find an internship with a government organization to get a foot in the door. Maintain a strong grade point average as many government programs are very competitive.

AREA: LAW

  • Law Assistance
  • Prosecution
  • Defense
  • Contractual
  • Corporate
  • Nonprofit or Public Interest
  • Government
  • Mediation
  • Lobbying

EMPLOYERS

  • Law firms
  • Government agencies
  • Corporations
  • Public interest organizations
  • Private practice
  • Colleges and universities

STRATEGIES

Plan on attending a specialized paralegal training school or law school depending upon area of interest. Participate in a debate or forensic team to hone communication skills. Join pre-law organizations. Obtain a part-time or summer job at a law office. Take courses in and gain experience with mediation and conflict resolution.

AREA: EDUCATION

  • Teaching
  • Research
  • Student Support Services including: Admissions, Advising, Development, Student Affairs, Recruitment, Alumni Affairs

EMPLOYERS

  • Colleges and universities

STRATEGIES

Ph.D. required for teaching and research in colleges and universities. Maintain a high grade point average and secure strong faculty recommendations. Earn a master's degree in college student personnel or a related field for administrative positions. Get involved in campus leadership roles in residence halls, student unions/activities, programming boards, etc.

GENERAL INFORMATION

  • Develop strong written and verbal communication skills and excellent interpersonal skills.
  • Get experience with public speaking by joining Toastmasters.
  • Learn to work well on a team and develop leadership skills.
  • Explore specializations within major and professional field. Select electives to enhance knowledge in area(s) of interest.
  • Obtain experience through part-time employment, co-op, internships, or volunteer experience.
  • Get involved in campus activities and professional organizations.
  • Speech communication is a broad degree that can lead to job opportunities in many different fields. Skills and experiences gained through co-curricular activities, internships, part-time jobs, and volunteering are critical in shaping a career path.
  • Speech communication is also good preparation for graduate school in many disciplines.