Communications Degree
A degree in communications can help prepare students for careers in a wide variety of fields, ranging from advertising to broadcasting to corporate communications. This is a broad and flexible discipline that covers the various aspect of linguistics, focusing on the dissemination of the written and spoken word. Communications colleges, both traditional and online, tend to offer a variety of different degree options, including associates, bachelors, masters and doctorate degrees.
Communications Degree Description
Most programs that offer a degree in communications emphasize a core group of courses, while also providing students with an opportunity to focus their studies on a specific concentration. Among those courses that all students enrolled at communications colleges will likely need to complete are mass communication, ethics, communication law, history and philosophy of communication, and research principles. English and computer courses are also highly recommended.
In addition, communication colleges require that students complete a predefined amount of coursework in a specific focus or area. Said focus areas include advertising, broadcast journalism, corporate communications, entertainment studies, mass communications, photography, print journalism, public relations, and visual communications. Classes in each discipline are focused on teaching the methodology and technique, such as principles of advertising, news media production, editing and design, introduction to photography, and speech writing.
Communications Careers
A degree in communications can lead to a wide variety of different career options. Upon graduating from one of the many communications colleges or online programs, individuals can find employment as a writer, editor, photographer, broadcaster, or designer in the mainstream media; a political speechwriter or aide; or in public relations with a corporation, a hospital, or nonprofit agency. Careers in acting, production, fundraising, technical writing, and teaching are also viable career options for individuals who have earned a degree in communications.
According to the 2010-11 Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Outlook Handbook, careers in public relations are expected to increase rapidly through 2018, with PR specialists earning a median annual salary of more than $51,000. Jobs in broadcasting won’t experience the same kind of expansion, with fewer new jobs expected to become available over the next eight years. However, broadcast professionals earned approximately $850 per week (versus the national average of just over $600).
As for news reporting and correspondent positions, the number of available positions is expected to decline through 2018, and the median income for these individuals is roughly $16,000 less annually than PR professionals. Of course, these are just a few of the career paths open to graduates of communications colleges, making this versatile degree program a good choice, especially in uncertain economic times.