Career Opportunities in the Communications Field

Communications is a broad and growing industry, made up of various subfields such as advertising, public relations, journalism, publishing and writing. With the continual proliferation of Web-based companies, communications professionals are in high demand in emerging fields such as e-publishing, Web writing and Internet marketing and advertising.
 
 
Individuals interested in pursuing a career in communications should possess excellent written and interpersonal communication skills, as well as editorial abilities. Communications specialists should also possess strong technical skills, including familiarity with a variety of computer programs and an ability to conduct research both on and off the Web.
 
Communications specialists often work in a fast-paced environment and should feel comfortable meeting deadlines, organizing information and working as part of a team.

Education Options in Communications

Strong communication skills are required in many different fields, so the communications professional is not necessarily limited to jobs within just one industry. The beauty of obtaining a degree in communications is that it provides you with a host of transferable skills that can be refined and tailored to the exact area of your interest.
 
The field of communication studies focuses on the processes of communication and the sharing of symbols over space and time. If you are interested in pursuing a career in a communications-related field, then earning a degree can help you attain that goal. Many universities that offer communications studies also offer related majors such as journalism, broadcasting and public relations.

Degree Programs

Different communications degree programs are available depending on the level of education a student is interested in pursuing, including:
  • Associate's of Arts : This type of communications degree is generally a two-year undergraduate program taken at a community or junior college. It requires at least 48 semester hours but usually takes 60 hours to complete. Salaries for jobs attained with an associate degree depend on many different variables but average around 30,000 dollars annually.

  • Bachelor's of Arts or Science in Communications : This is a four-year program, but it can take three to five years to complete. With a bachelor's degree, salaries range from 18,000 to 25,000 dollars annually for lower level positions, such as media services, to 40,000 dollars annually for creative positions.

  • Bachelor's of Arts or Science in Business/Communications : While also a four-year program, this option allows one to compete for jobs in business and management fields. Median salaries are upwards of 60,000 dollars annually.
 

Educational Opportunities

Students majoring in communications have a choice of areas in which to specialize, including:
  • broadcasting (radio and television)
  • film studies
  • journalism
  • multimedia communications
  • public relations.
 

Additionally, undergraduates in the communications field have several graduate areas of study from which to choose. Earning a master's degree in communications will not only expand your knowledge, it can also help you get a high-paying job right out of college. Areas of study include:

  • business management
  • communication, communication management and mass communication
  • education
  • journalism
  • law
  • motion picture and television
  • political science and international relations
  • psychology
  • public policy and administration
  • sociology.
 

Coursework

Communications majors are exposed to a solid foundation based on liberal arts. Common core courses include:
  • communication and society
  • communication research
  • expository writing
  • language and gender
  • media law and ethics
  • production of multimedia software
  • oral communication
  • origin of language
  • speech.
 

Students pursuing a bachelor�s degree in communication/business might also be required to take the following courses:

  • accounting
  • business statistics
  • commercial law
  • logistics and fulfillment
  • microeconomics
  • strategic marketing.
 

Potential Costs

Costs vary widely for different schools and depend on residency in the state. Tuition for state residents at state universities is about 7,000 dollars (7,600 dollars for non-residents). At private schools, the registration costs are between 15,000 to 26,000 dollars per year. Books and supplies should also be factored into the cost of college. Depending on a student's course load, necessary supplies can run between 400 and 1,700 dollars per year. In contrast, tuition at an online university is about 500 dollars per unit.

Job Opportunities

Because communications is a very broad field, the skills and knowledge learned with a communications degree can apply to many different types of careers and industries.
 
Graduates with an A.A. degree may be prepared for jobs in areas such as:
  • accounting
  • business development
  • corporate communications
  • finance
  • human resources
  • management
  • marketing communications
  • retail
  • sales.
 
Graduates with a B.A. in the field of communications can pursue careers in a variety of different fields, especially mass media, academia and social services.
 
Careers in mass media include:
  • design
  • film
  • journalism
  • publication (author, editor)
  • TV or radio broadcasting.
 

Careers in academia, social services and government include:

  • communications specialist
  • counseling or consulting
  • election campaign promotion
  • municipal planning
  • social work
  • teaching.
 

Graduates with a B.A. in Communications/Business could pursue careers in:

  • business marketing
  • e-commerce and e-marketing
  • information systems
  • law
  • marketing research
  • product management.
 
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