The communication major is a broad subject.
Just because it is a broad major doesn't mean that COMM majors like myself have an easy ride. I have heard more times than I would like to admit that, "communication is an easy major." And that statement has some truth to it, but what I want to talk about is how we, as communication majors are a special breed of college students.
First, I want to address the phrase I used in just a few lines before. Communication is easy to those who have never taken a COMM class before. I think every COMM major or minor at the College of Charleston can attest to the Goliath that is COMM 215: Communication, Identity, and Community. Even having a great professor like Dr. Merissa Ferrara teach the class would leave you nearly pulling your hair out. I am just talking from personal experience. One thing that I consistently hear about the class is that this extremely difficult class got them hooked to the communication major here at the College of Charleston.
Back to the quote above that says communication is easy. It is not always because having to give a 15-20 minute presentation on top of a 15-page paper has not happened in any other class besides my COMM classes. And I know some of you overachievers are like, "just 15 minutes, just 15 pages, that's nothing." If you are in that boat of oh that is nothing, then you can't possibly be completely human.
I've taken a rather wide range of classes over my four years at the College of Charleston and the COMM classes are the ones that I love but hate at the same moment. I'm pretty sure that happens to a lot of college students.
Now, to the real reason that COMM majors are a special breed. With communication being a broad major, it leaves those who graduate in communication to experiment with a variety of careers. You can go into marketing, PR, be a news reporter/writer and even be a human resource officer. I didn't mention all of the possibilities because there are so many that I can't possibly list all of them.
There truly is no limit to what you can become with that degree in communications. With this variety in potential career paths, it can become annoying to figure out which fits best. That's why internships are so critical in picking out your future job. Trust me when I say that an internship shows you what you want to do and what you don't want to do.
COMM majors are a special breed because this world needs people who can communicate effectively. It's cool if you can do a certain job like scientific research or run a large international business. But, one false move and everything you have done can be discredited.
That is why companies are always seeking individuals who can effectively make their company, their product or their research look and sound great. We would all get bored rather quickly if a scientist went on and on about how this drug is the next big thing with them talking only about the scientific side of it. If you can't portray your new finding in a way that the average person can understand then you have failed in conveying your message to the masses.
That is why companies who don't know how to talk about themselves look to companies and individuals who make people look good as a profession.
COMM majors, at least here at the College of Charleston, are a special breed of college students. To all my fellow communication majors and minors, this stuff isn't always easy and at times it is. Let's be happy our major doesn't have extra long equations to figure out unless you take Statistics. Which we have to, unfortunately.
But, we have the unbelievable opportunity to choose from so many professions after graduation. We literally help others communicate the positives of themselves. Finally, we can crank out a speech and paper out in no time. These things make communication majors a special and sometimes unappreciated breed of college students.
