As I start my last summer as a college undergraduate, my mind automatically fast forwards to next summer when I will begin to look for a full-time job in the communication field. I am currently pursuing a Bachelor's Degree in Communication and Media Arts at a small, private university in my hometown. Throughout my years of school, I have experienced many confused looks and questions about what a communication major is. At my university, I have a concentration in advertising, public relations and journalism, meaning these are all fields I may potentially pursue a career in. Of course, these are not the only communication careers, these are just the three I am focusing on. Other areas of communication include: radio and television broadcast, film and music production, photojournalism, public administration, graphic design and more.
What I have learned from studying the different aspects of communication is that most companies have some sort of communication worker on their staff, as long as the company is large enough. This may be a brand manager, account director, digital strategist or marketing director. It's nothing new that everywhere we look, we see advertisements. In addition, most of us receive news one way or another, whether it is through the Internet, print or broadcast. Graphic design is used everywhere from the applications we use on our phones to the labels on the food we buy. These are more common careers in the communication field.
The way we communicate is not just how we speak verbally, it also includes nonverbal messages that may be received visually. Studying the field of communications allows for students to develop an awareness for the way the general public relates to one another. Webster's dictionary defines communications as “the ways of sending information to people by using technology,” and as technology develops, the way we communicate with others changes. Now more than ever, we are connected with people from all over the world and being aware of this is crucial for effective communication. Effective communication allows for improvement on cultural, social, personal and professional levels.
When I chose this major, I had no idea all the different career paths I would be able to pursue—I may not be feeling this optimistic next summer when the time comes to actually find a job, but you know what I mean. I have found that in this major, if you are not good at verbal communication, there are so many other options that you can pursue. I am better at writing and have developed a growing interest in journalism. For some, they choose to communicate through graphics. While people may think communication is just talking, it is so much more than that.
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the common careers of communication and media include technical writers; editors; public relations specialists; reporters; correspondents and news analysts; film and video editors; and announcers. These among many other job titles are careers that communication majors have enjoyed success in. So, to all you other comm majors, the next time someone asks what you can do with a degree in communication, tell them the options are endless!
