A choice to specialize a degree in communications in a specific area is a start to building a foundation for gaining the skills and knowledge in a targeted industry. In a discipline that can be broad, choosing a concentration or tailoring classes and other academic experiences to one type of communications is often the key to graduating with a highly marketable degree.
Communications Degree Overview
Communications degrees explore many different topics within the field of communication. Students in these undergraduate degree programs complete general education requirements and then move on to courses that focus on the study of multicultural communication, interpersonal communication, methods of communication, media and mass communication studies, organizational communication, nonverbal communication, and the psychology of communication.
In addition to these courses, students are also likely to take classes in linguistics, literary analysis, public speaking, and similar humanities and liberal arts options. In some cases, too, depending on the institution, a concentration might be best developed through completion of a minor area of study, including options in business, information technology, or engineering.
Concentrations for a Communications Degree
As with other academic disciplines, careers for a student who is completing a degree in communications can vary across industries and positions. Many of the options for specializing a degree in communications are designed in order to best position graduates to enter into a specific industry. This also affects what types of courses students will complete.
One area of communications that is continuing to increase is digital media. In this concentration, students complete courses such as media psychology, techniques in social media management, and digital media in society. In some cases, a concentration in this area might connect closely with a journalism specialization, which might require completion of courses in exploration of the First Amendment, journalism law, and media ethics.
Other concentrations for communications majors include health care, public relations, advertising and marketing, and film studies. These specializations prepare students to work in hospitals, health insurance firms, advertising agencies, and television and radio stations.
Specialization in a particular area of communication can be further honed by joining professional associations and completing certification courses as well, which is also a sought-after component by employers. For example, the International Association of Business Communicators (IABC) offers a Communication Management Professional Certification, and the Society for Technical Communication provides courses to complete the Certified Professional Technical Communicator designation.
Communications Careers
As with the concentrations, there are a number of different choices a communications professional can make in terms of which area or industry to enter into after graduation. From public relations and crisis communications to social media management, graduates who have chosen a specific pathway have career options.
Possible career positions for a communications graduate who has studied a particular area of the field include communications coordinator, social media manager, producer, copywriter, customer service manager, journalist, managing editor, technical writer, public relations director, and brand manager.
In order to specialize a degree in communications, thoughtful consideration to one’s own skills and future goals is the first step. From there, future graduates can begin to plan the educational path to best help them pursue their desired careers.
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