|
Communications Colleges
Use this page as a reference when researching
communications degree programs.
Browse
Communications Colleges
A
Description of Communication
What
is Communication?
Why
is Communication Important?
History
of the Communication Discipline
Areas
of Concentration in the Communication Discipline
Communication
as an Academic Discipline
Growth
of the Discipline of Communication
Departmental
Approaches to the Field of Communication
Unit
Designations
Special
Departmental Services
Communication
in Higher Education
Undergraduate
Education
Graduate
Education
Communication
and Careers
Careers
in the Field of Communication
Advertising
Communication
Education
Electronic
Media/Radio-Television/Broadcasting
Journalism
(Print or Electronic)
Public
Relations
Theatre/Performing
Arts/Dramatic Arts
Careers
in Fields Related to Communication
Business
Education
Government/Politics
Health
Careers
International
Relations and Negotiations
Law
Social
and Human Services
Getting
a Job in Communication
Representative
Careers in Communication
Resources
for Investigating Communication Studies
Electronic
Resources
Directories
to Communication Programs
History
of the Field of Communication
Endnotes
A
DESCRIPTION OF COMMUNICATION
What
is Communication?
Communication is a learned skill. Most people are born with the physical
ability to talk, but we learn to speak well and
communicate effectively. Speaking, listening, and our ability to
understand verbal and nonverbal meanings are skills we develop in
various ways. We learn basic communication skills by observing other
people and modeling our behaviors based on what we see. We also
are taught some communication skills directly through education,
and by practicing those skills and having them evaluated.
Communication as an academic field relates to all the ways we communicate,
so it embraces a large body of knowledge. The information relates
to both verbal and nonverbal messages. A body of scholarship all
about communication is presented and explained in textbooks, electronic
publications, and academic journals. In the journals, researchers
report the results of studies that are the basis for an ever-expanding
understanding of how we all communicate.
Communication teachers and scholars, in 1995 in 2000, developed a
definition of the field of communication to clarify it as a discipline
for the public:
The
field of communication focuses on how people use messages to generate
meanings within and across various contexts, cultures, channels,
and media. The field promotes the effective and ethical practice
of human communication.1
Why
is Communication Important?
Oral
communication has long been our main method for communicating with
one another. It is estimated that 75 percent of a person’s day is
spent communicating in some way. As a college student, 69 percent
of your communication time is spent on speaking and listening. You
spend 17 percent of your communication time on reading and 14 percent
writing.2 Put another way, “We listen a book a
day, we speak a book a week, read the equivalent of a book a month,
and write the equivalent of a book a year.” 3
Not
only do we spend considerable time communicating, communication
skills also are essential to personal, academic, and professional
success. In a report on fastest growing careers, the U.S.
Department of Labor states that communication skills will be in
demand across occupations well into the next century.4
In a national survey of 1000 human resource managers, oral
communication skills are identified as valuable for both obtaining
employment and successful job performance.5 Executives
with Fortune 500 companies indicate that college students need better
communication skills, as well as the ability to work in teams and
with people from diverse backgrounds.6 Case studies
of high-wage companies also state that essential skills for future
workers include problem solving, working in groups, and the ability
to communicate effectively.7 When 1000 faculty
members from a cross section of disciplines were asked to identify
basic competencies for every college graduate, skills in communicating
topped the list.8 Even an economics professor states
that, “. . . we are living in a communications revolution comparable
to the invention of printing . . . In an age of increasing talk,
it’s wiser talk we need most. Communication studies might
well be central to colleges and universities in the 21st century.”
9
History
of the Communication Discipline
The
communication discipline has a long history of accomplishments.
The
ability to speak clearly, eloquently, and effectively has been
recognized as the hallmark of an educated person since the beginning
of recorded history. Systematic comment on communication goes
back at least as far as The Precepts of Kagemni and Ptah-Hopte
(3200-2800 B.C.). Under the label “rhetoric,” the study of the
theory and practice of communication was a central concern of
Greek, Roman, medieval, Renaissance, and early modern education.
In the United States, rhetorical training has been a part of formal
education since Harvard’s founding in 1636.10
Modern
day communication studies also stress the role of citizenship in
a civil and democratic society, especially as related to freedom
of speech. The 20th century has seen the field of speech and rhetoric
grow to include communication in the workplace, in families, in
mass media, and in advertising, to name a few. Contemporary
students of communication draw on theories and practices common
in the fields of: anthropology, psychology, sociology, linguistics,
semiotics, and rhetoric. The study of communication today
includes all forms of: interpersonal, small group, organizational,
intercultural and international, and public and mass communication.
The field of communication considers how people communicate
as individuals, in society, and in various cultures.
Areas
Of Concentration in the Communication Discipline
Many
subject matters are encompassed in the field of communication. While
areas of emphasis differ from one school to another, some of the
most common include:
 |
Applied Communication: The study of processes
used to analyze communication needs of organizations and social
interaction, including the design of training to improve communication
between supervisors and employees.
|
|
Communication Education: The study of
speech communication in the classroom and other pedagogical
contexts.
|
|
Communication Theory: The study of principles
that account for the impact of communication in human social
interaction.
|
|
Family Communication: The study of communication
unique to family systems.
|
|
Gender Communication: The study of gender
and sex differences and similarities in communication and
the unique characteristics of male-female communication.
|
|
Health Communication: The study of communication
as it relates to health professionals and health education,
including the study of provider-client interaction as well
as the diffusion of health information through public health
campaigns.
|
|
International and Intercultural Communication:
The study of communication among individuals of different
cultural backgrounds, including the study of similarities
and differences across cultures.
|
|
Interpersonal Communication: The study
of communication behaviors in dyads (pairs) and their impact
on personal relationships.
|
|
Language and Social Interaction: The study
of the structure of verbal and nonverbal behaviors occurring
in social interaction.
|
|
Legal Communication: The study of the
role of communication as it relates to the legal system.
|
|
Mass Communication and Media Literacy:
The study of the uses, processes, and effects of mediated
communication.
|
|
Mediation and Dispute Resolution: The
study of understanding, management, and resolution of conflict
in intrapersonal, interpersonal, and intergroup situations.
|
|
Performance Studies: The study of communication
as performance, including its components, that is performer(s),
text, audience, and context.
|
|
Political Communication: The study of
the role that communication plays in political systems.
|
|
Public Address: The study of speakers
and speeches, including the historical and social context
of platforms, campaigns, and movements.
|
|
Public Relations: The study of the management
of communication between an organization and its audiences.
|
|
Rhetorical Criticism: The study of principles
that account for the impact of human communication between
speaker and audience.
|
|
Semiotics: The use of verbal and nonverbal
symbols and signs in human communication.
|
|
Small Group Communication: The study of
communication systems among three or more individuals who
interact around a common purpose and who influence one another.
|
|
Speech Communication: The study of the
nature, processes, and effects of human symbolic interaction.
While speech is the most obvious mode of communication, human
symbolic interaction includes a variety of verbal and nonverbal
codes.
|
|
Theatre and Drama: The study and production
of dramatic literature.
|
|
Visual Communication: The study of visual
data, such as architecture, photography, visual art, advertising,
film, and television as it relates to communication.
|
COMMUNICATION
AS AN ACADEMIC DISCIPLINE
Growth
of the Discipline of Communication
Instruction
in communication is widely available in the United States and is
growing rapidly in Canada and in other countries. An online
database on the communication discipline in higher education shows
approximately 118,000 communication majors pursuing undergraduate
degrees and 16,000 seeking graduate degrees in communication.11
(www.aca.iupui.edu/cq-i/home.html) Depending on the school,
you can earn: a certificate of proficiency, associate degree, bachelor
of arts and science, masters of arts and science, and/or a doctor
of philosophy or education. The number of undergraduate and graduate
communication degrees conferred on students has been rising steadily
throughout the 20th century. (Click here
to see Table 1)
Departmental
Approaches to the Field of Communication
Communication departments vary from school to school in focus, courses
offered, and types of programs and degrees available.
Some
schools offer degrees in specific areas of communication such as
public relations, radio-TV-film, journalism, advertising, theatre,
organizational communication or communication education. At such
schools you would receive, for example, a B.A. in advertising.
Some
colleges offer a communication degree with an emphasis, concentration,
or track in a specific area (such as public relations, rhetoric,
mass communication, interpersonal communication). At such institutions
you would receive, for example, a B.S. in communication with an
emphasis in public relations.
Some
schools offer a communication degree without a particular emphasis.
At such colleges you would receive a B.A. in communication.
Some
community colleges offer associate degrees in communication. These
schools would grant, for example, an A.A. degree in communication.
Some
schools don’t offer a degree in communication but do offer one or
more courses. At these institutions, you would receive a degree
in another major but have communication courses as part of the units
taken. For example, you might obtain a B.S. in Psychology, with
five courses in communication (possibly a minor).
Departments
of communication also may differ according to the theoretical approach
and research methods they favor. They may emphasize: rhetorical,
critical, interpretive, scientific, applied, and/or performance
perspectives.
Undergraduate programs at most schools cannot and do not offer all
possible courses or majors in all areas of communication. Each school
generally specializes in one or perhaps several areas of study under
the broad umbrella of the communication field. The areas of study
available to students include an interesting array of possible choices.
A variety of courses and majors in communication are available,
but not all are offered at all schools. A national survey of 1,508
colleges and universities reported how many of those schools offer
communication courses and how many offer a major in communication
(Click here
to see Table 2).
Unit Designations
In
reviewing school catalogues, you’ll notice that not all colleges
and universities use the same title for listing their communication
programs. Some communication offerings are listed as part of a School
or College (e.g., School of Communication, College of Communication).
Some institutions will offer communication courses through departments
with such titles as Communication Studies, Speech Communication,
Communication Arts, Communication and Theatre, and Speech and Mass
Communication. Some schools merge communication offerings with other
academic areas, and designate the grouping with such names as Humanities
or Language Arts (e.g., Division of Humanities, Language Arts Program).
Special
Departmental Services
Some
departments offer activities and services in addition to their academic
courses. These offerings include intercollegiate speech and debate
competitions; communication clubs and honor societies; opportunities
for participation in on-campus radio, television stations, and theatres;
and off-campus experiential training.
Forensics
and debate offer opportunities for those interested in learning
to speak or perform before audiences to gain experience. This is
excellent training for entering fields like law, theatre, and teaching.
Communication clubs allow those who have similar interests
in the field to meet, have social interactions, go on field-trips,
meet the professors who teach the courses, interact with practitioners,
and participate in activities of mutual concern. National Communication
Association Student Clubs (NCASC) are official units associated
with the National Communication Association.
Honor
societies award special recognition to students who have achieved
high academic standards in the field. Lambda Pi Eta is the accredited
undergraduate communication honor society of the National Communication
Association. Membership in this honorary is not only a means of
gaining recognition for communication expertise. It also can be
included on a resume so prospective employers know that you are
a respected member of the academic community. Complete details on
Lambda Pi Eta are available on the web at http://cotton.uamont.edu/~scauso/lambda.
Student-operated radio stations, television stations, and theatres
are available on many campuses. These activities allow a student
interested in the field to gain practical experience.
Internships can be an important stepping stone on the pathway
to a career in communication. Internships are paid or unpaid positions
within a company or organization that are arranged for a fixed period
of time and may be assigned college credit. Because the communication
field is so broad, an internship in communication can help you define
an area of interest. It is also a way to show a future employer
that you have obtained on-the-job skills. For example, someone interested
in a career in political communication may be offered the opportunity
to participate in a candidate’s campaign, or a public relations
major may spend a period of time working in a public relations agency.
If
you declare communication as your major, consult with your advisor
or the head of the department about an internship opportunity.
Internships
are available in other academic disciplines, but the relationship
between interning and the communication field is particularly close.
In recent years, internships for students have taken a turn
toward what is now called service learning.12 Students
are given the opportunity to practice what they are learning, but
in community settings where their work benefits others and society.
Communication theory and skills are important in the kinds of internships
that fall under service learning.
COMMUNICATION
IN HIGHER EDUCATION
Undergraduate
Education
Post-secondary education in communication is offered at technical
schools, community colleges, colleges, and universities. Cost and
program content are usually the most important factors involved
in choosing a school for undergraduate studies.
Two
considerations in selecting a school are whether or not it offers
course work in your chosen major, and the quality of those offerings.
Do not assume that all colleges and universities offer communication
majors. Research is needed to determine the breadth and quality
of various programs. Referring to such sources as The Communication
Disciplines in Higher Education13 and Peterson’s
Guide to Four-Year Colleges14 should assist in the
search. On-campus interviews with counselors and members of the
communication department should also be considered.
Another
consideration may be the cost comparisons among schools. Be aware
that tuition at a public school in your state of residence tends
to be less expensive than out-of-state costs for colleges and universities.
Private colleges and universities tend to be more expensive than
public schools; however, many private institutions give scholarships
and grants which may balance out the cost differences. If there
is a community college in your area, it can also be part of your
pathway to a degree as it may grant an associate degree in communication,
or offer a substantial number of courses in the field. If you use
a community college as a stepping stone on the way to a B.A., be
sure that your credit hours are transferable to the school to which
you plan to transfer. To conserve finances, you may also consider
technical institutions. Only a few of these institutions offer programs
in communication. Those that have such programs favor technical
training in such fields as media technology and electronic communication.
Scholarships, grants, and student loans are available. Information
about financial aid is available from school career centers or the
reference section of a library.
Graduate
Education
Graduate
school might be an option if you’re interested in acquiring additional
knowledge and skills in communication beyond the undergraduate level.
Selecting a graduate school requires forethought. Graduate studies
in communication can be undertaken at the masters’ and doctorate
levels.
Many
graduate students in communication are interested in pursuing a
career in college teaching and research. With the exception of some
community colleges and private schools, a Ph.D. is usually preferred,
if not required, for employment as an entry-level instructor. There
are, of course, good nonacademic positions in public and private
organizations for someone with an advanced communication degree.
For example, a master’s degree in organizational communication might
lead to a career in management or in human resources training.
Graduate
level courses vary from school to school, just as at the undergraduate
level. Contact schools you are interested in attending and
request information regarding their major field offerings or consult
such sources as: NCA Directory of Graduate Programs15,
Journalism and Mass Communication Directory16,
and Peterson’s Guides to Graduate and Professional Programs:
An Overview17.
After
narrowing your list of prospective graduate schools, the next step
is to contact the schools that interest you for a copy of their
graduate program guide. Look through the guide to analyze each department’s
course offerings, any financial assistance that is available, and
job placement trends for recent graduates in your desired area of
concentration. There are no regularly updated official rankings
of the proficiency of communication programs. You might want
to do your own investigation by seeking recommendations from professors
or other experts in the field or researching the publication record
of faculty members on the staff of the prospective schools.
In
planning for graduate education, whether at the master’s or doctoral
level, be aware that many schools give stipends and/or a waiver
of tuition for being a graduate, research, or teaching assistant.
Graduate assistants aid professors in their research projects, coach
forensics/debate teams, or assist in departmental projects. Research
assistants help professors pursue inquiry into one of the
areas of communication. Teaching assistants instruct in speech courses,
usually under the supervision of a full-time faculty member.
COMMUNICATION
AND CAREERS
Careers
in the Field of Communication
When
investigating a possible career in communication, it is important
to know the possible positions available in the field, potential
career opportunities, and educational offerings available at the
school you choose.
The
discussion in this section describes some of the careers and jobs
available. These careers and jobs originally were derived from a
survey of communication graduates from 16 colleges and universities.18
That list has been supplemented with other jobs clearly in
the speech communication field. In this ever-changing economy, there
are job titles and descriptions which are not included but which
might open up for the communication graduate with the right skills,
knowledge, and experience.
Not
all colleges and universities offer all of the subjects listed for
each career area. In addition, many colleges have general education
requirements (that all students must take, regardless of major)
which may prevent a student from taking all of the subjects listed.
According
to Bruce Vandenburg of Michigan State University, “Advertising is
a field that demands good oral and written communication skills.
Someone who plans a career in advertising should be a people person.”
19 Obtaining a degree in advertising includes learning
about the research involved in developing advertising strategies,
how advertising campaigns are produced, how marketing plays into
advertising, and, of course, related computer skills.
Vandenburg
projected that advertising will be one of the top growth career
areas for the year 2000 and beyond. There should be a high demand
for new graduates. This growth appears to be based on the role of
advertising as it relates to new electronic, computer-based technologies,
including the Internet and CD-ROM.
Advertising
programs are typically housed with journalism or mass communication
departments, although they may be a part of a communication or business
program.
Careers in advertising include: advertising or marketing
specialist, copy writer, account executive, sales manager, media
planner, media buyer, creative director, media sales representative,
and public opinion researcher.
Communication subjects that can enhance an advertising career
include: marketing, copy writing, research methods, persuasion,
advertising and society, mass media, interpersonal communication,
mass media law, media production, public speaking, and small group
communication.
Communication educators are hired at all educational levels—elementary
and secondary schools, community colleges, colleges and universities.
Most communication faculty members are found at the collegiate level.
To
teach communication in an elementary or secondary school you need
to obtain certification. Each state has its own regulations, but
almost all require a minimum of a bachelor’s degree in the field
you will be teaching.
Becoming
an instructor at the college level usually requires a doctoral degree,
though some community colleges will hire a candidate with a master’s
degree. Community colleges tend to prefer graduates who have a general
communication degree so they can teach a variety of courses. Four-year
institutions, especially research and graduate level universities,
prefer candidates trained in a specific area, such as organizational
communication, rhetoric and public address, or interpersonal communication.
One
question often asked by students is, “What are the job opportunities
at the college level for teaching communication?” According to a
study, “more than 80 percent of those institutions currently advertising
for new faculty to fill communication positions prefer or demand
the Ph.D. However, only half the number needed to fill those vacancies
will be available in the years ahead. . . . These
trends will be more severely felt in the communications discipline
than in many other academic fields, because Ph.D. production in
communication per undergraduate to be served has been declining
steadily for a number of years.”20
Careers in communication education include: language
arts coordinator, high school speech teacher, forensics/debate coach,
drama director, college or university professor, and speech communication
department chairperson.
Communication subjects that can enhance a career in communication
education include: oral communication, public speaking,
interpersonal communication, introduction to media systems, communication
theory, research and methodology in communication, communication
in the classroom, cross-cultural communication, teaching the language
arts, linguistics, sociolinguistics, developmental communication,
nonverbal communication, small group communication, oral interpretation
and performance studies, forensics, family communication, conflict
resolution, argumentation, ethics of communication, rhetorical theory
and criticism, listening, discussion, and persuasion.
The
field of broadcasting is going through a period of rapid change.
One of the trends is the combination of radio and television with
computers and interactivity. Even the title of the field is shifting
from the present emphasis on broadcasting to electronic media, according
to Louisa A. Nielsen of the Broadcast Education Association.21
It
is further anticipated that there will be a major job shift in the
field from radio and television positions to non-broadcast video.
Non-broadcast video includes the activities of corporations, health
care centers, and educational organizations in producing newsletters,
training materials, videos, commercials, and educational materials.
Careers will encompass not only performance, but technical skills,
including video graphics. Students will need to be thoroughly trained
in the use of media.22
Often
considered to be a glamour industry because of the attention given
to electronic broadcasters—network newscasters and talk show hosts—the
radio-television field actually has more jobs off-camera and off-microphone
than on-air. Many of these technical, sales, and administrative
positions pay as well or better than those held by performers.
Those
interested in on-air performance should be aware that many of the
jobs are in small or rural communities at local stations and in
independent production facilities, rather than with the networks.
It is fairly common for performers to find their first job at one
of the small broadcasting or production sites. Initial pay is often
low or even unpaid as volunteer work or internships. Even at that,
competition for jobs is often high.
Undergraduate and graduate enrollments in electronic media are increasing.
Electronic media/radio-television/broadcasting programs can be found
in departments with such diverse names as Communications, Mass Media,
Mass Communication, and Radio-Television-Film.
Careers in electronic media/radio-television/broadcasting include:
broadcasting station manager, director of broadcasting, film/tape
librarian, community relations director, unit manager, film editor,
news director, news writer, transmitter engineer, technical director,
advertising sales coordinator, traffic/ continuity specialist, media
buyer, market researcher, actor, announcer, disc jockey, news anchor,
public relations manager, comedy writer, casting director, producer,
business manager, researcher, account executive, floor manager,
and talk show host.
Communication subjects that can enhance a career in electronic
media/ radio-television/broadcasting include: oral communication,
public speaking, print communication, interpersonal communication,
introduction to mass communication, media research, studio and field
production and direction for television/radio/film, script writing,
editing, persuasion, nonverbal communication, media performance,
oral interpretation, public relations, listening, media theory,
media criticism, advertising, media law, communication ethics, campaigns,
interviewing, and acting.
Journalism
involves researching and gathering information and communicating
it to the public through writing, speaking, visual, or electronic
means. Collegiate enrollment in journalism programs remains fairly
steady. Approximately 50 percent of journalism graduates find
employment in the field within six to eight months after completing
their undergraduate degree.
Careers in journalism include: reporter, editor, newscaster,
author, copy writer, script writer, publisher, news service researcher,
technical writer, acquisitions editor, media interviewer, and talk
show host.
Communication subjects that can enhance a career in journalism
include: interviewing, oral communication, public speaking,
print communication, interpersonal communication, editing, persuasion,
nonverbal communication, oral interpretation, listening, media theory,
media criticism, advertising, media research methods, media law
and ethics, acting, radio-television production, and announcing.
Public
relations typically involves managing the public image of an organization
or an individual. According to Carl Botan of Purdue University,
the field has been growing at a fast rate because (1) the information
society allows the reaching of specialized audiences which opens
up the public relations field to new and ever-expanding approaches,
and (2) public relations has been strongly affected internationally
by changing economic structures. It is expected that employment
trends will continue to rise as the conception of public relations
continues to broaden into areas of international communications
and training and development.23
Botan
advises anyone planning to enter the field to be aware that “effective
writing is absolutely a critical skill.” And with the advent of
video newsletters and video production as an important aspect of
public relations, a background in media production is a necessity
for career planning in this area.
This
academic major can be found in a journalism, mass communication
or communication department. It is sometimes housed in the business
school.
Careers in public relations include: publicity manager,
advertising manager, marketing specialist, press agent, lobbyist,
corporate public affairs specialist, account executive, development
officer, fund raiser, membership recruiter, sales manager, media
analyst, media planner, creative director, audience analyst, news
writer, and public opinion researcher.
Communication subjects that can enhance a career in public
relations include: business and professional communication,
public speaking, print communication, interpersonal communication,
introduction to media systems, organizational communication, media
production, listening, interviewing, ethics of communication, persuasion,
visual communication, and nonverbal communication.
Theatre,
along with mass media, is considered a glamour industry. Some individuals
who are interested in entering into a career in the theatre perceive
it as a pathway to becoming a “star.” Although stars do exist, the
majority of people in the field do not reach that level. Successful
careers as performers may be had by people who recognize that there
are opportunities outside of New York and Los Angeles. There are
professional, community, and educational theatres operating throughout
the country.
In
planning for a career in the theatre keep in mind that individuals
who were “stars” in their community or high school productions,
will be competing with others who have had similar experiences.
The jobs are few, the competition intense. It takes a great deal
of dedication, along with talent, to become a successful performer.
It
should also be kept in mind, when thinking about a career in drama,
that there are off-stage jobs in areas such as theatre management,
instruction, technical and production positions.
Degree
programs in theatre/performing arts/dramatic arts are sometimes
found in a communication department, but more often they are housed
in a theatre or performing arts department. Depending on the institution,
the focus of the program may include: theatre history/literature,
acting, stage speech, stage movement, design, directing, makeup,
costuming, theatrical/arts criticism, and theatre/stage management.
Careers in theatre/performing arts/dramatic arts include:
performing artist, script writer, producer, director, arts administrator,
performing arts educator, costume designer, scenic designer, lighting
designer, theatre critic, makeup artist, stage manager, model, theatre
professor, and casting director.
Communication subjects that can enhance a career in theatre/
performing/dramatic arts include: theatre criticism, arts
management, acting, directing, lighting design, designing for the
stage, costume design, theatre appreciation, history of the theatre,
oral communication, public speaking, and nonverbal communication.
Careers in Fields Related
to Communication
Knowledge
of communication can be beneficial to any career. If you enjoy studying
communication, but do not plan on pursuing it as a career,
consider taking as many communication courses as you can fit into
your elective selections. If your school permits it, you might choose
to double major or minor in communication. Here are some career
fields and occupations in which communication is important.
It
is well recognized that communication plays a vital role in the
functioning of any government, business, or industrial organization.
A national study indicates that the essential skills needed by a
competent employee to get a job and to succeed and be promoted are
primarily communication skills.24
Careers in business and communication include: sales
representative, executive manager, personnel manager, public information
officer, industrial and labor relations representative, negotiator,
director of corporate communication, customer service representative,
newsletter editor, communication trainer, human resources manager,
mediator, and buyer. (Also see Law, Media, and Public Relations
and Advertising.)
Communication subjects that can enhance a business career include:
public speaking, interpersonal communication, introduction to mass
media, business and professional communication, organizational communication,
small group communication, interviewing, and listening.
A
teacher of any subject has to effectively organize and deliver material
to students. Communication skills are necessary to facilitate comprehension
and understanding no matter whether the subject is math, science,
reading, or English. Great teachers are great communicators. Besides
teaching, there are other education-related careers.
Careers in education include: teacher (elementary and
secondary), school counselor, educational researcher, audiovisual
specialist, educational administrator, school/university information
specialist, director of college news, director of a collegiate information
center, educational tester, development officer, educational fund-raiser,
alumni officer, college placement officer, college admissions director,
and college recruiter.
Communication subjects that can enhance an education career
include: oral communication, public speaking, interpersonal
communication, introduction to media systems, communication theory,
communication research methods, communication in the classroom,
intercultural communication, teaching the language arts, linguistics,
sociolinguistics, nonverbal communication, small group communication,
performance studies, forensics, family communication, conflict resolution,
argumentation, communication ethics, rhetorical theory and criticism,
listening, persuasion, and communication disorders.
Communication skills are essential to address the issues that challenge
political leaders and our systems of government. Communication is
the basis for gaining understanding between people, discussing similarities
and differences, and settling disputes.
Communication and government/political-related careers include:
public information officer, speech writer, legislative assistant,
campaign director, research specialist, program coordinator, negotiator,
lobbyist, press secretary, and elected official.
Communication subjects that can enhance a government career
include: public speaking, journalism, interpersonal communication,
introduction to media systems, mass communication, communication
theory, communication research methods, organizational communication,
argumentation and debate, rhetorical theory and criticism, political
communication, persuasion, media performance, listening, communication
ethics, performance studies, and acting.
The
link between computerization and communication has become the subject
of extensive research by communication specialists. Many departments
of communication offer a specialization in information sciences,
human information theory and processes, or communication technologies,
often dealing with communication by computer, compressed video,
and teleconferencing.
Careers in technology and communication include: trainer
for communication technologies, closed circuit television producer/director,
systems analyst, technical copywriter, language specialist, speech
synthesizer, cognition researcher, audio and visual computer display
specialist, and performance assessor.
Communication subjects that can enhance a high technology career
include: oral communication, public speaking, interpersonal
communication, introduction to media systems, communication research
methods, communication theory, listening, communication ethics,
and organizational communication.
Communication is a key tool that health care providers must use in
dealing with clients and patients to prevent illness, diagnose disease,
and manage treatment and patient care. It is necessary for developing
and maintaining trust between provider and client, their families,
and other health care providers.
Equally
important in health careers is the use of communication to educate
and train a population in healthy behaviors such as nutrition, sexual
health, and family planning.
Careers in health and communication include: health
educator, school health care administrator, medical grants writer,
hospital director of communication, clinic public relations director,
health communication analyst, research analyst, medical training
supervisor, communications manager for federal health agencies,
health personnel educator, medical center publications editor, hospice
manager, drug rehabilitationist, health care counselor, activities
director, marketing director, and health facility fund raiser.
Communication subjects that can enhance a health career include:
health communication, interpersonal communication, family communication,
interviewing, business and professional communication, public speaking,
research methods, small group discussion, conflict resolution, public
relations, listening, nonverbal communication, persuasion, and communication
ethics.
International relations and negotiations are communication-centered.
Understanding the effect of internationalism and how it affects
communication is fundamental to dealing with others in the world
arena. In an increasingly diverse world economy, essential communication
skills are: problem-solving, speaking, listening, writing, and the
abilities to analyze information and interact among multiple cultures.
Careers in international relations and negotiations include:
on-air international broadcasting talent, corporate representative,
translator, student tour coordinator, diplomat, foreign relations
officer, host/hostess for foreign dignitaries, and foreign correspondent.
Communication subjects that can enhance an international relations/negotiations
career include: intercultural communication, international
communication, nonverbal communication, public speaking, interpersonal
communication, introduction to mass communication, communication
theory, language and social interaction, public relations, political
communication, and conflict resolution and negotiation.
Law
is a profession which is essentially about communication. It involves
establishing meaning and community through language. With a field
so steeped in verbal and nonverbal skill requirements, a background
in communication can serve as an effective beginning to a career
in law. Communication training, or a degree in communication, can
be useful for admission to law schools, as well as providing skills
for use after law school. It is also valuable to paralegals and
legal secretaries.
Careers in law and communication include: public defender,
corporate lawyer, district attorney, public interest lawyer, private
practice lawyer, legal researcher, mediation and negotiation specialist,
paralegal researcher, legal secretary, legal reporter, and legal
educator.
Communication subjects that can enhance a legal career include:
public speaking, interpersonal communication, legal communication,
media law, media regulation, argumentation and debate, listening,
small group communication, conflict resolution and negotiation,
persuasion, interviewing, communication ethics, nonverbal communication,
performance studies, and acting.
The
way human services are communicated can affect how people use and
evaluate those services. Social workers, counselors, and other similar
professionals must be effective communicators.
Careers in social and human services include: public
administrator, social worker, recreational supervisor, human rights
officer, community affairs liaison, park service public relations
specialist, philanthropic representative, religious leader, and
mental counselor.
Communication subjects that can enhance a social services or
human services career include: public speaking, business
and professional communication, interpersonal communication, introduction
to media systems, family communication, discourse analysis, cross-cultural
communication, organizational communication, listening, relational
communication, small group communication, communication ethics,
crisis communication, and nonverbal communication.
Getting
a Job in Communication
Your
job search should include reading want ads, going to the college
or university job placement service, listing with an employment
agency, and networking with people who may be aware of possible
job availability. Other suggestions for communication majors
include:
|
|
Become a member of the National Communication
Association’s Placement Service. Members can place their credentials
on file which include a resume and letters of recommendation.
Upon request the materials are sent to any prospective employers.
A listing of openings in the field appears in Spectra,
the monthly NCA newsletter. Most of the members of the placement
service are graduate students who are pursuing careers in
college or university teaching, and most of the job listings
are for academic positions.
|
|
|
Internships, part-time jobs, and volunteer positions
while you are a student often lead to future job placements.
These positions often build networks in which you get to know
people who hire or know of possible openings. It is strongly
recommended that communication majors obtain a position,
whether paid or voluntary, which allows for “hands-on” experience
in the field.
|
|
|
Talk to your department’s instructors. They often
are aware of job opportunities.
|
|
|
Do informational interviews. Make appointments
with people in your field who hold positions similar to your
career desires. Ask them to describe the pathway they followed
to obtain their position.
|
|
While studying for your degree assemble information
that shows your talents. A portfolio of writing samples, audio
and video tapes, and copies of reports and group projects,
all can be valuable in showcasing your talents.
|
|
Get to know your professors well enough so that
they will be able to write recommendation letters for you
that contain personal information.
|
|
When asking anyone to write letters of recommendation,
provide them with the documentation they will need to write
about you with examples and illustrations. At a minimum, give
them a résumé which lists your school activities, work record,
and other information that they may not have about you.
|
Representative
Careers in Communication
Are
you still wondering about your best pathway to career satisfaction
and success? Are you still asking the question: “But what will I
do with a communication degree?” Other students may have some answers
for you. (Click here to see Table 3) In a survey of communication
graduates, students just like you identified their first job after
graduating and their present job.25 The career advancement
of these students with a communication degree speaks for
itself.
RESOURCES
FOR INVESTIGATING COMMUNICATION STUDIES
Electronic
Resources
National
Communication Association (NCA) Home Page: www.natcom.org
Under
the “Communication Programs” section on the NCA web site, information
is available to help students in their search for a communication
program:
Directory of Graduate Programs. A survey of institutions
offering Masters and Doctoral programs in the United States. Organized
by state and concentration within the communication field.
Reputations of Doctoral Granting Programs in Communication.
NCA completed a study in April 1996 that measured the reputations
of doctoral programs in communication in the United States. This
online paper offers a listing of the top-ranked schools, and provides
a description of the methodology and analysis procedures behind
the rankings.
Links
to Communication Departments and Programs. NCA provides links
to communication departments at many colleges and universities.
CommuniQuest: http://www.aca.iupui.edu/cq-i/home.html
Created
by Garland C. Elmore, this site offers a comprehensive online
database of academic programs in communication. CommuniQuest has
a clickable map for reviewing programs in certain states or provinces,
and a selection form may be used to identify programs that meet
your requirements.
Communication Ring: http://nonce.com/commring
The
Communication Ring (or “Comm Ring”, for short) is a group of communication
sites that are linked together. You can follow from one communication
site to the next with ease. Comm Ring offers links to sites that
are communication organizations (like NCA), communication departments
at colleges, personal home pages, or discussion of projects in
communication.
Communication Research and Theory Net (CRTNET): http://www.natcom.org/research/crtnet.htm.
CRTNET
is the daily electronic newsletter serviced by the National Communication
Association. With over 2500 subscribers, communication scholars
and students may post queries about communication topics, job
announcements, grants and fellowships, and hold discussions on
important topics. You may subscribe to CRTNET by following the
instructions provided on the NCA Home Page.
Directories
to Communication Programs
National
Communication Association. (1996). Directory of Graduate Programs.
Annandale, VA.
A
compiled list of masters and doctoral communication programs in
the United States. The Directory is available on the NCA
Home Page (please refer to the “Electronic Resources” listed
above.)
The
Communication Disciplines in Higher Education. (1993). Garland
C. Elmore. Annandale, VA: Association for Communication Administration.
A
guide to communication programs in the United States and Canada.
Journalism and Mass Communication Directory – 1994-95. Columbia,
SC: Association for Education in Journalism and Mass Communication).
A
list of journalism and mass communication departments and descriptive
information about their programs.
Peterson’s Guide to Four-Year Colleges. Susan Dilts and Mark
Zidzik. Princeton, NJ: Peterson’s Guides.
An
alphabetical listing of colleges and universities by discipline,
accompanied by a list of financial and enrollment information
for prospective undergraduate students.
Peterson’s Guides to Graduate and Professional Programs: An Overview.
Amy Lefferts, et. al. Princeton, NJ: Peterson’s Guides.
An
alphabetical listing of colleges and universities by discipline,
accompanied by a list of financial and enrollment information
for prospective undergraduate students.
History
of the Field of Communication
Speech
Communication: Essays to Commemorate the 75th Anniversary of the
Speech Communication Association. Gerald M. Phillips and Julia
T. Wood. Annandale, VA: National Communication Association, 1990.
A
collection of essays written as part of the 75th anniversary celebration
of the communication field.
The
History of Speech Communication: The Emergence of a Discipline,
1914-1945. Herman Cohen. Annandale, VA: National Communication
Association, 1994.
A
detailed and comprehensive volume investigating the history of
the academic discipline of communication.
|
Search By Program 
