What can you do with a Communications Degree?

Are you a fresh high school graduate who has always had a flair for writing? How about public speaking?

If you answered ‘yes’ to any of these questions, then you may want to consider taking up a degree in communications.

A communications degree will cover some basic and advanced strategies in communicating properly and effectively to an audience. Needless to say, communication is essential to every industry as it is crucial in certain facets of business such as marketing, advertising, client relations, sales, and human resources. Communications jobs are among the most sought-after, especially in today’stech-driven market.

If you are aspiring to become a communications professional, this article will help you start your journey towards obtaining a communications degree. Below you will find more information about what a communications degree entails, possible communication career paths, and different areas of specialization.

SEE ALSO: What can you do with an Electrical Engineering Degree?

Table of Contents

What is a Communications Degree?

One of the pillars that help a company reach its goals and objectives through meaningful relations towards its employees, clients, and vendors, is good communication. Communication has a key role for a company to fulfill this and clearly serve their products to the consumers.

A communication degree is often masked behind media and communication studies, journalism, and communication arts. Educational entities have come up with variations of the degree. It is taken at the undergraduate level or as a postgraduate degree or specialization. A communications degree can span many post graduate degree options such as a Master’s Degree in Digital Marketing, Master’s Degree in Advertising, and so on.

Want to know the requirements for taking up a communications degree? Here’s a quick guide.

What are the requirements for a Communications Degree?

Taking up a degree in communications would require you to take up Pre-Communication or Mass Communication as your major. Needless to say, communication majors must have a high aptitude for English or language classes. An ideal candidate should have decent grades in reading, comprehension, and public speaking. Some universities would often require an interview and an aptitude test before admission.

Top Skills Needed for Communications Jobs

  • Research skills
  • Analytical skills
  • Writing
  • Speaking with clarity
  • Interpersonal communication skills
  • Visual Design
  • Problem-solving
  • Leadership
  • Conflict resolution
  • Presentations
  • Decision-making
  • Media relations

Types of Communication Degree Programs & Specializations

You will always find a communications graduate in every company. Not only are communication professionals good speakers, they are also a core asset of a company. They can be found in the marketing department, public relations department, higher management, or even human resources. Their job is to ensure that the company is effectively communicating through its marketing efforts and internal dealings with its employees. Industries such as digital media also employ mostly communication professionals.

In order to land a career in communications, one must be equipped with degrees, certifications or specialization, along with some relevant experience. For instance, digital media companies would be looking for social media expertise or even search engine optimization.

Career Options for Communications Majors

From Human Resources, Social Sciences, to Advertising (Marketing & Public Relations), communication skills are needed in almost every industry. Communication graduates can gain entry level positions in a wide range of career path for communications graduates.

Human resources

Human resources is vital for developing and maintaining worker ethics, performance, and motivation. As a communications graduate, you are responsible for giving the right information at the right time to the right people.

Marketing, public relations & advertising

A communications degree is useful when delivering written and oral types of communication to your colleagues or clients. Thus, graduates are well-placed in this industry.

Marketing, public relations & advertising

A communications Bachelor’s degree is useful when delivering written and oral types of communication to your colleagues or clients. Thus, graduates are well-placed in this industry.

Business

Strong written and oral communication and presentation skills will be useful in this area, along with a strong knowledge of how each business functions across departments.

Digital media

Social networks, online news sites, and digital media are expanding in ways that it reshapes the way people consume information and media. A combination of communication skills and digital proficiency will be useful in this field.

Media

You can be involved with TV and film production, magazine and newspaper journalism, or online and digital channels, media careers. These all need graduates with excellent communication skills, and the ability to curate and disseminate information in engaging and relevant ways. You can also work in the field of social media.

Education

Apart from great communication skills, teachers also need to have a teaching qualification. Teachers must be good communicators to facilitate learning.

Law

Most people in this industry need a postgraduate qualification or a law degree. Communications graduates can perform administrative and organizational roles. You will have the option to work with local or national civil and criminal courts.

Top Tips for Communication Students & Graduates

As a communications student, you must have a wide skill set. You need to be flexible and write a story, publish a social media post, or prepare for an interview. You need to constantly be alert and knowledgeable of current trends, issues, and topics.

Here are a few tips for communications students:

  • Gain more experience
  • Hone your writing skills
  • Network with other people
  • Further your education

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