Explore what you can do with a degree in Communication here!
There are several resources that will help you explore career possibilities. It’s important to begin this research by your first semester; it will help you determine if this is the right path for you. Some factors to consider when selecting a degree include:
- Career Outlook (Bureau of Labor Statistics) – What are the career prospects? Not all communication-related careers are found on this list so be sure to check out areas of specialty on NCA’s website.
- Salary (California Community Colleges Chancellor’s Office) – How much money can you expect to earn in the various types of Communication careers you might pursue? This will also help you decide how much debt you can afford to take on while going to school. For example, a student might not want to take on $100k of student loan debt if they expect to land a career that promises to pay $50K a year.
- Expert Advice (Communication Professionals) – People, working in the field you want to pursue, are your best resource for information. It is important to conduct information interviews with people who are doing the job you want to have in the future. They can provide you valuable information on how to prepare, what to expect and how to advance your career. Below are video links with words of advice from Communication experts.
There are many areas of specialization in the Communication field. These videos offer a glimpse into many different Communication Studies related jobs—in the words of the people who do them. If you’ve thought about declaring Communication Studies as a major but wondered what kind of career it can lead to, these short videos will provide you with some of the many career possibilities, as well as advice for pursuing a career in Communication.
- Entertainment – Jr. Publicist, Center Theatre Group
- Fashion – PR Coordinator, Prabal Gurung
- Ecommerce – Social Media Manager, BirchBox
- Publication – Social Media Director, Lucky Magazine
- Fashion – Social Media Coordinator, Bergdorf Goodman
- Fashion – Senior Manager of Communications, Diane Van Furstenberg
- Engineering – Strategic Communications Specialist, Lockheed Martin
- Environmental Nonprofit – Communications Specialist, Conservation Colorado
- Law – Internal Communications Manager, Freshfields International Law firm
- Corporate – Marketing and communications/brand manager, 3M’s Post-it
- Education Administration – Event manager, University of Minnesota
- Entertainment/Corporate – Communication Executive, General Motors
- Corporate Relations – Communication Consultant, Private Consultant Agency
- IT – Communications Specialist, Open Text
- Corporate – Communications Associate, Texas Instruments
Additionally, there are several other careers you can pursue with a degree in Communication Studies, many of which require additional education such as a Bachelors degree, and or graduate or professional degree including:
Careers:
Actor/Actress
Advertising Assistant
Announcer
Arbitrator*
Arts Administrator*
College professor*
Columnist*
Commentator*
Copywriter*
Editor*
Foreign Correspondent*
Journalist*
Lawyer*
Lecturer*
Lobbyist*
Media Specialist
Narrator
Online Content Developer*
Politician
Proofreader
Public Relations Assistant
Publisher*
Reporter*
Researcher*
Sales Manager
Speech Writer*
Teacher/Instructor*
Technical Writer*
TV Director*
*Bachelor’s Degree or higher required.
Careers can be found in the following Industries:
Advertising
Campaign Management
College & University Instruction
Community Relations
Corporate Imaging
Corporate Training
Customer Service
Grant Writing
Human Resources Development
Journalism
Marketing
Motivational Speaking
Negotiation & Mediation Services
Organizational Administration
Personnel Management
Political Speech Writing
Public Information
Public Relations
Social Science Research
Radio & Television
Writing for Publication
If you want to learn more about the Communication field check out these links to professional organizations and get involved!
- Western States Communication Association
- National Communication Association
- International Communication Association
- Sigma Chi Eta
- Pacific Southwest Collegiate Forensics Association
- Public Relations Student Society of America
Not sure if a degree in Communication is right for you? Early on in your college career (first semester or summer before) you should visit the career center and sign up to take personal and career inventory assessments. These are offered to students at a very low cost or free, and are a fun way to learn more about who you are and what careers line up with your personality. Make an appointment today!
