Communications Major
What does a communications major do?
Today’s communication major is very similar to that of a business major studying marketing, advertising or public relations. Communications majors learn how to craft and deliver messages to an organization, demographic or the general public. Some communications majors study the technical aspects of visual media and production, while others choose to focus on journalism, public relations or management.
What types of jobs do communications majors take after graduation?
There are a variety of career paths available to communications majors, including:
- Advertising/Marketing
- Public Relations
- Corporate Leadership
- Business Management
- Television/Film/Radio
- Digital Communications & Media
What degrees do communications majors pursue?
Most communications majors first earn a Bachelor’s of Communications Studies, and may later decide to pursue a Master’s of Communications Studies. You may also find programs that focus in your specialization within the communications major, such as journalism, television, advertising, etc.
How much does a communications program cost?
School costs vary widely, depending on the type of school you choose and what type of program you are pursing. You can find average school costs for public communications colleges and private communications colleges in our compare colleges section.
How do I pay for a communications program?
Whether you are paying for an undergraduate or graduate communications program, it’s important that you complete the FAFSA and review your financial aid options. You should start by trying to obtain college scholarships and college grants (free money) to pay for your communications program. Then use federal student loans, such as the Federal Stafford Loan. If free money and federal loans are not enough to pay for your communications program, you can begin to research private student loans to cover the remainder of your school costs.
What is the average entry-level salary for communications majors?
Because a communications major offers so many career paths, it is difficult to determine the starting salary for all communications majors. However, as an example of a specific communications discipline, median annual wages for salaried public relations specialists were $51,280 in May 20081.
A communications major generally possesses the following skill sets:
- Communications (writing, speaking)
- Creativity
A communications major probably performs well in or enjoys the following subjects:
- English
- Public Speaking/Debate
- Computer Courses