Communication Studies
Are you interested in how people interact with each other? Do you enjoy communications such as public relations, advertising, or journalism? If so, a degree in communication studies may be just what you are searching for. A degree in communication studies gives you the ability to choose from many interesting careers such as reporters, writers, news analysts, editors, broadcast correspondents and broadcast news editors. If you have strong verbal and writing skills, communications studies may be right for you.
The course of study for communication studies include classes focused on advanced writing, visual communication, intercultural communications, negotiation, and conflict management. Graduates of communications studies are often employed in a variety of industries such as business, education, not for profit organizations, government, and politics.
Earn your degree
With a degree in Communication Studies you can experience a rewarding career in one of the following fields:
- Actor, Announcer
- Arbitrator, Mediator
- Business Manager
- Communications Consultant
- Communications Specialist
- Copywriter
- Human Resources Manager
- Information Specialist
- Journalist
- Lobbyist
- Market Researcher
- Media Consultant
- Mediation Specialist
- Narrator
- Professor, Teacher, Trainer
- Public Information Office, Public Relations Manager
- Publicist, Publisher
- Researcher
- Social Worker
- Speech Writer
- Spokesperson
- Webmaster
- Writer
Entry level Salary and Outlook
News Analysts, Reporters, and Correspondents
*Salaries for news analysts, reporters, and correspondents vary widely. Median annual wages of reporters and correspondents were $34,850 in May 2008. The middle 50 percent earned between $25,760 and $52,160. The lowest 10 percent earned less than $20,180, and the highest 10 percent earned more than $77,480. Median annual wages of reporters and correspondents were $33,430 in newspaper, periodical, book, and directory publishing, and $37,710 in radio and television broadcasting.
*Median annual wages of broadcast news analysts were $51,260 in May 2008. The middle 50 percent earned between $32,000 and $88,630. The lowest 10 percent earned less than $23,470, and the highest 10 percent earned more than $156,200. Median annual wages of broadcast news analysts were $51,890 in radio and television broadcasting.
*Source: http://www.bls.gov/oco/ocos088.htm#outlook
Public Relations Specialists
Median annual wages for salaried public relations specialists were $51,280 in May 2008. The middle 50 percent earned between $38,400 and $71,670; the lowest 10 percent earned less than $30,140, and the top 10 percent earned more than $97,910. Median annual wages in the industries employing the largest numbers of public relations specialists in May 2008 were:
Management of companies and enterprises |
$55,530 |
Business, professional, labor, political, and similar organizations |
55,460 |
Advertising, public relations and related services |
55,290 |
Local government |
51,340 |
Colleges, universities, and professional schools |
46,660 |
Professional Organizations
American Communication Association
American Press Institute
The Association for Education in Journalism and Mass Communication
Communication Institute for Online Scholarship
International Communication Association
National Communication Association
The National Press Club