subject: Communications Degree In Demand [print this page] As a generalist, a Communications Degree offers rich opportunities for individuals who seek to reach or influence audiences of just about any size. In addition, earning it as an online degree further draws on some of the emerging technologies that employers use in the business world on a daily basis. A communications degree can prepare you for a management career, a position in mass media, advertising or public relations. And these are just a few of the job categories that are available to graduates today.
Overall communications focus
Since a communications degree can be applied in a number of industries or functional headings, some basics are in order to understand some of the 'generalist' scope pertaining to a graduate's career potential. Most communications professionals find themselves directing their work energies to constituent groups to provide information or to take action in some way. Therefore, building positive relationships with consumers or the public that establishes credibility is a primary goal.
Communication and information is then disseminated as part of an ongoing relationship-building strategy. It can be for businesses, non-profits, educational institutions, hospitals and political groups, to name a few. A graduate with a communications degree can operate in either an overall communications strategy that a business or non-profit might adopt, or for a particular campaign or aspect of a communication strategy necessary to carry out communications goals.
To do this, the communications professional must understand the constituencies it seeks to reach. Constituents can be:
consumers
employees
investors
governmental bodies
unique interest groups
public-at-large
A solid communications curriculum, then, will train students to use all mediums required to plan and implement a communications strategy for the groups they serve. Tools can include online media, radio and television, print and public speaking.
Who hires communications degree graduates?
Actually, this category can be quite extensive. However, some common groups hiring communications degree graduates are:
government agencies
non-profit organizations
publishers
newspapers
magazines
wire services
charitable organizations
professional organizations
religious groups
Radio and television networks
Job Potential for graduates
Actually, one of the wonderful aspects about the communications degree is how many jobs you can become qualified for and obtain upon graduation. A partial list is detailed below:
Advertising Manager
Account Executive
Sales Representative
Special Events Coordinator
Association Administrator
Promotions Manager
Public Information Personnel
Public Relations Specialist
Writer/author
Training Professional
Campaign Manager
Speech Writer
Communication Director
TV/Radio Announcer
Editorial Assistant
And this is just a small sampling of the positions available for communications degree graduates.
