Majoring in Communication

April 9, 2022 | By Daniel Strom

Are you considering majoring in communication? Are you confused as to what the communication major actually entails? Below, I will be summarizing what to expect as a communication major in college, what the career outcomes of real graduates look like, and things that students can do now to prepare for university studies in communication. To personalize the information below, I will be adding my own experience from Northwestern University. 

I. What is a Communication degree?

Communication is inherently a broad major, but that doesn’t mean it’s for people who don’t know what they want to do. Some communication programs will be very broad, while some will focus on very specific facets, including media and journalism, or even communication disorders, such as speech pathology. At most colleges, a communication major will study the various ways in which society conveys different kinds of information in different fields, including journalism, entertainment, business, politics, and law.

At Northwestern, I majored in theatre, but because the theatre major is housed within the School of Communication (and many theatre major course requirements are inherently communication-oriented), graduates are awarded a Bachelor of Science in Communication. While journalism falls under the “communication umbrella,” many colleges and universities actually separate their journalism department from their communication programs. Northwestern, for example, offers a Bachelor of Science in Journalism through the Northwestern Medill School of Journalism, which is outside of the Northwestern School of Communication. The University of Michigan, however, offers journalism-related courses through their Communication and Media major, as they do not offer a journalism degree. 

II. Studying Communication in College

Most communication programs are offered as two types of undergraduate degrees: Bachelor of Arts (B.A.) and Bachelor of Science (B.S.). A Bachelor of Arts in Communication program may often require students to complete additional courses in the humanities, while a Bachelor of Science program may be more focused solely within a prescribed communication course list. At Northwestern, students who complete two years of a foreign language in addition to their degree requirements are awarded a Bachelor of Arts in Communication, while those who choose other courses in lieu of a foreign language are offered a Bachelor of Science.

A student interested in channeling their degree into business-related fields may prefer the B.S., while a student going into an arts-related realm may want a B.A. No degree is better than the other—they are merely different.

III. Degree Requirements

Selecting a major is not something to take lightly, as you will be studying that subject for four years. When considering college majors, it is recommended that you research the graduation requirements at your specific college. Perhaps the school has core requirements (a group of classes that everyone, regardless of major, has to take in order to graduate)? What type of classes would I be taking within my own target major? Are there opportunities to specialize within an area of communication, such as business communication, journalism, or public speaking? What flexibility would I have to explore other areas outside of my major? Can I double major? Can I pursue a minor?

At Northwestern, the communication degree is divided into 5 concentrations: Human Communication Sciences & Disorders, Communication Studies, Performance Studies, Radio/Television/Film, and Theatre. Below, you can find the degree requirements for both the communication studies major communication sciences & disorders major.

The courses on the above worksheets that are already filled in are core class requirements. The sections highlighted in green or yellow are general distribution and elective requirements, which you can fulfill from a wide array of classes in your college’s course catalog. If you choose to select a field of concentration within the communication studies major, you will also need to fulfill the requirements listed in that section.

IV. Suggestions for the Prospective Communication Major

Especially for highly selective communication programs, students should take challenging high school courses that are applicable in the communication realm, including AP English Language and Composition, AP Psychology, AP Capstone (Research and Seminar), AP Microeconomics, AP Macroeconomics, and AP Calculus. 

Students should also partake in a variety of extracurricular activities that help develop their public speaking skills, including debate team, mock trial, and student council. It is also recommended that students hone their marketing and media skills, perhaps by writing for their school or local newspaper, hosting a weekly news report for teens online, or working on their high school’s annual yearbook. In addition, students can also show their leadership skills within the communication field by supporting a public cause that they care about by hosting fundraisers, or even starting a non-profit organization of their own.

V. Careers for Communication Majors 

Many are daunted by the idea of majoring in communication because it is a very broad field. However, that does not mean that there are not plenty jobs available for those with skills that a communication major will help students develop. Here is a list of jobs that many general communication majors will find themselves in:

  • Human Resources Business Partner

  • Public Relations Manager

  • Journalist

  • Paralegal

  • Advertising Executive

  • Social Media Manager

  • Business Reporter

  • Brand Manager

  • Entertainment Producer

  • Sales Representative

 VI. Start Learning about Communication now!

If by now you’re still interested in studying communication, there are plenty of resources out there. Check out the list below for some podcast recommendations!

  1. The New CCO: Personal stories of how these leaders connect with stakeholders through digital media, manage blockchain technology, navigate a brand through tragedy, and how they engage audiences on social issues.

  2. Spin Sucks: Discusses all hot topics in communication: social media strategies, data, and analytics, plus strategic ways to capture and own the voice of your brand

  3. Work Life with Adam Grant: Organizational psychologist Adam Grant takes you inside some truly unusual places, where they’ve figured out how to make work “not suck.”

  4. HR Happy Hour (For those interested in Human Resources)

 

About Daniel Strom

Daniel Strom co-founded Elite Scholar Advising, which provides tailored advice to college applicants worldwide. He is a proud graduate of Northwestern University and the Kellogg School of Management, where he also developed admissions experience through his role as an admissions representative. In addition, he also served on the Northwestern Alumni Admissions Interviewing Council. Daniel has helped hundreds of college applicants across the world realize their full potential by gaining admission to their dream schools.