You can Go places With a Communication Degree

It may be a surprise to learn that some famous people held and continue to hold a communication degree. One notable figure is that of the 6th president of the United States, John Quincy Adams. Other personalities include Meg Ryan, Brad Pitt and Denzel Washington. You probably now have some idea of why these individuals have that seemingly inbuilt ability to influence you in their acting roles. Before we go any further however, what is a communication degree in the first place?

By definition, a communication degree focuses on the field of communication on how messages are used by people to generate meanings across cultures, contexts and media. This degree promotes effective and ethical human communication practice. How however, does it fit in the scheme of things? Well, think about this; 75 percent of day is spent communicating and as a college student, you will spend 69% of that communication time either listening or speaking and the rest either reading or writing. In other words, your entire day is spent in some form of communication. What about career options for those who take a communication degree?

Consider for example, the field of business. Whether in management, recruitment, sales or mediator, communication plays an important role. In advertising, a copy writer, creative director or a marketing specialist will require to have good communication skills in order to be productive. Other career options lie in the fields of Public Relations, Theatre and Performing Arts, Communication and Health Care, Law, Social and Human Services among others. What will you be expected to cover by the end of the course?

Some of the communication core requirements that you will have to undertake in your communication degree include: Interpersonal Communication, Public Speaking, Cross-Cultural Communication, Persuasive Communication, Argumentation and Critical Thinking, Professional Communication, Oral Communication and Nonverbal Communication. Breaking down some of these, Public Speaking, for example, introduces one to principles and practice of effective oral communication. Students learn how to prepare and deliver presentations, formulate persuasive arguments, articulate their ideas through speech and refine critical clarity of thought. Professional communication teaches one how to communicate in the workplace. Such things as listening, team communication and non-verbal communication are taught.

A communication degree affords one who is a strong communicator a diverse workload. Since virtually all companies want to get their message to their consumers, employees and anyone who needs it, opportunities are always there. Who knows, you could become the next David Letterman who, if you did not know, also holds a communication degree.