4 answers
Juliet
Student
Derby, Kansas
1
Question
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What should I study within Communications?
High school senior looking at college, specifically Communications. For those of y’all that studied/are studying that what specific concentrations did you study within the Communications field and how did it help you? What do you recommend if I have no ideas beyond that incredibly vague area of study?
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4 answers
Carolyn Lyons
15
Answers
Updated
Carolyn’s Answer
Hi there! That's a fantastic question, and I'm really happy you asked. Back in college, I focused on Mass Communications. The classes covered topics like media in society, communication ethics, media writing, public relations, and advertising. I loved it because it matched my interests perfectly. After earning my Bachelor's in Mass Comm, I landed my first job at a public relations firm, where I got to use my skills to help promote different clients' businesses. Later, I worked at Verizon, and what I learned in college still helps me today as I write internal communications for my department.
My tip for you is to focus on what excites you in communication. Are you into writing, broadcasting, podcasting, or video? Let your interests guide your path.
My tip for you is to focus on what excites you in communication. Are you into writing, broadcasting, podcasting, or video? Let your interests guide your path.
Nicole Blake Johnson
Communications and Employee Engagement
2
Answers
Orlando, Florida
Updated
Nicole’s Answer
Hi Juliet! You've found your community. Communicators are vital and support so many areas. I studied journalism, which was great because it opened doors to different fields, including personal finance, business, education, government, and technology. I got to discover what I enjoyed and the best ways to communicate. The exciting part is that your communications career will grow and change. Now, I support my global colleagues through internal employee communications. Communicators also excel as facilitators, which you might want to explore alongside your communications work. Wishing you great success!
Jennifer Faulk
Communications
1
Answer
Austin, Texas
Updated
Jennifer’s Answer
Hi Juliet! What a great question! I was a Communications major with a focus on Public Relations. My minor was in Sociology and oddly enough, my minor really helped me decide where I wanted to specialize in the Communications field. I loved studying how people interacted and worked with each other. Understanding how people think and relate to each other and themselves really sparked my passion in connecting with various audiences. When I took a couple of Public Relations classes, I realized it was the perfect complement to my passion for Sociology. The two focus areas worked really well together and I never looked back. My advice is to always follow your passion. Try and contemplate what really interests you and your communications career will always be challenging in the best way as you continue to grow, learn new skills, and further develop your passion.
Mary Ann Faue
Communications, Training, and People Development
59
Answers
Hayward, California
Updated
Mary Ann’s Answer
Hi Juliet,
Reading your question all I could thing was "Wow, communications is a good path for this gal!". Your question was well written and that tells me that communication is a really good choice for you. So, to answer your question, project yourself into the future and how do you see yourself using this talent for communication. Do you want to help a company with marketing, advertising or PR? If yes, be sure to take some business classes. Do you want to be a speechwriter for someone in Politics? If yes, be sure to take come classes in Political Science.
Communications is one of those skills that can be applied to any industry. Wherever your curiosity takes you is where you should take some classes. And, continue to write just for yourself. Things like journaling, writing letters to friends, short stories, etc. All of these different types of writing keeps the communications muscles honed.
Lastly, remember that an important part of communication is listening. Hone your listening skills so that you can easily hear what people are not saying so that when you create a communication, you are providing the information someone needs (even if they didn't know they needed it).
Reading your question all I could thing was "Wow, communications is a good path for this gal!". Your question was well written and that tells me that communication is a really good choice for you. So, to answer your question, project yourself into the future and how do you see yourself using this talent for communication. Do you want to help a company with marketing, advertising or PR? If yes, be sure to take some business classes. Do you want to be a speechwriter for someone in Politics? If yes, be sure to take come classes in Political Science.
Communications is one of those skills that can be applied to any industry. Wherever your curiosity takes you is where you should take some classes. And, continue to write just for yourself. Things like journaling, writing letters to friends, short stories, etc. All of these different types of writing keeps the communications muscles honed.
Lastly, remember that an important part of communication is listening. Hone your listening skills so that you can easily hear what people are not saying so that when you create a communication, you are providing the information someone needs (even if they didn't know they needed it).