6 answers
Juliet
Student
Derby, Kansas
1
Question
Asked
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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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6 answers
John Paul Malko
Inclusion consultant
3
Answers
London, England, United Kingdom
Updated
John Paul’s Answer
Hi Juliet,
Great question! I wish I'd thought about the same question when figuring out what to study - looking back I'd say if you're studying something broad like communications, it will help you down the line to select something more technical if that's an option on your course e.g. law, business, finance etc. I'd think about it in terms of what might you be able to apply communications skills to?
It's OK if you're not sure - it took quite a few years for me to figure out how I wanted to apply my degree but already having some more technical knowledge would have made the journey easier I think
Great question! I wish I'd thought about the same question when figuring out what to study - looking back I'd say if you're studying something broad like communications, it will help you down the line to select something more technical if that's an option on your course e.g. law, business, finance etc. I'd think about it in terms of what might you be able to apply communications skills to?
It's OK if you're not sure - it took quite a few years for me to figure out how I wanted to apply my degree but already having some more technical knowledge would have made the journey easier I think
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!
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.
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).
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.
Tiara Martin
Talent Strategy Director
4
Answers
Florham Park, New Jersey
Updated
Tiara’s Answer
Hi Juliet!
Thinking broadly about Communications is a great start as it’s a field with tons of options and real demand, but it does help to narrow it down a bit so your studies connect with careers you might actually enjoy.
Most programs give you choices or concentrations that help you focus on different parts of the communication world. Some common and growing ones include:
1) Public Relations / Strategic Communication – how to manage reputation, campaigns, messaging strategy, and media relations. Great for careers in PR firms, brands, or entertainment publicity.
2) Digital Media & Social Media Strategy – content creation, analytics, and platform strategy for the digital age. This fits well with marketing, social content roles, and media startups.
3) Journalism & Media Production – storytelling, reporting, and multimedia production (video, podcasts, news writing).
4) Organizational/Business Communication – internal communication, leadership messaging, corporate culture, and business writing.
5) Health, Political, or Civic Communication – specialized paths that apply communication theory to big sectors like public health or public affairs.
If you’re not sure what you love yet, then start with a few broad intro classes (like media, strategic comm, social media analytics, or organizational communication). Pay attention to what feels fun and what feels like a skill you want to get really good at. Your interests will get sharper once you try stuff, not just think about it.
Thinking broadly about Communications is a great start as it’s a field with tons of options and real demand, but it does help to narrow it down a bit so your studies connect with careers you might actually enjoy.
Most programs give you choices or concentrations that help you focus on different parts of the communication world. Some common and growing ones include:
1) Public Relations / Strategic Communication – how to manage reputation, campaigns, messaging strategy, and media relations. Great for careers in PR firms, brands, or entertainment publicity.
2) Digital Media & Social Media Strategy – content creation, analytics, and platform strategy for the digital age. This fits well with marketing, social content roles, and media startups.
3) Journalism & Media Production – storytelling, reporting, and multimedia production (video, podcasts, news writing).
4) Organizational/Business Communication – internal communication, leadership messaging, corporate culture, and business writing.
5) Health, Political, or Civic Communication – specialized paths that apply communication theory to big sectors like public health or public affairs.
If you’re not sure what you love yet, then start with a few broad intro classes (like media, strategic comm, social media analytics, or organizational communication). Pay attention to what feels fun and what feels like a skill you want to get really good at. Your interests will get sharper once you try stuff, not just think about it.