FASTFACTS
- Communication studies includes a wide range of courses, from literature and rhetoric to visual and digital communication.
- Communication skills are routinely listed among the top abilities employers look for in new hires.
- More and more firms are hiring content editors and creators who can create podcasts, websites, and print media, all of which are central to communication studies.
- The proportion of people on LinkedIn who report they work in content/editor roles at non-media companies has grown by 32% in the past decade.
What You’ll Study
The major in English with a communication studies concentration integrates the written and spoken word with other modes of composition, including visual and audio design. In each course you’ll explore how communication functions in a diverse society and helps citizens be more productive, ethical, and engaged. You’ll see real-world communication issues from diverse perspectives—from sports and healthcare, to social media and film. The program challenges you to know your audience, communicate persuasively, and evaluate and critique messages that influence human behavior.
Communication studies coursework totals 39 to 40 hours. During your first two years you’ll take required courses that include Introduction to Communication Studies and Communicating Citizenship. You’ll also pick a Foundations course such as Public Speaking or Studies in Linguistics, and a Survey course in British, American or world literature. Your final two years include higher-level courses, with studies in visual, digital, and mass communication. As a senior, you’ll demonstrate your skills in research, writing, and presentation through a capstone project. If eligible, you may also conduct an honors project, which earns you marks of distinction on your transcript and diploma.
The English department also offers concentrations in creative writing and English education.
MORE INFORMATION
- CO = Co-requisite
- POI = Permissions of Instructor
- PR = Pre-requisite
- RE = Recommended
- XL = Cross-listed
Careers in Communication Studies
If you’ve heard that humanities degrees are impractical and not valued in the job market, you can put those rumors to rest. Your English degree, with its emphasis on communication and critical thinking, prepares you for employment in a variety of sectors. While English majors make great professors and writers, many also follow career paths into advertising, business, and government.
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the median annual wage for a communications degree is $57,000. Many English majors find high-paying positions with titles like Content Marketing Manager and Communications Director.
Graduates from PC’s English department now work as legal assistants, grant writers and credit risk analysts. They teach at primary and secondary schools in the US, and internationally in places like Thailand and Hong Kong. And alumni are pursuing advanced degrees in law, medicine, and public administration. No matter your major, PC’s liberal arts education prepares you with problem-solving, communication, and other soft skills employers look for.
FACULTY
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