Why should I earn a Degree in Communication?
Communication is an emerging and exciting industry with a wide variety of career applications. Deciding on a major is a big decision, so we are here to break down the benefits of earning a degree in communication and what you can do with your degree.
What can you do with a Communication degree?
Communication skills can be applied in almost every industry, so a communication degree is going to be useful no matter what career you pursue. Here are some of the most popular ways to use a communication degree.
Communication majors make excellent social media managers. Running social media accounts involves knowing how to convey messages through a brand’s tone of voice and ensuring content is interpreted in the way it was intended.
As a social media manager, you will spend a lot of time writing and editing copy for posts, videos, and other digital media.
- Average Marketing Manager Salary: $138,730 per year
- Job Outlook: 6% growth
Studying communication involves becoming an expert in writing for your audience. Copywriters are required to develop messages and strategies to reach an intended audience with a specific message and call to action.
- Average Writer and Author Salary: $73,150 per year
- Job Outlook: 4% growth
Editorial assistants help to write and edit content to make it ready for publication. Learning the art of narrative and storytelling during a communication degree program prepares you to be an excellent editorial assistant.
- Average Editor Salary: $73,080 per year
- Job Outlook: 4% decline
Another popular career choice for communication majors is to work in the film and TV production industry. Many communication courses cover digital media and broadcasting skills.
- Average Film and Video Editor Salary: $62,420 per year
- Job Outlook: 7% Growth
Public relations involves strategic communication and relationship building, making it a perfect career for communication majors.
- Average Public Relations Specialist Salary: $67,440 per year
- Job Outlook: 6% growth
Communication graduates find themselves well-prepared for careers in marketing and advertising. While a degree in marketing may provide more targeted training for marketing careers, communication majors will still have many of the basic skills needed to succeed in marketing and can receive further job training in their role.
- Average Advertising and Marketing Manager Salary: $138,730 per year
- Job Outlook: 6% growth
Event planning involves working with multiple vendors and stakeholders at the same time. Juggling various events at once can be challenging, so being able to communicate clearly with people will be very beneficial.
- Average Event Planner Salary: $52,560 per year
- Job Outlook: 8% growth
Journalism is an exciting field focusing on current events and global issues. Communication majors will perfect the art of narrative and storytelling and be able to write compelling articles for publications.
- Average Journalist Salary: $55,960 per year
- Job Outlook: 3% decline
News and broadcasting careers bring together the skills of writing and production. Broadcast journalism is an exciting industry where writing and digital media work together to bring information to an audience.
- Average News Analyst & Reporter Salary: $55,960 per year
- Job Outlook: 3% decline
Working in sales and management is one of the highest-paying career choices for communication majors who have an interest in business, sales, and management.
- Average Sales Manager Salary: $130,600 per year
- Job Outlook: 4% growth
If you enjoy working with people and solving problems, you may be a great candidate to use your communication degree in human resources. Human resource specialists spend time recruiting new employees and keeping the day-to-day processes of an organization running smoothly.
- Average Human Resource Specialist Salary: $64,240 per year
- Job Outlook: 6% growth
Nonprofit management is a great way to bring your passions and career together. Working as a nonprofit manager is a rewarding career and can be a promising career path for communication majors.
- Average Social and Community Service Manager Salary: $74,240 per year
- Job Outlook: 9% growth
Students who love communication can earn a graduate degree and become professors, preparing and investing in the next generation of communication specialists.
- Average Postsecondary Teacher Salary: $80,840 per year
- Job Outlook: 8% growth
What do you learn in a communication degree program?
The courses offered in a communication major will vary depending on the program, so it is important to choose a program that aligns with your interests.
At Palm Beach Atlantic University, communication majors take courses such as:
- Introduction to Media
- Interpersonal Communication
- Civil Discourse and the Common Good
- Communication Theory & Research
- Communication Ethics
- Persuasion
- Global Digital Media Ethics
- Artificial Intelligence, Smart Phones & Social Media
- Digital Culture
- Non-Verbal Communication
- Gender Communication
- Intercultural Communication
- Conflict Resolution
- Principles of Organizational Communication
- Risk & Crisis Communication
- Professional Communication
Specializations and Concentrations
Communication majors may decide to pursue a specialization or concentration to better prepare for specific careers. Some of the most popular communication specializations include:
- Public relations
- Health communication
- Journalism
- Politics
- Broadcasting
- Marketing
- Digital Media
Career Projection for Communication Degrees
Careers in the media and communication industry are expected to grow as fast as the average growth rate for all industries between 2022 and 2032. There are around 114,300 new job openings in media and communication every year.
Some communication jobs are expected to grow at a rate much faster than the national average. These jobs include nonprofit managers, professors, event planners, and film production editors.
Top Skills for Communication Majors
Some of the most important skills to have as a communication major include:
- Writing skills
- Public speaking
- Teamwork
- Adaptability
- Networking and interpersonal skills
- Multimedia
Apply to PBA’s Online Communication Degree and Start Your Career in Communication Today
Enroll in Palm Beach Atlantic University’s Bachelor of Arts in Communication and open doors across a variety of industries.
Frequently Asked Questions
The average salary across the media and communication industry is $66,240. This is higher than the average salary across all industries, which is $46,310.
Graduates with communication degrees have high earning potential and can earn more than $150,000 per year in some management roles.
Communication degrees are one of the most useful degrees because they can be used in so many industries. Learning how to communicate effectively is a strong skill to carry into your professional career.
Communication degrees are generally considered less academically demanding than a degree in science or mathematics. However, communication can be challenging in its own way depending on your specific skills and comfort level.
Earning a degree in communication can help you become more comfortable with public speaking and feel confident about your writing skills.
A degree in communication can prepare you for graduate studies in communication, business, marketing, public relations, media, and much more.
