Almost every communication major hears the same thing whenever they explain their plans for college. People claim that getting a degree in communications is “pointless” or “too broad”, giving students a lack of real knowledge in the future. Their studies will get them nowhere and offer them zero job opportunities, so they might as well go into a more specific field. These criticisms can be quite disheartening for anybody trying to earn a degree in communications, but I am ready to give students a list of reasons why their major should not be looked down on.
A degree in communications is broad, but that does not limit how much students can do. The argument that their degree doesn’t have a specific job pathway and is therefore useless has never made sense to me. If a student wants to go into one of the communication related fields, such as public relations or journalism, they have all the freedom to do so, but they can also move within other fields and see where they fit in best. The amount of freedom one has with a degree in communications is unreal compared to others; they are prepared for any type of job because they have been trained for any type of job. That’s the beauty of this degree.
Communication courses are required for basically every major because of how important it is to communicate the right message and to know one’s audience. Most colleges require a basic communication course, such as public speaking. Even though the course might have nothing to do with a person’s chosen degree, public speaking or anything they learned in a basic communications course are valuable skills that are needed in all kinds of fields because everyone has a message or piece of information that they want to get across in a proper way.
The demand for employees who have studied in fields related to communications continues to grow. With the rising importance of being present on social media or forming brand deals with influencers, companies need help in all areas, such as PR, marketing, or editing. Companies have had to adjust their plans to appeal to new audiences in different ways, which is why a degree in communications and gaining experience in those fields is becoming even more important. Their knowledge helps other have their companies reach their full potential.
Lastly, if a person with a degree in communications is unable to find a job, they have all the basics skills that is required to build from the ground up. If driven to do so, they can start their own company and know exactly how to shape its’ image or gain prominence online. Without these skills, it’s easy for a starter up to become unsuccessful.
Anyone who is majoring in communications is still forming important skills and preparing themselves for a great job in the future. Although not specific, it gives them so many opportunities and they have all the freedom in the world to choose their own path. Don’t let anyone tell you otherwise.