Liberal Arts with a concentration in Communications
- About the Program
- Career Opportunities
The Liberal Arts – Concentration in Communications major is a flexible program for students interested in a Mass Communications career. By combining core courses with electives, students can seek a subspecialty in journalism or public relations. The program can be adapted to each individual student’s goals, with student advising as a priority to efficiently tailor the curriculum to his/her interests.
Students begin the major with two introductory courses, Introduction to Mass Media and Mass Media Practice, which give an overview of aspects of the concentration as well as history and trends of the communications field. Upon choosing a track, the student can outline a career path and/or areas of concentration for further study after transferring to a four-year institution.
Journalism Track: This track prepares students who are interested in careers in which writing is the essential element, including print and electronic journalism, magazine publishing, editing, and corporate and trade publications.
Public Relations Track: The Public Relations option prepares students interested in media relations and organizational communication, including internal and external message delivery, crisis communication, and media campaigns.
In addition to the specialized skills sequence, students develop the ability to think logically, interpret information, communicate results, meet deadlines, and foresee potential problems. These skills are essential for success in any profession and in life.
As a complement to the communications concentration, the Liberal Arts core courses are intended to give students essential academic skills and general knowledge, enabling them to transfer successfully to four-year colleges or universities without losing credits. Students earn an Associate of Arts (A.A.) degree and develop the writing, interpersonal, problem-solving, and critical thinking skills which are essential to communications or any career in today’s competitive world.
A concentration in communications can lead to a number of exciting careers. Communications professionals work for newspapers and magazines; and in television, radio, advertising and public relations, as well as governmental agencies and companies of all types.
Professionals in this field should have excellent oral and written communication skills. They should have a comprehensive understanding of the English language, be organized, and be able to work under pressure and meet deadlines. Communications professionals must be able to multi-task, handle several projects simultaneously and should be people-oriented.