These 5 Classes Are Central to Earning a Bachelor’s in Communications
- Public Speaking
- Journalism
- Digital Video Production
- Public Relations Theory
- Website Development
Students interested in pursuing a career in media, publishing, political speech writing, or public relations (PR), should prioritize taking 5 of the foundational classes that are frequently required for obtaining a Bachelor’s in Communications. Because employers in every industry value employees who possess clear communication skills, these classes will prepare you well for a variety of careers beyond just media and PR. Communications skills are valuable for people in virtually every vocation; professionals working in all industries need to be able to speak persuasively, write well, give presentations and communicate via the Internet.
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Communications majors have the opportunity to take a variety of related courses in topics that cover writing, social media, mass communications, broadcast media, and public relations. Communications degree programs also often require core coursework in ethics, mathematics, statistics, history, English, science and the social sciences. There are also typically electives options to complete your communications degree. The following five classes are essential for communications majors:
1. Public Speaking
Many people find the act of speaking in public to be terrifying. Taking a public speaking course could help to overcome any fears you might have about speaking in front of others. It will give you practice at organizing your thoughts and ideas to present them logically; to speak confidently in front of a group; and to think critically about public speeches presented by others. This type of experience could be invaluable to you no matter what career path you eventually decide to pursue. The ability to speak persuasively is always an asset, whether you’re interviewing for a new job or presenting the results of your research to colleagues.
2. Journalism
A journalism course will equip you with the skills necessary to write news stories that will engage, entertain, and inform readers. Key skills taught include recognizing worthwhile story ideas, researching story topics, interviewing witnesses to gather important facts, cultivating helpful sources of information, introducing stories via attention-grabbing headlines and introductions, and editing work for clarity. You’ll also gain insights into how journalism differs from other business writing.
3. Digital Video Production
As attention spans shorten, visual communications such as video are becoming increasingly important. Numerous organizations are using Internet-hosted videos to communicate with their audiences. An introductory class in digital video production teaches how to operate a video camera, how to capture audio and video, how to use lighting effectively in film, and how to edit what you capture to tell a compelling story.
4. Public Relations Theory
A PR theory class focuses on the goals and strategies public relations. Students gain a clearer understanding of how corporations, non-profit organizations, governments and other groups utilize public relations to advance their goals and learn how to use PR to build mutually beneficial relationships between organizations and the public they serve. They will also discover new perspectives on how to apply accepted professional standards and best practices for PR interactions.
5. Website Development
With the Internet providing non-stop communications to the public, it is essential to learn communication strategies for presenting information to the public through this platform. In this class, students will obtain the skills needed for effectively planning, designing, coding, and implementing a new website using up-to-date best practices.
USA Today reports that communications majors are among the most employable of all college graduates. They enjoy a 93 percent employment rate. According to Forbes, communications majors are among the top-earning graduates right out of college. If you’re serious about studying communications, it’s beneficial to prioritize taking these 5 key courses early on in your Bachelor’s in Communications degree program; then you’ll be able to build on the skills you learn from them when you take your upper-level courses and electives.