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Why Earn a Master’s in Communications?

A master’s in communications can open a great number of career opportunities. Just take a look to see how you can use this to advance your career in marketing, PR, healthcare, or education. How you use the degree is completely reliant on what you want to achieve. You can choose from a number of specializations or earn a dual MBA while you finish your communications master’s. Propel yourself forward in your current career or make a hard turn into something you’re interested in elsewhere. The sky’s the limit.

Business Degrees & Career Paths

PROS

Earning a master’s in communication helps graduates prepare for jobs in a wide range of industries from journalism and mass media to corporate communications, politics, and more.

Students with some work experience under their belt can use this degree to open doors and advance in their career, improve their writing and communication skills, and become a better researcher and presenter.

The main benefit of earning a master’s in communications is, this degree gives students a versatile, transferrable skill set; it’s equal parts general communications skills and expertise, which means, unlike getting a degree in engineering or nursing, you’ll have a lot of flexibility after graduating. Depending on what you specialize in, you may learn more about organizational communication, marketing, advertising, journalism, public policy, and leadership.

CONS

There is a long list of skills you’ll develop further in a communications program, but many of them won’t necessarily land you a better job or advance your earnings much more than earning a bachelor’s degree. Unless you’re getting a master’s in a specific area of communications, the main benefit of returning to school is to advance your expertise in the field or remain relevant. While the versatility of a communications degree is one of the more attractive things about this field, it also makes it hard to prove that earning a master’s degree has a high return on investment.

According to the US Bureau of Labor Statistics, master’s graduates earn roughly $224 more per week than their peers with a bachelor’s degree. So, the degree may well be a good investment, but there’s no real need for communications professionals to have this credential, and it might be more affordable to take classes here and there to brush up your skills or learn more about emerging technologies and best practices.

We’d recommend this path for prospective students who have an idea of how they might use this degree, but not so much for people returning to school because they don’t know what to do or believe that merely earning a master’s degree will help them dramatically increase their earnings.

What Communications Master’s Degrees are Available?

There are two types of master’s in communications programs. The first is an applied master’s in communication, which focuses on practical skills that you can use within a career setting. The second is a theoretical master’s program, where the focus is more on theory and social science. The latter option is ideal for those pursuing academia, in which case, you might opt to study something like media studies or some other research-based discipline. In an applied program, you’ll learn more about marketing plans, PR strategies, and so on.

Theoretical degrees may be a stepping stone toward earning a degree, but you’re looking at a challenging career path, most likely aiming you to become an educator or researcher.

Beyond the two clear “types” of degrees available, at the master’s level, there are a whole host of specializations to choose from. Though your options will vary based on school, here are the most common options.

• Health Communications:

Several schools offer a health communications program, which prepares students to work in communications roles within healthcare or medical setting. Students will dive deeper into communications basics like public relations, speech writing, and written communications, as well as learn how to promote social change and educate the public about health issues. Students may also develop their ability to conduct advanced research so that they can write and speak about medical concepts with some authority.

• Media and Mass Communications:

A master’s in mass communication tends to come in the form of an applied program, focusing on theory and research, primarily learning about media strategies across disciplines such as journalism, marketing, public relations, social media, and corporate communications. This concentration may be a solid choice for students who wish to advance their marketing skills—and get hands-on training to develop new media strategies and understand a broad range of communications methods.

• Communications Studies:

Communications studies take a more scholarly approach to learning. This concentration is more akin to a liberal arts program, where the focus is on developing critical and analytical skills through research projects, writing, and more. Communications studies programs are more theoretical than practical, focusing on social sciences, as well as culture, politics, and deep scholarly dives into how people communicate with one another. This option may be a good choice for those considering becoming a writer or journalist, as well as those who wish to pursue an academic career.

• Corporate Communication:

Corporate communication is a specialization typically offered as part of a communications studies program, and it focuses on preparing students for roles within the corporate sector. Potential career paths include spokesperson, publicity manager, campaign director, public administrator, marketing specialist, or consultant. This degree is ideal for students who want the flexibility of a general degree but want to gain practical experience they can take into a corporate setting.

Admission Requirements

Typically, applicants need to submit a GRE score and a transcript proving that they earned their bachelor’s degree. GPA requirements will vary by institution, and you might need to have some communications experience, whether that’s the major indicated on your bachelor’s degree, a history of taking overlapping classes, or experience in the field. Related majors like public relations, journalism, marketing, or advertising should be sufficient prerequisites, as there is a lot of overlap across these disciplines.

How long does it take to earn a Communications Master’s?

Most master’s degree programs in the US take about two years to complete. Communications is an area with a lot of variation, so there might be some differences based on the school you attend and the concentration that you select. It’s worth mentioning that some online programs offer an accelerated degree where students can earn a master’s in a year or even 18-months.

There are other options, such as the dual degree program at Syracuse University, where students can earn a master’s degree in communications, along with a master’s in another subject like advertising or journalism. That process, according to the school, takes about three years if students take the full-time course load as intended. There are also programs that offer a master’s in communications/JD, which gets students both a law degree and an MA or MS.

ASSOCIATE DEGREE COURSEWORK

• Interpersonal and Business communications review the business environment and effective presentations.

• Critical thinking prepares students to engage in problem-solving.

• Writing and oral communications help students function in real-world settings.

Bachelor’s Degree in Communications

The B.A. or B.S. in Communications prepares students to enter the workforce as writers, public relations specialists, and print or broadcast journalists. Some students choose concentrations to refine their career focus like politics, healthcare, or public administration.

BACHELOR’S DEGREE COURSEWORK

• Management communications involve groups, teams, internal, and external communications.

• Digital platform communication is an involved and growing area as marketing, engagement, and strategic planning can revolve around social media.

• Presentations occur in many firms and settings. Persuasive speech is a vital tool in communications.

B.A. OR B.S. CONCENTRATIONS

Bachelor’s concentrations include public relations, marketing, and digital communications.

Master’s Degree in Communications

The Master’s degree prepares graduates for mid-level to upper-level positions. At the Master’s level you will home communications skills and add knowledge to enable organization-level thinking, problem-solving, and strategic planning.

MASTER’S DEGREE COURSEWORK

• Global communications

• Advanced Research Methodology

• Social Media Management and Communications

MASTER’S DEGREE CONCENTRATIONS

Master’s level concentrations include social media marketing, analytics, and marketing.

Earning Potential for Communications Degree Fields and Occupations

The difference in salaries based on levels of education is revealing. At each level of educational attainment, the median compensation figure reflects a distinct advantage. The below-listed items describe salaries and educational levels, from a comparison of education level and average median compensation based on a 2017 survey of jobs and salaries.

Communications Salaries by Occupation

• Introduction

At the entry level, communications occupations typically require a bachelor’s degree. Students can enter some technical fields without a B.A. or B.S. with some technical background. At the mid-career level, professionals with about ten years of experience reach higher income levels and often have mid-level to senior level positions. The late career stage brings greater rewards and responsibility, and many professionals occupy senior level positions at this point.

Some mid-level to senior level positions require a master’s degree or an extensive background and set of experience. Experience is an important factor in communications occupations. It is a foundation for advancement and greater rewards and job satisfaction.

Communications Occupations

The Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) classifies media and communications occupations into these ten representative categories.

o Announcers - broadcast and ceremonial roles that announce information and lead proceedings.

o Broadcast and sound technicians manage hardware and systems that support broadcast communications.

o Film editors manipulate images to produce effective messaging.

o Technical writers produce technical copy such as instructions and reports.

o Reporters and correspondents broadcast news and analysis.

o Interpreters and translators provide all forms of communications across language barriers.

o Public relations specialists connect organizations with internal and external audiences.

o Photographers manage a form of visual communications.

o Writers and authors develop content for print, video script, and digital media.

o Editors prepare many forms of content for publication and distribution.

Communications Scholarships

High school seniors and college students can compete for scholarships for general scholastic achievement. Some scholarships focus on people with particular ethnic heritage, location, immigration status, or gender. The below itemized list of six scholarships focus on students in or about to enter one or more fields of communications study.

Six Noteworthy Scholarships in Communications

Students pursuing careers in communications have many scholarship opportunities. While the list below contains private funds, nearly every school or college that offers communications courses provides scholarships. Students should consult their list of possible schools to determine the availability of scholarships for communications majors.

• New York Women in Communications Inc. Foundation Scholarship Program

The New York Women in Communications Foundation Scholarship Program helps empower women attempting to enter one or more fields of communications. The program accepts residents of New York that are undergraduates majoring in communications or high school seniors about to enter an undergraduate program. The program awards scholarships in amounts of $2,500, $5000, and $10,000 to 15-20 women each year. The program selects students based on academic and community performance, achievement, personal background, and demonstrated financial need. The annual deadline for filing applications is January 31 of each calendar year.

• The MillerCoors National Scholarship

This communications program has an annual filing deadline of May 27 each calendar year. The MillerCoors National Scholarship focuses on Hispanic students. Eligible students must be juniors or seniors attending college and enrolled in a communications, marketing, or business program. The Fund works with a group of partner schools. To qualify, students must be a US citizen, have a 3.0 or higher GPA, and maintain full-time enrollment. The number of awards varies from year to year.

• The Electronic Document Systems Foundation

The EDSF offers scholarships for students pursuing degrees in the fields of document management and graphic communications. The foundation awards more than 40 scholarships each year, and the decisions rest solely on academic achievement. The scholarship awards range from $1,000 to $5,000 per year. The Foundation administers many honors including the Lowe Scholarship at $2000, the $1,000 Cartun Scholarship, the $2,000 Wayne Alexander Memorial Scholarship, and the $5000 OutputLinks Communications Group Woman of Distinction Scholarship.

• The National Academy of Television Arts & Sciences

This national organization offers scholarship opportunities for students of television and broadcast journalism. The National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences total benefits are more than $40,000 per year. Among the larger NATAS programs are the Jim McKay and Mike Wallace Memorial Scholarships. The Academy awards these $10,000 scholarships in honor of these legendary broadcasters. The Academy presents two $10,000 scholarships every year to high school graduates to pursue a communications-related bachelor’s degree. The awards support students that intend to begin a career in television. Other students can compete for and receive awards from the Academy that total about $20,000 per year. The Academy determines awards based on academic achievement.

• National Association of Black Journalists, NABJ Scholarships

This journalism association offers seven scholarships ranging from $1,500 to $2,500 per year. The funds support minority students seeking a career in journalism.

The NABJ Scholarships include the below-listed awards.

o Allison E. Fisher Scholarship for $2,500

o Carole Simpson Scholarship for $2,500

o DeWayne Wickham Founder’s High School Scholarship for $2,500

o Larry Whiteside Scholarship for $2,500

o Les Payne Founder’s Scholarship or $2,500

o NABJ Scholarship in the amount of $2,500

o Visual Task Force Scholarship for $1,500

• National Association of Black Journalists, NABJ Scholarships

This journalism association offers seven scholarships ranging from $1,500 to $2,500 per year. The funds support minority students seeking a career in journalism.

The NABJ Scholarships include the below-listed awards.

o Allison E. Fisher Scholarship for $2,500

o Carole Simpson Scholarship for $2,500

o DeWayne Wickham Founder’s High School Scholarship for $2,500

o Larry Whiteside Scholarship for $2,500

o Les Payne Founder’s Scholarship or $2,500

o NABJ Scholarship in the amount of $2,500

o Visual Task Force Scholarship for $1,500

• National Association of Hispanic Journalists

The Hispanic journalist’s association offers scholarship benefits of $1,000 – $2,000. The association awards the four below-described scholarships annually.

o NAHJ General Scholarships Ruben Salazar Fund for college-bound high school seniors, college undergraduates, and graduate students pursuing careers in English or Spanish-language print, photo, broadcast, or online journalism.

o NAHJ Ford Motor Company Fund Scholarships awards amounts up to $2,000 for students to pursue careers in journalism. Students must have a 2.5 or higher GPA, and be college-bound high school seniors, college undergraduates, or graduate students.

o NAHJ PepsiCo Scholarships provides awards up to $2,000 to support students seeking careers in print, broadcast, online, and visual journalism. Eligible students must have a 2.5 or higher GPA. The scholarships go to college-bound high school seniors, undergraduates, and graduate students.

o NAHJ Sports Journalism Scholarship is a $2,000 annual scholarship to support students that seek to work in the field of sports journalism. The awards go to eligible college undergraduates and graduate students with a GPA of 2.5 or higher.

Right here are some normal reasonsboth great as well as badfor going back to grad institution, as well as some point of view on them that may help you choose. Many trainees seek a master's in communications hoping it will provide an affordable advantagesince an academic degree can assist you attract attention amongst your peers by acquiring new abilities along with experiences.

You'll learn about finest strategies in your area as well as also obtain considerable experience in every little thing from work management to study and also writing (a lot more on that particular later). However, there are numerous other ways to obtain brand-new expertise without returning to grad establishment. Asking to take on jobs outside your knowledge, seeking trainers, as well as even volunteering can furthermore aid you acquire brand-new skills.

If it's grad institution, that's a fantastic factor to go. On that particular note, there are a number of critical capabilities an MA in communications is clearly developed to assist you gain namely, research, creating, as well as presenting skills. The majority of (however, not all) interactions graduate programs will require you to finish some kind of preliminary research job, where you will absolutely learn exactly how to establish a study concern, look into that question by collecting significant info, as well as share your findings.

These research study and public speaking capabilities are specifically advantageous if you're operating in marketing and advertising, public connections, organizational communications, human relationships, or various other organization functions. If your line of work will certainly include examining your market's approaches or programs as well as sharing your findings, an MA in interactions is best experience.

So before using, make sure to look thoroughly at the curricular focus of the programs you want. If you mean to be a journalist or operate in manufacturing, you'll require to discover if your colleges of rate of interest deal training in these areas. As well as additionally if they don't? You may intend to check into acquiring a level in journalism or your details location of passion instead.

Hang around recognizing if a master's in company monitoring, advertising and marketing, or applied communications may be a much better appropriate for you. If you're unpleasant in your current job along with checking out grad establishment as a getaway, be straightforward with on your own.

Will transforming fields truly fix your issue? Are you most likely to be much better in graduate university? Remember, it's still initiative and still in the communications field just executed in a collection or lab as opposed to in a workspace.

If you prefer a change of rate or setup, take into consideration signing up with industry organizations, discovering an advisor, or upping your networking efforts to fulfill individuals to assist you change. While graduate organization can aid your obtaining possible, it similarly features a cost. Tuition and additionally costs will vary depending on program length, university, residency standing, as well as likewise whether you have dependents and that's just one item of the expense.

Plus, student financing spending plan plans believe a modest way of living, so you might need to re-evaluate a few of the spending practices you've acquired utilized to as a professional. If your degree will only somewhat increase your gaining potential, be conscious the years of shed salaries while in institution may not be "worth it" from a simply financial factor of view.

When you recognize what kind of duty you prefer, improve your approach for obtaining it. Job and also grow your network. Seek advice from phone calls you recognize in the industry-professors, specialists you met during teaching fellowships, pals, relative as well as additionally other calls. Examine out expert cultures as well as additionally organizations, keeping in mind that you recognize amongst the membership.

This is an extremely cumulative feature, asking for a high degree of abilities and also management. Common Base Pay: $45,000 Number of Open Jobs: 173,000 Summary: Account executives, a great deal like public partnerships professionals, work across various audiences to create reliability in addition to foster connections for a customer or item. This is a function that outfits you to be independent while cultivating opportunities and additionally introducing solution strategies.

You need to be able to be prescriptive along with relate what business methods would certainly determine those searching for. Typical Base Wage: $40,500 Selection Of Open Jobs: 3,000 Summary: This is an excellent suitable for a person that is passionate worrying both aiding others and additionally the complexity of language. As an interpreter, you will absolutely have to think on your feet along with advancement conversations between parties, utilizing your distinctive abilities.

A communications degree is everything about learning precisely how to connect details efficiently. Terrific communication is vital in all markets, aiding to market things to the public, protect solid links with financiers, customers and also clients, in addition to ensure everybody within as well as likewise outside business are operating the very same website.

In this day and age, with the advent of the internet, many students looking to gain employment in the communications industry are looking for a masters in communications degree. The field of communications is highly competitive and these days, more employers are turning their backs on telecommuting employees and preferring those who will actually work from home.

A master's degree in communications can lead to great positions with firms who provide a variety of communication functions. Telecommunication professionals can work for communications firms that handle all facets of business communications such as call center operations, Internet and mobile communications, voice mail and voice message systems. Many employers are also turning to these types of communications specialists because of the increasing importance of social media websites and social networking sites such as Facebook and Twitter.

Some communications careers are even more specific. For example, there are jobs that require the use of specialized software, such as teleconferencing or video conferencing. These professionals may also be able to handle communications with clients and other business entities. Many communications specialists also specialize in certain types of multimedia applications, such as voice over IP (VoIP), video conferencing, and web conferencing.

Most of the masters in communications degrees offered by various schools provide students with information about how to use certain applications, as well as theoretical training in communications theory. Some master's programs may also offer programs that give students hands-on experience in applying certain software, which may include training on how to make presentations using Microsoft PowerPoint and other presentation programs.

Some students choose to complete their master's in communications degrees on their own while others enroll in programs with a more traditional university structure. The majority of people seeking an associate's or bachelor's degree in communication do so at a community college. Community colleges often provide a wider range of classes for a wide variety of interests and career possibilities, including communications. Students should choose to study in a school that is accredited and that has an established reputation for providing quality education.

Many community colleges have a range of communication programs that are accredited by the Council on Accreditation of Schools of Communication. Some of these programs are open to all students regardless of whether they are working or not, whereas others are limited to working students only.

Other types of bachelor's degrees in communications can be completed through universities. Most universities offer a full range of programs and degree options that will lead to a variety of different employment positions within the communications industry.

If you are interested in obtaining a master's degree in communications, be sure to look around for programs that are available from a variety of schools and colleges that offer a variety of different programs and degrees. In addition to looking for schools that offer a full range of programs and degrees, be sure to find out if the school offers a Masters in Communication Program, which is typically the most recognized and accepted degree in the field of communication.

The program must be accredited by a professional organization, such as the Association of Schools and Colleges of Communications (ASC) or the International Communication Association (ICA). As long as your program is accredited by these organizations, you should have no trouble finding employment in the field.

Some of the masters in communications degrees that are offered through traditional colleges focus more on teaching and researching a specific area of communications. If you are an educator or a communications specialist who is interested in teaching and research, you can pursue a master of education in communications degree. This program focuses more on communication skills, and the theories behind communication.

You will be required to write a thesis for the masters in communications program. In addition to this, you will be expected to teach a variety of classes, including social communication theory and classroom management.

Master's degrees in communications are available in both full-time and part-time formats. If you are interested in getting a degree in communications, consider working towards a master's degree or even a bachelor's degree to increase your potential for future employment opportunities in the communication field.

Choosing an Accredited College

Accreditation means a lot for life during and after college. Accredited schools offer high-quality education that employers and other educational institutions can accept as proof of your abilities. Accreditation affects financing. The Department of Education restricts federal student loan programs to accredited colleges, schools, and universities.

Online vs. On-Campus vs. Hybrid Education

Students today have a wider range of choices than previous generations. They can complete college degrees at quality institutions entirely online. The freedom and flexibility of online education appeals to people that cannot easily separate from other obligations and attend school full-time or part-time on a physical campus. The flexibility of online education stems from its usually asynchronous format. Students can access online class work and resources from anywhere on the Internet. They also do not need to do so at a specific time.

On-campus learning involves students gathering in classrooms or lecture halls to participate. The advantages of on-campus learning include association with other students and a different type of interaction with faculty and school resources like libraries. Further, some types of financial aid depend on a physical presence such as work-study programs and graduate assistant positions.

Additional Questions

Does the College Have Post Graduate Job Placement Help & Assistance?

When considering a college for a communications degree, students should look ahead and consider the support for jobs and careers. Many schools offer extensive assistance to students and graduates to promote job opportunities and career advancement. These programs include providing a system for employers to review resumes and schedule interviews. Support programs can involve alumni and the entire university or school family of corporate and private supporters.

Why You Need to Consider How Rating/Accreditation Can Affect Your Salary

The rating and accreditation of the school affect the acceptance and respect given your degree from employers, recruiters, and other educational institutions. Regional accreditation of the institution and the program is the best combination. National accreditation works well, particularly for faith-based institutions and career type schools. Students that plan to get a graduate degree or other education beyond their current degree program should strongly consider regionally accredited institutions.