8 Courses All Successful Comms Students Take (And Why You Should Too)
One of the best parts about studying communications is the wide variety of courses available to us. No matter what side of communications you plan to specialize in, here are eight courses that comms students take to succeed in their studies and future careers.
8 Courses All Successful Comms Students Take
1. Intercultural Communication
In such a fast-paced and interconnected world, there is no doubt that today’s most successful communications professionals have a strong understanding of how to communicate effectively across cultures.
Studying intercultural communication will help increase awareness of communication challenges on the global scale and teach the communication skills necessary to excel on the international stage.
This course is especially important for students interested in pursuing a career in global communications and/or working for international organizations.
What you’ll learn: building cross-cultural communication skills, multi-cultural problem solving, and intercultural collaboration.
2. Nonverbal Communication
Nonverbal communication, such as body language and tone of voice, has been continuously studied as a major influencer in decision-making and negotiation. This is why studying nonverbal communication can help comms students gain skills that will benefit them throughout their career.
Nonverbal communication courses usually focus on teaching the importance of kinesics (body movement) and proxemics (human use of space) in face-to-face interactions.
What you’ll learn: how to interpret body language, using nonverbal communication to enhance negotiation and leadership skills.
3. Interpersonal Communication
Interpersonal communication is one of THE MOST IMPORTANT skills students should develop to succeed in their careers, and in their everyday lives. Interpersonal communication courses teach the ins and outs of communicating effectively through listening, understanding emotions, and conflict management.
Interpersonal communication is a highly recommended skill for students in every major hoping to succeed in their career and to build a healthy communication style in their personal lives.
What you’ll learn: the different types of communication styles, conflict management techniques, the importance of listening and building empathy.
4. Pop Culture and Communication
A fan favourite among students, Pop Culture and Communication courses play a key role in understanding the social significance of media, television, and film today. By learning about the emergence of trends and viral content in society, comms students gain insight into how the communication industry works to develop successful campaigns and engaging content.
This course is especially important for students interested in pursuing careers in social media, content creation, advertising, and journalism.
What you’ll learn: how trends emerge and evolve, the creation of subcultures and collective identity, and the importance of social representation in media.
5. Professional Writing
Communication and professional writing go together like peanut butter and jelly, so if you’re looking to succeed in communications, it’s highly encouraged to brush up on your writing skills too. Professional writing is at the heart of some of the most successful communications campaigns and social media content, and it’s a highly favoured skill in today’s industry.
A professional writing course dives into the strategies and techniques to create engaging content and the importance of an audience and written voice.
What you’ll learn: developing a writing style, copywriting, speechwriting, and storytelling.
6. Negotiation
Negotiation skills are often overlooked in the communications world, but they’re actually one of the most useful skills to ensure one’s success in communications. Negotiation courses offer fundamental communication tactics to effectively negotiate in today’s workplace and our everyday lives.
It’s without a doubt that today’s most successful communications students and professionals have mastered negotiation to effect change and gain a competitive advantage in their career.
What you’ll learn: dispute resolution, practical negotiation and mediation techniques, and conflict management.
7. Digital Media
Digital media, also referred to as multimedia, covers all aspects of digital communication like graphic design, photography, and audio and video production. Nowadays, knowledge in digital media is one of the most sought-after skills in the communications industry. And the most successful comms students and professionals know this.
Digital Media courses can offer hands-on experience to help students create interactive digital content and increase their chances of excelling in future careers in web design, social media, and content creation.
What you’ll learn: graphic design, video production, photography.
8. Public Speaking
Did you know that public speaking is the world’s number one phobia? This is why some of the most successful communications students and professionals are those who can present and communicate confidently in front of large crowds.
Public speaking courses provide a space for students to practice giving speeches and presentations in a clear and impactful manner.
What you’ll learn: how to structure presentations, body language, speech organization and delivery.
