Is a Bachelor’s in Communication Right for You? The Pros and Cons
Communication is quickly becoming a more and more popular program choice for students starting their bachelor’s degrees.
Ever wondered what doing a bachelor’s in communication is actually like? And if it’s a good choice for you?
Here’s everything you need to know about a bachelor’s in communication and whether it’s right for you.
Is a Bachelor’s in Communication Right for You? The Pros and Cons
What is a Bachelor’s in Communication?
A bachelor’s in communication is an undergraduate degree, usually 3 to 4 years, that teaches students the theories and strategies in communication and media.
During their studies, students typically learn how to analyze the impact of technology and media on society, organizations, and interpersonal relations.
Bachelor’s students are given a chance to discover the strategies of various communication fields and can often specialize in a specific stream of communication.
Some specializations include:
- Organizational communication
- Media studies
- Political communication
- Health communication
- Public relations
- Sports communication
Many communication majors end up pursuing successful careers in:
- Public relations and marketing
- Social media management
- Journalism
- Speechwriting
- News reporting
- Graphic design and videography
The Pros of a Bachelor’s in Communication
Opportunities to work in countless industries
“Every industry needs communicators.”
– Katie from Comms&Me
One of the #1 best things about studying communication is that it’s a degree that can truly lead you anywhere.
As I always say, “every industry needs communicators”, so no matter your interests, you can use your degree and truly make a career path that is designed for you.
Wanna work in the film industry writing scripts for Disney? Communication can get you there.
Wanna become an event planner for New York Fashion Week? Communication can get you there.
Wanna do news reporting or be a commentator for your favourite sports team? Communication can get you there.
Wanna become the CEO of a major coffee company? Communication can get you there.
There are tons of successful communication majors in countless industries, which makes communication a great program of study for people who want to explore different career paths and opportunities.
Comms&Me Question: Did you know many famous people like Oprah and Jerry Seinfeld were communication majors? Check out the full list of Famous People You Didn’t Know Studied Communication (+ Their Career Advice).
Theoretical and hands-on experience
Despite learning about theories and strategies, communication can be a very hands-on program that allows its students to gain skills and experience that they can directly apply to a career after graduation.
Depending on the university/college, a communication program can offer a range of courses to help students succeed in their future careers, like:
- Multimedia courses to learn about graphic design and videography
- Public speaking courses to learn about speechwriting, public speaking, and negotiation
- Pop culture courses to learn about the emergence of trends and viral content
Also, communication programs tend to offer internship or co-op opportunities during the program to help students gain hands-on experience that will help them after graduation.
Great base for graduate studies
For students who are interested in pursuing a career that requires graduate studies, communication can be a great base.
Of course, having a bachelor’s in communication can be helpful if you want to take a master’s in media.
But, a bachelor’s in communication can also be a great base for other graduate programs like:
- Law
- International relations and diplomacy
- Business
- Education and teaching
Communication teaches students how to understand and analyze organizations and interpersonal relations which is what makes it a common undergraduate program of choice for students who continue their studies to the graduate level.
It’s a degree that can follow you along in your career
In my blog post on 5 Signs That a Communication Degree is Right for You, I say that a communication degree is great for people who think of themselves as jacks of all trades because communication is so versatile and can follow you along in your career.
A communication degree can truly follow you no matter how your career or life changes. Communication is broad enough that you apply to so many different roles.
If you want to change your career path in 5, 10 or 20 years, your bachelor’s in communication will still have its way of being useful to you in your career change.
The Cons of a Bachelor’s in Communication
Some students have difficulties when refining career goals
Although one of the great things about studying communication is its versatility and being a broad program that can lead you down various career paths, sometimes this can also be a point of difficulty for students.
With a broad program, it’s important to remember that having an idea of what type of career you want to have can help you gain the skills and experience needed to succeed. Although it’s helpful to gain experience in different fields through communication, it’s also useful to gain skills that are connected and can be used for a specific career path.
Comms&Me Tip: To know if this will be a possible challenge for you, make a list of general goals you have for your future career and any interests you have. Then, figure out what type of skills and experiences are needed to get into that career. If these skills align with each other, it’s a good sign that you will avoid feeling lost in such a broad program.
A degree is not the only thing needed for success, so is experience
Just like with many bachelor’s degrees nowadays, a communication degree is often not enough to make you stand out in the workforce.
Communication students are more likely to succeed and enjoy their program of study when they are also gaining valuable experience in communication.
Due to this, communication students are usually highly encouraged to gain work or volunteer experience during their studies to boost their resumes and achieve their career goals sooner.
Comms&Me Tip: Many communication degrees offer internship or co-op programs that help students gain real work experience during their studies. This is one of the many things I recommend looking for when choosing a communication program. Learn more by checking out the list of 7 Things To Look For When Choosing A Communication Degree.
Can academia keep up with an ever-changing industry?
Unlike some of the more traditional academic programs, communications is VERY fast-paced and can change almost overnight due to new technologies, trends and pop culture.
This could mean that by the time you graduate with a bachelor’s in communication, the strategies and skills you learned in school could already be outdated in the real world.
It’s important to consider this and understand that skills development will be continuous throughout your career and studies to ensure that you stay relevant to the latest communication strategies and tactics needed in the industry.
Do communications experts think a bachelor’s in communication is worth it?
A Director of Communications and PR’s Opinion on a Bachelor’s in Communication
In a TikTok video posted by Heather Harman-Michael, a Director of Communications and Public Relations, Heather shares why a communication degree is such a versatile and valuable degree.
A 20-year Communication Professor’s Opinion on a Bachelor’s in Communication
Paula Barrett, a Communication Professor for 20 years shares on LinkedIn her Three Reasons Why You’ll Want to Work in the In-Demand Field of Communication.
Is a Bachelor’s in Communication right for you?
Career Goals
Ultimately, your career goals will be the best way to figure out if a communication degree is right for you.
Ask yourself: What does my future career look like and what steps do I need to take to achieve it?
Your career goals will ultimately determine if a communication degree is right for you.
Interests and Passions
Make a list of your interests and passions and figure out if that aligns with what a communication degree may offer you.
If you make a list and find out that you love reading and writing, a communication degree could be a great fit!
If you find out that you are very analytical and enjoy working with numbers, you may be better suited for a degree in marketing. Communications and marketing are very similar, learn which one is best for you by reading by blogpost Marketing vs Communications: How to Choose the Right Degree for You.
You enjoy communicating, duh!
A big part of studying communication is communicating! Studying communication means you’ll be learning how to write to keep people engaged, read and review content, and learn to speak engagingly. If these are things that interest you, a degree in communication could be a good match!
Learn more about what makes you a good match by reading my 5 Signs That a Communication Degree is Right for You.
So, is a bachelor’s in communication right for you? Let me know!
I hope this cleared up some questions you had on what a bachelor’s in communication is, and if it’s right for you. Let me know if you’re interested in studying communication or any other questions you have about being a comms major!
