Why major in communication?

Next to the decision to go to school, the single biggest choice you'll face is choosing your major.  As a college student, you’ll inevitably be asked what your major is roughly 1,873 times.  This question is almost always followed by: “What will you do with a degree in that?”

Well, if you’re a communication major, you could easily fill an hour listing career options.  The truth is, you’ll find communication majors working in every industry.

Among the most widely known communication related fields are journalism, film and video production, public relations, advertising and marketing. These fields host positions such as: social media specialist, marketing communications manager, public relations strategist, communication coordinator, script writer, and public information specialist—to name a few.

We encounter media and communication messages daily—it can’t be avoided. As a society, we rely heavily on seeking and receiving information.  An education in the construction and dissemination of effective messages will provide you with a skillset that can be applied in almost any profession, many of which carry the ability to influence the world.

A communication degree allows you to develop the skills needed to write and speak well, manage multiple communication contexts (including public, interpersonal, and online), and to construct effective persuasive messages. Focusing on communication arms you with the knowledge and skills needed to deliver a clear message, using multiple platforms, to a variety of audiences. 

Maybe you aren't sure which career is perfect for you, but you know you want to get a job when you complete your degree and you want to have options. And--a decent salary wouldn't hurt either! A degree in communication has a longer list of options than many other degrees as well as a higher than average median salary.

If that wasn't enough, communication skills are most often cited among the top skills sought by employers.  All employers are looking for someone that can write and speak effectively, as well as listen and critically analyze information.

Successful communication is critical in all industries—and most facets of life.

Next to communication skills, employers are looking for interpersonal, leadership, and teamwork skills. Each of these is impacted by your ability to communicate.  If you are able to connect with people, especially in an interview, employers are going to want you on their team. 

An earlier blog post cited celebrities with English degrees. Well, rest assured, with a degree in communication, you'll be among good company. David Letterman, Stephen Colbert, Spike Lee, Oprah Winfrey, Matthew McConaughey—they all studied communication.

Weekly Wrap Up- May 27th

Happy Memorial Day Weekend! To me, this holiday seems to kick off summer; it's warm outside, we spend time on the lake, and there is inevitably, at least one cookout. Now, I know summer doesn't officially start for another month, but here in Georgia, it is already getting hot out there!

Not only is this weekend a three day holiday, but it also kicks off the start of the summer term. For those of you who are registered, Week 1 will start this Sunday!

During Week 1, it is of the utmost importance that you complete the Participation and Academic Honesty Verification assignment by no later than Thursday! Your professors will be taking attendance and completion of this assignment will count as your being, "present," in the online courses.

Next week, you can add classes and/or make changes to your schedule on Monday and Tuesday ONLY! However, you can drop classes until NOON on Friday June 3rd. Be sure to get in your classes, participate, and let us know A.S.A.P. if any changes need to be made.

Enjoy your long weekend and relax before the term really takes off! Best of luck to you all as you begin your summer term.

Graduating? Think Transfer Agreements

With graduation quickly approacing, many of you may be thinking, "What next?" It can be overwhelming to try and decide what your next move will be after earing an associate degree with GMC. However, GMC has worked hard to develop transfer agreements with over 40 four-year insitutions in the state of Georgia and the South East.

What does that mean exactly? Basically, it means that we have an agreement with another instituion that will guarantee your admission into that school.  The agreements outline the exact requirements necessary to transfer into the four-year institution ensuring that students are able to better plan their coursework and work toward their education goals.

Read more about our articulation agreements here.

GMC-Online 2016 Outstanding Graduate Award

Each year, Georgia Military College honors one outstanding graduate from each of its campuses across the state. This also includes the online learning campus.  For 2016, the GMC-Online Learning Campus Outstanding Graduate is Teagan Southern.  

We alerted Teagan of this honor, and asked her to tell us a little about herself.  Her response was heartfelt.  We will let her introduce herself to you in her own words!  Congratulations, Teagan!

From student, Teagan Southern:

"My name is Teagan Southern. I am 30 years old and I am one quarter away from graduating with a double major in Criminal Justice and Social Work from Georgia Military College.

When I was told I was nominated and needed to write a little bit about myself, I honestly cried a little. Where most people graduate high school and immediately go to college, I didn't have that luxury. I started working immediately, basically just working to pay bills. At the age of 28 I figured out a driving force of my heart was working with children. At this time I was lucky enough to fall in love with a man that lived in Augusta, Georgia so I moved and immediately started school at GMC-Augusta on campus. I took a full workload every quarter and don't regret it even with a full-time job. After three quarters on campus we found out we were moving to Connecticut. I was devastated with the idea of not finishing but as it turns out Georgia Military College has an online campus.  I then continued my degree online, which after a year in CT, we moved again to Texas and GMC online campus came with me.

After two years this summer I will be graduating with a double major and then using my associates to transfer my credits to TWU to get my bachelor’s degree in Child Life Specialist. After putting my scholastic dreams on hold for 10 years, I will be using the skills gained in my classes to work with children and their families to better themselves and their situations. This is what my heart and mind has been working for and wanting for quite some time and if it wasn't for Georgia Military College and their flexibility, their quarter system, they're amazing staff who is always there to answer my constant questions, my on-campus counselor and my online counselor Mark along with the financial aid they offer, I don't think I would've been able to do it. Georgia Military College truly is a family experience! You have a group of people backing you who truly want you to succeed and they will go above and beyond to make sure that you do. Thank you Georgia Military College for making me feel like I could succeed when many people didn't think I would be able to."

What Careers Are Out There For English Majors?

“What are you going to do with a degree in English? What sort of job are you going to get? Are you going to be a teacher?”

 

Even though I had heard all these questions before, they were constantly on my mind during the final semesters of my bachelor’s program in English. They may have crossed your mind, too. I’m here to tell you: that’s normal! In fact, these questions probably should be on your mind, since you’ve been working so hard for your degree and want to put it into action. But how do we put an English degree into action?

 

Many people assume—we all know the phrase about what “assume” makes us, don’t we?—that students who major in English are limited in their career options. They hear “English major” and think “teacher.” That’s simply not the case! While teaching English can be very rewarding, it isn’t for everyone—and it certainly isn’t the only career option for students pursuing degrees in English.

 

We, as English majors, spend much of our time reading, writing, and thinking about texts, which gives us a very special skillset. We are highly attentive to minute details. We are very strong at communicating. We know how to edit and revise quickly and effectively. Most of all, because our work as English majors includes so many different styles of writing and thinking, we are able to stay flexible and adapt to any situation that arises.

 

Our skills prepare us for careers in any number of fields! I have personally worked in management positions in: hospitality, contracting, food service, and higher education. Although each of my positions has been different, the skills I developed as an English major have been useful in every single one of them.

 

Each of these positions has required effective communication: reading and analyzing materials for accuracy, giving employees clear instructions and feedback, and thinking quickly and logically—the same skills one develops as an English major.

 

Even in positions that aren’t writing or English-based, the skills you develop as an English major are still useful. Whether you’re drafting a cover letter for a job application or you’ve been on the job for 25 years, writing and thinking clearly and efficiently will always help you.

 

Life is short. Don’t spend it on a job you don’t like. Maybe you’ll find something you love right away, or maybe you’ll explore several different career fields, as I did. Working in different fields helped me understand what I wanted to pursue. In the end, I realized that I enjoyed writing, research, and helping others, so I decided on the academic route, teaching English at the collegiate level. (I guess that after all this time, my answer to “Are you going to be a teacher?” is “Yes.” Go figure!)

 

What can you do with an English major? You could ask Clarence Thomas, Supreme Court Justice, who was an English major. So were Steven Spielberg, Emma Watson, and Conan O’Brien. Some English majors have gone on to be professional writers, editors, and publishers. Some have become leaders of companies across various industries. Some work in the public sector, aiming to improve the lives of others. Some are lawyers, some work in advertising, and some, like Sally Ride, are astronauts. Any career you can think of usually has at least one famous English major.

 

And, of course, some become teachers.

 

Whatever your personal preferences and goals—always keep those in mind—an English major can help open the door for you.

 

Take a look at the following pages to see a few more examples on the possibilities that exist and may await you!

 

https://www.roosevelt.edu/CAS/Programs/LIT/CareerGuide.aspx

 

https://english.stanford.edu/information-for/undergraduates/careers-after-english-major

 

http://www.insidejobs.com/blog/100-careers-for-english-majors-they-do-exist-really

 

 

 

 

 

Sarah Young, English Instructor

Dual Enrollment: From a Student's Perspective

"Over the past two semesters, I have taken a total of three online college courses through Georgia Military College. I have taken Intro to Politics, English Composition 1, and World Civilizations I. I am only in the ninth grade, but I am able to take these courses because of the Move on When Ready program.  Move on When Ready allows high school students to take college courses while still in high school and earn dual credit. I am very happy to have this opportunity to get part of my college degree early on, so when I get to college, I can skip straight to my major courses. I have learned a lot from these courses, such as the different formats of writing a paper (APA, MLA), as well as how to write college level papers in general. I have enjoyed being a part of the classes and interacting with the other students.  I also learned a lot of really cool things about the American government, world history, and the different types of argumentative papers. By taking these three courses, I have already earned 15 college credit hours and completed one year of high school English requirements and two years of social studies requirements! The professors have challenged me to think about more than just what happens around me. Overall, I love having this opportunity and I am excited for the next semester to start. I highly recommend Georgia Military College and dual enrollment to any high school student wanting to get a jump start on his or her future. This is a great program and has been a huge blessing!"

Caleb Brawn
GMC Move on When Ready student

“So what’s the Difference between Human Communication and Mass Communication?”

It depends on why you are asking the question and where you are when you’re asking the question. You could be having a face-to-face conversation and yet have it broadcast to multiple portals, in multiple locations at the same time.  In all communication situations, there could be an element of both human communication and mass communication, because you see, mass communication is just an extension of human communication. The difference with mass communication is that it sometimes happens on a greater scale. Communication is such a dynamic process that it is constantly changing and progressing. I remember the days when I would search for a pay phone so I could “reach out and touch” someone. Now, technology is such that I can communicate via Skype, Periscope or even by way of Facebook Live.  

Communication theory in general has become such an important part of the academic curriculum that colleges and universities now require students to take these courses in order to prepare them for a more competitive and connected global society. Just for the sake of making a logical argument about the differences surrounding human communication and mass communication, you would need to understand how each functions within society as a whole.

 The way I see it, human communication, simply put, involves communicating up close and personal. Whether it is in the form of interpersonal, intrapersonal or group communication, it is still human communication. Mass communication happens more broadly in the context of public space. Mass communication involves sending multiple messages over multiple planes.  Whether it is by way of the printed page or an online blog such as this, it still amounts to mass communication. So, what’s the difference between human communication and mass communication? I submit to you they are two sides of the same coin. It really does depend on whether you are asking this question from the stage of a TED talk, during a streaming or prerecorded lecture online, or even while Skyping your kids, parents, or friends.

Tony G. Blash, M.A.

COM Adjunct Faculty, OLC