The Advantages To Earning A Business Communications Degree
Earning a business communications degree offers graduates the ability to understand and effectively communicate within organizations, businesses and other environments. Students enrolled within business communication degree programs gain knowledge regarding the operations and management of corporations, non profit organizations, businesses, and government agencies. Students also gain a tremendous understanding of mass communications, ethics, and various aspects of all forms of media. Students also gain skills necessary to strengthen research, planning, negotiation, and critical thinking skills. Most programs in the discipline of business communications combine classroom training based in theories of business communication with hands on experiences through internships and other programs. Graduates who complete studies in business communications advance to various positions within organizations and firms coordinating and integrating various forms of communications, strategically planning marketing tools, and devising means of helping firms achieve goals necessary to thrive.
Many colleges have developed innovative online programs designed to expand education beyond campus locations. As many students manage family or work responsibilities which prevent attending on campus instruction, the demand for quality online education is increasing significantly. Online programs offer virtually the same educational experiences as their traditional on campus counterparts. Online programs offer students an increased flexibility in course scheduling and 24 hour access to course materials and instruction. Most online courses feature smaller class sizes, with groups of 25 students or less, and offer increased interactions with instructors and other classmates through one on one Internet chats. Online programs are often one of the most convenient, affordable, and efficient means of advancing personal, educational, and career goals
What Students Learn Within A Business Communications Degree Program
Students enrolled within business communication degree programs gain a versatile education necessary for a multitude of professions. A business communications degree offers students the ability to understand and improve relations within organizational environments. Business communications programs provide students with a great understanding of communication law, theories, and ethics as well as specialized training in fields like mass communication, publishing, advertising, the media, organizational behavior and business management. Most business communications professionals are required to complete studies within bachelor or master’s degree programs to qualify for employment.
Some students begin with an associate’s degree in business administration to gain knowledge necessary to advance to employment or bachelor degree programs. Courses at an associate level include: personal dimensions of education, adult development and life assessment, English composition, interpersonal communications, computer literacy, world civilizations, introduction to literature, principles of management, American national government, dependence of man on the environment, informal logic, visual literacy in business, College algebra, introduction to marketing, survey of contemporary economic issues, principles of financial accounting, principles of managerial accounting, ethics and moral reasoning, corporate and social responsibility, introduction to psychology, introduction to philosophy, introduction to biology, and a internship. Students who complete associate degree programs may advance to employment or higher degree programs.
Bachelor degree programs in business communications offer students an expanded understanding of the field as well as specialized training in operational management, business administration, and business policies. Courses at a bachelor level include: fundamentals of management, business law management information systems, business communications, production and operations management, fundamentals of business finance, strategic management, business policy, business presentations, organizational communication, human communication, fundamentals of business writing, business communication contexts, public relations, intercultural communication, organizational behavior, team communication, ethics, communication and investigation, organizational theory, experiential learning, management for organizations, leadership for organizations, contemporary social problems and the workplace, communication in organizations, organizational change, human resource management, strategic planning for organizations, personal and organizational ethics, leadership priorities and practice, thesis project, thesis proposal, and an internship. Graduates who complete bachelor degree programs may advance to master’s or doctoral degree programs or gain employment.
Master’s degree programs in the discipline of business communications offer students the ability to refine and specialize studies necessary to increase communications within organizations and social systems. Master’s level courses generally include: theorizing communication; social dynamics of communication technology; organizational leadership; communication ethics; organizational communication; communication ethics; international and intercultural communications; communication practicum; applied research; communication seminar, thesis, and project; communication consulting and training; strategic and corporate communications; advanced topics in communications; advanced criticism; interpersonal and small group communications; media literacy; directed readings; methods of organizational research; organizational ethics; organizational communication; organizational theory; leadership and diversity; research methods; and an internship. Graduates who complete master’s degree programs may continue studies within doctoral degree programs or advance to employment.
Doctoral degree programs offer students the ability to gain knowledge necessary to be considered experts in the field of business communications. Doctoral candidates may choose one of three fields to specialize studies, including: journalism and public life, social impact of media, or the economic, legal, and policy aspect of communications. Courses within a doctorate program include: social impact of mass media, communication research problems; proseminar in communications; business economics; management of information, communications, and media; research methods; cultural theory and criticism; media, institutions, and technologies; rhetoric, politics, and public advocacy; historical and critical methodologies in communication research; qualitative methodologies in communication research; quantitative methodologies in communication research; advanced communication theory; philosophy and communication; history of communication; theology and communication; pedagogy; research and writing; and a dissertation. Graduates who complete doctoral degree programs may advance to employment as experts within businesses, research organizations, colleges, or universities.
Prospective Jobs For Graduates With Business Communication Degrees
Graduates who complete studies within business communication degree programs gain a solid educational basis necessary for future career success in a variety of settings. Employment for business communications graduates is based upon educational, training, and experience levels. Most graduates advance to jobs within the quickly expanding business industry. Graduates who complete associate degree programs may advance to entry level employment as sales representatives, administrative assistants, cost estimators, or public relations assistants. Graduates who complete bachelor degree programs may advance to employment as public relations assistants/specialists, marketing assistants, advertising managers, corporate communications managers, brand managers, or sales managers. Graduates with master’s degrees often gain employment as communications managers, public relations managers, instructors at vocational schools, or technical writers. Graduates who complete doctoral degree programs often advance to teaching positions within colleges or universities, researchers within organizations or institutions, or chief executive officers within business or firms. Many graduates, upon gaining relevant training and adequate funding, establish self owned consulting businesses.
Salary Range For Graduates With Business Communication Degrees
Graduates with business communication degrees have the ability to build long term, lucrative careers in the business industry. Earnings for graduates are based upon many factors, including: education level, areas of specialty, related work experience, organization of employment, and geographic location. The U.S. Bureau of Labor and Statistics reports median annual salaries for graduates employed as public relations specialists range from $38,400 to $71,670 annually. Graduates who specialize skills, advance education, and manage private companies and firms generally have higher earnings than those with less training and experience who work within public organizations. Graduates with associate’s degrees who gain employment as administrative assistants generally earn $23,160 to $36,020 annually. Graduates with bachelor degree who gain employment marketing assistants generally earn $43,325 to $50,560 annually. Graduates who complete master’s degrees and work as public relations managers generally earn $66,930 to $110,140 annually. Doctoral degree graduates who work as professors within colleges and universities generally earn $45,010 to $82,950 annually.
Career Outlook and Advancement Opportunities for Business Communication Degree Graduates
Graduates who complete studies within business communications degree programs are expected to have favorable job, yet competitive, employment opportunities in the foreseeable future. The U.S. Department of Labor and Statistics (BLS) reports that job growth in the field of communications and public relations is expected to increase by 13% through 2018 at an average rate in comparison to other occupations. Graduates will face increased competition for jobs due to the volume of qualified applicants in relation to the number of available jobs though growth should increase tremendously as organizations globalize. Graduates who specialize training within marketing, advertising, promotions, sales, international business, and Internet/online media are expected to find increased employability.
Additionally, graduates who gain experience, display and establish creativity, and have sound computer skills will find an increased opportunity for employment within the best firms and organizations as managers and within other administrative positions. Graduates who begin entry level employment often gradually advance to positions with greater responsibilities and higher salaries upon gaining relevant experience and additional training. Graduates who begin employment within administrative positions often advance to instructor positions within colleges or universities. Many establish self operated business upon gaining necessary funding and adequate training or experience.
