A communications major, according to the University of California, Los Angeles' website, equips students with a "comprehensive knowledge of the nature of human communication, the symbol systems by which it functions, the environments in which it occurs, its media, and its effects." Students who major in this field study communication technology, law, marketing, persuasion, rhetoric, mass communications, speech, linguistics and more. They may choose to take a broad or narrow approach, unless their university requires them to choose a focus within the major. For example, the University of Texas asks students to choose between corporate communication, human relations and political communication.
Along with the examples mentioned above, there are many other career choices for people who major in communications. Some people go into the film industry and work in development, distribution, production and promotion, according to the UCLA website. Others go into broadcast or print journalism as anchors, reporters, production workers, editors and publishers. Some also work in nonprofits providing marketing and fundraising services, work in municipal operations, human resources, public relations and consulting.
Students who major in communication need to like working with people. Azusa Pacific University's website recommends this major for students who are good written and verbal communicators, enjoy public speaking, tend to see both sides of an argument and like to teach and inform others. People who like variety and are flexible are good candidates for a communications major. Several graduates of the West Chester University of Pennsylvania Communications Studies program who appear on the "What I Did With My Communication Degree" Web page described careers with a broad focus where they "do a little bit of everything."
According to Kent State University's website, senior executives in a 2009 poll considered "proficient communication skills" to be the most important skills for success in the workplace. Projected job outlook appears to be steady for many communication majors. For example, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics projects job growth in the fields of sales management, marketing and human resources to be about average in comparison with other jobs from 2010 to 2020.