What Can You Do With a Communication Degree?

While you might expect a communication degree to lead to a career in journalism, public relations, or marketing, the skills developed during the program can lead to a wide range of career options. A bachelor's degree in communication will teach you how to research, analyze information, communicate clearly, and understand persuasive techniques used in writing and speaking.

To find out what you can do with a communication degree, we sat down with Kristy Callihan, Purdue Global adjunct faculty member for undergraduate education and teaching.

What Is a Communication Degree?

A communication degree program covers the theory and application of communication principles. Students develop effective written and oral communication skills that can be used across diverse fields.

“You’ll learn the theory of communication and then [how to] apply these ideas to your workplace and home life,” Callihan says.

Some of the important soft skills taught in Purdue Global’s communication degree program include:

• Conflict management
• Critical thinking
• Group communication
• Perception skills
• Public speaking

“Many of our communication courses pair nicely with other fields,” Callihan says. “We are a ‘glue’ discipline in that way. You could use the knowledge you gain to become a marketing or business major, go to law school, or pursue other professions.”

At Purdue Global, undergraduate degree programs include, at a minimum, two communication courses: College Composition I and II. If you’re a student in a degree program other than communication, you may be able to take additional communication courses as electives.

Is a Communication Degree Right for You?

A communication degree can help you understand the world and how to work well with others.

You might be a good fit for a communication degree if you:

• Have a caring and helpful attitude
• Have a desire to inform, lead, or teach
• Have an ongoing curiosity about the world around you
• Have a strong desire to understand and integrate what you hear into usable information

“If you want to be more self-aware and [study] effective communication, this degree can be a good fit,” Callihan says.

What Will You Learn in a Communication Degree Program?

The list of communication courses will vary by university, but the basic courses will prepare you for entry-level employment in a variety of communication fields, including marketing, advertising, public relations, organizational communication, and management.

At Purdue Global, the bachelor's in communication program emphasizes:

• Outlining and developing interactive multimedia presentations
• Understanding how government and industry regulation, legal and ethical issues, and technology affect communication
• Using software applications and new media that are commonly used in business and institutional environments
• Working with and directing teams, including understanding group dynamics, resolving workplace issues, and enhancing speaking and writing skills

Courses cover the different contexts and types of communication, including mass media, public speaking, digital media, and organizational communication. At Purdue Global, many of the required courses in the communication program focus on interpersonal communication and effectively working in teams.

Callihan says the emphasis on group dynamics and conflict management is intentional.

“Leadership is a key part of how we use our communication skills — from conflict management to training to innovation to guiding teams,” she says. “The courses are very specific in developing your skills. In each course along the path to graduation, you’ll develop key skills and continue to fine-tune them.”

What Can You Do With a Communication Degree?

A communication degree can open up various career opportunities for you. Callihan says the principles learned in communication courses are valuable for many roles.

“Being able to make a public presentation, handle conflict and manage it in an effective way, or know how to communicate with a team — these are highly sought-after skills,” she says.

In fact, 96% of employers state that communication is an important skill for new college graduates, but only 53% of employers feel that recent graduates have proficient communication skills.

Among the career outcomes for a communication degree are the following:

General and Operations Manager

These managers coordinate, direct, or plan the operations of public or private sector organizations, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS). Duties and responsibilities include assigning work, ensuring that projects are completed, formulating policies, making staff schedules, managing daily operations, and planning the use of materials and human resources.

According to the BLS, general and operations managers can expect job growth of 6% from 2023 to 2033, faster than the average for all occupations. General and operations managers held 3.6 million jobs in 2023.

Marketing Manager

Marketing managers coordinate, direct, or plan marketing policies and programs and identify potential customers. They also work with product development and monitor trends to identify opportunities for new products and services.

The growth in marketing manager positions is expected to be faster than the national average through 2033.

Market Research Analyst and Marketing Specialist

Market research analysts and marketing specialists work on potential sales of a product or service and plan a marketing or advertising campaign. Among other marketing duties, they may gather information on competitors, methods of marketing and distribution, prices, and sales.

The future for market research analysts and marketing specialists is bright, with growth expected to be much faster than the average at 8% from 2023 to 2033, according to the BLS. More than 900,000 people were employed as market research analysts and marketing specialists in 2023.

Public Relations Specialist

A public relations specialist promotes, creates, and maintains a positive public image for individuals, groups, or organizations and may specialize in social media. Other responsibilities may include writing or selecting material to be released to different media groups. Jobs in public relations are growing faster than other occupations, with over 27,000 jobs expected to open each year through 2033.

Earn a Communication Degree Online With Purdue Global

A bachelor’s in communication could prepare you for employment in a variety of fields, including sales, entrepreneurship, public relations, human resources, advertising, marketing, or management. Learn more about earning an online bachelor’s degree in communication at Purdue Global, or request information today.