The point I was trying to make wasn’t that a communications major is a dead end. It opens many avenues, as do many humanities majors. But I wanted to say that a music major isn’t a dead end either, and if the student isn’t interested in communications but only doing it as a “back up” it isn’t necessary.
Traditional media have certainly changed, but I am sure there are new opportunities too. I have a family member in music, and a family member in tv, and respect both!
I was definitely not responding to your post-- the others above have said some things about a communications major that I have not found to be at all true in my personal experience, so I wanted to offer the original poster an opposing view. I apologize if it seemed as though I was- that’s why I didn’t post as a direct response to your post. Please accept my apology?
Oh gee, no problem at all. And I didn’t mean to respond directly to you either! The different “replies” are confusing. Good luck to your son who seems to have genuine interests in both fields!
My college roommate got a communications degree (not journalism which is separate). She was hired by American Express in their corporate communications division. She now works for Aetna in internal corporate communications to field agents (meaning people who sell Aetna products to consumers). It’s her job to understand, develop and communicate company directives to agents. She also now uses social media to keep agents up-to-date. It is useful degree…but for some people…it does work. She has always been succesful at it and enjoys her work. Communication depts in the financial and insurance industry are large…and I would guess they are in some other industry as well.
I think that a communications degree could be interesting for a performer as it would have a direct tie to marketing yourself. Performers do need to be good at this. Also it is a good “general” degree that would be sufficient for many entry level positions. I have been involved in hiring and would not turn my nose up at such a degree in my fields (finance/insurance). Again I think it’s worth getting to college and work with an advisor on your final choice.
I do respectful disagree with the belief that you need to pick a degree that leads to a job (take accounting to become an accountant). I do think certain degrees can set you up for more challenges (philosophy perhaps). I think Communications is fine…because I see a lot of people in my life that have that degree, or an education degree (BIG in finance and insurance). Generally a big insurance company will “gooble up” about any type of degree if that person can communicate well. They train you and see if you like it.
I hope that this helps you. Again attitudes are shaped a lot by industries. There ARE jobs and fields where you need a specific degree. Then there are jobs where you don’t…but you do need good communications skills, the ability to show up on time and get the job done. I guarantee you that if you get a college degree…they’ll be an entry level job waiting for you in the exciting field of insurance…and they will not care if your degree is music, communications or, in the busy season, basket weaving. I see it every year. A bachelor’s is all that is required to get your foot in the door. Don’t waste 4 years studying something you dislike (and probably will professional dislike). Study what excites you.
Bumping this thread because it seems relevant to my son’s college search, which is just starting (he’s a high school junior). Based on my very incomplete knowledge of this realm, he seems to be trying to sort out the differences between music technology, music production, recording technology, and studio production programs.
I’ve been trying to sort through all of the many (!) threads on these topics to find a relatively clean/straightforward list of schools that he might start to look at (as opposed to links to discussion threads leading to links to discussion threads ad infinitum). Any help on this score would be greatly appreciated!
I’d suggest starting your own thread with a title more specific to your question- since this one’s title is about Communications majors and some people might skip over it. And it’s best to start your own anyway. Hopefully you’ll get some helpful replies!
The terminology for those areas of study varies a lot, as you have found, and you really have to look at each program in detail. In the broadest terms, there are programs geared to the creative side, and programs geared to the technical studio side, and degrees of intersection.
I can send you a list of schools via PM.
Yes! That would be a godsend – a list from which we can start. Thanks for the help. 