2020 Communication & Journalism Degree Guide

Majoring in the field of Communication and Journalism will equip students with all types of knowledge on how to communicate with the general public through a plethora of media outlets. You will have the opportunity to take classes ranging from speech writing to design and layout while learning how to improve your writing and verbal communication skills.

There are many options when it comes to choosing your major within this field. Communications and Media Studies gives you the opportunity to study communications at broad level and understand all types of media. If you are passionate about reporting news stories to the public you may choose to go into Journalism. Or if you are interested in building a reputation or brand for clients Public Relations and Advertising may be a good choice. You also have the option to focus on Radio, Television, and Digital Communication to learn skills to design, develop, and manage types of digital media or major in Publishing and focus on layout and design. No matter what major you decide to focus on, a degree in communication and journalism will enhance your writing and verbal communication skills, making you a great candidate for any type of employment.

Communication & Journalism Degrees Remain Stable

Communication & Journalism was the 13th most popular major in the 2017-2018 school year. Colleges in the United States reported awarding 120,570 degrees in this year alone. This represents small change only -0.2% from the prior year's total of 120,773 communication and journalism degrees awarded.

The United States has 1,210 different schools where you can get a degree in communication and journalism. This year's Best Colleges for Communication & Journalism ranking compares 600 of them to identify the best overall programs in the country. Continue reading to check out one of our many unbiased rankings of communication and journalism programs later in this article.

Communication & Journalism Degree Requirements

Those going into the communications field should enjoy communicating through the written word as well as through interaction with people. A career in this field will require constant meetings with clients, other communications professionals, and members of the media. Communications professionals are often in fast paced careers, making the skills to balance multiple projects a necessity. This field of study is also best suited for students who are detail oriented and enjoy problem solving and investigation.

Typically, most careers in the communications and journalism fields are full time, but don't stick to the 40-hour workweek. New stories may cause journalists to work at odd hours while long projects or deadlines will force communications specialists to work in evenings and on the weekend.

Prior Education for a Communication & Journalism Program

A high school diploma or equivalent is typically required for most communication and journalism degree programs and many students will need a minimum GPA and SAT/ACT score depending on the school. In addition to these basic communication and journalism program qualifications, to serve in some communication and journalism careers, special certification may be required outside of your degree.

Types of Communication & Journalism Degrees

Communication & Journalism degree levels vary. Communication & Journalism programs offered by schools range from a first year certificate to a research/scholarship based doctorate, which is the highest communication and journalism degree you can get. Depending on the communication and journalism degree you choose, obtaining your diploma can take anwhere from 1 to 4+ years.

Degree	Credit Requirements	Typical Program Length
Associate Degree	60-70 credits	2 years
Bachelor’s Degree	120 credits	4 years
Master’s Degree	50-70 credits	1-3 years
Doctorate	Program required coursework including thesis or dissertation	At least 4 years

A bachelor's degree is the most common level of education achieved by those in careers related to communication and journalism, with approximately 53.4% of workers getting one. People currently working in careers related to communication and journalism tend obtained the following education levels.

Level of Education	Percentage of Workers
Bachelor’s Degree	54.6%
Master’s Degree	10.6%
Associate’s Degree (or other 2-year degree)	9.1%
Some College Courses	8.6%
High School Diploma	8.0%

Most workers in communication and journalism have at least a bachelor's degree. View the chart below to get an idea of what degree level most of those in communication and journalism careers have.

The education level required is different depending on the communication and journalism career you are seeking.

Career Opportunities for A Degree In Communication & Journalism Graduate

A degree in the communications and journalism field opens a wide array of career options to graduates. You may decide to work in a public relations firm, at a publishing house, as a representative for a major corporation, as a speechwriter, or work as a consultant. No matter what career path you choose, you can be confident that your degree in communication and journalism will give you the skills to work and advance within any organization.

Growth Projected for Communication & Journalism Careers

Want a job when you graduate with your communication and journalism degree? Communication & Journalism careers are expected to grow 6.7% between 2016 and 2026.

The following options are some of the most in-demand careers related to communication and journalism.

Occupation Name	Projected Jobs	Expected Growth
Managers	1,071,700	8.0%
Public Relations Specialists	282,600	8.9%
Producers and Directors	151,200	12.2%
Writers and Authors	141,200	7.6%
Photographers	139,000	-5.6%

How Much Money Do Communication & Journalism Grads Make?

Communication & Journalism graduates between 2015-2017 reported earning an average of $32,549 in the 2017-2018 timeframe. Earnings can range from as low as $5,200 to as high as $97,600. As you might expect, salaries for communication and journalism graduates vary depending on the level of education that was acquired.

High Paying Careers for Communication & Journalism Majors

Salaries for communication and journalism graduates can vary widely by the occupation you choose as well. The following table shows the top 5 highest paying careers communication and journalism grads often go into.

Occupation Name	Median Average Salary
Advertising and Promotions Managers	$133,090
Public Relations and Fundraising Managers	$131,570
Managers	$115,590
Broadcast News Analysts	$91,990
Artist, Athlete, and Performer Agents and Business Managers	$90,930

Getting Your Communication & Journalism Degree

With over 5,787 different communication and journalism degree programs to choose from, finding the best fit for you can be a challenge. Fortunately you have come to the right place. We have analyzed all of these schools to come up with hundreds of unbiased communication and journalism school rankings to help you with this.

Study Areas in Communication & Journalism

Communication & Journalism Majors to Study

Major	Annual Graduates
Communication & Media Studies	68,023
Public Relations & Advertising	19,507
Journalism	15,914
Radio, Television & Digital Communication	14,960
Communication & Journalism (Other)	1,920

View All Communication & Journalism Related Majors >

Most Popular Related Majors

Related Major	Annual Graduates
Education	306,214
Social Sciences	199,576
Psychology	175,257
Family, Consumer & Human Sciences	60,305
History	32,644

View All Communication & Journalism Related Majors >

References

• National Center for Education Statistics

• O*NET Online

• Image Credit: By Josh Hallett under License