The possibilities are endless for servicemembers looking to craft a career out of strategic messaging. By J.B. Bissell MAE Correspondent
No matter what your course of study, the act of pursuing higher education is split between two distinct elements. There is the philosophical undertaking of earning a bachelor’s degree (or associate, master’s or doctorate, for that matter), and there is the practical aspect of acquiring a diploma. In an idealized world, students would focus simply on learning. The entire journey— the classes, the projects, the papers, the exams—would be the cause for celebration. We live in the real world, however, and in the real world a diploma almost always equals better job opportunities and more money—a definitive milestone to be celebrated. The goal, then, for the countless men and women who are contemplating college applications, is to find an educational path that challenges them intellectually and, in good time, rewards them financially. Certainly there are plenty of possibilities, but the communications field might bring together the philosophical and practical www.MAE-kmi.com
components of higher education better than most. “The communications degree is about the creation of messages that are effective, appropriately adapted to the audience, and responsive to ethical standards,” said Dr. Vince Waldron, professor of communication at Arizona State University. “To be an effective communicator, you need to analyze the needs of different audiences and understand cultural difference in communication. You also need to assess and remove the barriers that keep people from participating fully in communication systems.” That is an educational journey. The end game of this particular discipline, however, provides plenty of future employment incentive. “We hear it over and over again,” said Dr. Andrea Weber, undergraduate curriculum coordinator for the Department of Communication Studies at West Virginia University (WVU). “Employers want their employees to be able to think and commu-
nicate. A degree in communication studies provides students the opportunity to learn, practice and enhance their critical thinking and communication skills … while it also opens doors to allow students to be successful in just about any career arena— from health care to human resources, from sales to social media, from public relations to promotions.”
Problem Solvers This vast array of employment options is made possible by the fact that so many diverse specialties can be found beneath the communications umbrella. Because of this, “students can focus on the area that interests them the most,” said Weber. And there’s plenty to be interested in. Concentrations at various institutions of higher learning range from health communication to strategic and organizational communication and public relations to communication media. Avid MAE 7.7 | 5