Introduction
Is A Masters In Communication Worth It? A master’s degree can be your next step if you already hold a bachelor’s degree and want to advance or change careers. Your education will be more narrowly focused on a master’s in communication, helping you to achieve both your personal and professional objectives.
Every industry uses communication, and a degree in communication can help you get a job in a variety of fields like marketing, journalism, media relations, and more. Your communication master’s degree might give you the specialized training you need to get ready for your present position or your desired career.
A master’s degree demonstrates your mastery of the field’s foundations as well as your drive, self-discipline, and fortitude to set a lofty goal and work assiduously toward achieving it.
What’s It Like To Pursue A Degree In Communication?
Verbal, written, and non-verbal human communication are the three main forms of communication studied in this large field of study. Students who enroll in communication programs learn how to comprehend the needs and preferences of others and how to use this understanding to deliver messages that are both clear and persuasive.
You will hone your speaking and writing abilities as a potential Communication graduate and discover how to produce various texts or presentations (e.g. persuasive, descriptive, informative). You’ll investigate the use of visual and aural aspects, as well as how they might affect communication, to further enhance the caliber of your work.
Because communication jobs need creativity, it’s critical to learn how to give constructive criticism and how to receive feedback without becoming resentful. This also depends on the type of feedback provided, as well as the motivation and personality of the giver. While it’s usual to have creative disagreements, you can resolve them, but taking things personally will only make your job less pleasurable.
Your communication abilities are highly recognized across a variety of fields, particularly in those involving business, law, politics, or the media. The majority of communication professions are available in this field, and if you have the requisite training and expertise, you can effectively communicate and handle emergencies.
Why Is Communication An Important Field
In terms of communication, our time is a modern one. Never before have people had such easy access to data. Continuous content creation and curation are done by people and businesses. And customers devour it at an uncontrollable rate.
The development of technology has opened up new avenues for the production of content.
- Specialists in marketing communication and public relations make frequent and targeted connections with their target audiences.
- To develop and create websites, web designers need enormous volumes of data.
- Podcasters interact with their listeners in a way that combines professionalism and personality.
A simple fact still holds despite the fast changes in media and communication over the past few years. A valuable work skill is clear communication.
Efficiency, effectiveness, employee trust, your brand, how you come across as a professional, and many other factors are influenced by how well you communicate.
Excellent communicators are a necessity for wise corporate leaders. These staff members assist the C-suite in defining, forming, and conveying their message. What could be more crucial in a time of huge information and misinformation?
What A Master Degree In Communication Program Entails
The study of information creation and sharing, both on a personal and professional level, is a component of a master’s degree in communication.
There are several designations for master’s degrees in communication, including MA (Master of Arts), MSc (Master of Science), and the less popular MComm. An MA in Communication is likely to be tied to the more creative side of industries like media and journalism, whilst an MSc is typically more focused on the theoretical and research components of contemporary communication. This will already give you an idea of how programs differ.
However, all general Master of Communication degrees are likely to address important parts of communication theory, research methods, and practice, even though the emphasis of the courses will vary. Students should gain a solid foundation in the subject, hone their communication abilities, and study various communication contexts, such as business, culture, and multimedia.
Although each course’s format will be different, you may expect to learn about things like communication theory, research techniques, cognitive processes, artistic expression, statistics, and media and culture. Depending on the location you study in and whether you choose to study full- or part-time, courses may span one or two years.
Entry Requirements For A Masters In Communication
A bachelor’s degree in communication would be advantageous, but it is not required to enroll in a master’s program. Many institutions are willing to take graduates from any degree discipline into consideration, although some may state that they would prefer you to have previously studied a similar or related subject, such as media, journalism, information technology, or cinema studies.
The following are the requirements needed for a master’s in communication:
- TOEFL 80 or IELTS 6.5 or is the minimum English proficiency score
- Bachelor’s degree in an applicable field
- GPA minimum
- Scores on the GMAT or GRE
- Two recommendation letters
Skills Gained From A Masters In Communication
Certain abilities are transferable to any communications position. Different professionals, they could play out differently, but their fundamentals will remain the same. Despite changes in corporate culture and job variation throughout time, general skills remain applicable.
Among these skills are:
- Conceptual Thinking
You can improve your conceptual thinking skills by enrolling in a master’s program in communication. Conceptual thinking is the process of linking vague, unrelated ideas to increase comprehension, generate fresh concepts, and consider previous choices.
You’ll resurrect your grade-school creativity in your master’s in communication program. You’ll practice putting dynamic copy with clear messaging and discover the steps to good storytelling.
While professional communication must be clear and concise, it does not have to be boring. Develop your conceptual thinking abilities to convey business information engagingly.
- Strategic Thinking
The capacity to think broadly and narrowly, “long and short term, and into the past and present,” is referred to as strategic thinking.
Strategic thinkers see communication issues and devise fixes. You’ll learn how to define and communicate the problem in a master’s in communication program. Additionally, you’ll learn the abilities required to choose the appropriate approach.
Professionals who have completed a master’s degree in communication program benefit from the strategic thinking abilities that were developed. You can almost always discover a solution if you have a tool for strategic thinking in your toolbox.
- Visual & Written Communication
You’ll learn how to produce quality content while enrolled in a master’s in communication program. You’ll get practice creating persuasive copy and graphics that resonate with audiences.
There are several elements to effective visual and written communication. They consist of:
Creating a sensory experience for the consumer
Empathizing with target audiences
Design of aesthetically attractive content
Demonstrating an awareness of diversity regarding messages received through media.
Communication experts need to develop the ability to create communications that don’t bore or overload people. These messages ought to be powerful and considerate. They should be creative in a variety of ways, including carefully chosen language, appealing design, and genuine consideration for the customer.
- Professional Readiness
The best communicators go beyond simply crossing things off their to-do lists. They keep an eye out for new chances and alterations in their environment. They observe distinctive features of their businesses. They pay attention to community needs. They also keep up with current trends around the world.
You’ll learn how to create a practical communication plan while enrolled in a master’s program in communication. You’ll talk about moral standards, legal issues, and professional norms. For professional panels, students will create and present communication strategies. They will learn how to assess the fairness, accuracy, and clarity of their work. The same will be done with other people’s work.
Students are instructed in the use of presentation tools by a communication master. They can talk about the finer points of a free press and use them in their work. Not having the answers is not a need for professional preparation. To generate quality work, you need to know enough. It involves realizing the value of excellence, criticism, and ongoing learning.
Students that enroll in a top-notch master’s in communication program learn the essential information. For students to continue learning throughout their professions, it also teaches them how to think.
Programs for a Master of Communication: Theoretical vs. Applied
A significant distinction between theoretical and applied master’s in communication programs needs to be made before going over potential employment options provided by such a degree. This is a broad divide, and while some programs almost exclusively emphasize one or the other, others incorporate education in both areas, enabling students to customize their studies based on their chosen professional aspirations.
| Theoretical Masters In Communication | Applied Masters In Communication |
| Programs for theoretical master’s degrees in communication have a strong emphasis on social science theory and research. This kind of program’s courses focus heavily on reading and conducting research. Reading three research studies, having a class discussion, and writing a critique of one of the studies could be part of a weekly assignment. This class will probably be followed by a semester-long research project or research proposal. Unsurprisingly, theoretical studies are more beneficial to students who want to pursue a Ph.D. after graduation than they are to those who want to work in business. | On the other hand, an applied master’s in communication degree emphasizes the abilities students need to be successful outside of the classroom. While reading academic research is still a requirement for these programs, the emphasis is typically more on creating corporate communication plans, marketing strategies, corporate training programs, and other practical initiatives. Students that are certain they intend to work in the private sector rather than in academics are usually better suited for an applied curriculum. |
Even though this wide distinction is possible, many schools place a similar emphasis on both theoretical and applied skills. These “hybrid” programs provide a middle ground between the two extremes by giving students a solid theoretical and methodological grounding while also assisting them in acquiring the particular skills required for the workforce. As a result, students who see the significance of both skill sets or those who are unsure of their career goals after graduation frequently find both programs to be a good fit.
Career Options For A Masters In Communication
With a Master’s in communication, what can you do? Graduates can prepare for careers in journalism, corporate communication, politics, mass media, higher education, and several other fields with a master’s in communication.
With some leadership positions requiring this degree, students who are already employed can use their new skills to advance in their current roles. This degree emphasis is available to those who desire to change careers and is tailored to their goals.
Additionally, it can help people get ready for doctoral programs and jobs that require them to teach and conduct research in higher education. Learn more about the professions that can be pursued with a master’s in communication by reading on.
- Technical Writer
Technical writers are required in a wide range of industries, but they frequently specialize in the technological, computational, and scientific fields. How-to manuals, how-to guides, and other papers containing technical knowledge are created by technical writers. Technical writers made an average of $78,060 in 2021, and employment was expected to expand by 12% by 2030.
- Journalists
Your primary responsibility as a journalist or reporter is to inform the public about news events. You’ll need to be able to conduct the appropriate research, evaluate and interpret data, conduct interviews, and produce news pieces while keeping abreast of current affairs and global trends. A 6% job growth is anticipated from 2020 to 2030, and the median wage for journalists in 2021 was $48,370.
- Social Media Manager
As a social media manager, you serve as the online spokesperson for a company. Through posts, comments, videos, and other forms of interaction with the public, you represent your company on various social media platforms. Social media managers make an average compensation of $55,884, according to Indeed.
- Marketing Manager
A marketing manager’s job is to raise awareness of the business by developing and implementing strategies to satisfy client wants while also looking for new opportunities to increase earnings. They assess the level of demand for an organization’s goods or services, the most effective ways to sell those things, and how the business stacks up against its rivals. A median salary of $133,380 was made by marketing managers in 2021, with a 10% predicted job growth through 2030.
- Secondary School Teacher
A postsecondary teacher, or professor, often at a public or private institution, can instruct in a variety of academic fields. While keeping abreast of the newest trends and developments in their profession, they design lessons, develop lesson plans for the students, and lead courses. Postsecondary instructors made an average income of $79,640 in 2021. Through 2030, 12% more jobs are expected to be created in this industry.
- Public Relations Specialist
Specialists in public relations make sure that a company’s reputation is favorable and that its brand value is maintained. In addition to responding to the media, they also prepare press releases, speeches, and social media posts. Public relations professionals were expected to earn a median salary of $62,800 in 2021, and employment was expected to expand by 11% through 2030.
Is A Masters In Communication Worth It?
Is a masters in communications worth it, even though it can make you stand out to employers and give you a more specialized education than a bachelor’s degree?
Simply said, yes. Your employment options in the communication industry would be more open to you if you have a master’s in communication.
There are endless possibilities to remain involved in and challenged by the communication sector given the predicted rate of growth for both marketing and communication. I’ll always advise looking into it if your career and personal objectives line up with the course objectives for the masters in communication. Having advanced communication skills will benefit you in many other areas of life in addition to helping you enter the field.
Conclusion
Is a masters in communication worth it? Students that enroll in master’s in communication programs get abilities that will be useful in their present or future employment. Whatever program a student chooses, they will have the chance to develop their writing and data analytic skills. These abilities are primarily gained in theoretical programs through completing research critiques and carrying out social-scientific research. These abilities are obtained through the completion of applicable projects in applied programs.
You will learn about industry standards and be exposed to the most recent tools and technologies in a top-notch masters in communication program. Finding a program that gives you the chance to work on topics that are appropriate for the workplace, such as creating a communication plan, is crucial.
Your ideal master’s program in communication will teach you how to work with people as well. You’ll discover how to produce and evaluate content with accuracy and empathy.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Are Communication Majors In Demand?
- Communication majors are in high demand. One of the most popular degree options for students is communication and for good reason. Every successful team, business, and organization has effective communication as its foundation.
Is Communication A Good Master’s Degree?
- A master’s degree in communications can assist you in developing a wide range of abilities that are in demand and useful in every industry. Employees with this degree typically have higher earning potential and experience faster professional progression than their counterparts with Bachelor’s degrees because they are equipped with this postgraduate expertise.
You can also read, “Is A Masters In Chemistry Worth It In 2022?“
