Human Communication Studies - Shippensburg University of Pennsylvania

Human Communication Studies from Shippensburg University of Pennsylvania is a Campus Bachelor Media Studies degree that prepares you for a Communications career. The Human Communication Studies program helps you (1) develop critical thinking skills, (2) discover and practice a cultural sensitivity, and (3) facilitate your future marketability. What is Human Communication Studies? Communication is a learned skill, one that encompasses verbal and nonverbal messages, as well as listening and understanding. The academic endeavor of Human Communication Studies allows students to fully understand, and better shape, human interaction in all facets of professional and personal lives. As defined by the Association for Communication Administration (1995), Communication Studies focuses on how people use messages to generate meanings within and across various contexts, cultures, channels, and media. The field promotes the effective and ethical practice of human communication. What careers can be found in the communication field? Survey after survey of employers and placement specialists identifies high-caliber written and oral communication skills as the most important qualities desired in a job applicant. All careers involve human interaction and require the ability to process information and communicate it in oral or written form. Sensitivity to the diversity within and among audiences, such as employees within an organization or customers served by that organization, is also vital to communication competence. Therefore, a cross-cultural approach to communication is emphasized to prepare you for the global marketplace which is significantly more culturally diverse than ever before in history. Human Communication Studies graduates report that they are working for major companies in management, sales, human resources, higher education (admissions and student services), marketing, public relations, insurance, training, and various other leadership and service positions. They go on to graduate school, law school, and professional training schools. Some even own their own businesses providing such widely different services as financial planning, executive placement, graphic design, and communication consulting services. Using internships and academic minors as a way of preparing for a particular career, Human Communication Studies majors continually find themselves competitive in almost any career choice, due to their ability to adapt quickly to changing markets. What is the job outlook? Because job choice is almost unlimited, the job outlook is always good. As the American economy has switched to a more service-oriented one, the demand for employees with communication skills has increased. Even when there is a downturn in the economy, human communication studies graduates can adapt because their information processing skills make them more flexible and trainable. Additionally, developing an awareness of cultural differences allows for agile adaptability to a culturally diverse world. How do I prepare to be a Human Communication Studies major? Find opportunities to present your ideas to others by speaking before audiences or working in groups to solve problems. It is also important to improve your writing skills because those skills are critically linked to your ability to communicate orally and these skills are, in turn, critical for success in the extensive research projects you will explore throughout your academic career. So, do well in the college writing class, a required pre-requisite for this major. Take three years of a foreign language in high school so that your university language requirement is fulfilled. Develop an awareness of, and interest in, all aspects of the world around you. A vital curiosity hones your ability to process and communicate information. Become aware of the differences among people and how those differences may work toward harmony rather than contention. What kinds of courses will I take? The courses you take will develop your understanding of the process of human communication . More importantly, your active participation in these courses will increase your communication competence. A partial list of course titles include: Introduction to Human Communication Theory, Intergroup/Intercultural Communication, Small Group Communication , Advanced Public Speaking, Interviewing, Rhetorical Criticism, Organizational Communication, and Computer-Mediated Communication . In addition, courses are available in resolving conflict, interpersonal communication, African-American communication , gender and communication, identity communication , health communication, workplace training, and others. Our faculty is always involved in discovering the needs of our students and constructing courses to fill those needs. Class sizes are small enough for personal contact with faculty and our curriculum stresses critical thinking, interaction, student involvement, and projects that reflect real-life situations. View more details on Shippensburg University of Pennsylvania . Ask your questions and apply online for this program or find other related Media Studies courses.