Why Study Communications and Media Studies?

Radford University's School of Communication is one of Virginia's leading schools for the study of communication and the media professions.

The media studies major is designed for students with an interest in media or other related mass communication fields and includes concentrations in advertising, journalism and production technology

The communication major prepares undergraduate students for the future in two ways.  First, students prepare themselves to become professional communicators.  Second, students also prepare themselves to make contributions to various organizations and contexts from a communication perspective. The two concentrations within this major are communication studies and public relations.

Consider these key features of the two programs:

  • Our public relations concentration is designed to provide students with a balance of technical communication skills and theoretical knowledge necessary to be competitive for entry-level positions.
  • Our public relations concentration is certified by the Public Relations Society of America and is one of only 28 programs certified in the United States.
  • Our communication studies concentration prepares students for positions as professional communicators in both the private and public sectors.
  • Our advertising concentration focuses on the creative and strategic use of media for the purpose of advertising.
  • Our journalism concentration prepares students for a field that is changing rapidly because of the use of new technologies.
  • Our production technology concentration prepares students for careers in a variety of fields requiring knowledge and experience in producing audio and video.
  • Our school offers a variety of internship experiences ranging from work with on-campus offices to experience with national and international organizations. Internships are encouraged in all concentrations, and required in several.
  • Our school offers several summer study abroad programs.
  • Lambda Pi Eta is the National Communication Association’s communication honor society and is open to all students in the School of Communication who meet the national requirements for membership.
  • Students may also join the Public Relations Student Society of American (PRSSA) or the American Advertising Federation student chapter, RadAd.
  • Our school also contains a M.S. degree in Corporate and Professional Communication that designed to prepare students for a variety of careers in the public and private sectors. It is offered to qualified undergraduates as an accelerated program.

Career Options

Graduates of the School of Communication at Radford University will find career opportunities in a variety of areas, some of these may require additional education. Typical communication careers may include:

  • Advertising. Graduates may work as advertisers who create and spread messages used to promote and sell products and services.
  • Business communication. Graduates may work in businesses to promote the companies’ goals and products.
  • Speech writing. Graduates may work as speech writers who prepare speeches for others and work for large companies, public figures or governmental offices.
  • Professional lobbying. Graduates can become lobbyists who attempt to persuade members of the government to create laws that would benefit their group.
  • College admissions. With a degree in communication, graduates can work at colleges and universities as admissions counselors.
  • Customer service representative. School of Communication majors find employment in non-profit and business sectors working with the public and interacting with customers.
  • Public relations. Our graduates can become public relations specialists who are responsible for the image of their employer.
  • Marketing. Graduates may find careers in marketing that allow them to become marketing managers, product managers, sales managers, advertising managers and public relations specialists.
  • Mass media companies. Graduates may work in mass media companies that are involved in television, radio, music, film and print.
  • Journalism. Graduates will find employment as journalists who gather information. Journalists are often reports, editors, writers, visual journalists, photojournalists and columnists
  • Sales. Graduates often find jobs in sales where they combine their marketing and advertising skills to sell products and services to customers.

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