One thing I've noticed is those who actually do PhD programs in communications have backgrounds in English and sometimes sociology. Communications BAs are actually in the minority in these programs, since communications majors attract weaker students and the vocational nature of undergrad programs don't prepare people for grad school very well.

Communications gets a bad rap because anyone going anywhere has to learn how to communicate. So engineers and accountants, who stay employed, end up learning communications on the job but communications majors are less likely to learn engineering or accounting. Further, if you don't know the material that you are trying to communicate, no matter how good you are at the style, you end up being average.

The thing to remember is that a non-trivial group of communications majors figure this out and do something about it. It is not like getting a communications degree is a death sentence.

My friend is a communication major and she works for CSPAN running the video of congresspeople giving speeches.

Most common major for "student athletes." That says it all.

Most schools have a Communication School - under that are different programs (journalism, radio and film/tv production, advertising, PR, cultural studies, speech, new media).

The schools have both a professional side (the tv/film, journalism) and a social science side. For the poster who said that there isn't critical thinking, way off, that is the basis of all liberal arts/SS comm programs. Communication is basically sociology with a focus on how information is transmitted - whether that be face to face or mediated, one-on-one or mass, etc.

Comm majors are especially relevant right now because of digital and social media.

I think Communications is a great skill that leads to many jobs especially sales, which can be very lucrative. But just to answer your question-- business major cannot keep up changes to economics, economic major cannot keep up, changes to communications. Put those communications skill to work landing that first job and after a couple years it is experience not what degree you received that matters.

A communications major tries to debunk the charge she's in an easy major - and says the fact they require you to show up for class is one of the reasons it isn't. You can't make this up!

http://bcgavel.com/2013/02/05/opinion-three-common-myths-about-communication-majors-debunked/

Anonymous wrote:Because it's a major for sorority girls and student athletes.

Is something wrong with sorority girls?

Because it's a major for sorority girls and student athletes.

A BS in physics is so useless - no wonder so many go on to get graduate degrees. Would have been smarter to major in communications, since there's tons of high paying jobs in that field available that don't require a higher degree.

Anonymous wrote:And how exactly does this suggest that communications is a lightweight major? One could just as easily say that a high percentage of literature and languages majors find they need an advanced degree because the undergrad program is so useless.

Your argument would make sense ONLY IF communications BAs earned significantly more than stand-alone BAs in the humanities and social sciences. Since they don't, your communications major is more "useful" falls flat.

Anonymous wrote:% with advanced degree by college major:

Literature and languages 46.8
Social sciences 43.6
Liberal arts/history 43.1
Communications 21.1

https://www.census.gov/prod/2012pubs/acs-18.pdf

And how exactly does this suggest that communications is a lightweight major? One could just as easily say that a high percentage of literature and languages majors find they need an advanced degree because the undergrad program is so useless.

A lot of communications majors call themselves "consultants" and "freelance producers" etc. that sounds good on Linkedin. Are these prestigious jobs or is this just code for marginally employed?