Associate's Degree in Corportate Communications

Choosing a career path in today's world can be an extremely fearful experience. Like any other decision you have to make in life, knowledge and information can take away this fear and leave you with the confidence to make the right choice and know for sure it's the right choice for you. Start your corporate communications degree today from the schools listed below. There are so many different jobs, careers, business markets, and industries to choose from that it's easy to get lost in a sea of indecision. But, all you need to do to maneuver those seas is break down the information and find out what fits you. One very exciting and rewarding choice is the field of Communication.

The field of Communication will offer you an incredibly diverse career path with a broad range of careers from banking, agriculture, and government work to manufacturing or social work. No matter what industry or business you choose to go into, communication will be a very important part of the job. The field of communication actually involves some of the same skills and classes of work as many other fields including public relations, journalism, advertising, marketing, business management, and much more.

Some of the courses required for a degree in Communication are economics, marketing, finance, management, sociology. If you're considering a career in a certain field like computers or biotechnology for example then you'd also need to take a few courses in these subjects as well. You'll also want to be very well studied in subjects that include knowledge of modern media. Another thing you should consider is whether or not you'll be working or communicating online with co-workers, clients, or bosses. If so, you'll need a strong background in internet language protocol. A course in web design may also be needed. If you think you might be interested in working in media, then an understanding of radio, digital imaging, and television aspects would be very beneficial as well.

The path of a Communication major can begin with an Associate in Applied Science-Communication Arts. This course will help prepare you for the core classes you'll be taking in sciences and in liberal arts. You'll also be enrolled in courses made for developing critical thinking as well as communication skills.

You next step along this path could be a Bachelor's Degree in Communication. You may choose to use this as a step, or you can make this your major. With this degree you'll specialize in such fields as business communication, speech and technical communication, journalism, and you'll learn skills of organization, leadership, and strategy.

Should you choose to use your Bachelor's degree as simply a stepping stone in your career path, your next step will be a Master's degree in Communication. To get your Master's degree in Communication, you'll study international communications, organizational skills, technology, business, etc. You'll also learn e-business, negotiation, how to settle deputes, and diversity among cultures.

Some Communication majors choose to minor in other fields to better prepare themselves for the jobs they intend to hold once they finish school. Some very popular minors include Psychology, Marketing, Business, and International Relations. Regardless of whether you earn a Bachelor's degree or a Master's degree, a degree in Communication opens up a wide variety of jobs you'll be qualified to do. The point is that a degree in Communication really opens the degree holder to wide variety of job possibilities and there aren't too many degree programs that can boast this.

 

Careers for Corporate Communications

Get a jump start after graduation and start applying for any of the communications careers listed below. Your Associate’s degree in corporate communications will give you an advantage over others applying for the same job if they don’t have a degree.

Public Relations – Every major company has a PR division who handles all the communication for the company. As a PR specialist you’ll work with other writers and answer inquires for the media as well as be the voice for the company. Your AA degree in corporate communications will train you to work in a PR department and including writing press releases and even working with marketing.

Advertising Specialist – As an advertising specialist you’ll use the skills you learned from your communications classes to help marketing come up with advertising plans. Every advertising department needs copywriters and many PR specialists end up working in marketing departments.

Human Resource Management – To be great in an HR role you need the ability to communicate well. Taking classes in corporate communications is the perfect fit for your career. Be sure to research careers in HR upon graduation as companies will love the fact you have your AA degree in corporate communications.

Government and Non-Profit – When researching careers be sure to look into both government as well as non-profits. Governments are always looking for communications specialists since they have to issue releases to the public.

 

Courses Taken During your Associate’s Degree Training

A corporate communications degree is often resembles a standard communications degree. The main difference is you’ll take more courses that focus in business than general communications courses. Below are some of the concentrations or courses you’ll take during your degree program.

Corporate Communications – This course focuses on all the ways corporations communicate. Companies have to relay information to the public for their financial statements if they are public to recalls or even product information. Because corporations are often publicly held it is important they are communicating to the public properly and officially.

Intro to Public Relations – One of the first roles you’ll probably have when you start your career is how to write a good press release. Often employers hire employees with communications majors because they are great writers and many have to make public speaking engagements.

Management – Most business degrees you’ll take including corporate communications will often have a management course. These courses are typically part of your general education courses that make up the first 30 credit hours of your degree program. It is a great idea to take a management course in the event you are hired and have to train or manage a staff.

Common Corporate Communications Tasks

Below are some of the duties you could be responsible for during your employment. Corporate communicators often work within other departments such as sales or marketing.

- Work with Marketing
- Media Relations
- Corporate Coordinator
- Press Releases
- Advertising
- Copywriter

 

Corporate Communications Resources
International Association of Business Communicators
American Management Association