What Can I do With a Degree in Communication Studies?

Career Center Library Resources
The Career Center Library has a variety of resources to help students explore potential career fields. These resources include information about typical responsibilities, qualifications, career paths, job outlook, salary, and related careers.

Books Specifically Related to Communication Studies Majors

• Real People Working in Communications
• Oregon Media Production Dictionary
• Careers for Film Buffs & Other Hollywood Types
• Career Opportunities in Television, Cable, Video & Multimedia
• Newspaper: Whats In It For Me?
• Real People Working in Entertainment
  
• Careers in Focus: Public Relations
  

Vocational Biographies

Vocational Biographies describes the career success stories of 1001 real people. Search by career title, keyword, topic, and career cluster. Username: portland su and pass code: 3w9n

• Special Events Coordinator
• Public Relations Director
• Scriptwriter
• Airborne Traffic Reporter
• Communications Director
• Magazine Publisher
• Radio Talk Show Producer
• University Media Relations Director

Professional Associations

• American Communication Association (ACA) — ACA " is a not-for-profit organization, created to enhance and promote the academic and professional study, research, knowledge, criticism, teaching, exchange, and application of the basic principles of human communication."
• Western States Communication Association
• The Association for Women in Communications (AWC) — Professional association representing a variety of communications-related disciplines including: print and broadcast journalism, television and radio production, film, advertising, public relations, marketing, graphic design, multi-media design, and photography.
• International Association of Business Communicators
• National Communication Association — NCA "is a not-for-profit organization with a mission to promote study, criticism, research, teaching, and application of the artistic, humanistic, and scientific principles of communication."
• Association for Business Communication — ABC "is an international organization committed to fostering excellence in business communication scholarship, research, education, and practice."
• Society for Technical Communication
• Public Relations Society of America (PRSA)
• Public Relations Society of America Portland Metro Chapter
• National Association of Broadcasters
• International Society for Intercultural Education, Training and Research (SIETAR) — SIETAR "is an interdisciplinary, professional and service organisation whose purpose is to implement and promote cooperative interaction among peoples of diverse cultures, races and ethnic groups."

Internet Sites with Career-Related Information for Communication Studies Majors

• What Can You do with a Communications Degree? — From the Speech Communication Department at PSU.
• Communication Studies — Lists potential job titles and related skills. From the University Career and Employment Services at the University of Kansas, Lawrence, Kansas.
• Student Guide to Careers in Communications — Lists job titles related to communications majors. From Career Services, Rutgers University, New Brunswick, New Jersey.
• Communications — Lists job titles related to communications majors. From the Career Exploration Center at the University of Texas, Austin, Texas.
• Speech — Lists and briefly describes job titles related to speech majors. From the Career Exploration Center at the University of Texas, Austin, Texas.
• What can I do with a Major in...Communication Studies? — From the University of North Carolina, Wilmington, North Carolina.
• Speech Communication: What Can I Do With This Major? — Outlines common career areas, identifies typical employers, and suggests general strategies to enhance employability. From Career Services at the University of Tennessee.
• Broadcasting: What Can I Do With This Major? — Outlines common career areas, identifies typical employers, and suggests general strategies to enhance employability. From Career Services at the University of Tennessee.
• Journalism: What Can I Do With This Major? — Outlines common career areas, identifies typical employers, and suggests general strategies to enhance employability. From Career Services at the University of Tennessee.

Internet Sites with Job Search Information for Communication Studies Majors

• Public Relations Employment Opportunities — From the Portland Metro Chapter of the Public Relations Society of America.
• Authorlink! Writing Jobs & Market Tips
• Journalism Job Listings — "J-Jobs is a service to the journalism community provided by the University of California at Berkeley Graduate School of Journalism."
• Job Announcements — From Investigative Reporters and Editors, "a grassroots non-profit organization dedicated to improving the quality of investigative reporting within the field of journalism."
• AJR NewsLink — Searchable database of jobs from the American Journalism Review.
• Advertising & Media Job Openings
• TVJOBS — Broadcast Employment Services maintains list of broadcasting-related jobs.
• League of Oregon Cities — Intern Placement and Referral Service

Places of Employment

Communication majors may find employment in a variety of areas depending on their skills and experience. Some communication graduates choose to work in communications-related fields including journalism, technical writing, publishing, public relations, advertising, and film as well as non-communications-related careers. Career-related internships or part-time jobs may be a prerequisite to finding professional-level employment after graduation in these and other fields.

The following list of employers and job titles was derived from the Career Center's jobs database where the employer specifically requested communications majors. This list does not reflect all potential places of employment or kinds of jobs for communications majors. This list does not reflect current openings.

• American Heart Association — Coordinator
• American Red Cross — Communications Director, Online Communications Specialist
• APCON, Inc. — Public Relations Manager
• Asian Pacific American Consortium on Substance Abuse (APACSA) — Community Coordinator
• Basic Rights Oregon — Communications Coordinator
• Battle Ground School District — Director of Communications
• Benton County — Public Information Officer
• Better Business Bureau (BBB) — Marketing Assistant
• Bravo! Publications — Production Assistant
• Business Education Compact (BEC) — Technical Writer
• C-Tech Industries — Marketing Communications Manager
• Camp Fire USA, Portland Metro Council — Youth Advocate
• Cascadia Community College — Program Assistant
• CBS Radio — Weekend Announcer, Air Talent, Morning Show Producer, Marketing/Promotions Assistant
• CH2M Hill — Junior Editor
• Cherokee Laser — Account Manager
• Christie School, The — New Transitional Youth Program
• City of Beaverton — Program Coordinator-Mediation Services, Program Manager
• City of Hillsboro — Public Affairs Manager, Parks & Recreation Community Resources Manager
• City of Portland — Community Service Aide II
• City of Salem — Neighborhood Services Specialist - Community Services Counselor
• City of Vancouver — Marketing Specialist, Public Information Officer, Community Relations Specialist, Program and Events Coordinator
• Clackamas Community College — Student Services Coordinator, Customized Training Project Coordinator
• Clear Channel Communications — Promotions Director, Z100 Morning Show Host, News Reporter
• Con-Way, Inc. — Project Coordinator
• Coldwell Banker, Barbara Sue Seal Properties — Marketing Coordinator
• Columbia River Inter-Tribal Fish Commission — Public Information Specialist
• Columbia Sportswear Company — Promotions Manager, Public Relations Manager
• Comcast Corporation — New Home Marketing Specialist, Communications Manager
• CompView, Inc. — Marketing Coordinator
• Cube Management — Internet Marketing Analyst
• Dr. Martens AirWair USA — Internal Account Coordinator, Retail Marketing Manager
• Educational Service District 105 — Public Information Manager
• EFG Companies — Business Manager/Sales Representative
• Enterprise Rent-A-Car — Sales/Management Trainee
• ESPN — Editor -Web
• Evans Publishing — Newsletter Editor/Reporter
• Fastenal Company — Assistant General Sales Manager
• Food Alliance — Communications and Development Associate
• GlaxoSmithKline — Marketing Consultant
• Grande Ronde Hospital — Community Relations Manager
• Group Mackenzie — Marketing Specialist
• Hearing & Speech Institute — Assistant Director of Development, Assistant Director of Marketing
• Intel Corporation — Planning eBusiness Communications Analyst
• IRCO - Immigrant and Refugee Community Organization — Donor Relations Associate, Workforce Development Specialist
• Internal Revenue Service (IRS) — Internal Revenue Officer
• International Radio & Television Society Foundation, Inc. (IRTS) — Summer Fellowship Program
• J&L Marketing — Promotion Coordinator
• KATU Channel 2 Portland — News Reporter, Microwave/Satellite Operator
• KINK FM 102 — Weekend Announcer, Account Executive
• KOIN-TV — News Producer
• KPTV Fox 12/KPDX UPN 49 — Jr. Promotion Producter
• LaCie Limited — PR Specialist
• Lazerquick — Assistant to the Director of Training and Franchising
• Legislative Administration — Communication Director, Facility Services Manager
• Leupold & Stevens, Inc. — Training and Development Specialist
• Lower Columbia College — Executive Director of Foundation and College Development
• Metro/MERC — Senior Public Relations Coordinator
• Montana State University - Billings — Development and Marketing Coordinator
• Mt. Hood Community College (MHCC) — KMHD Development Coordinator
• Multnomah County — Community Information Specialist, Community Organizer
• Multnomah Education Service District — Development Specialist
• Muscular Dystrophy Association (MDA) — Regional Public Affairs Coordinator
• Natural Resource Group — Public Relations Strategist
• NW32.com — Marketing Coordinator
• Northwest Food Processors Association — Communications Specialist
• Northwest Regional Educational Laboratory (NWREL) — Director of Development and Communications, Editor/Writer Associate
• Northwestern Mutual Financial Network — Financial Representative
• Oregon Department of Administrative Services — Communication Director (Principal Contributor 3)
• Oregon Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) — Public Information Representative 1-Vehicle Inspection Program Coordinator, Public Affairs Specialist 2
• Oregon Health & Science University (OHSU) — Media Relations, Associate Director of Government Relations
• Oregon Museum of Science and Industry (OMSI) — Recruiter, Museum Educator
• Oregon State Bar — Marketing Specialist
• Oregon State University (OSU) — Program Coordinator for Community and Diversity, Marketing Writer
• Oregon Student Association — Communications Director
• Port of Portland — Environmental Outreach Manager, Customer Service Manager
• Portland Art Museum — Public Relations and Marketing Assistant
• Portland Business Alliance — Membership Coordinator
• Portland Community College (PCC) — Grants Writer, Career Placement Specialist - Steps to Success, Employment Specialist - Dislocated Workers Program, Career Specialist, Replication Training Coordinator
• Portland Development Commission (PDC) — Senior Public Participation Coordinator, Communications Project Manager, Comunity Relations Coordinator, Administrative Assistant to the Director, Public Affairs Manager
• Portland Impact — Community Coordinator III
• Qualis, Inc. — Technical Writer
• Qwest — Public Relations Manager
• Raphael House of Portland — Project Coordinator
• SAIF Corporation — Publications Editor, Communications Coordinator, Corporate Communications Writer
• Salem Area Mass Transit District — Travel Trainer
• SOLV — Program Coordinator, Director of Outreach and Member Services
• St. Mary's Academy — Special Events & Development Associate
• Stand for the Children — Communications & Membership Assistant
• Standard, The — Communications Specialist I
• Statesman Journal — Custom Projects Editor, Sports Reporter
• Toyota Motor Sales — Vehicle Logistics Trainee
• TriMet — Facilities Services Program Coordinator, Community Relations Specialist, Senior Promotions Representative, Event Representative, Organization Development Coordinator, Station Manager
• TriVium Systems, Inc. — Marketing Communications Associate
• University of Oregon (UO) — Deputy Director of Alumni Communications, Assistant Director of Student Membership, Program Manager - Regional Volunteer Programs
• USAgencies Credit Union (USACU) — Business Development/Marketing Coordinator
• US Bureau of Land Management — Public Affairs Specialist
• US District Court - Oregon — Audio-visual, Data & Telecommunications Project Manager
• Vancouver Housing Authority — VISTA Program Developement Specialist
• Vital Technical Marketing, Inc. (VTM) — Public Relations Account Manager
• Wah Chang — Marketing Specialist
• Washington State Department of Transportation — Communications Consultant 4
• WebMD - Marketing Communications Specialist
• Westside Economic Alliance (WEA) — Communication Manager

Department of Communication - Portland State University