Communication Studies

Communication is defined by a free online dictionary as the exchange of thoughts, messages, or information, as by speech, signals, writing, or behavior. Communication is happening all day, everyday, not just through speaking, but through other means as well. Such as news papers, journals, billboard advertisements, etc. We live in a world of communication. At home we talk with family, read text books, and watch the television, which are all different forms of communication. We communicate at school with classmates and teachers. I believe that there are many strong points or strengths that come with studying and majoring in Communications, particularly Communication Studies. I also firmly believe that by going into this field of study it will help me not only academically, but in my future career as well.

What is Communication Studies? According to the Gallaudet University website it defines Communication Studies as, "the discipline which looks at how people gather, share, and use information. Communication is vital to everything that we do, especially in today's "information age." People with degrees in communication studies know how to convey information to a variety of audiences in different settings. They know how to select the most important information, and how to present it in informal and formal ways in person and using multimedia." When someone chooses to major in Communication Studies they will learn how to gather information, then take that information an analyze it to decide what information is most important, and then put it in a communicable form that can be understood by others to inform and or persuade. This is an amazing skill to possess. Businesses, law firms, schools, and almost any other type of organization are looking for employees with these types of skills. Stephen Thomson, a writer for Enzine Articles, wrote an article titled Importance of Communication in an Organization. In this article Thomson writes, "Communication is one of the basic functions of management in any organization and its importance can hardly be overemphasized. It is a process of transmitting information, ideas, thoughts, opinions and plans between various parts of an organization. It is not possible to have human relations without communication. However, good and effective communication is required not only for good human relations but also for good and successful business."

Another benefit from majoring in Communication Studies is that there are many job choices and opportunities. On the Ball State University website it says that, "a degree in communication studies prepares a student for a career in almost any field. A person who understands the effects of communication has an opportunity to enter a variety of fields dealing with ways to effectively communicate to a variety of people. The following occupations represent some career opportunities available to communication studies majors. Some will require additional education."

Actor AdministratorAdvertising Agent Advertising DirectorAnnouncer ArbitratorAttorney Audio/Visual SpecialistBiographer Campaign ManagerCareer Counselor Case ManagerChild Welfare Worker Communications ConsultantCommunity Affairs Director Congressional AideCopy Writer Corp. Communications OfficerCreative Director CriticCustomer Relations Rep Development OfficerDisc Jockey Drama TeacherEditor Educational ConsultantEducational Tester Elected OfficialForeign Relations Specialist Guidance CounselorHuman Resource Administrator Instructional Program DesignerLobbyist Marketing DirectorMedia Analyst MediatorNews Analyst News Writer Property ManagerPublic Information Officer Public Relations OfficerPublic Relations Specialist Publicity DirectorPublisher Real Estate AgentRecruiter ReporterResearcher Sales RepresentativeSpecial Event Coordinator Speech Pathologist/AudiologistSpeech Teacher Speech WriterStudent Services Specialist TeacherTechnical Document Specialist Training/Development InstructorTravel Agent Writer

The Ball State's website made an interesting point that some of these careers will require more education. this can be a negative aspect of majoring in Communication Studies if you only want to get a bachelors and be done there may not be as many job opportunities. On the other hand, this can also be a positive strength because it means that those that have majored in Communication Studies if they are willing to pursue higher education beyond a bachelor degree will have many options in choice of careers.

As for myself, I want to go to medical school. I believe that Communication Studies will help prepare me in many ways to become a well balanced and highly informed medical doctor. For example in medicine a doctor has to be able to interact with nurses, patients, and other hospital faculty. A degree in Communication Studies would allow me to effective in being able interact and communicate with them. According to the Communication Skills and Confidence website it says, "if you type “importance of communication skills” as a search term in Google, it will come up with numerous references to doctors and importance of them being trained in communication skills. It did not make any sense to me. It took some time to understand the whole issue of importance of communication skills in doctor’s profession. Here is a quote from one of the studies by a medical professional: "Doctors, too, appear to benefit from communicating well. There is evidence that doctors who are anxious and lack confidence in responding to patients’ emotional needs are those who are at most risk of 'burnout'." - Ramirez AJ, Graham J, Richards MA et al. Mental health of hospital consultants Lancet 1996; 347: 724–728. One more: "Good communication is a basic component of good clinical care, without which even the technical aspects of medicine cannot be effectively delivered" - Phyllis Butow Medical Psychology Research Unit University of Sydney. According to these studies, in spite of all the superior technological advances, if the doctor gives out bad signals non-verbally or communicates lack of confidence to the patient, all those treatments and medicines are of no use. Till I heard this, I did not recognize that communication skills are so high even on the high paid doctor’s agenda gone are the days of the tight lipped upper class Fellow of Royal School of Surgeons. There is an ever increasing need for them to be more approachable and to be communicative with their patients. In fact, recognizing the importance of communicative skills, they have made it mandatory for all doctors to go through a communication skills training now a days."

This major also suits me academically because it is a subject I am very interested in. it would help me to become a better communicator and critical thinker. I also believe there will always be a demand for people with a knowledge and understanding in the field of communications. We live in a communication based society, and those who understand communications are at an advantage. These are a few of the positive benefits for those who are choosing major in Communication Studies, and some of the main reasons I have decided to pursue this course of study.

Work Cited

Retrieved September 10, 2007 http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&defl=en&q=define:communication&sa=X& oi=glossary_definition&ct=title
Retrieved September 10, 2007 http://commstudies.gallaudet.edu/
Retrieved September 10, 2007 http://ezinearticles.com/?Importance-of-Communication- in-an-Organization&id=423299
Retrieved September 10, 2007 http://www.bsu.edu/commstudies/careerandintern/
Retrieved September 10, 2007 http://www.communication-skills-4confidence.com/importance-of-communication-skills.html