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Mass Communications Major
If you find yourself critiquing commercials as you see them or thinking about the ways that product advertisements differ based on the type of program or time of day, then a mass communications major may be just the career field for you to pursue. Different from general communications, mass communications majors learn to examine the ways in which advertisements are created and their impact on their audience.
Your first step in getting starting as a mass communications major is to find out more about the degree program itself. Look at your university’s webpage or catalog to find out the courses you will need to take. Read the descriptions of these courses carefully. Think about whether or not you think you would be interested in the discussions and projects that are likely to come under each course heading.
Talk to a professor in the department. He or she likely will want to know why you think that a mass communications major is for you. The degree field requires a keen ability to dissect print, web, and television advertising. You may be interested in the historical aspect, in which you examine the changes to a particular brand of advertising. Other students will find trends in current advertising and media more intriguing. Still others will examine a specific issue, such as gender, age, or race over time to see how others have communicated direct or indirect messages about that topic.
Have questions ready for the professor as well. Ask for information about what recent majors are doing and about your prospects when you leave the field. Think about not just what you may enjoy about the courses but about how they will help you in your post-college life.
Students who are majoring in the field are a good source of information as well. Talking to them can give you an insight on the professors in the discipline as well as “insider” information on what courses are useful and which ones are not worth the time. Ask these students about internship and course plans as well to get an idea of whether or not the department helps students prepare.
Once you have considered the major, then you will need to take a course or two in the field. Most colleges require that to declare the major officially, you must first demonstrate academic competence in the courses. Begin by taking the basic introductory course and then take at least one specialized course before you make a decision.
Copyright 2008 Gene Grzywacz
DO NOT COPY
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