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Communication

What will I learn?

After completing an Associate in Arts degree, with an emphasis in Communication, you will be able to:

  • demonstrate the importance of considering the role of audience in communication, with strategies for analyzing the needs of the audience in terms of its level of knowledge about the topic, its attitude toward your position on the topic, and its criteria for judging the credibility of speakers and the speaker’s message
  • demonstrate how to generate claims and gather supporting materials in order to develop specific, well-focused arguments that allow for the use of evidence and reasoning
  • demonstrate the role of non-verbal communication and develop strategies for attaining effective non-verbal communication
  • demonstrate effective listening strategies in order to critically engage and understand the communication situation
  • demonstrate an awareness, tolerance, and appreciation of cultural diversity as people attempt to communicate across cultural boundaries and practices
  • demonstrate self-confidence in organization of thought and self-expression in a variety of speaking situations, including working through stage fright in order to express yourself to others
  • demonstrate an ability to create visual aids in support of communicating information, ideas, and opinions in an effective manner
  • think critically through a framework of recognizing and understanding varying perspectives in order to establish your own coherent point of view
  • develop your ability to express your ideas and interpretations within a variety of communication situations, including conversations, group discussions, presentations to groups, panel discussions and presentations, and class discussions

What is the occupational outlook?

A communication background serves as a basis of study in a variety of areas. Many of those who earn a bachelor’s degree in Communication enter the occupational fields of advertising, broadcasting, human resources, journalism, labor relations, market research, meeting and convention planning, publishing, organizational and corporate education, public relations, speech pathology, or teaching.

Job positions in public relations and advertising are predicted to grow faster than average for all occupations through 2014, although the competition for jobs will be significant due to the number of graduates in the field. Jobs in journalism are predicted to grow more slowly than the average for all occupations.1

What are my options

You can earn credits in Communication at HCC to transfer to a four year school toward a Communication major.

You can take various kinds of Communication courses at HCC to explore the field and consider which area of Communication interests you the most: public speaking, public relations, advertising, interpersonal and small group relations, or rhetorical studies.

You can take Communication courses simply to develop your ability to write, speak, read, listen, and think critically in order to support your study in other fields.


  1. Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor, Occupational Outlook Handbook, 2006-07 Edition, Public Relations Specialists, on the Internet at http://www.bls.gov/oco/ocos086.htm (visited July 9, 2007)