Communications

Develop your expertise as a communications pro while saving thousands on your education.

Whether your passion lies in championing for social justice, giving a voice to the voiceless, helping brands communicate their mission, or entertaining the masses, you can learn all the skills you need to successfully reach your goals at SMC.

• About the Communications Degree

  Communication is at the core of everything we as humans do, from developing interpersonal relationships to declaring national independence. Communications students at SMC realize the power of communication and learn how to use it effectively for a variety of purposes.

  As a communications major, you’ll develop a comprehensive world view through studies in the humanities, the sciences, and literature. You’ll be able to critically analyze diverse scenarios, assess the communicative needs of a situation, and craft your messages appropriately. You will be introduced to key theoretical approaches within the field of communications and apply those theories across various contexts, including managing conflicts, working collaboratively with others, active listening, and more. You’ll also gain an understanding of why humans think and act the way they do, how to adjust your rhetoric for both creative and informative purposes, and how to adapt your communication efforts to specific audiences.

  Career opportunities for communications students are strongest when a specialty area is chosen.  You will have the opportunity to customize your studies to the area that interests you through elective courses. If your goal is to work in sports, journalism, marketing, social media, entertainment, non-profits, entrepreneurship, health, or nearly anything else, you can get your start at SMC.

  Since communications is a broad field, it is a great option if you aren’t sure what you want to study. You’ll gain a breadth of knowledge and develop skills that will serve you well for advanced studies in any field.

  The Associate in Arts in Communications is a two-year transfer degree designed to help you complete the first half of a four-year degree in communications or a related field. The curriculum meets Michigan Transfer Agreement (MTA) requirements and transfers well to most four-year schools.

• What You’ll Learn

  View the full curriculum guide for the Associate in Arts in Communications.

• What Can I Do With a Communications Degree?

  Communications is a broad field with a variety of applications. On a theoretical level, communications is the study of how people interact with each other and how those interactions shape the world we live in.

  On a practical level, professionals use an understanding of communicative theories to effectively communicate across a variety of settings, mediums, and audiences. This might mean announcing a new product on behalf of a niche company, developing and executing a social media plan for a non-profit, helping people mediate conflicts, or commentating sports news—the opportunities are nearly endless. Below is an example of some career opportunities you might have with a communications degree. Note that career opportunities may be better when a specific area of communication (journalism, marketing, public relations, etc.) is chosen as a major after transferring.

  Careers and Salaries

  Career Option	Salary
  Announcers:	$20.94 per hour
  Public Relations Specialists:	$66,750
  Reporters:	$57,500
  Advertising, Promotions, and Marketing Managers:	$156,580

  2023 median pay. Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics