How Earning An Online Master of Communication Degree Boosts Your Career
Staying ahead of the curve is essential for career advancement in every profession, including those involving communications. With communication skills becoming increasingly valuable in a broader range of positions in every type of organization, earning an online master of communication degree can provide the boost professionals need to stay competitive in their careers.
Most graduate students seek to leverage their degrees to move up the corporate ladder or launch their own businesses. In either case, graduates from an online master of communication degree program are prepared for leadership. They also learn the latest skills and knowledge needed in the communications field—an especially important factor in a tech-driven environment.
The University of Florida College of Journalism and Communications offers an online Master of Arts in Mass Communication program that allows students to choose from six concentrations: Digital Strategy, Global Strategic Communication, Public Interest Communication, Public Relations, Social Media, and Web Design.
What You Learn in a MA in Mass Communication Program
A master’s degree in communications equips you with a comprehensive skill set beyond basic communication. While these skills apply to professionals who work directly in communications, they can also improve performance in many jobs. Improving communication skills is a goal worth achieving. The U.S. Department of Labor reports that employers consistently rank good communication skills as a top priority in potential employees.
They added, “It is important to develop a variety of skills for communicating TO others and learning how to interpret the information received FROM others. Knowing our audience and understanding how they need to receive information is equally important as knowing ourselves.”
In a graduate communications program, students take those skills to a higher level. They learn strategic communication skills that they can use to develop and implement communication plans that align with organizational goals and effectively target specific audiences. Students sharpen their writing and storytelling ability to craft compelling content. They also master using social media, content marketing, and other online channels to communicate effectively.
Examples of How Earning a Master’s in Communication Helps Your Career
A master’s degree in communication is a valuable asset in many different jobs. They include a variety of positions in the following fields:
Corporate communications. Students gain expertise in crafting clear and impactful messages for various audiences within a company. This is essential for building a solid brand reputation, managing internal conflicts, and fostering employee morale.
Marketing and Advertising. Communications students learn to understand consumer psychology better and develop targeted marketing strategies. They can create compelling content and advertising campaigns that resonate with audiences and drive sales.
Public Relations. Students who work in public relations develop a deeper understanding of media relations, reputation management, public speaking, media storytelling, crisis communication, and storytelling. They also learn how to build relationships with the media, manage a company’s public image, and effectively communicate during challenging situations.
Human Resources. Professionals learn skills in conflict resolution, negotiation, employee training and development, and internal communications. These help them better manage the communication skills necessary to handle sensitive employee relations issues, develop training programs, and attract and retain top talent.
Journalism and Media. A communications degree can further refine a journalist’s research skills, ability to analyze information, and craft compelling narratives.
Specialization in the Communications Field
Forbes writes that a master’s in communication can “kickstart a career” and lead to better, often higher-paying positions. It also allows students to focus their career “in a niche area of this exceptionally broad field—and in the process, you may become a better, more thoughtful communicator.”
For example, UFCJC offers six concentrations for students enrolling in the college’s master in communications program.
Digital Strategy. Graduates master the many aspects of digital marketing, including such critical skills as lead generation and management, engagement, and conversions.
Global Strategic Communication. Students learn to help solve global challenges through strategic communication that considers cultural considerations, allowing them to communicate effectively across geographic boundaries on issues ranging from climate change and immigration to poverty and human rights.
Public Interest Communication. Graduates in this concentration understand the use of strategic, science-based communications to advance the human condition by fostering behavioral and social change that transcends any single organization’s interests.
Public Relations. Graduates learn how to develop communication plans that incorporate copywriting, graphic design, and business elements that make an organization stand out from the competition. This is the only online master’s program to earn the Certification in Education for Academic Programs in Public Relations (CEPR) designation from the Public Relations Society of America (PRSA).
Social Media. Students learn how to leverage social media to make meaningful connections online and how to incorporate writing, video production, and brand marketing into comprehensive online marketing plans.
Web Design. Web Design takes a three-pronged approach, teaching design skills, communication theory, and coding. Students learn the technical skills and the latest approaches to content creation and UX theory. Graduates emergy with the ability to design a website from front to back.
The University of Florida College of Journalism and Communication Online MA in Mass Communications
The UFCJC Master of Arts in Mass Communications is the most comprehensive, digitally focused online graduate program in the world. Students learn from experts in the field and graduate prepared to take on leadership roles, no matter what direction their communications career takes them.Students also benefit from the flexibility of online learning. Online courses allow students to study at their own pace, juggling work schedules, family commitments, and other responsibilities without compromising their educational aspirations. When students enroll at the University of Florida, they also benefit from an extensive, worldwide network of fellow Gators that fosters valuable professional connections.
Posted: May 20, 2024
Category: UF CJC Online Blog
Tagged as: master in mass communication
