“I felt like I was learning and working on material that I would use for my future job. The course really made me feel accomplished and I could see my growth as a writer over the semester,” Lisa Darquea says with a smile.

At age 20, most undergraduate students don’t feel prepared for their future careers. And if they do feel prepared, most students don’t associate themselves with being professionals.

Lisa Darquea works on a strategic writing assignment.

Lisa Darquea, a junior at Texas Christian University, is one out of over 1,000 students enrolled in the Bob Schieffer College of Communication. Darquea is completing a strategic communication degree, an integration of both advertising and public relations, along with a business minor. She hopes to pursue a career in branding and eventually wants to start her own advertising agency. After over two years of experience at the school, Darquea and her peers strongly believe that the Schieffer College is effectively preparing students for their future careers.

The Bob Schieffer College of Communication is organized into four departments: Communication Studies; Film, Television and Digital Media; Journalism; and Strategic Communication. With 10 major fields of concentration, each provides an appropriate balance of professional training and liberal arts studies. The departments offer a broad range of learning experiences for students to compliment and reinforce key skills gained in classes.

Sheela Ziari enjoys the wide variety of classes she can take at the school. Ziari, a junior communication minor, struggled while choosing her favorite learning experience from the college. She laughs, saying it’s difficult to pick just one.

“My favorite experience in communication studies would have to be my interviewing class. The class and its specific topic of interviewing will truly help me in the future,” she responds after a slight delay. “I enjoyed the way my professor taught the course, and the open discussions throughout the class led to new friendships.”

Ziari’s experience not only fostered learning, but also helped her network with fellow students in the college, stressing the importance of personal and professional relationships. Ziari is enthusiastic and confident about her experiences at the communication school. Strategic communication allows her to explore her creative side, while communication studies builds a competent student for her future profession. By learning in the Bob Schieffer College of Communication, she can have the best of both worlds.

Bob Schieffer, a renowned American television journalist, represents the face of the college of communication. A graduate from Texas Christian University, Schieffer has won virtually every award in broadcast journalism and continues to inspire undergraduate students. The college of communication prepared Schieffer for his successful career.

Beside Bob Schieffer, many communication school graduates have secured notable professions. Abbie Maynard, a journalism major, graduated in 2016. She currently works as a television reporter for a CBS affiliate in Sherman, Texas. Her position gives her the opportunity to tell stories of those in the community. Maynard says the Schieffer School gave her the necessary skills to pursue a career in journalism, and she will be forever grateful for its foundation.

Natalie Fort, a strategic communication major, graduated in 2014. Fort is an account executive at Droese Public Relations in Dallas. The company specializes in building luxury brands in the fashion, lifestyle, travel and entertainment industries. Fort says the college encouraged her to try new things outside of her comfort zone. She is thankful for the ability to take many different classes at the school, inside and outside her major.

Strategic communication students, Sophie Bahmani and Emily Busskohl (left to right), eating sweets at the opening of the strategic communication office.

In the communication industry, the opportunities are diverse. Possible jobs can range from television reporters and film editors, to graphic designers and public relations specialists. The list goes on. Fortunately, students are not defined to one specific profession. A degree from the Schieffer Communication School applies to many versatile career paths.

The college is recognized for securing undergraduate students with job opportunities. In a recent survey, more than 96 percent of communication school graduates found jobs less than three months after graduation. The statistic reinforces the students’ experiences. Several students consistently noted that the information gained from their courses would effectively prepare them for the working world.

The school’s small class sizes enable faculty to give their full attention to each individual student. Thus, teachers can foster strong relationships with their students. Darquea is very appreciative of her teacher when she talks about their relationship throughout her Writing and Editing course. Darquea said, “She helped me prepare for my internship interview by conducting a mock interview for me. She took the time out of her day to help me with something non-school related. I am fortunate enough to be enrolled in a college whose faculty genuinely cares about its students.”

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