{"id":1216,"date":"2021-05-18T14:27:43","date_gmt":"2021-05-18T19:27:43","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/schieffercollege.tcu.edu\/stratcomm\/?post_type=student_work&p=1216"},"modified":"2021-06-25T16:48:35","modified_gmt":"2021-06-25T21:48:35","slug":"should-i-major-in-strategic-communication-or-communication-studies-advice-from-someone-who-majors-in-both","status":"publish","type":"student_work","link":"https:\/\/schieffercollege.tcu.edu\/stratcomm\/student_work\/should-i-major-in-strategic-communication-or-communication-studies-advice-from-someone-who-majors-in-both\/","title":{"rendered":"Should I Major in Strategic Communication or Communication Studies? Advice from Someone Who Majors in Both"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"AI came to Texas Christian University knowing I wanted to study communication.\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

So decisive<\/span>, right?\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Not exactly.\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Indecision started to creep in when I learned that <\/span>TCU offer<\/span>ed<\/span> two communication programs: strategic communication and communication studies. I browsed the TCU website to learn more about the programs, but truth be told, I didn\u2019t <\/span>understand<\/span> the difference. When I arrived on campus, I learned I was not alone. <\/span>When I asked students questions, many didn\u2019t<\/span> know the difference between the two majors.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

So, which did I choose?\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

I began as a communication studies major, but after learning more about strategic communication once on TCU\u2019s campus, I applied to the strategic communication program. However, I didn\u2019t switch my major\u2014I <\/span>chose<\/span> to double major and study both <\/span>communication studies <\/span>and<\/span><\/i> strategic communication.\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

I\u2019m now a senior, and my time in the <\/span>Bob <\/span>Schieffer College<\/span> of Communication<\/span> is sadly coming to a close. Throughout my time at TCU, I\u2019ve learned <\/span>valuable<\/span> skills in both of these majors and<\/span> enjoyed both programs. <\/span>B<\/span>ut b<\/span>efore I go, I\u2019d like to<\/span> clarify some of the differences<\/span> I have found <\/span>between<\/span> these two programs so that prospective students will<\/span> have a clearer understanding of the differences than I did<\/span>. <\/span>That way, students can make an informed decision about which major is right for them. <\/span>Or better yet, do what I did, and study both.\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Communication Studies<\/span><\/b>\u00a0<\/span>
\n<\/span>Communication <\/span>s<\/span>tudies offers so much flexibility <\/span>in<\/span> the major. There are only a few required courses, so once those are completed, <\/span>students are<\/span> free to pick and choose classes that are of interest. <\/span>I\u2019ve taken a wide variety of classes in <\/span>c<\/span>ommunication <\/span>s<\/span>tudies that I would not have been able to take in other majors. I took a class that taught me about nonverbal behavior, a class that studied the value and development of personal character and ethics, and a class that taught me about communicati<\/span>on<\/span> in group leadership <\/span>through<\/span> studying real-world cases and reading leadership books. All of these classes have been interesting and unique<\/span>, and <\/span>I feel<\/span> fortunate to have had the opportunity to learn about such a variety of topics.\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

That\u2019s the great thing about communication studies\u2014 the major lets students study what they find most interesting, essentially giving students the power to <\/span>build<\/span> their own path within the major. I\u2019ve met communication<\/span> studies<\/span> students who were passionate about speech and debate, taking Argumentation and Debate and Advanced Public Speaking. I\u2019ve also met students who want to pursue crisis communication, signing up for Issues in Organizational Communication – Risk\/Crisis and Conflict Management. Lastly, I\u2019ve met students who are passionate about understanding people, enrolling in courses such as Gender and Communication and Intercultural Communication.\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Strategic Communication<\/span><\/b>
\n<\/span>The biggest thing that stands out from my experience in strategic communication is how skill-oriented this major is. Strategic communication courses equip students with <\/span>practical <\/span>skills<\/span> that students can <\/span>feature<\/span> on <\/span>their<\/span> resume like Photoshop and InDesign, AP Style, research, <\/span>and the ability to write press releases, media pitches and formal business letters. These are only <\/span>some of the many skills that strategic communication students learn.<\/span> This major is writing-heavy,<\/span> encourages creative<\/span> ideation, and is a fast-paced, high-energy and fun.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Another quality of the strategic communication major that stands out to me is how creative this major is. Strategic communication students <\/span>embrace <\/span>creativity in writing, design, concepts, and campaign ideas. Classes in this major encourage students to brainstorm, collaborate in teams and group projects, and <\/span>work together to develop creative solutions for brands and clients. Something all students will come out of the major knowing is what a brand is. More than that, students learn how to use research to understand a brand, what makes it unique, and who the brand\u2019s target audience is. This knowledge is the basis for developing strategic social media, advertising, public relations, and branding campaigns.\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Both<\/span><\/b>
\n<\/span>Both communication studies and strategic communication are incredible majors that <\/span>have undoubtably prepared me for my career.<\/span> Through<\/span> these majors, I joined a communication honors society, met industry professionals, worked as an intern at a local magazine for class credit, and worked at <\/span>and lead Roxo, <\/span>a student-run advertising and public relations agency <\/span>run <\/span>through the Strategic Communication department. <\/span>These experiences combined with the classes I have taken in both majors have <\/span>grown<\/span> my confidence<\/span> and strengthened my skills<\/span>.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Thanks to the Bob Schieffer College of Communication, I feel ready to walk across the stage at graduation.\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Side-<\/span><\/b>b<\/span><\/b>y-Side Comparison: Communication Studies & Strategic Communication<\/span><\/b>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
\u00a0<\/span><\/td>\nCommunication Studies<\/span><\/b>\u00a0<\/span><\/td>\nStrategic Communication<\/span><\/b>\u00a0<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Minor offered?<\/span><\/b>\u00a0<\/span><\/td>\nY<\/span>es<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/td>\nN<\/span>o<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Application?<\/span><\/b>\u00a0<\/span><\/td>\nNo<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/td>\nYes, you must apply and be accepted<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Required Courses<\/span><\/b>\u00a0<\/span><\/td>\nInterpersonal Communication, <\/span>Communicating Effectively, <\/span>Communication Theory, Organizational Communication<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

BS – Statistics<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

BA – 6 foreign language hours<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/td>\n

Advertising, Public Relations, Statistics, Diversity, Writing & Editing, Research, Design, Law or Ethics, Channel Planning or Case Studies, Senior Seminar, Capstone Course<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Number of Hours Required<\/span><\/b>\u00a0<\/span><\/td>\nBS – 36 hours<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

BA – 27 hours<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/td>\n

34 hours<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Po<\/span><\/b>tential<\/span><\/b> Careers\u00a0<\/span><\/b>\u00a0<\/span><\/td>\nCorporate Communication, Crisis Communication, Human Resources, Training & Development, Leadership Development<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/td>\nAdvertising, Public Relations, Agency or Corporate Setting, Marketing, Crisis Communication, Social Media Management<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n

\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"featured_media":0,"template":"","class_list":["post-1216","student_work","type-student_work","status-publish","hentry","sw_category-featured","sw_category-strategic-communication"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"\nShould I Major in Strategic Communication or Communication Studies? Advice from Someone Who Majors in Both - Strategic Communication<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/schieffercollege.tcu.edu\/stratcomm\/student_work\/should-i-major-in-strategic-communication-or-communication-studies-advice-from-someone-who-majors-in-both\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Should I Major in Strategic Communication or Communication Studies? 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