At the community college level, we seek to give students the means to achieve their goals, no matter their definition of success.  Historically, community colleges were established to develop effective citizens.   To that end, Communication Studies provides essential skills for enacting and defending your rights in our society.  Whether it’s critical thinking training, public speaking, organizing groups, or simply telling your own story, students need communication training to make a positive difference in our world.

Communication is at the heart of nearly all career pathways.  That’s why the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board emphasized communication skills in the most recent core curriculum update.  Whether you’ve chosen business, health sciences, computer/digital technology, teaching, entertainment, manufacturing or public service, you’ll need communication skills to get hired, collaborate with others, and advance in your career.

When responding to a recent National Association of Colleges and Employers Job Outlook Survey (NACE), employers identified the ability to verbally communicate with others inside and outside the organization and the ability to create and/or edit written documents as among the top ten skills they seek when hiring new college graduates. Graduates who majored in Communication bring these critical skills to the workplace. They demonstrate strong verbal, nonverbal, and written communication skills and have considerable expertise in speaking well in front of small and large audiences. (National Communication Association)

In a recent LinkedIn survey, employers rated communication skills as the most important for prospective employees, even over more industry specific skills.  The Princeton Review placed Communication as second among the top ten majors.  A recent study by the Manpower Group showed seven essential communication skills to be the most valued and simultaneously hard to find.  Those include the ability to collaborate, organize, lead others, and problem solve.   What’s more, the National Association of Colleges and Employers found that while students think they are ready to start their careers, most managers wish college graduates had more communication training. 

Finally, research shows that people with effective communication relationships are physically healthier and live longer.   Interpersonal skills are essential not only to your career, but also building and maintaining friendships and families.  Training in emotional intelligence, including empathy, as well as assertiveness and conflict resolution are among the ways students can benefit in their personal lives from Communication Studies.