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Communication is an essential element of the human experience. At every level--from one-to-one interaction to public speaking contexts involving thousands--it is communication that creates the point of connection between human beings. Communication skills are essential to personal, academic, and professional success. In particular, those who acquire good communication skills have brighter career prospects, given that employers continually identify the ability to communicate well as a key factor in decisions about hiring, as well as promotion and advancement.

The qualities and skills that top employers seek in their "perfect candidate" focus on how well that candidate will relate to co-workers and clients, with communication skills, teamwork, and interpersonal skills topping the list of desirable qualities.³
In a national survey of 1000 human resource managers, oral communication skills were identified as valuable for both obtaining employment and successful job performance. ⁴
Executives with Fortune 500 companies indicate that college students need better communication skills, as well as the ability to work in teams and with people from diverse backgrounds. ⁵
When 1000 faculty members from a cross section of disciplines were asked to identify basic competencies for every college graduate, skills in communicating topped the list. ⁶

Career paths for speech communication specialists are both general and specific. Graduates work in a variety of business, public services and educational positions that require expertise in communication analysis, management, training, speaking, presentations, and research.

In business and education, our graduates work as communication training specialists, public advocates, sales representatives, special events planners, personnel service officers, and owners of their own businesses. In education, our graduates work as high school speech teachers, admissions or school counselors. In public service positions, our graduates work as fund-raisers, public relations managers, speech writers, campaign specialists, and public opinion analysts.

Many graduates extend their training and pursue careers in law, business administration, counseling and mediation, ministry, or education. Many other students find a minor in speech communication a valuable and marketable supplement to their major.

Students work with an advisor to plan a course of study that best suits their academic and professional aspirations. Flexibility and choice in the major also allows students to explore areas closely related to the field, such as public relations, business communication, conflict and mediation training.

National Association of Colleges and Employers. (2002). Job outlook 2002 Bethlehem, PA.
Winsor, J.L., Curtis, D.B., & Stephens, R.D. (1997). National preferences in business and communication education: A survey update. Journal of the Association for Communication Administrators, 3, 170-179.
Graduates are not prepared to work in business. (1997, June). Association Trends, 4.
Diamond, R. (1997). Curriculum reform needed if students are to master core skills. The Chronicle of Higher Education, B7, August.