Communication, Journalism, and Related Programs
Public relations and advertising
Listed by colleges as Public Relations, Advertising, and Applied Communication
Focuses on general communication processes and dynamics within organizations. Covers the development and maintenance of interpersonal group relations within organizations; decision-making and conflict management; the use of symbols to create and maintain organizational images, missions, and values; power and politics within organizations; human interaction with computer technology; and how communications socializes and supports employees and team members.
Inside the major
Programs within this field
Colleges may offer this field under 10 more specific program names. The program you choose affects the courses you take.
- Organizational Communication, General
- Focuses on general communication processes and dynamics within organizations. Covers the development and maintenance of interpersonal group relations within organizations; decision-making and conflict management; the use of symbols to create and maintain organizational images, missions, and values; power and politics within organizations; human interaction with computer technology; and how communications socializes and supports employees and team members.
- Public Relations/Image Management
- Focuses on the theories and methods for managing the media image of a business, organization, or individual and the communication process with stakeholders, constituencies, audiences, and the general public; and that prepares you to function as public relations assistants, technicians, and managers. Covers public relations theory; related principles of advertising, marketing, and journalism; message/image design; image management; special event management; media relations; community relations; public affairs; and internal communications.
- Advertising
- Focuses on the creation, execution, transmission, and evaluation of commercial messages in various media intended to promote and sell products, services, and brands; and that prepares you to function as advertising assistants, technicians, and managers. Covers advertising theory, marketing strategy, advertising design and production methods, campaign methods and techniques, media management, related principles of business management, and applicable technical and equipment skills.
- Political Communication
- Focuses on human and media communication in the political process and that prepares you to function as members of political and public affairs organizations, political campaign staffs, and related government and media entities. Covers media effects, political speaking and debating, political advertising and marketing, image management, political journalism, opinion polling, and aspects of print and broadcast media related to the production and distribution of media messages in political settings.
- Health Communication
- Focuses on how people, individually and collectively, understand and accommodate to health and illness and the role of communication and media in shaping professional health care messages and public acceptance of these messages. Covers the development and use of health-related and care-related messages and media; the goals and strategies of health care promotion; relationships, roles, situations, and social structures in the context of health maintenance and promotion; and applications to disease prevention, health advocacy, and communications concerning treatments.
- Sports Communication
- Focuses on the methods and techniques for communicating about sports in a variety of formats, media, and contexts; and that prepares you to be sports reporters and writers, photojournalists, radio and television announcers, producers and directors, recreational sports promoters, and public relations specialists. Covers sports writing, photography, broadcast journalism, sports production, game rules, media and public relations, and sports promotion.
- International and Intercultural Communication
- Focuses on the specialized knowledge and skills needed for effective communication in the international community and among people of different cultures; and that prepares you to function at the national and international levels as journalists, public relations specialists, travel industry representatives, intercultural trainers, and/or foreign service officers. Covers journalism, communications, intercultural and international relations, marketing and public relations, and global communications policy.
- Technical and Scientific Communication
- Focuses on the communication of technical and scientific knowledge to a variety of audiences through print, video, and digital media; and that prepares you to function as technical writers and editors, documentation developers, web designers, and usability specialists. Covers scientific and technical writing and editing, graphic and information design, web design, audience analysis, document usability and field testing, publications management, and applications to specific technical fields.
- Communication Management and Strategic Communications
- Focuses on the critical thinking, analysis, and practical skills essential to developing and implementing communication strategies that advance organizations goals and missions. Covers communication management, crisis communication, communications law, digital and traditional marketing strategies, media relations, social media strategies, strategic communication, traditional and emerging media, and writing for the media.
- Public Relations, Advertising, and Applied Communication, Other
- Organizational communication, public relations, and advertising not listed above.
Also called Social Media Management
Also called Health and Health Science Communication
Also called Technical Communication, Scientific Communication
Where it can lead
Careers this field can lead to
Explore related careers, starting with the closest connections and the occupations hiring the most people.
Growing slowly
Public Relations Specialists
- Median pay
- $74,750
- Hiring change through 2035
- 1.8%
- Job openings a year
- 23,000
To get hiredBachelor's degree
Explore this career Growing fastTraining and Development Specialists
- Median pay
- $69,280
- Hiring change through 2035
- 10.8%
- Job openings a year
- 46,000
To get hiredBachelor's degree
Explore this career GrowingPublic Relations Managers
- Median pay
- $146,910
- Hiring change through 2035
- 5.7%
- Job openings a year
- 6,100
To get hiredBachelor's degree
Explore this career GrowingFundraisers
- Median pay
- $72,550
- Hiring change through 2035
- 5.5%
- Job openings a year
- 10,000
To get hiredBachelor's degree
Explore this career Growing with the economyCommunications Teachers, Postsecondary
- Median pay
- $78,580
- Hiring change through 2035
- 2.1%
- Job openings a year
- 2,400
To get hiredDoctoral or professional degree
Explore this career GrowingHuman Resources Managers
- Median pay
- $149,280
- Hiring change through 2035
- 5.5%
- Job openings a year
- 16,800
To get hiredBachelor's degree
Explore this career GrowingFundraising Managers
- Median pay
- $125,470
- Hiring change through 2035
- 5.4%
- Job openings a year
- 3,700
To get hiredBachelor's degree
Explore this career ShrinkingNews Analysts, Reporters, and Journalists
- Median pay
- $62,200
- Hiring change through 2035
- −5.9%
- Job openings a year
- 3,400
To get hiredBachelor's degree
Explore this career ShrinkingAdvertising and Promotions Managers
- Median pay
- $133,660
- Hiring change through 2035
- −3.7%
- Job openings a year
- 2,300
To get hiredBachelor's degree
Explore this career ShrinkingEditors
- Median pay
- $77,920
- Hiring change through 2035
- −1.1%
- Job openings a year
- 7,900
To get hiredBachelor's degree
Explore this career Growing fastCommunity Health Workers
- Median pay
- $51,850
- Hiring change through 2035
- 12.7%
- Job openings a year
- 7,000
To get hiredHigh school diploma or equivalent
Explore this career GrowingHealth Education Specialists
- Median pay
- $64,070
- Hiring change through 2035
- 5.6%
- Job openings a year
- 6,900
To get hiredBachelor's degree
Explore this careerAll work is projected to grow 3.5% between 2025 and 2035; read every hiring-change figure against it. The figures beside each career are the pay of that work, across everyone doing it. Graduates of this field earn $37,125 one year after completing the program, which is the start of a career rather than the shape of one.
Working style
How and where the work happens
Related careers can feel very different from one another. Compare the specific occupations to understand the work each one involves.
5%of related openings involve substantial in-person or active work
Few of the careers connected to this field are measured as substantially in-person or active work. Compare the specific occupations to see how much time each one involves with people, equipment, and movement.
College options
Where to study it
Ordered by how many degrees each college awards in this field. Sort by any numbered column.
| College | Degrees a year | Earnings, first year out | Admit rate | Average annual cost after aid |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Southern New Hampshire University NH | 608 | $40,928 | 96% | $37,000 |
| The University of Texas at Austin TX | 487 | $44,918 | 29% | $17,000 |
| Michigan State University MI | 444 | $38,973 | 84% | $17,000 |
| University of Oregon OR | 430 | $36,861 | 85% | $18,000 |
| University of Colorado Boulder CO | 411 | $42,963 | 83% | $19,000 |
| University of Florida FL | 381 | $40,235 | 24% | $7,000 |
| Pennsylvania State University-Main Campus PA | 349 | $42,918 | 54% | $26,000 |
| Texas State University TX | 318 | $36,149 | 89% | $14,000 |
| The University of Alabama AL | 315 | $38,904 | 76% | $22,000 |
| University of Georgia GA | 298 | $40,201 | 37% | $13,000 |
| Boston University MA | 297 | — | 11% | $12,000 |
| Fashion Institute of Technology NY | 275 | $40,868 | 58% | $20,000 |
| Washington State University WA | 262 | $39,530 | 85% | $12,000 |
| Texas Tech University TX | 259 | $38,482 | 71% | $17,000 |
| Temple University PA | 253 | $37,662 | 83% | $27,000 |
| University of Nebraska-Lincoln NE | 226 | $39,532 | 77% | $15,000 |
| Florida International University FL | 222 | — | 59% | $11,000 |
| Syracuse University NY | 218 | $47,611 | 42% | $21,000 |
| Brigham Young University UT | 202 | $41,037 | 69% | $13,000 |
| University of Minnesota-Twin Cities MN | 197 | — | 77% | $10,000 |
| University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign IL | 191 | $42,675 | 44% | $8,000 |
| Rowan University NJ | 184 | $32,714 | 78% | $19,000 |
| University of South Florida FL | 183 | — | 41% | $9,000 |
| University of South Carolina-Columbia SC | 183 | $36,111 | 61% | $20,000 |
| Kennesaw State University GA | 170 | $37,906 | 69% | $15,000 |
| Elon University NC | 167 | — | 67% | $24,000 |
| University of Houston TX | 158 | $36,173 | 70% | $13,000 |
| Miami University-Oxford OH | 151 | $44,717 | 82% | $24,000 |
| Texas Christian University TX | 150 | $39,394 | 43% | $18,000 |
| DePaul University IL | 147 | $38,478 | 74% | $29,000 |
| University of Rhode Island RI | 144 | $39,721 | 77% | $18,000 |
| Grand Valley State University MI | 140 | $37,125 | 95% | $13,000 |
| University of Kentucky KY | 134 | $36,018 | 92% | $16,000 |
| The University of Tennessee-Knoxville TN | 134 | $35,884 | 46% | $18,000 |
| University of Miami FL | 131 | $40,082 | 19% | $22,000 |
| Arizona State University Campus Immersion AZ | 121 | $31,608 | 90% | $17,000 |
| Loyola University Chicago IL | 119 | $40,389 | 81% | $32,000 |
| Ithaca College NY | 119 | $40,148 | 70% | $29,000 |
| Appalachian State University NC | 111 | $32,168 | 89% | $15,000 |
| Oklahoma State University-Main Campus OK | 108 | $32,364 | 71% | $16,000 |