Communication Studies Against Another Major, Essay Example

Abstract

The paper compares and contrasts the two Majors – in Communication Studies and in Human Resources Studies. A Major in Communication Studies prepares students to developing effective interpersonal communication skills and using these for their career purposes. In its turn, a Major in Human Resources Studies is for those who want to learn how to hire and retain workforce. Although the two majors are very different, writing conventions are equally important for both, because they facilitate the process of learning and help future professionals realize their striving in practice.

Introduction

It is difficult to deny that a degree in communications is an excellent chance for students to make excellent career,because     because good communication skills make it easier for students to pursue their career choices, to develop strong relationships and partnerships, to maintain strong interpersonal ties, and to use these for business and individual purposes. Very often, communication becomes a critical element of one’s success in HR, but the two majors (in communication studies and in human resources studies) are as different as they are also similar. In this context, both majors deserve attention.

A Major in Communication Studies

Although the basic principles and requirements for Major in Communication Studies may differ from university to university, the general picture of the major is mostly similar across different education facilities. Generally, “a degree in Communication Studies gives students tremendous flexibility in terms of career choices because effective communication is widely recognized as vital to such fields as advertising, public relations, journalism, international relations, education, arts, entertainment, health and human services, law, and government” (University of San Francisco, 2009). As a result, to make these successes realistic and productive, the Major in Communication Studies provides students with a unique opportunity to refine their basic communication skills, to improve their writing skills, to develop effective critical thinking and to explore relevant communication theories. The students are given a chance to learn the basics of professional writing, to develop a clearer understanding of how writing serves the needs of professionals in communications and Human Resources, to create documents, and to refine their basic writing skills. For the purposes of business writing, students in both majors learn to develop clear sentences, use verbs correctly, and develop clear sentence boundaries. However, while the Major in Communication Studies is designed to provide students with the general knowledge about communication and to help them develop general communication skills, a Major in Human Resources Studies is about training students to recruit and retain talented personnel – the tasks, which are, nevertheless, impossible without professional high quality writing.

A Major in Human Resources Studies

In many aspects, the Major in Human Resources Studies is similar to that in Communication Studies, because like with communications, HR Major gives students a chance to link practical skills with theoretical knowledge about Human Resources and to use this knowledge in their future career. For example, students learn the principles and criteria of staff selection. Like Communications, Human Resources Studies helps students develop general and specific professional skills, which they will later use to pursue their professional objectives. These may include the ability to write cover letters and resumes, to write persuasive letters, etc. However, while the Major in Communication Studies is concentrated on the study of communication theories and skills, the Major in Human Resources Studies is about learning the principles of recruiting and retaining the most productive workforce. Because the nature of workplace is constantly changing, and because organizations find themselves under the constant influence of numerous technological and business factors, students require the detailed knowledge of HR theories and practical applications prepare students for working in different HR fields. Very often, communications is included as one of the disciplines in the HR Major, which makes communication an indispensable element of any successful career.

Comparing the Two Majors

The number of hours and credits between the two majors is, certainly, different. Because the Major in Human Resources Studies covers more disciplines and skills, the number of credits for this major will be higher than that for the Major in Communication Studies. For example, the Major in Communication Studies may cover 44 different credits, while the Major in Human Resources Studies will extend to cover 131. Moreover, while Communications usually require completing two years of studies, everything is much more complicated for the Major in Human Resources Studies: more often than not, those seeking to improve their HR skills will need to spend no less than 4 hours before they graduate.     Needless to say, that the Major in Communication Studies is about teaching students different communication styles. Creative writing, expository writing, descriptive writing – all these are necessary for future professionals to make their professional communication more effective and to improve the quality of their workplace performance. CCertainly, in most cases, those who want to become professional in communications and HR mostly require analytical and technical writing skills, because both communications and Human Resources are about creating various types of documents – resumes, cover letters, business letters, written HR policies, etc. Whether one speaks about Communications or Human Resources, a future professional should be able to use the principles of persuasive writing, to persuade the employer that he (she) is the best candidate for a job. A Major in Communication Studies makes it possible for students to develop a clear vision of their careers and to lay the foundation for the continuous professional success. In this aspect, the major difference between the Major in Communication Studies and the Major in Human Resources Studies is in that the former has a variety of practical applications (for example, Communications professionals are equally useful in HR, mass media, public relations, etc.), while the latter is aimed to prepare a person to a definite career in HR. Nevertheless, both Majors offer a variety of professional opportunities and may become the starting point on one’s striving to make a good and successful career in business.

Conclusion

A Major in Communication Studies is about providing students with the basic and advanced communication skills, which they will later apply in business, journalism, or other business fields. In many aspects, it is similar to a Major in Human Resources Studies, because both prepare students to making excellent careers and developing effective interpersonal skills. However, while Communications offers a variety of choices and applications, HR prepares students to making a definite career. Students in HR should be prepared to spend no less than 4 years before they graduate. Nevertheless, both majors can become a starting point in one’s striving to become a professional and to grow both individually and professionally.

References

University of San Francisco. (2009). Major in Communication Studies. Retrieved November 5, 2009 from http://www.usfca.edu/catalog/comm_major.html