Communication Studies

In support of the LaGuardia’s mission to educate and graduate its students to become critical thinkers and socially responsible citizens, the College has undertaken a team approach toward advising, designed to support you in your major from orientation through graduation.

Your Advising Team is made up of faculty, professional and peer advisors. They will guide you at every step during your college career. They are ready to help you:

• Explore your major
• Select introductory and advanced courses
• Connect you with campus support services
• Prepare an educational and career plan

Visit the Advising page to learn more about when to get advised and how to prepare for an advising appointment, and check out the Advising Calendar for information sessions, events and more.

The opportunities available with an Associate in Arts in Communication Studies will vary based on the concentration that you select.

Career Resources

• Public Relations Society of America (PRSA) Job Center 
• Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) Occupational Outlook Handbook 
• O*Net Online
• Career Info Net
• Princeton Review
• US News & World Report

Explore career possibilities on Career Connect

For students concentrating in Public Relations 

Careers in public relations: Publicity manager, advertising manager, marketing specialist, telemarketing specialist, press agent, lobbyist, corporate public affairs specialist, corporate spokesperson, account executive, development officer, fundraiser, membership recruiter, sales manager, fashion merchandiser,media analyst, media planner, creative director, speech writer, audience analyst, documentarian, news writer, public opinion researcher.

Communication and government/political-related careers: Public information officer, speech writer, intercultural communication consultant, legislative assistant, speech writer, campaign director, research specialist, program coordinator, negotiator, press secretary, elected official.

Careers in law and communication: Public defender, corporate lawyer, district attorney, public interest lawyer, private practice lawyer, legal researcher, mediation and negotiation specialist, paralegal researcher, legal secretary, legal reporter, legal educator.

Careers in social and human services: Public administrator, social worker, benefits administrator, patients’ rights advocate, Foreign Service officer, recreational supervisor, human rights officer, communications teacher/instructor, community affairs liaison, park service public relations specialist, recreation coordinator, intercultural communication consultant, philanthropic representative, crisis consultant, speech coach, religious leader, mental counselor.

For students concentrating in Speech Pathology

Speech-language pathologists provide services to prevent, diagnose, evaluate, and treat communication disorders.US News and World Report ranked audiologists and speech-language
pathologists as among top 25 careers for 2011 for students upon completion of the Master’s degree Speech-language pathologists provide professional services in public and private schools, hospitals, rehabilitation centers, short-term and long-term nursing care facilities, community clinics, college and universities, private practice, state and local health departments, state and federal government agencies, home care, adult day care centers, centers for persons with developmental disabilities research laboratories, institutes and private agencies (Market Trends, ASHA official website: www.asha.org).

For students concentrating in Mass Communication

Careers in electronic media, radio and television, and broadcasting: Broadcasting station manager, director of broadcasting,film/tape librarian, community relations director, unit manager, film editor, news reporter, news director, news writer, transmitter engineer, technical director, advertising sales coordinator, traffic/continuity specialist, media buyer, Public Servic Announcement director, market researcher, actor, announcer, disc jockey, news anchor, sports anchor, public relations manager, comedy writer, talk show host, educational media specialist.

Students will be able to choose a concentration from the following five tracks: Public Relations, Speech Pathology, Mass Communication, Organizational Communication and Public Address.

Public Relations
The Public Relations concentration focuses on preparing students to master knowledge in all forms of communication in the public arena, whether for political, commercial, or social purposes. After completing the program, students may transfer to communication programs in four-year colleges, or embark on career paths in areas such as public relations, negotiation and mediation, sales, advertising, human resources, politics, law, marketing, and counseling.

Speech Pathology
Speech Pathology students will specialize in fundamental knowledge of the speech mechanism and receive competency-based training in the field of Speech Pathology. Students in the Speech Pathology concentration will need to complete their Bachelor’s and also their Master’s degree to become certified speech-language pathologists. Speech pathologists can work in educational institutions, hospitals, nursing homes, or the private sector

Mass Communication
The concentration in Mass Communication focuses on the history of media studies as well as hands-on techniques (e.g., LaGuardia Community College’s web radio station) in creating and producing media work. Mass Communication students may transfer to a four-year college or develop their careers in electronic media, radio/television, broadcasting, film industries, and journalism (via companion courses in the English Department).

Organizational Communication
The Organizational Communication concentration focuses on preparing students how to communicate in workplace teams, explore the meaning of work, practice the communication skills that they will need to do well at any job, and market themselves in the changing economy. Organizational Communication students may transfer to a four-year college or develop their careers in education, government, business, human resources, and industry as well as consulting and training.

Public Address
The concentration in Public Address focuses on how to win arguments and how to persuade other ethically and effectively. Students will learn to become a more critical participant in democratic society and to use argumentation and persuasion to change policy, set precedents, or operate democratically in the world. Public Address students may transfer to a four-year college or develop their careers in law, education, public affairs, and speech writing for political figures.

Current Students
Log in to My LaGuardia to review your Degree Audit to find out what classes to take. Have questions about using Degree Audit? Visit LaGuardia's Degree Audit page for tutorials and how-to guides.

Prospective Students
Review the curriculum.

Please note: Students will be held to the program and degree requirements of the year that they enter the College, unless the student changes their major in a different academic year. In that case, the student will be held to the current year requirements as listed in the catalog. Learn more.

Degree Map
Use the Degree Map and DegreeWorks to assist in academic planning and creating your own graduation plan in ePortfolio. See a full list of Flexible Core courses on the Pathways page.

For information about this program’s retention and graduation rate visit the Office of Institutional Research and Assessment website page.

Articulation Agreements

The Communication Studies Program at LaGuardia Community College has articulation agreements with a number of 4-year colleges for students wishing to transfer.

Baruch College
We also have an articulation agreement with Baruch College for their Communication Studies major. Students in our Public Communication concentration will be able to transfer to the Baruch College Communication Studies major.

Visit the Articulation Agreements page to learn more about transfer opportunities.