University of Portsmouth - UoP
speciality: Communication
What is a Communications degree?
Communications is a universal degree, which explores the traditional forms of communication such as verbal, physical, visual and written communication but also extends beyond that to cover mass communication and social media. There are different types of communications degrees depending on the degree level.
Overall, Communications focuses on teaching effective communication through social media, web, print, mass media and verbal communication. However, there are two types of Communications degrees that exist. For instance, a Bachelor of Arts in Communications in the US is focused on preparing students for careers that are connected to writing, marketing, promotions, journalism and public relations. In contrast, Bachelor of Science in Communications is dedicated to the technology used in the science behind modern communication and prepares students for careers in production or sound engineering.
A Communications degree teaches students about how media and communication influences cultures, societies and people’s identities. It involves a significant amount of critical writing and research and covers different disciplines such as journalism, public relations, entertainment production, marketing, event planning and so many more disciplines, which are somehow connected to exchanging information and conveying messages. There are also different specialization options associated with this degree, including political communication, mass media, journalism, health communication, etc.
It is worth noting that a Communications degree has many intersection points with psychology, sociology, linguistics and in some cases politics.
Benefits of a Communications degree
The main benefit of a Communications degree is its universal nature. It applies to almost any subject or professional setting. For example, some of the top careers in the field of Communications include announcers, art directors, editors, broadcast and sound engineering technicians, reporters, correspondents, broadcast analysts, technical writers, writers and authors, interpreters, translators, etc. Therefore, it keeps students’ career options open and doesn’t require them to have a predetermined career path that they want to follow.
Communications degrees prepare students to make an impact from the start of their careers unlike other degrees, which require further training. This is possible thanks to the multitude of professionally accredited degrees in Communications, which develop students’ abilities based on the established standards in the field. Moreover, there are many Communications courses, which offer work placement opportunities that enable students to gain the required professional skills before they have even started their career.
Another benefit associated with Communications degrees is the fact that they develop students’ written and verbal communication skills significantly.
A major advantage of Communications over other degrees is that in most cases there are no prerequisites required to study Communications.
Communications degree structure
The duration of a Communications degree varies depending on the country and degree level. For example, Higher Education Institutions in the UK offer 3-year Bachelor’s courses. In some cases, the course may extend to four years if students are given the opportunity to spend a year abroad or in industry between the second and third year through a sandwich course. Bachelor’s degrees in Communications in the US usually take around four years to complete.
Over the duration of a Bachelor’s Communications degree, students are expected to learn and be able to apply the established communications theories by developing the technical skills required to work in a professional setting. In the first year of their studies, students learn predominantly how media and communication influences cultures, societies and people’s identities. Optional modules may introduce them to professional communication, journalism, documentary, film-making, marketing, etc. In addition to the introductory topics, this degree allows students to learn about more complex areas of communications such as interpersonal relations, brand management and linguistics at a later stage. For instance, the second and third years enable students to get a deeper understanding of theoretical concepts related to media and culture and develop practical skills in research and communications. Additionally, students may have the opportunity to take optional modules and pursue their interests in different areas related to Communications such as gender, race, youth, culture, digital media, political communication, public relations, etc.
The most common duration of a Master’s degree in Communications is between 1 and 2 years depending on the mode of study (full-time or part-time) and country.
PhD and MPhil degrees in Communications require students to dedicate anywhere between 3 and 6 years to their studies depending on the mode and country of study.
1 Student Reviews
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Creative Writing01 Mar, 2022
StudentCreative WritingI did Creative Writing BA at UOP for three years, I won’t call it the best 3 years of my life but it certainly wasn’t dull for a single minute. In Creative Writing at UOP, all of the lecturers have a real passion for writing and it shows in lectures and seminars, they’re truly creative individuals who encourage you to be proud of your imagination, of your own creativity and how you see the world. I can’t spoiler any of the classes, but with subjects like Media Fan Cultures, Fanfiction, and Mythology, you can expect a lot of laughs and good times.
However, I may also argue that sometimes my degree didn’t prepare me for the Creative Writing industry. Don’t get me wrong, they did and they did offer classes in Publishing, Journalistic or Screen-writing and what not but now that I’m nearing the end of my degree and looking for career prospects, I find myself not recognising a lot of terms used or not knowing what a lot of these employers actually want. I didn’t learn what SEO is, something most employers want from Creative Writer jobs or freelancing jobs; on a similar note, I never really learnt much about freelancing jobs either in the course. So much of it was focused on bettering ourselves as writers, learning about the author world and honing our skills but not so much on the lesser, more realistic side of things like freelancing, like SEO, what employers we’re most likely going to come across as graduates because lets face it, most of us aren’t going to become the next Stephen King or Tolkien, we’re going to be small indie writers looking for a way to get our words into the world. So I would have liked it if the course touched up on the more realistic side of the career more.
I didn’t live at UOP dorms or housing, I was fortunate to live with my parents but UOP tries to be as accommodating as they can for both their UK and International students, having connections with schools across Europe and China with events to welcome these students and introduce new cultures and experiences. If you’re interested in trying out new cultures and ways of life, consider UOP and what they offer.
View moreProgramme: Creative WritingDegree: Bachelor'sGraduation: 2022Delivery Type: BlendedCampus: Portsmouth
