The Communication major at the University of Massachusetts-Amherst is a liberal arts major, rather than an applied or technical degree. It prepares students for any career that calls for higher literacy skills and critical thinking about communication processes and contexts.
The Communication major can help prepare students for work as communication specialists in industry; local, state, and federal government agencies; educational institutions; research organizations; political organizations, and religious groups. Specific positions in such organizations can include: production, sales, and programming positions for radio and television stations; media and communication advisors for political campaigns, intercultural organizations, labor unions, and government agencies; and communication consultants for personnel management, advertising, and sales organizations.
More information on study and careers in the Communication field can be found in the National Communication Association booklet “Pathways to Careers in Communication.”
Links to a variety of career-related websites and professional organizations can be found further down this page.
For career advising in the Communication field, contact Mr. Tommie Joyner of Career Services, in 512B Goodell; tel: (413) 577-0417; email: tjoyner@acad.umass.edu.
Recent surveys of UMass Communication alumni indicate that they do well in finding employment. About 30% of our graduates work in print, film and broadcast communication industries, about 45% work in government, non-profit or business-related occupations, such as advertising, public relations, sales, financial or social services, and administration, and about 20% go on to graduate study, professional schools, or teaching.
Communication Career Resources at UMass
UMass Career Services
The office offers the following services:
- Self-assessment tests
- Internships and co-ops
- Job listings
- Job databases
- Professional associations
- Local, national, international career events
- Company research tools
- Job blogs
- Discussion groups
- Labor outlook and summary information
- Online journals and newspaper
- Resources on jobs overseas
For students: to schedule an appointment, call and leave a message with possible times when you could come and speak with Tommie Joyner, Assistant Director for Career Planning, at 512B Goodell; tel. (413) 577-0417; email: tjoyner@acad.umass.edu.
For faculty: Tommie does resume-writing and interview workshops and other workshops and presentations related to careers and career services. To inquire about or to schedule a workshop, call and leave a message on Tommie Joyner’s voicemail.
Online Networks of Students, Employer, Universities
- Experience, Inc.: The site can be accessed through the Career Services website; to long in, the username is uma and your SPIRE ID (as one word); and the password is your SPIRE ID.
- UMass Alumni Association: Database of UMass alumni - great for networking!
- The Chase Career Center of the Isenberg School of Management: Business/industry-oriented resource, especially for those who want to get in the business of advertising, marketing, PR, etc.
Online Sources
Extensive Free Communication-related Jobs Database
- JournalismJobs.com
- Job categories: Newspapers/wire services • Television/radio • Magazines/publishing • Online media • Trade publications/newsletters • PR/media relations/communications • Nonprofit/academia/government • Financial/technology news jobs • Sales/marketing/circulation jobs
- Additional recourses: Freelance jobs • Internships • Fellowships • Awards/contests • Media training • Career articles • Media salaries • Media ethics • Research tools general links • Journalism schools • Newspapers • Alt-newspapers • Magazines • TV stations • Radio stations
- Search engine
Broadcasts & Films
- TVJobs.com: Broadcast employment services (*subscription-fee-based database except for “jobs situations” and freelance directories)
- EntertainmentJobs.com: *Subscription-fee-based database
- TVandRadioJobs.com: TV, radio, film jobs database
- ShowBizJobs.com: Entertainment Professionals' Network career database
Newspapers and Magazines
- American Society of Newspaper Editors
- International diversified news and information company
- Magazine Publishers of America: Career/job database
- Detroit Free Press: Career/job database
- Kidon Media-Link: A database of links to print/broadcast/Internet news sources from around the world
- Newspaper Career Bank of the Newspaper Association of America
- The Investigative Reporters and Journalists, Inc.
Advertising
- American Association of Advertising Agencies: Career/job database (free resources but subscription required)
Professional Organizations
- National Communication Association
- International Communication Association
- Association for Education in Journalism and Mass Communication
- National Association of Broadcasters
- Screen Actors Guild
- Newspaper Association of America
