Why Communication?
“What can you even do with a Communication degree? What is Communication studies? So you’re basically learning how to talk in your major?”
These are some of the most common questions I get being a Comms major. Honestly, it bugs me hearing these questions sometimes as it makes me feel as if people undermine a Communication major. Before I went into University, I had no idea what I wanted to do in terms of a major. Popular culture, media, social issues, and technology were all things that I grew an interest in over-time, however, I didn’t think there was a major in University that would focus on these topics.
I heard great things about the Communication program at SFU in my last year of high school, asked myself those same questions above, and decided to just apply for it as my second choice program. When I didn’t get into my first choice, Beedie, I told myself “Might as well stick with Communication”, even though I had NO CLUE what it even was. I remember going through the different courses the Communication program offers in my first week of Uni:
CMNS 221: Media and Pop Culture
CMNS 223: Advertising as Social Communication
CMNS 321: Cultural Production of Popular Music
These were just some of the courses I saw that really made me think “This is the major for me.” Three years, one co-op term, and two years of being on the CMNSU later, and I am loving every second of being a Comms major.
“What can you do with a Communication degree? The real question is, what can you not do?”
Communication is so broad you can really take your degree in almost every career path. Whether that be marketing, graphic design, content creation, journalism, critical communication, the list goes on-almost every industry needs some form of a Communication role.
I would describe Communication studies as a major if Sociology, Political Science, and Creative Studies were all combined into one. I truthfully think it’s one of the most relevant majors to the discourse in our society as we dive into topics surrounding politics, social culture, popular culture, technology, and current events/issues. It really has forced me to be a more ‘woke’ person and has challenged me to think critically around the present issues and discourse in our world. I’ve also written some pretty rad papers on some of the most interesting topics such as how technology commodifies our relationships, why we should boycott Apple (that I ironically wrote on my Macbook), and a whole term paper on Gillette Venus razors. A Comms major stretches far beyond ‘learning how to talk’. In fact, that’s a topic we don’t really touch base on. If you’re the type of person who wants to learn more about the world we live in, how to properly talk about the surrounding issues and events, and how they all affect us, Communication is definitely the perfect fit for you.
Connect with me!
Hello! I’m Kat (she/her), a third-year SFU Communication student and CMNSU's VP of Communication of 2020. I have a passion for connecting with others through storytelling, which inspired me to begin writing. I am a music lover, food lover and love lover! Thank you for being present with me in this moment and taking the time to read through my thoughts.