Why Study Communication Studies?
Employers rank strong communication skills as the most important quality they seek in job applicants. This program will provide you with a basic foundation in oral communication skills – how to be a better listener, how to present yourself in an interview, how to communicate in a small group, and how to be an effective, confident public speaker. Studying speech and communication can ultimately lead to careers in speech and language therapy, speech communication education, law, business, or journalism. This program will provide students with the necessary liberal arts and specialized courses needed for transfer to a four-year institution. Students who enroll in the program can choose a discipline in performance, speech pathology, communication theory, or journalism.
School of Arts, Education, Humanities, and Social Sciences
Degree Tracks & Course Sequence
Real World Ready
Listening to workforce needs
Graduates of Rockland Community College are provided with a clear path to meaningful careers that meet the needs of businesses and industry in the communities we serve. Our students are trained in specific skills that are needed by employers, and guided through a career path that leads directly to workforce opportunities. With affordable tuition, students who begin their college careers at RCC are ready to meet the demands of the real world.
Free Career Exploration Assessment [ACCESS CODE: pathways]
Student Success
At Rockland Community College, you are provided with a Student Success Team that will help you with your academic journey, career exploration, transfer planning, support service referrals, and more! Your Team includes your Dean, Program Director, Faculty Advisor, Student Success Advisor, Connection Center Counselor, Financial Aid Advisor, Peer Mentors, and if you’re involved in any of these special programs, your Athletics, Honors, TRiO, and Veterans Advisors. During your first semester, you will take an ‘Introduction to the School’ course that will outline the various College offices and departments that can help you on your path.
Career Outlook
Speech-language pathologists (sometimes called speech therapists) assess, diagnose, treat, and help to prevent communication and swallowing disorders in children and adults. Speech, language, and swallowing disorders result from a variety of causes, such as a stroke, brain injury, hearing loss, developmental delay, Parkinson’s disease, a cleft palate, or autism. The median annual wage for speech-language pathologists was $80,480 in May 2020. Employment of speech-language pathologists is projected to grow 29 percent from 2020 to 2030, much faster than the average for all occupations.
Public relations specialists create and maintain a favorable public image for the organization they represent. Employment of public relations specialists is projected to grow 11 percent from 2020 to 2030, faster than the average for all occupations. About 29,200 openings for public relations specialists are projected each year, on average, over the decade. Many of those openings are expected to result from the need to replace workers who transfer to different occupations or exit the labor force, such as to retire.
Job Roles
Speech Pathologists, Public Relations Professional, Development Officer, Advertising, and Promotions Staff Journalist
Industries
Speech and Language Therapy, Speech Communication Education, Law, Business, or Journalism
Careers
Speech Pathologist
Editors
Public Relations Specialists
Employment and wage data by occupation are based on the Occupational Employment Statistics (OES) survey, which collects information from approximately 51,000 businesses. bls.gov
Get Started Today
Rockland Community College, State University of New York, offers a safe, supportive learning environment for thousands of students from diverse backgrounds. RCC has become the “first choice” for parents and students. Thanks to our affordable tuition, students can save $100,000 on a college education by starting at RCC and transferring to outstanding four-year colleges.