Associate's in Communication and Media

Communication and Media

Employers readily identify communication skills among the most sought after needs for new and existing employees. The Communication Department at Odessa College exists to support students in learning these skills and in preparing them to apply them to the marketplace and/or in their pursuit of advanced degrees. All of our courses have a heavy emphasis on media literacy, rhetorical analysis and public communication skills. We specialize in preparing students for further studies at transfer institutions in a variety of disciplines. However we also emphasize skills and training to prepare students to function as adept communicators on work teams, as public speakers and adept media specialists.

Our curriculum emphasizes the appreciation, understanding, and practice of communication/media including:

• Ethical communication and competence underscore our focus on applied learning.
• We foster student intellectual and professional growth in human communication, mass media, and culture.
• We prioritize peer collaboration and review processes.
• We actively foster cultural diversity and engagement.
• Our dedication to meaningful service to our students is guided by the principles of productivity and continuous evaluation.

The communications and media department helps students gain the knowledge, techniques, and terminology to effectively create and interpret messages for impactful communication across various mediums and audiences. The mission of the Department of Communication and Mass Media is to deliver exceptional standards in education, scholarly inquiry, creative exploration, and community engagement within the realms of communication and mass media disciplines. 

Key transferable skills gained include, but are certainly not limited to:

• Verbal & Non-Verbal Communication: Presenting, persuading, active listening. Confident public speaking, storytelling, interpersonal skills, and presentation delivery.
• Writing: Clear, concise, and audience-specific writing. Persuasive writing, editing, content creation, and adapting tone for different platforms.
• Critical Thinking: Analyzing messages, solving communication problems. Media literacy, understanding communication theories, and interpreting audience behavior.
• Interpersonal Skills: Building rapport, conflict resolution, teamwork. 
• Research & Analysis: Understanding communication theories and applying them. 

A communication or speech degree teaches the science and art of human interaction, focusing on verbal, nonverbal, and written messages, with two main paths: Communication Studies (broad skills for media, business, politics, PR) and Communication Sciences & Disorders (CSD) (prepares for clinical roles like Speech-Language Pathology/Audiology by studying disorders and therapy). Both build critical thinking, public speaking, and understanding how messages affect individuals and society, but CSD requires a master's for clinical practice. In essence, a Communication or Speech degree teaches you how people connect, making you adaptable for roles that require influencing, informing, or understanding others, from corporate boardrooms to therapy clinics. 

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How Communication & Speech Benefits Specific Major Fields of Interest: 

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Getting to Know Your Instructors:

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Scholarships & Free Tuition Opportunity