Searching for Creative Jobs? Start by Earning Your Communications Degree Online

In a world where you can be anything, why would you want to limit your imagination? If you consider yourself to be a person who is fueled by creativity, then you will want to find a career that allows you to incorporate your new ideas and innovative solutions into everything you do.

One of the best ways to access the top jobs for creative people is to earn a communications degree online. An online communications degree provides you with the foundation you need to launch a wide variety of careers, as well as the flexibility you crave to carve out your own path.

Is Getting My Communications Degree Online Worth It?

Before you begin your degree program, you might find yourself questioning whether this educational endeavor is worth the effort. Of course, any online degree is going to require a commitment of your time and financial resources, so you will want to consider that before you enroll.
But if you are wondering if getting an online communications degree is worth it, the answer is simple:

Yes, It is!

Earning your communications degree online allows you to balance your existing responsibilities while still working toward your educational and professional goals. This flexible and affordable degree program can be completed on your terms. You will need to complete 120 credits to graduate, but you can pace yourself according to your personal circumstances. For some, full-time school is the best option, whereas others find that it is better for them to take a few courses at a time.

No matter how you decide to proceed, you will find that it is well worth it to earn your communications degree online. These are a few reasons why:
Communications Is the Most Versatile Major

Most degree programs are focused on preparing students for a specific career field, which can limit their career possibilities after graduation. The communication arts degree program, however, is considered one of the most versatile majors available. The foundational knowledge acquired as well as the skills developed can be applied in nearly every industry.

According to Indeed.com, a communications degree program could help prepare you to:

• Develop high-level verbal and written communications skills.
• Create engaging strategies for improving communications both internally and externally at a given organization.
• Create interactive and interesting presentations that engage the target audience.
• Uncover research strategies that unlock data about a specific group, such as a target market segment.

Within a communications degree program, you will be able to specialize your degree program, which can help point your career in a certain direction. Common specializations within the communications degree program include crisis communications, public relations, graphic design, marketing , and video production.

A Communications Degree Unlocks Jobs for Creative People

As My Degree Guide notes, nearly every organization — regardless of its industry — requires communications professionals. And those professionals provide a wide range of services for the company, particularly in the social media age in which visual engagement is critical.

One of the most common misconceptions about jobs for creative people is that they are limited, and that most of those positions don't pay well. People who says they want to pursue a career where they can be creative and work with their ideas are often greeted with the comforting and supportive notion that they will end up as a "starving artist."

In reality, a communications degree can set creative people up for success in a wide variety of positions.

Those who are talented artists and passionate about technology can rely on their communications degree to help launch a design career. Businesses of all shapes and sizes need powerful infographics that showcase their results in a way that is engaging and appealing.

Those who love the written word can earn a communications degree and subsequently launch a career as a freelance writer. The need for well-written, valuable content has never been stronger, and writers with a communications degree will know how to position themselves for success in a multi-faceted industry.
The possibilities are practically endless for creatives with a communications degree. There are countless ways to personalize this degree program while you are in school, and endless ways to customize your career path after graduation. You can put your creative skills to work by forging your own plan for your future.

Earning a Communication Arts Degree Online

The only difference between earning a communication arts degree online and pursuing this degree program in- person is the learning experience that you choose. Either way, you will be immersed in a rigorous program that prepares you for the dynamic communications industry and the various creative jobs that you might pursue after graduation. The professors and instructors hold all students to very high standards, and in many ways, online students must be more responsible and self-motivated than the students who choose to attend class on campus. The online program requires students to pace themselves and often work on their assignments on their own time, which uniquely prepares them for the deadline-oriented communications industry.

What Should I Expect?

This is what you can expect from your online communications degree program at University of the Cumberlands:

• Demanding coursework on a flexible schedule.

Instead of being required to attend live lectures on campus, you will receive the same insightful lecture in a virtual format — allowing you to stream it at a time (and place) that works for your schedule.

• Opportunities to hone your time-management skills.

Having the flexibility and freedom to complete your coursework on your own schedule can be challenging. Online learning gives you a chance to develop the time management skills you will need in a fast-paced work environment after graduation.

• Various learning models that will give you a well-rounded experience

Online communications degree coursework can include synchronous learning opportunities, video conferences with instructors and classmates and asynchronous assignments submitted on a digital platform.

How Long Does It Take to Earn My Online Degree?

A bachelor's degree typically requires an additional four years of college beyond high school. However, it's possible to accelerate the program by carrying a more extensive course load or attending classes over summer break. A bachelor's degree in communication arts usually requires the completion of 120 credits or more. Over four years, 120 credits equate to roughly five 3-credit classes per semester. Of course, more challenging classes may be worth four credits, so there is no fast-and-hard rule regarding how many credits you must take per semester to graduate in four years. Your college advisor can help you plan your credit load accordingly.

By enrolling in classes online, you can schedule them around your current work or home responsibilities, customizing how you earn your degree and how long it takes to reach your graduation day.

What Type of Online Communications Degrees Can I Get?

At University of the Cumberlands, we offer an online bachelor's degree in communication arts. All students enrolled in the program will complete foundational coursework that introduces them to the most crucial concepts in the communications field. In addition to the skills-based instruction in these courses, students also have the opportunity to select from three concentrations to specialize in their degrees. The concentrations available within the online communication arts degree include:

• Advertising and Public relations
• Journalism
• Integrated Communication

What University of the Cumberlands Offers

The communication arts degree program at University of the Cumberlands prepares graduates to pursue a variety of positions, from creative writer jobs to jobs in the public relations sector.

Some of the most common creative jobs among our graduates include:

• Web Content Writer — Web content writers strategically develop valuable web content to elevate an organization's standings on the search engine results page. Web content writers may work directly for an organization, or they may work on an as-needed, contract basis. This is one of the most versatile creative writer jobs available, and it allows writers of all interests to apply their strengths and utilize their skills in a measurable way.
• Advertising Copywriter — An advertising copywriter is a specialized writer who works to write engaging and focused copy for advertisements. In today's digital age, many advertising copywriters focus on creating SEO-optimized content for PPC ads, which are targeted at specific audiences by utilizing market research data.
• Freelance Writer — Freelance writers can work in a wide variety of sectors, from technical writing to script writing, creative writing, blogging, and more. Freelance writers with a communications degree are uniquely qualified to build their own business strategy and promote their services to clients in need of well-crafted content.
• Public relations Specialist — A public relations specialist typically works at a public relations firm, often managing corporate PR strategies for a specific clientele base. A person in this position may be responsible for writing press releases, preparing their clients for media interviews, and working with their clients so that they know how to interact with members of the media as well as the general public. A public relations specialist is adept at creating a brand and image for their clients, and they work to ensure that all of their clients are perceived positively.
• Media Relations Director — A media relations director is typically employed by an organization to manage the company's relationship with the media. The media relations director fields questions from the media about events and projects that the company is working on, and generally works to create a positive working relationship with the press. This is a high-level position that requires a candidate to be an excellent communicator and a thoughtful strategist, which is why it's the ideal option for anyone who has earned an online communications degree.

Graduating in a World With a Need for Creatives

You'll be qualified for a variety of jobs with a communication arts degree on your resume, and earning your degree in communication arts online at University of the Cumberlands may help fast-track your application. You could pursue a role as the editor of a newspaper or magazine, or maybe you’ll find work as a reporter or correspondent. 

A communication arts degree gives you a solid foundation in writing, public speaking, and creative arts fundamentals. It will teach you how to use the most current technology to work in a recording studio or a television newsroom. You'll have the technical skills to become a polished content creator or cameraman. There's a world of opportunity waiting for students who earn their degree in communication online from University of the Cumberlands.

We invite you to explore the communication arts degree at University of the Cumberlands. Please fill out our online contact form, or visit us in person for a campus tour in Williamsburg, Kentucky.