Like many high school seniors, I was at a complete loss as to what I wanted to study at university. When I reached that overwhelming age of 17, conversations seemed to revolve solely around college applications and I repeatedly heard the question, "What do you want to major in?". I made up a different answer every time. I knew what I didn’t want to do - that was easy - but narrowing down what I wanted to study for the next four years, and ostensibly what I wanted to do for the rest of my life, seemed impossible.
Once I decided to attend John Cabot University, I read through the different Bachelor's degree options, and was immediately drawn to Communications. What attracted me initially was the variety of electives the major included. The electives range from photography to business communication; from rhetoric to cultural theories.
To my surprise, my core Communications courses were not focused solely on learning the skills needed. As I dove deeper into the major, I began to take upper-level classes that called for studying subjects like ethics in media, and the political and social effects of media on a global scale. Philosophical thinking became a common theme as well; in COM 470, taught by Professor Sarram, I learned about various theoretical perspectives, and how to apply them to identify issues in media practices. Communications ended up being a blend of subjects that anyone can personalize to satisfy his or her own interests.
I am now in my last semester of my undergraduate degree, and as I look forward to life after graduation, my Communications degree is still providing me with variety. I am applying for jobs in public relations, graphic design, media management, global marketing and digital strategy. Communications seems to have a presence in almost every field of work, leaving me with plenty of options.
I never felt restricted by my major. I never felt as though there was something to learn that I was missing out on because my major didn’t allow for it. I will graduate this May with a sense of fulfillment from my education.
Carly Newgard
Class of 2017
Communications Major, Humanistic Studies Minor
Hometown: San Diego, California
