Communication Program Features

Students majoring in Communication will take approximately one-fourth of their total coursework within the program, starting with introductory courses designed to instill solid fundamentals of news-writing, reporting, computer-assisted research and interviewing skills.

These courses are taught by experienced faculty with many years’ experience working in mass media. Upper-level courses such as Aviation/Aerospace Communication, Environmental Communication and Science Communication build on these fundamentals, and capitalize on the unique strengths of the university. Each of these classes is visited by prominent science and technology researchers.

Students become conversant in contemporary fields with too few communication specialists. For that reason, communication jobs are plentiful in science/technology industries and starting salaries are high.

Choice of Minor is Key

Our Communication program's unique curriculum prepares graduates for a wide variety of professional communication jobs. The program is a valuable pairing of basic verbal and written communication skills classes along with study of a technical area of concentration (minor) chosen by each student from the wide range of courses available at Embry-Riddle, such as Environmental Studies, Human Factors, International Relations, Business Administration, Information Technology, Aeronautical Studies, Aviation Safety, Aviation Weather, or Space Studies.

You may work with the Communication program coordinator if you would like another minor to be approved by the University. Quite often, it is your minor that makes the difference in your internship or employment pursuits — and frequently gives you a competitive edge.

Internships required

An Internship requirement and a uniquely assembled group of professional mentors also serve to positionour students for success in the job market. Internships are required because they offer real-world experience in careers students are considering, and because a successful internship gives a student networking contacts that can jump-start a career.

2007 Summer Intern: Suzanna Brooks

In the summer of 2007, junior Suzanna Brooks interned at "The Voice of the Airports," Airports Council International - North America (ACI-NA) The company is a lobbying group and business association representing local, regional and state governing bodies that own and operate commercial airports in the United States and Canada.

Suzanna worked in the Marketing and Communications Department on projects such as the Marketing and Communications/JumpStart Conference, the Communications Contest, and the 16th Annual Conference. For the conferences, she created PowerPoint transition slides to display between speakers and events, prepared the introductory biographies for each speaker, and helped to organize all the documents and agendas.

An important daily job was "clips" which consisted of hunting down relevant news stories -in this case aviation stories-formatting them, and sending them out to staff and other members. One of her favorite assignments was writing and organizing a reusable article called "Arts in Airports" which provides a multitude of information on public art programs in airports. Suzanna's other favorite project was the Communications Contest for which she helped sort entries from member airports who sent in examples of the work done by their Marketing and Communications departments. She learned quite a bit from the judges and the entire contest about the broad range of activities that a
Marketing and Communications department can be responsible for.

Suzanna greatly enjoyed her experience at ACI-NA and as she was the first Embry-Riddle student to take on this internship, she hopes that she's opened a door for many more students to come.
See her profile!

Special features

You'll have access to our graphics lab complete with Adobe InDesign and Creative Suite; digital photography software,and video and multimedia production facilities.

You can profit from the knowledge and experience of a mentor, a communication professional from the aviation and aerospace industry, public relations or news industry, who will provide career advice, insider guidance, and internship suggestions.

You'll develop a professional portfolio to showcase your work, such as public relations campaigns and events, digital presentations, Web site designs, and science articles.

The Communication Industry Advisory Board consists of 14 professionals in communication fields from airlines to science laboratories to newspapers and magazines. They visit the campus each year stopping by classrooms answering questions and offering students advice about careers in communication.