Why choose a major like communications or English? The benefits of choosing a major like communications or English are endless. The concepts and theories you study, from how people interact in small groups to how people use the English language, are applicable to situations throughout everyday life. You also develop better speaking and writing skills, two of the most sought-after qualities by employers in the job market today. What does the job market offer students with a degree in communications or English? Students who graduate with a Bachelor of Arts in communications or English from the University of Pittsburgh obtain jobs in a variety of different fields. The coursework is particularly helpful in preparing students for careers in print journalism, broadcast journalism, advertising, public relations, marketing, public speaking, and teaching. The skills that you develop as a communications or English major can also be applied to jobs in many other professions, including (but not limited to) business, law, and medicine. What makes Pitt's communications and English majors distinct? Our communications and English majors allow students the flexibility to tailor coursework toward an individual area of interest. For example, an English writing major can choose to take a concentration of courses in one of three tracks-journalism (news and magazine writing), poetry, or fiction. If you have always dreamed of becoming a Pulitzer Prize winning novelist like Michael Chabon, the 1984 graduate who wrote The Amazing Adventures of Kavalier and Clay, you would probably pursue the fiction tract. If writing for a national magazine like Glamour® or GQ® is more your speed, then you would choose the journalism tract. Of course, English writing majors also take courses outside of their chosen tract to broaden their training. In addition to the English writing options, we offer a comprehensive English literature major. You have probably already studied some of the classics of Western literature, like the plays of Shakespeare or novels of Ernest Hemingway in an English class. While continuing to study English and American literature, our program offers you a chance to expand your education to include new genres that you may not have been exposed to, like science fiction or children's literature. Many world literature courses taught in English are also available through individual foreign language departments such as French, Russian, or Chinese. As communications majors, students focus more on the processes of oral communication both in theory and in practice. Many students interested in television and radio find that courses such as Media Theory, Media & Consumer Culture, and Television & Society directly relate to their chosen field. Students interested in advertising and public relations will benefit from other courses, including Theories of Persuasion, Nature of Language, and Speech Composition. Are there opportunities outside the classroom? Coursework is a very important part of a college education, but prospective employers want to see that you also have experience outside of the classroom. Opportunities for internships abound. For instance, University of Pittsburgh students have obtained internships as production assistants at television stations, editorial assistants at magazines, and public relations assistants with professional sports teams. To learn more, click Experiential Learning opportunities at the University of Pittsburgh. In addition to exploring internships, you may want to get involved in one or more of our student organizations. We have over 300 student organizations ranging from The Pitt News, our student-run newspaper, to the Pitt Program Council, a student-led board that coordinates activities for students. With Honors . . . The University Honors College (UHC) is designed to meet the needs of academically talented and motivated students. The UHC offers special course work and advising, fosters academic community, and provides the opportunity to obtain an Honors College Degree.