Communication Opportunities

Corporate and Public Relations

Graduates with a concentration in Corporate and Public Relations find employment in a wide variety of fields, including public relations, advertising, special events planning, writing and editing, and public information. In addition, the strong communication and management skills stressed by this concentration enable the graduates to find administrative positions in various business areas with an indirect relationship to corporate communication such as marketing, sales, human resources consulting, or publishing.

Although graduate study is not necessary for those who pursue careers in corporate communication, students have used the major as a basis for graduate work in a variety of areas, including communication, business, and law.

Co-op Experiences in Corporate and Public Relations
Co-operative education opportunities are available with a variety of corporations and nonprofits in such positions as corporate communication specialist, public relations assistant, and newsletter writer. The following are samples of past co-op experiences:

  • Advertising and Promotions Assistant, CoreStates Bicycle Championships, Philadelphia.
  • Corporate Communications Co-op, Philadelphia Electric Company, Philadelphia.
  • Advertising/ Promotions Co-op, U.S. Marketing Division, Mobil Oil Corp. , Fairfax, VA.
  • Assistant Coordinator, Communications Bureau, United Way of Southeastern Pennsylvania, Philadelphia.

Global Journalism
Global journalism students pursue degrees in journalism and news. Many communication graduates also go on to law school, to business school for an MBA, or to graduate school. Graduates of this program are also in demand by news and information services as they expand their global reach.

Sample Global Journalism Co-op Experiences

  • Production assistant, WPVI-TV (Channel 6) Philadelphia
  • Staff writer, Delaware County Daily Times
  • Promotions department, WPLY-FM (Y-100)
  • Production assistant, sports department, FOX-29 (WTFX-TV)
Sample Global Journalism Senior Projects

  • Content analysis of New York Times coverage of Rwanda tragedy
  • Creation of http://www.abinka.org, a fully realized webzine
Technical and Science Communication
Students who study technical and science communication are prepared for a variety of career options. Currently there is a shortage of people qualified to write about the technology. Many students become technical writers and editors who produce manuals and reports about high-technology products and services. Many students go on to write specifications and in-house organs for business, industry, and government. Other students conduct and interpret surveys for business. Many students quickly rise to managerial and executive positions, in which they participate in the research and development of new products. Some students become science writers for newspapers.

In addition, this program is excellent preparation for graduate study in a number of fields, such as law and medicine.

Co-op Experiences in Technical and Science Communication
Communication students have worked for corporations and nonprofit organizations. The following are some samples of past co-op experiences:

  • Technical writer, Unisys Corp. and Hewlett Packard
  • Web page writer, Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania
  • Pharmaceutical writer, GlaxoSmithKline
  • Medical writer, Medcases Corp.

Visit the Drexel Steinbright Career Development Center page for more detailed information on co-op and post-graduate opportunities.