What You Need to Know About Communications Professor
Job Description: Teach courses in communications, such as organizational communications, public relations, radio/television broadcasting, and journalism. Includes both teachers primarily engaged in teaching and those who do a combination of teaching and research.
A Day in the Life of a Communications Professor
- Write grant proposals to procure external research funding.
- Maintain regularly scheduled office hours to advise and assist students.
- Advise students on academic and vocational curricula and on career issues.
- Supervise undergraduate or graduate teaching, internship, and research work.
- Prepare and deliver lectures to undergraduate or graduate students on topics such as public speaking, media criticism, and oral traditions.
- Evaluate and grade students’ class work, assignments, and papers.
Communications Professor Required Skills
When polled, Communications Professors say the following skills are most frequently used in their jobs:
Instructing: Teaching others how to do something.
Active Listening: Giving full attention to what other people are saying, taking time to understand the points being made, asking questions as appropriate, and not interrupting at inappropriate times.
Speaking: Talking to others to convey information effectively.
Reading Comprehension: Understanding written sentences and paragraphs in work related documents.
Writing: Communicating effectively in writing as appropriate for the needs of the audience.
Active Learning: Understanding the implications of new information for both current and future problem-solving and decision-making.
Related Job Titles for this Occupation:
- Professor of Communication and Writing
- Debate Director
- Speech Teacher
- Public Speaking Professor
- Technical Communication Teacher
Job Outlook for Communications Professors
In the United States, there were 34,100 jobs for Communications Professor in 2016. New jobs are being produced at a rate of 10% which is above the national average. The Bureau of Labor Statistics predicts 3,400 new jobs for Communications Professor by 2026. The BLS estimates 3,000 yearly job openings in this field.
The states with the most job growth for Communications Professor are Utah, Colorado, and Missouri. Watch out if you plan on working in Vermont, Wyoming, or Rhode Island. These states have the worst job growth for this type of profession.
Communications Professor Salary
The salary for Communications Professors ranges between about $35,870 and $133,570 a year.
Communications Professors who work in Connecticut, New Hampshire, or New Jersey, make the highest salaries.
Below is a list of the median annual salaries for Communications Professors in different U.S. states.
| State | Annual Mean Salary |
|---|---|
| Alabama | $64,270 |
| Arkansas | $65,060 |
| Colorado | $58,270 |
| Connecticut | $83,720 |
| District of Columbia | $92,970 |
| Florida | $77,290 |
| Georgia | $77,820 |
| Hawaii | $60,030 |
| Idaho | $71,100 |
| Illinois | $78,810 |
| Iowa | $88,340 |
| Kansas | $70,090 |
| Kentucky | $68,530 |
| Louisiana | $65,150 |
| Maine | $62,060 |
| Maryland | $76,040 |
| Massachusetts | $79,930 |
| Michigan | $71,770 |
| Minnesota | $67,630 |
| Mississippi | $54,940 |
| Missouri | $76,730 |
| Montana | $59,700 |
| Nebraska | $71,140 |
| Nevada | $59,780 |
| New Hampshire | $88,600 |
| New Jersey | $92,200 |
| New York | $90,470 |
| North Carolina | $65,770 |
| North Dakota | $68,790 |
| Ohio | $74,860 |
| Oklahoma | $50,700 |
| Oregon | $80,700 |
| Pennsylvania | $76,720 |
| Rhode Island | $80,330 |
| South Carolina | $65,620 |
| South Dakota | $66,390 |
| Tennessee | $56,860 |
| Texas | $68,900 |
| Utah | $74,270 |
| Virginia | $67,530 |
| Washington | $60,370 |
| West Virginia | $51,150 |
| Wisconsin | $79,870 |
| Wyoming | $66,780 |
What Tools do Communications Professors Use?
Below is a list of the types of tools and technologies that Communications Professors may use on a daily basis:
- Microsoft Excel
- Microsoft Word
- Microsoft Office
- Microsoft PowerPoint
- Microsoft Outlook
- Web browser software
- Data entry software
- Email software
- Adobe Systems Adobe Acrobat
- Adobe Systems Adobe Photoshop
- Google Docs
- Blackboard
- Calendar and scheduling software
- Apple Final Cut Pro
- Learning management system LMS
- Blackboard Learn
- Course management system software
- Sakai CLE
- Collaborative editing software
- Desire2Learn
Becoming a Communications Professor
Are there Communications Professors education requirements?
How many years of work experience do I need?
Who Employs Communications Professors?
Below are examples of industries where Communications Professors work:
Similar Careers
Those interested in being a Communications Professor may also be interested in:
- Anthropology and Archeology Professors
- Broadcast News Analysts
- Criminal Justice and Law Enforcement Professors
Are you already one of the many Communications Professor in the United States? If you’re thinking about changing careers, these fields are worth exploring:
References:
Image Credit: UNU-WIDER from Helsinki, Finland via Creative Commons Attribution 2.0 Generic
More about our data sources and methodologies.
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