As communication technologies and other forces reshape our social, economic and cultural life, there is an increasing demand for individuals skilled in communication, management and marketing.  The U.S. Department of Labor recently reported that communication skills will be in demand across all occupations well into the 21st century. In fact, the communication professions are some of today’s fastest growing fields.  According to the Occupation Outlook Quarterly, there will be an anticipated 19-26 percent increased in demand by the year 2005 for individuals in communication occupations. 

The National Communication Association suggests that careers in business and communication include:

• sales representative
• executive manager
• personnel manager
  public information officer
• industrial and labor relations representative
• negotiator
• newsletter director of corporate communication
• customer service representative
• newsletter editor
• communication trainer and consultant
• human resource manager
• mediator

Today’s modern organizations, according to one communication expert, “need people who can listen, write, persuade others, demonstrate interpersonal skills, gather information and exhibit small group problem-solving expertise.”  Research published in the Business Communication Quarterly, found, for example, that managers spend as much as 80 percent of their time communicating. 

Students interested in preparing themselves for careers in the modern organization will find substantial value through the multidisciplinary and professionally-oriented education offered by a major in corporate communication at Southeast. This unique major combines courses in communication , marketing and management. Students study leadership, managerial communication, motivation, decision-making, problem- solving, teamwork, conflict management, negotiation and bargaining, sales, marketing, public relations, business communication and other public forms of communication.

Nancy Bray, director of Marketing and Communications at a regional hospital, says that the major in corporate communication, “not only offers solid, appropriate theoretical content but also includes the necessary empirical coursework so that students can move from the classroom to the business site able to lead a meeting; facilitate a team; motivate fellow employees; deliver a speech or draft a speech for an administrative superior; problem-solve, negotiate and crisis-management; sell a concept, a product or a policy change; write a proposal, strategic plan or policy manual; develop assessment tools for the measurement of internal and external customer satisfaction.”

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