(DISCLAIMER: I am not the best Speech Comm student in town, nor am I even a good Speech Comm student or appreciator. It just so happens that I AM living and breathing Speech Comm for uhm let's just say way more than the normal four years of college education. As a normal instinct to fight for what you have (for pride), I feel the urge to uplift Speech Communication. Again, these are just based on how
I understood Speech Communication.)
What is Speech Communication?
This major focuses upon oral communication as a tool for doing the work of social life. It considers the reasons why people communicate, the methods they use to communicate and the consequences of their interaction. Speech communication establishes means with which to understand, evaluate, and improve the process of human communication and to balance practical application, criticism, and theory. This enables students to analyze and evaluate their own as well as others' communicative behavior. It allows them to become more effective communicators in their personal and professional lives. (mymajors.com)
Speech communication's main focus is communication. Yes, everyone can communicate so you might say that there's no need to waste four years of education for something that occurs naturally. As convincing as that may sound, that same idea is actually what makes Speech Comm a very viable course. "We cannot not communicate" is one of the statements that keeps on coming up in my Speech Comm subjects.
As Speech Comm majors, we are being taught how to use communication
effectively by studying
the different media of communication like the mass media and the computer. We have courses on radio broadcasting, radio production, print and audio-video presentations. Needless to say, the basics like written, verbal and nonverbal communication are also strengthened through extemporaneous speeches, public speaking, oral interpretation performances, debates, and tons of reports and research papers. The different settings of communication are also tackled as different approaches are needed for different settings. We have courses about cultural communication, organizational, group, family, and interpersonal. We also have some units of Theater Arts so we get to dip our toes in the world of Theater. 15 units of non-speech electives give us freedom to explore the world outside our own, which consequently makes us whole-rounded individuals. We can relate to any field (except for Math I think, which many Speech Comm majors have developed a phobia in) just as any field can relate to us. Which curriculum doesn't need speaking or writing?
To quote a great Speech teacher, "Speech comm sets the outline on how to communicate. The knowledge about the other fields fill in the outline." In other words, Speech Communication students/graduates know what to say, how to say it, and when to say it. And believe me, it's all that matters. (As you might've experienced for yourself.)
What jobs can you get after graduation?
The dreaded question. The question that my family, friends, and even newly-met strangers has been bugging me the moment I stepped into the College of Arts and Letters.
Since we are not like Engineering students who you know will be Engineers, or Nursing students who you know will be Nurses, because we don't have any specializations, we are not limited to one kind of work. Some list of potential jobs (again from mymajors.com) are:
Advertising Account Executive
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Broadcast Operations Manager
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Director of Corporate Media Relations
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Executive Administration
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Law
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Media
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Media Agency Manager
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Press Secretary
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Program Director
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Program Producer
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Radio Broadcaster
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Television Commentator/Reporter
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Alumni I know are currently in Events Management, which personally is one of the many enjoyable fields of Speech Comm. Some are in Marketing and Human Relations. Some are teaching in schools or training managerial staffs. One is a writer for Maalaala Mo Kaya, some are news content aggregators in ABS CBN, and copy editors. The list can go on and on. It really is diverse. The confidence that we learn to fake when speaking with other people or in front of a crowd makes us great client relations officers, or presentations gods/goddesses. The value of empathy instilled in us and the importance of listening attentively helps us to build positive relationships with our bosses and colleagues. The constant critic and encouragement to do better makes us critical thinkers and effective doers.
What do you like most about Speech Communication?
I think what I love most about Speech Comm is the light and easy atmosphere. We are very competitive, yet we never forget to have fun. If you see the Speech Comm teachers, they are arguably one of the most presentable and coolest professors you'll ever meet in UP. I love Engg students and BAA but I just can't imagine myself getting into all the fatigues of burning your eyebrows. There are technical stuffs in Speech Comm too but those are very minor. We learn more through activities and practical applications, which I value a lot because I'm that kind of person. I get the idea more when I apply it, instead of memorizing it. In Speech Comm,
studying is all about having fun and appreciating to heart what your syllabus dictates.
So yes, despite the confused faces, raised eyebrows, and constant link to other communication courses, I am still proud to be in Speech Communication. This relatively young course may not be known to everyone, but through the continuing excellence of its products, I know we are making a mark.
