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Communications Professor

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Life As a Communications Professor

Career 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.

Life As a Communications Professor

  • Supervise undergraduate or graduate teaching, internship, and research work.
  • Compile, administer, and grade examinations, or assign this work to others.
  • Keep abreast of developments and technological advances in the communication field by reading current literature, talking with colleagues, and participating in professional conferences.
  • Maintain student attendance records, grades, and other required records.
  • Provide professional consulting services to government or industry.
  • Serve on academic or administrative committees that deal with institutional policies, departmental matters, and academic issues.

What a Communications Professor Should Know

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.

Types of Communications Professor Jobs

  • Interpersonal Communications Professor
  • Communications Faculty Member
  • Journalism Teacher
  • Faculty Member
  • Professor of Communication and Writing

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.

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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.

Average Communications Professors Salary

The salary for Communications Professors ranges between about $35,870 and $133,570 a year.

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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 & Technology 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

How do I Become a Communications Professor?

Individuals working as a Communications Professor have obtained the following education levels:

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How Long Does it Take to Become a Communications Professor?

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Where Communications Professors Are Employed

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Below are examples of industries where Communications Professors work:

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Other Jobs You May be Interested In

Those thinking about becoming a Communications Professor might also be interested in the following careers:

Career changers with experience as a Communications Professor sometimes find work in one of the following fields:

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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