Ken Horne '11
I met the woman who is now my wife during my first year at GVSU. My favorite memory is proposing to her in the arboretum during our final year.
Communication and Media Studies Career Guide
Explore Options: A Menu of Major-Specific Experiences and Sampling of Related Career Paths
Academic Resources
Explore our Communication and Media Studies academic resources, designed to support your academic aspirations.
Feeling like you don't know what to do with all of this great information? We highly encourage to make an appointment with your academic advisor and career advisor. Another great starting point is the Self-Guided Career Exploration Tool.
Career Resources
Unlock career potential in Communication and Media Studies! Discover resources to maximize your professional trajectory.
Menu of Experiences
Sample Communication and Media Studies Internship Sites
Internships provide a way for you to get hands-on, supervised experience in the world of work. You are able to apply the concepts you are learning in the classroom to a work environment.
- GVSU Athletic Department
- Gilda's Club of Grand Rapids
- Datawise Consulting, LLC
- Ally Logistics
- Meals on Wheels
- National Journalism Center
- Grand Rapids Gold
- Gordon Food Service
- MillerKnoll
Join A Student Organization
Get involved with a student organization related to your major. Student orgs are a great way to get connected and explore career options!
Relevant Courses and Certificates for Building Skills
Developing the relevant skills that employers seek is an essential component of a student's education. GVSU students should consider strategic elective courses and certificates to pair with their major in order to gain additional skills.
Workplace Technology and Communication Undergraduate Badge
Intercultural Communications Undergraduate Certificate
Grant Writing
Research
Public Speaking
Community Service Opportunities
Seek volunteer opportunities related to the field you're exploring as a way of testing out future careers.
The Civic Engagement Center keeps a list of current volunteer opportunities updated on their website. There are ongoing opportunities on a continuous basis, as well as on-campus and off-campus opportunities posted as they become available.
Civic Engagement Center
Communication Studies Study Abroad Options
Through study abroad you’ll also set yourself apart from other job-seekers and graduate-school applicants in an increasingly competitive market.
Discover a new culture through studying communication abroad. You will have unique opportunities to learn about different types of communication inside and outside of the classroom as well as develop new skills in intercultural communication. There is no better way to prepare yourself for a future career in communication.
Undergraduate Research Opportunities
Pursuing academic, creative, and research experiences and projects outside the classroom is an excellent way to learn new skills and build a body of work in your field.
Fellowship Opportunities
Fellowships are high-impact, potentially life-changing opportunities for students and alumni, opening doors to careers in public service, advanced academic study, foreign service, international teaching, and other career and service pathways into meaningful and fulfilling lives.
Communications and Media Studies Career Spotlights
Communication Studies
Madison Moore '24
There are too many favorite Grand Valley memories! Living in my sorority house, studying abroad in Italy, and working as a student assistant at the Alumni House, to name a few.
Jason Black '99
I have too many memories but having to greet the incoming freshmen class in the field house during freshmen welcome week with Victor Cardenas is one of my most stressful memories.
Michael Davis '88
Playing basketball for GVSU was a wonderful experience and the lifelong friendships I made along the way are part of my greatest memories.
Carissa Patrone Maikuri '12 & '18
Some of my favorite memories that I cherish were from discussions during my Spanish class with Zulema Moret focused on feminist voices from Latin America.
Where Alumni Have Landed
- Development Assistant – Kids’ Food Basket
- Digital Media Specialist – YMCA of Greater Grand Rapids
- National Account Coordinator – Gordon Food Service
- Property Manager – Eenhoorn LLC
- Scientific Recruiter – Aerotek
- Registered Behavior Technician – Pine Rest
- Vice President, Strategic Initiatives– The Right Place
- Executive Assistant – KIND
- Instructional Media Specialist– University of Michigan
- Information Technology – Jackson National
- Community Advocate and COO – Michigan SBDC
- Marketing Specialist– TowerPinkster
- Marketing Manager – Pacific Floorcare
- Law Student– Wayne State University Law School
- Communications Specialist – SpartanNash
- Psychiatry Clinic and Coding Assistant – Hope Network
- Senior Learning and Development Specialist – Kent County
- Sports Reporter – MLive Media Group
- Holistic Medical Treatment Specialist – Northern Michigan
- Manager – Behind the Scenes Catering
Attend Events
Career Community- Communication & the Arts
GVSU Fall 2026 Career and Internship Fair
October 13, 2026 1:00 PM - 5:00 PM
The Fall Career & Internship Fair is an excellent place to kick off your job or internship search, or to begin networking with organizations looking to hire Grand Valley students and alumni of...
Graduate School Fair 2026
October 21, 2026 12:00 PM - 2:00 PM
Explore your future at the annual GVSU Graduate School Fair hosted by the GVSU Career Center on Wednesday, October 21, 2026, from 12pm - 2pm in the Henry Hall Atrium on the Allendale...
State of Michigan Information Session & Networking Event
October 28, 2026 10:00 AM - 1:00 PM
Did you know the State of Michigan is the largest employer in the state? And did you know that applying for a position with the State of Michigan can look a little different from a typical job application? Join...
Community, Connections, and Careers in Northern Michigan
October 29, 2026 11:00 AM - 2:00 PM
Connect with leading employers from the greater Traverse City area to explore internships, entry-level positions, and career opportunities across a variety of industries. Learn what makes Northern...
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Consider joining the Communication and the Arts Career Community or any other Career Community you are interested in!
Beyond Undergraduate: Graduate or Professional Programs
You’ve honed your voice and messaging skills as an undergraduate in communications, and now you're ready to lead conversations, shape narratives, and influence public perception on a larger scale. Graduate school offers focused pathways to deepen your expertise and expand your career opportunities.
- Master of Arts in Advertising: Perfect for creative thinkers looking to master campaign development, branding strategy, and consumer behavior. This degree prepares you to work in fast-paced agencies, corporate marketing teams, or media production.
- Master of Arts in Strategic Communication: Ideal if you want to become a leader in organizational messaging, crisis communication, or media strategy. You'll learn to craft messages that drive results across digital and traditional platforms.
- Master of Business Administration (MBA): A great option if you want to combine your communication skills with a strong foundation in business leadership, marketing, and management. This path opens doors to executive roles across industries.
- Master of Arts in Public Relations: Best suited for those interested in managing reputation, media relations, and public engagement. This program builds the skills needed to represent brands, nonprofits, or public figures with clarity and confidence.
Discover More
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Career Center Resources
Looking for other career resources? The Career Center Resources page contains resources related to careers, resumes, internships, job search, interviewing, networking, and more.