Academic Resources

Explore our Communication and Media Studies academic resources, designed to support your academic aspirations.

Curriculum Guide

Communications Studies Department

CLAS Advising Center

What Can I Do With This Major?

Career Resources

Unlock career potential in Communication and Media Studies! Discover resources to maximize your professional trajectory.

Career Assessment - PathwayU

Jobs via Handshake

Communications Career Information

Career Communities

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

School of Communications Internships

General Information on Internships

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!

• PRSSA
• Grand PR
• GVSU Ad Club
• American Marketing Association
• Organization for Professional Writers
• Toastmasters

Student Organizations

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

Electives to Consider

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.

Communications Studies Abroad

Explore Internships Abroad

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.

Office of Undergraduate Research and Scholarship

Getting Started

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.

Frederik Meijer Office of Fellowships

Finding a Fellowship

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.