Career & Academic Pathways >> Language & Communication

Contact Information
Melissa Cardinale (Department Chair)
(831) 646-4100
mcardinale@mpc.edu

For Additional Info
• Download our Info Sheet
• Visit MPC Communication Studies
• Connect with a Counselor

Program Overview

Communication is foundational to success, not only personally but also professionally. In fact, employers consistently rank good communication as one of the most important skills for employees to possess. MPC’s Communication Studies program is designed to help you understand communication theory, so you may develop and improve relationships, speak effectively in a public setting, comprehend various media methods, interact with people from various cultures, and/or work effectively with others.

Job Outlook

Because strong communication skills are so critical in the workplace, graduates in communication studies have a broad set of job opportunities and may pursue jobs in fields such as marketing, corporate training, business, management, public relations, and non-profit fundraising. Demand is high for news and other digital outlets that publish content in print and online. Jobs aligned with mass media production are forecast to grow by more than 10% through 2026.

Potential Careers

Reporters/Journalists (may require additional training)*	$29,370 - $124,100
Public Relations Specialists (may require additional training)*	$36,650 - $121,180
Arbitrators/Mediators/Negotiators (may require additional training)*	$37,420 - $123,730
Communications Professors (may require additional training)*	$68,280 - $200,160
Advertising Managers (may require additional training)*	$78,070 - $208,000+

MPC Degrees and Certificates

Communication Studies - Associate in Arts for Transfer (AA-T)

Year 1

FALL	UNITS	SPRING	UNITS
ENGL 1A	3	ENGL 2	3
MATH 16	4	SPCH 4 or 10	3
SPCH 1	3	Area 3B	3
Area 3A	3	LING 15 rec.
THEA 1 rec.		Area 4	3
Elective: PERS 10 rec.	1	US-2 & 3 rec.
Elective: LIBR 50 rec.	1	Area 5A &5C	4


Total Fall Units	15	Total Spring Units	16

Year 2

FALL	UNITS	SPRING	UNITS
SPCH 2	3	COMM 5, SPCH 4 or SPCH 10	3
SPCH 3	3	PSYC 1 or SOCI 1	3
Area 3B	3	UC Elective	3
US-1 rec.		CSIS 1 or PHIL 6 rec.
Area 5B	3	Area 6 or UC Elective	3-5
UC Elective	3	UC Elective	3


Total Fall Units	15	Total Spring Units	15-17

This is a suggested sequence of coursework and is one pathway for students to earn their degree/certificate. This is not an official educational plan. A counselor is able to assist you with creating a personalized education plan based on your academic, career, and personal goals. For more information about counseling and up-to-date program requirements, please visit www.mpc.edu/counseling.

Testimonials

Chloe Hibben

The department has really benefited my learning and progress to working towards a Communications degree. Each course has improved my knowledge of not only education but life skills as well.

Coleman Skillingstad

Speech Communication Major “As a Lobo student and a communication major for the last two years, I formed a deep respect for Monterey Peninsula College Professors, Faculty, and Support Staff. MPC is committed to its students and is evident in my successful transfer to college after retiring from the military. I appreciate the attention to detail and the innovative approach to bringing new ideas to the classroom, particularly in the last year of the pandemic and the move to online.

Esmeralda Garcia-Perez

I just wanted to express my thanks for opening my eyes this semester. I thought this class was going to be another one of those classes that I just go with the flow but don’t really expect much change, however your assignments and just this class in general opened my eyes so much! It was great to learn about other cultures and how we all connect together despite our differences. I felt like every week I was learning something new about myself that I was just blown away by. I never thought I would have such a strong reaction to a class!

Steven Bech

The speech classes that I took helped me become a more critical thinker, confident public speaker, and effective team player. I truly learned to appreciate the impact words can have and, as a result, choose my words much more carefully in my everyday life, whether that is in the academic environment or my personal life. Because of the three speech classes that I took at MPC, I am much more comfortable speaking in front of large crowds and in the current online environment. After facilitating one of my discussion-heavy seminars at UCLA in front of a large student body, I was surprised how well I was able to engage the listeners in my presentation and get them to participate in the following debate.I would have never felt this confident in that moment without the previous lessons and support of my teachers at MPC.