As a Strategic and Corporate Communication Major, I  have heard and have said the phrase, “I am studying communicationS” many times. These people (including me) have been actually saying it wrong all along. The correct way to say it is without the “s”. They are specifically studying Communication (no S). Why is this? Is there really a difference? YES.  Using these words interchangeably is like comparing apples to oranges. How can one letter change the whole concept of a word?

CommunicationS is the distribution of messages. In other words, it is how mass communications distributes messages such as the radio, television, or the internet. It can be used to communicate information to a large audience. Communications is considered the study of media, journalism, and technology.

Communication (No S) is forming relationships with people. It is the process of sending and receiving messages (what we actually do every day!). Communication is considered the study of human interaction, rhetoric, communication methods and inquiries.

For example, if a student tells someone that they are studying communications, they will think they are studying media, journalism, and technology. When in reality, they are studying human interaction, rhetoric, communication methods and inquiries.

Being a Strategic and Corporate Communication student, I  have been able to study and learn about many different types of skills to apply to the real world. Click here to explore Chapman’s Communication majors https://www.chapman.edu/communication/index.aspx

References

Rivera, Kendra. (2017). Communication vs. Communications. What’s The Big Deal?. Communication Department. Retrieved 5/18/18:

https://www.csusm.edu/communication/major_differences.html

David. (November 9, 2015). Choosing a Major. Communication vs. Communications. Peer Into Your Career Blog. Retrieved 5/18/18: https://umdcareers.wordpress.com/2015/11/09/communication-vs-communications/