Public Relations:
The good news: It takes a communication major 98 weeks, 120 credits, 14 major-related classes, eight emphasis courses, three practicums, at least one internship and 18 group project mental breakdowns to earn a Bachelor of Science in Communication!
The bad news: Communication and collaboration skills rank in the top three desired skills employers require in the workplace — regardless if a student graduates in Mechanical Engineering, Computer Information Technology or Healthcare Administration.
The problem: BYU-Idaho’s Learning Outcome campaign strives to develop Effective Communicators and Skilled Collaborators: “The BYU-Idaho Learning Outcomes are statements that describe what you are trying to become. Concentrating on these attributes during your time at BYU-Idaho, regardless of your major, will help you succeed in all areas of your life, throughout your life.” Currently there is no required communication course in the BYU-I General Education program. How can a graduate, who didn’t spend the last four years studying the science of communication, know how to effectively communicate the skills of their degree in the workplace?
The solution: Introducing The Communication and Collaboration Files which cover the “confidential” major principles every aspiring professional should know. I have collaborated with the BYU-Idaho Director of General Education and the Career Center to equip graduating students of all majors with the basic skills to become Effective Communicators and Skilled Collaborators.
The strategy: As an aspiring public relations specialist, I sought to influence BYU-Idaho graduates on the importance of communication skills in the workplace by promoting BYU-Idaho’s Learning Outcomes mission statement. I attempted condensing four years of communication science into basic applicable life skills for aspiring professionals to land their first entry-level job, excel in their position and secure their next promotion.
The process: I interviewed BYU-Idaho’s Communication faculty, compacted four years of professional communications degree courses and researched dozens of communication textbooks to provide graduates with answers to the most common workplace scenarios. I designed this entire “confidential” folder theme to make the information visually enticing for my target audience to want to read this sneak-peek communications degree information. The following ten topics are covered in a question and answer format in accordance with the BYU-Idaho Learning Outcome rubrics for Skilled Collaborators and Effective Communicators: Interpersonal, Communication, Company Culture, Professional Writing, Public Speaking, Design, Groups and Teamwork, Conflict Management, Negotiation, Persuasion and Problem Solving.
The final product: This resource for aspiring BYU-Idaho professionals of all majors will help you shape your professional character, polish the message you communicate as an employee and apply the communication and collaboration basics of a four year degree within 40 pages or less. While it is impossible to encompass the insightful magnitude and professional enlightenment a degree offers — take a sneak peek into the confidential files of a communication degree.
Your mission, should you choose to accept it, is to become a skilled collaborator and effective communicator by taking a look at the video and full booklet below.
The Communication & Collaboration Booklet
PDF Download: The Communication & Collaboration Files