Communications Degree

The communications program at East Los Angeles College prepares the student to enter the fields of advertising, marketing, organizational communication, public relations, publishing, human resources, law, criminal justice, politics, public administration, and more. The program focuses on the scientific, humanistic, and critical study of human communication in a variety of formats, media, and contexts. Program courses include: intercultural communication, speaking and listening, verbal and nonverbal interaction, rhetorical theory and criticism, argumentation and persuasion, technologically mediated communication, and popular culture. Get more details below including other California colleges that offer communications degrees.

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East Los Angeles College

Also known as The Dominican School

2301 Vine Street, Berkeley, CA

East Los Angeles College (ELAC) serves 14 communities in the suburban area around Monterey Park and has a diverse student body.  ELAC offers occupational training and certificate programs as well as Associate's Degrees and transfer courses for students transferring to four-year universities.  Transfer students may continue their studies at California State University-Los Angeles or University of California-Los Angeles (UCLA), among others.

ELAC also offers online or "hybrid" courses that allow students to earn online Associate's Degrees in General Studies with an emphasis in either Arts & Humanities or Social & Behavioral Sciences.

ELAC excels at preparing its students for professional careers such as criminal justice, medical coding, nursing and respiratory therapy, and more.  The college provides tutoring study groups, clubs and community projects that help students prepare for their careers and build their resumes.

The East Los Angeles College Vision:

"East Los Angeles College endeavors to be an exemplary model for student academic, technological and artistic achievement. Through our evolving physical and technological infrastructures, designed to facilitate teaching, learning and cultural expression, we will become the first choice in higher education and the cultural center of our diverse community."

Academics

East Los Angeles College (ELAC) offers Fall and Spring semesters, as well as a four-week Winter Session.

ELAC has a program called "The Adelante First Year Experience" to help students succeed in the first year of their study program to transfer to a four-year university. The First Year Experience includes integrated resources such as student services, linked courses, positive learning environments, and excellent faculty.

ELAC's other transfer student resources and programs include:

• CSUDH Pathways
• Faculty Transfer Advisors
• Honors
• MESA
• Puente
• Transfer Academy
• UCLA - CCCP
• UC Berkeley TAP

ELAC offers programs for Associates Degrees that generally take two years to complete, shorter-term certificate programs and Skills Certificates for specific occupations that take 11 units or less to complete.

ELAC also offers a program called CalWORKS: California Work Opportunity and Responsibility to Kids, which provides training and support services to students receiving Temporary Assistance to Needy Families (TANF).  Students enrolled in CalWORKS will have access to information, vocational training, liaison with Department of Public Social Services, child care assistance and referrals, work study assignments, career development (job skills, resumes, interview skills, job opportunities), learning assistance and tutoring.

Academic Departments

East Los Angeles College doesn't have separate schools, but has 28 different academic departments.

• Administration of Justice
• Anthro/Geo/Geology
• Architecture
• Art
• Auto Technology
• Business Administration
• Chemistry
• Chicano Studies
• Child, Family and Education Studies
• Computer Applications and Office Technologies
• Counseling
• Electronics
• Engineering
• English
• Foreign Language
• Journalism
• Library Science
• Life Science
• Mathematics
• Music
• Nursing
• Photography
• Men's Physical Education
• Women's Physical Education
• Philosophy
• Physics
• Psychology
• Social Sciences
• Speech and Theatre Arts

Student Life

The East Los Angeles College campus has many student services and amenities including a student activities center with a computer center, an instructional center, bookstore, cafeteria, library, auditorium, sports stadium, and an indoor swim stadium.

Social and cultural programs, as well as student clubs, are available through the Associated Students' Organization.

Traditions

The motto of East Los Angeles College is "Start Here and Go Anywhere."  ELAC has traditionally been the college of choice for its diverse community in the East Los Angeles and San Gabriel Valley areas.

Athletics

There are 14 competitive intercollegiate sports offered at ELAC, which competes in the South Coast Conference, Southern California Football Association and Southern California Wrestling Alliance. There is also a marching band and pep squad at ELAC that participate in athletic events.

ELAC Huskies Sport teams include:

• Men's Baseball
• Men's Basketball
• Cross Country
• Men's Football
• Men's Soccer
• Track & Field
• Men's Wrestling
• Women's Badminton
• Women's Basketball
• Women's Softball
• Women's Volleyball

The Athletic amenities at ELAC include a 22,000-seat stadium that has field turf for football, a track surface, jumbo screen scoreboard, an indoor swim stadium, two gyms and a softball facility.

Community Life

East Los Angeles College is located 10 miles east of downtown Los Angeles in the suburban community of Monterey Park.  There are a variety of recreational activities near campus due to its proximity to the desert, mountains, beaches and many amusement parks and tourist attractions of Southern California.

Students Enrolled in the Communications Program

Get more details below regarding enrollment, academics, and school demographics. East Los Angeles College offers an associate's degree program in communications.

Students by Gender (2019)

Students by Race (2019)

Source: IPEDS Survey 2012-2020: Data obtained from the US Dept. of Education's Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS). Data may vary depending on school and academic year.

Career Options for Graduates

Communications Teachers, Postsecondary

Description

Teach courses in communications, such as organizational communications, public relations, radio/television broadcasting, and journalism. Includes both teachers primarily engaged in teaching and those who do a combination of teaching and research.

Radio and Television Announcers

Description

Speak or read from scripted materials, such as news reports or commercial messages, on radio or television. May announce artist or title of performance, identify station, or interview guests.

Public Address System and Other Announcers

Description

Make announcements over public address system at sporting or other public events. May act as master of ceremonies or disc jockey at weddings, parties, clubs, or other gathering places.

Career Outlook & Projections ()

According to the BLS, public address system and other announcers employment is expected to grow at a rate of 2.9% from 2014 to 2024

Salary & Wages

• Oakland-Hayward-Berkeley, CA Metropolitan Division
  • Total Employment: 60
  • Average Hourly Rate: $14.66
  • Average Annual Salary: $30500
• San Francisco-Redwood City-South San Francisco, CA Metropolitan Division
  • Average Hourly Rate: $14.72
  • Average Annual Salary: $30620

Public Relations Specialists

Description

Engage in promoting or creating an intended public image for individuals, groups, or organizations. May write or select material for release to various communications media.

Career Outlook & Projections ()

According to the BLS, public relations specialists employment is expected to grow at a rate of 6.2% from 2014 to 2024

Salary & Wages

• Oakland-Hayward-Berkeley, CA Metropolitan Division
  • Total Employment: 1
  • Average Hourly Rate: $36.86
  • Average Annual Salary: $76670
• San Francisco-Redwood City-South San Francisco, CA Metropolitan Division
  • Total Employment: 3
  • Average Hourly Rate: $48.02
  • Average Annual Salary: $99870

Source: Job descriptions, estimated salary and wages, and projected job growth are taken from the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS).