Information for Individuals Interested in Pursuing the Telecommunications Field
Higher Education Articles March 2, 2015Telecommunications workers deliver television, telephone, digital, and Internet services to consumers around the country. Although the training in telecommunications varies by career, majoring in telecommunications can help students meet the needs of entry-level jobs in the field.
Telecommunications Majors
Employers for many telecommunications jobs require candidates to hold no more than a high school diploma, and some organizations also provide on-the-job training (U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics). Candidates that hold a degree can seek employment in professional, managerial, and maintenance and repair positions.
Due to the rapid changes in the industry, individuals employed in telecommunications jobs must upgrade their knowledge and skills to keep up with the latest technological advancements in the field. Typically, training centers and community colleges offer continuing education opportunities to these professionals.
Bachelor’s Programs in Telecommunications
The Bachelor of Arts (B.A.) or Bachelor of Science (B.S.) is typically earned by students majoring in telecommunications; additional training is available to some students that select a minor in mass communications, computer science, information technology, or another related field.
Students in these degree programs are offered the opportunity to meet general educational prerequisites simultaneously as they study telecommunications applications and theory. Students learn about multimedia, audio, and video production. Students also study standards and practices related to industry and business.
Students learn how to employ critical thinking in analyzing multimedia presentation. Core coursework in a bachelor’s degree program in telecommunications may include topic areas such as the following:
•Policies and regulations in telecommunications
•Statistics
•Telecommunications internship
•Interactive communications systems
•Mass communications systems
•Computing
•Research methods
Continuing Education Choices
Those who complete a bachelor’s degree program may choose to advance their career opportunities through pursuing continuing education by earning a Master of Science (M.S.) in Telecommunication, whereby they can study technical courses, in addition to receiving training in public policies, regulations, and management. Additional training within the coursework of a master’s degree or graduate certificate program typically includes participation in a telecommunications project.
