University of St. Thomas

When asked what one word best describes the business communication major at St. Thomas, a faculty member replied, “adaptable.”

A real student asks:

 

With whom do business communication majors communicate? What does a job in this field entail?

A business communication faculty member responds: “Business is about communicating—with customers, colleagues, suppliers, government agencies, etc. The business communication program gives its graduates the tools to effectively and efficiently communicate within and outside an organization. Public Relations is a popular career path; however, most hire business communication majors (e.g., marketing, training, operations) since all need to manage their communication processes. Our graduates can pursue virtually any position in an organization, with the exception of those with highly technical requirements such as accounting.”

What jobs are possible with a Business Communication major?

What are recent graduates doing now?

One recent graduate is employed with a large insurance firm, working with small businesses on meeting their insurance needs. Her communications skills resulted in the company training her on the details of its products because it recognized the importance of being able to explain their products to business clients and understand their clients’ needs.

What opportunities are there to bolster my resume while I'm in the program?

Internships. Because UST is located in the heart of a thriving business community, there are many opportunities for internships. Companies such as Target, Best Buy and 3M regularly employ our business students in a variety of work assignments.

Study abroad. Business students have many options for studying abroad as part of their business program. Many of our business students have done semester-long studies in London, Ireland, Rome, Madrid, Seville and Trier, Germany.

With a global business marketplace, study abroad opportunities give students the chance to experience different cultures. From these experiences, they bring a multicultural aspect to their organizational experiences. Moreover, study abroad helps students grow and learn about themselves, an important process for any leader or manager.

Faculty at work

Members of the Management Department are actively engaged in consulting with local and regional businesses. This keeps them current with the latest business practices, which they integrate into their teaching. They also are conducting research in areas such as human resource strategy, student intercultural development resulting from studying abroad, mid-career development and intercultural team development.