Undergraduate | Careers in CMCL
The Power of the Liberal Arts
If you choose a liberal arts education, you should understand at least two things. First, the question is not, "What careers can I can I get into with this major?" but rather, "How do I choose from among all the career paths open to me?" Second, the major is not directly linked to a career. Therefore, the key factor for you in choosing a major or a minor should be your interest in the classes, as this more than any other factor will drive your intellectual engine throughout your college career. It is also a good habit to cultivate in life - do the things you love!
A liberal arts education emphasizes strategic, critical, and flexible thinking, as well as excellent communication skills. In other words, it offers a strong intellectual foundation in the changing world and work environment of the 21st century. The education you will receive as a CMCL major is not intended to be a "nuts and bolts" or "how-to" sort of preparation for a single line of work; on the contrary, it is intended to help you develop new ways of thinking, learning, and communicating that open doors to a wide variety of careers in the business, professional, and public spheres. The skills you will learn as a student of the liberal arts in Communication and Culture will provide and enduring foundation as you adapt to change in the workplace and in life.
Internship Opportunities
The range of options available to CMCL majors wishing to gain professional experience while studying at IU is unusually rich. Students have held internships in a diverse group of organizations and corporations, including motion picture production companies, investment banking firms, marketing ventures, film festivals, museums, and television and radio stations - just to name a few! With contacts in the Bloomington area, across Indiana, and throughout the country, our majors can choose from innumerable internship opportunities.
Academic credit is available for most internships. Click here for more information and to access an application.
Career Options
Recent CMCL graduates have been employed in a diverse array of fields, including public relations and marketing, financial services, higher education administration, health care industry management, the pharmaceutical industry, event planning, real estate, and the non-profit sector. Others have attended graduate school and still others have joined community service efforts like Teach for America or the Peace Corps.
Here is a partial list of career possibilities obtained from CMCL alumni and the National Communication Association. Remember: it is but a sample of careers possible with a CMCL degree.
| Advertising or marketing specialist | Diversity trainer | Lawyer |
| Mediator/negotiator | Producer | Paralegal |
| Public health advocate | Researcher | Media planner |
| Public relations specialist | Business manager | Media buyer |
| Philanthropic representative | Lobbyist | Critic |
| Media sales representative | Media analyst | Researcher |
| Publicity or advertising manager | Campaign Coordinator | Editor |
| College or university professor | Creative director | Museum curator |
| Community relations director | Public opinion researcher | Teacher |
| Market researcher | Public affairs specialist | Film/tape librarian |
| Advertising sales coordinator | Cinematographer | Fund-raising Consultant |
| Film/TV producer | Creative director | Media analyst |
| Public relations manager | Audience analyst | Screenwriter |
| Writer or Author | Labor relations representative | Scriptwriter |
| Copy editor | Communication trainer | Archivist |
| Script writer | Acquisitions editor | Filmmaker |
| Copy writer | Reporter | Film/TV director |
| Press Agent | Director of communication | Sound editor |
| Publicist | Nonprofit organizer | Film/TV editor |
| Diplomat | Foreign relations officer | Event planner |
| Environmental advocate |
Additional Resources: The IU Career Development Center
The professional staff at this center offers a wide variety of services to help IU students reach their academic and career goals, including: Career Counseling Services; job placement assistance; a comprehensive Career Resource Library; 2-credit, 8-week courses on career exploration and job search strategies for liberal arts majors; and a variety of themed career fairs. For more information, visit their website.
