Bonafide Marketing Genius

Marketing & Communications Online Courses: What’s the Difference?

Whether you’re starting or looking to advance your career, an online degree can help you gain skills that you can put to use right away.

An online degree isn’t the same as a traditional one. You won’t be taking classes in a brick-and-mortar building, and you won’t necessarily be gaining job skills directly related to your field of study. However, with a little bit of research, you can find the right marketing & communications course for your needs.

Traditional vs. Online

Traditional education consists of students traveling to class in person, with courses typically lasting for several weeks. This system relies heavily on the professor, with face-to-face interaction being vital to the learning process.

In contrast, online education exists when students are able to access course materials from anywhere with an internet connection. Typically, this will be from a personal computer or mobile device.

The advantages of online education are that you can study anywhere you please, whenever you please. You don’t need to be concerned with missing class or not having enough time to learn everything.

The disadvantages of online education are that you won’t be able to physically interact with your professor or classmates. In addition, the course material is sometimes less accessible, and you won’t be able to verify your understanding of the subject matter through direct interaction with the teacher.

What’s the Difference?

The main difference between a traditional and an online education is that the first one occurs in a physical location (a classroom), while the second one takes place entirely online.

In addition to this, online courses tend to be, well, online. You’ll be studying the theory behind marketing and communications and applying what you learn in practice through assignments and projects. This means that you’ll be doing a lot of reading, and more importantly, a lot of thinking.

Traditional education, in contrast, is often referred to as “fluff ‘n’ puff”, with students being given plenty of “breadth without depth” in the form of general knowledge lessons. This approach can help you get a good grasp of the fundamentals of a subject matter, but it doesn’t teach you how to apply what you learn in practical terms.

So, if you’re looking for an education that will help you get a job, consider an online degree. You won’t learn the same exact things as someone with a traditional degree, but you will be able to learn the necessary skills to get a job in your field of study.

Marketing & Communications

If you’re looking for a career path that will take you some place, consider marketing and communications. There is a demand for marketing and communications professionals in many different industries, ranging from advertising to public relations to social media. Some of the jobs that are currently available are listed below.

An MBA in Marketing and Communications can prepare you for a career in one of the following industries:

  • Marketing
  • Public Relations
  • Advertising
  • Business Analysis
  • Sales Management
  • Strategic Marketing
  • Operations Management
  • Digital Marketing
  • Charity/Non-Profit Marketing
  • Community Marketing
  • Market Research
  • E-Commerce Marketing
  • Inbound Marketing
  • Social Media
  • Online Marketing

Many employers will also appreciate applicants that have a sense of humor. So if you can add a humorous twist to your resume, you’ll make it easier for employers to remember you!

Communications

If you want to get ahead in your field, consider communications. This field is often referred to as “spin doctoring” and has become absolutely vital in the political arena, with many important people in politics holding press secretaries who are solely focused on dealing with the media.

Other than politics, the public relations industry holds a lot of promise for those who want to get ahead in their fields. PR professionals are in high demand, and some of the jobs that are currently available are listed below.

  • Public Relations
  • Communications
  • New Product Development
  • Operations Management
  • Strategic Marketing
  • E-Commerce Marketing
  • Advertising Agency Management
  • Content Marketing Strategy
  • Digital Marketing

The demand for communications professionals is expected to grow by 12% by 2022.

An online degree in communications allows you to study at your own pace. You don’t have to be at a particular location, and you don’t have to commit to following a particular schedule.

In addition to this, communications professors often encourage their students to seek out internships and relevant field experience, which can help you gain valuable job prospects once you complete your studies.

Summing Up

If you’re looking for an affordable yet high-quality education that can help you get a job, consider an online degree in marketing or communications. In these fields, there is a lot of career opportunity, and some of the industries that are currently most in demand are listed above.