A BA in Journalism and Mass Communication (BA JMC) is designed to help students focus on different areas of the media industry. Some of the common specializations are broadcast journalism, print media, digital media, advertising, public relations and corporate communication as well as filmmaking. In addition, many universities offer elective courses in later semesters which let students hone in on their particular interests. The same goes for internships, projects, and other hands-on activities that prepare students for their area of specialization so that they are ready to engage the industry.
The possibility of specializing while undertaking a BA JMC significantly increases a student’s employment potential as it gives the student abundant as well as targeted knowledge and skills. For example, students passionate about digital journalism can focus on content writing, social media marketing, and even data journalism, whereas students leaning toward advertising can emphasize branding, copywriting, and campaign management. Specialization also allows targeted portfolio development, a necessity when looking for a job in a competitive field. In the end, how specialized a student can be depends largely on the structure of the course as well as the policies of the particular university.