Communication degrees
Journalism, advertising, audiovisual communication, public relations, announcing, and more: university communication degrees and institute programs are studied in different Spanish-speaking countries.
If you like writing, recording videos, speaking into a microphone, managing your social media, or coming up with an ad idea, there are programs that build on what you already do.
What communication degrees have in common
Almost all of them revolve around one question: how to get a message to the right people, through the right channel, and clearly. That's why they mix theory (how the media and society work) with practice: writing, recording, editing, presenting, putting together a campaign.
In several of them you practice with your own work, such as articles, audiovisual pieces, campaign projects, or radio programs, in addition to exams. Titles, length, and admission requirements change depending on the institution and the country, so check each program before enrolling.
Some sit halfway between fields. Marketing and Advertising overlap with business; Advertising Design with design; and audiovisual ones with art.
Communication degrees
Studying communication
Broad degrees that analyze how messages are produced and circulate in society. They are useful if you want to understand the media before deciding which area to work in: Communication Sciences and Social Communication.
Journalism and words
For those who enjoy writing, researching, asking questions, or communicating with their voice. Includes Journalism, its sports version, announcing, and proofreading.
Image, film, and television
Telling stories with image and sound, whether by writing them, filming them, or making it possible for a program to go on air.
Advertising, marketing, and brands
Thinking about how a product, a company, or a person is presented, and how their image is cared for in front of the public. It mixes creativity with analysis.
Social media and digital content
Creating and maintaining an online community around a brand, a project, or a topic. These are the closest to what many already do on their social media.
Where to study communication
Universidad Abierta Interamericana (UAI)Ciudad Autónoma de Buenos Aires · PrivateJournalismAudiovisual ProductionAdvertisingPublic RelationsFilm and TV ScriptwritingMarketing
Universidad del Salvador (USal)Ciudad Autónoma de Buenos Aires · PrivateMass CommunicationJournalismAdvertisingProofreadingMarketingPublic Relations
Universidad Antonio de Nebrija (UANE)Madrid · PrivateJournalismAudiovisual CommunicationAdvertisingMarketingMass Communication
Universidad Camilo José Cela (UCJC)Madrid · PrivateMass CommunicationAudiovisual CommunicationJournalismAdvertisingMarketing
Universidad CEU San Pablo (CEU)Madrid · PrivateAudiovisual CommunicationCommunication SciencesMarketingJournalismAdvertising
Universidad de Ciencias Empresariales y Sociales (UCES)Ciudad Autónoma de Buenos Aires · PrivateMass CommunicationMarketingJournalismAdvertisingPublic Relations
Universidad de Palermo (UP)Ciudad Autónoma de Buenos Aires · PrivateMarketingJournalismMass CommunicationAdvertisingPublic Relations
Corporación Unificada Nacional de Educación Superior (CUN)Bogotá · PrivateMass CommunicationAudiovisual CommunicationAdvertisingMarketingHow to choose between them
Notice what you do when no one asks you to: if you write texts or stories, if you record and edit videos with your phone, if you like public speaking or recording audio, if you pay attention to how an ad is made, if you run the social media for a group or your school. Each of those habits leads to a different degree.
Then ask yourself which side you want to be on: reporting the information, creating the idea, producing behind the camera, or managing the relationship with the audience. Someone who enjoys looking after the image of others might feel more comfortable in Public Relations than in front of a camera.
If you are torn between Journalism and Audiovisual Communication, or between Advertising and Marketing, compare the subjects in each profile and the admission requirements. You can also take the career test and see which of these degrees fit what you enjoy.
To read before choosing
Frequently asked questions
What is the difference between Social Communication and Journalism?
Social Communication studies the discourses and media of society in general. Journalism focuses on finding information, analyzing reality, and communicating it. Read each profile and compare their subjects.
Do I need to write very well to study communication?
Writing clearly helps in almost all of them, and in several it is central. But the degree also helps you practice it, and there are options where visuals, voice, or creativity matter more.
How long do communication degrees last?
University degrees, like Journalism or Social Communication, tend to be longer than institute programs, like Announcing or Film and TV Scriptwriting. Community Manager is one of the shortest, and almost all university degrees, from Social Communication to Advertising, are similar in length to each other.
Can I study communication if I like visuals more than writing?
Yes. Degrees like Audiovisual Communication or Audiovisual Production work with film, television, and video. Look at what subjects each program includes.
Can I study communication online?
It depends on the program. Some offer online or blended formats, and others require in-person attendance for practical work. Check the format at each institution.