Communications vs Marketing? Which to choose.

[smrt]

I'm in a quandary. I'm enrolled at TESC, and really want a marketing degree, but accounting and statistics make my head spin. But the best alternative for me is Communications, which isn't as easy to test out of, from what I'm seeing. Both are equally relevant to my career path, and there's no specific preference in my field. I really just want to finish college, because I'm the only one at my company of 40 people who hasn't. But I feel like a copout going for the 'easier' classes because I know if I tried, I could do the harder ones - I just don't really *want* to work harder than necessary.

So that said, my big question for you folks:

Are there additional issues in testing out of a Communications degree that would make it more challenging than BSBA Marketing?

[davewill]

The point of testing out of classes isn't to just skip learning anything, it's to avoid spending time and money on things you already know. If you REALLY want a marketing degree, maybe you should just go ahead and take those accounting and statistics classes the old-fashioned way at your local community college. Then you'll have tutoring, and a live prof with office hours, and fellow students to help you learn the stuff...'cause you can't do marketing without them.

[KayV]

I found this on my computer from back in the day. It's a list of how to fulfill a communications major from 2014-ish. Speech is now a general ed requirement, and I think some of the Business and Managerial Communications classes duplicate. You could replace those with some of the BYU independent study classes though.

I. Area of Study: Communications (33 hours)
1. Straighterline Fundamentals of Speech (COM-108) 3
2. LSU CMST 2010 or Penn Foster Interpersonal Communication (COM-330) 3UL
3. TECEP Intro to News Reporting (JOU-110) 3
4. DSST Principles of Public Speaking (COM-209) 3 (now a General Ed requirement)
5. TECEP Technical Writing (ENG-201) 3
6. TECEP Public Relations Thought & Practice (COM-210) 3
7. TECEP Managerial Communications (COM-373) 3UL
8. Straighterline Business Communications (COM-300) 3UL
9. TECEP Marketing Communications (MAR-321) 3UL
10. LSU Independent Study CMST 2063 Argumentation and Debate (COM-380) 3UL
11. TESC LIB-495 Liberal Arts Capstone 3UL

[mednat]

I'm in a quandary. I'm enrolled at TESC, and really want a marketing degree, but accounting and statistics make my head spin. But the best alternative for me is Communications, which isn't as easy to test out of, from what I'm seeing. Both are equally relevant to my career path, and there's no specific preference in my field. I really just want to finish college, because I'm the only one at my company of 40 people who hasn't. But I feel like a copout going for the 'easier' classes because I know if I tried, I could do the harder ones - I just don't really *want* to work harder than necessary.

So that said, my big question for you folks:

Are there additional issues in testing out of a Communications degree that would make it more challenging than BSBA Marketing?

I don't have experience with the communications degree, but from the BSBA Marketing side, I would say statistics knowledge for a marketing career could be very useful. For stats, I highly recommend Sophia statistics (if you go this way). They mix in research design topics with regular statistics to make it more practical, and also help boost your scores if you don't do well with the pure stats. Depending on your function. Marketing Research should be the base for any marketing plan, and that will (or at least should) involve various statistical measures and should be setup using the same principles used for any research design. For any management position, accounting is useful.

If you're on the creative side, you're right, these will probably not be directly useful.

I'm all for working smart, not hard. However, you may limit yourself in the future by avoiding these two topics completely. With that being said, if you have a creative role and want a degree quickly, you can always take them later if you decide they're useful.

[dfrecore]

You can almost test out of both degrees, although the options will be a little bit more than the $100/test that some degrees offer.

For Communications, you can use UExcel or LowCostGenEd to get the Interpersonal Communications course, then CSU-Global & TECEP's to get the rest of your courses including UL. You will have to take the capstone as well.

For Marketing, you will have to take Marketing Research at LSU-DL ($619), but the remaining courses can be gotten via TECEP, PF or CSU-Global. You will also have to take Stats, I know, it sucks if you hate it and are struggling and it will have NOTHING to do with your career (can you tell I have the same issue?).

I personally don't think there is anything wrong with taking "easier" courses. Really, most people do what they're good at, which makes what they're doing "easier". My husband is an IT guy, and thinks all the computer courses are a breeze, while I am in HR/Finance, and think those types of classes are easy. Neither of us is wrong. And why would we take classes/exams in things we're not good at?

in your circumstance, get whatever degree is the easiest for you to get!!

[smrt]

Thank you all for your food for thought!!

Really, most people do what they're good at, which makes what they're doing "easier".

I like the way you think. The classes that most apply to what I do are ones I already have an aptitude for, so I don't find them as horrific as I do stats. The more I think about it, yes statistics are a big part of what I do, but most of what I do is moving the numbers, not figuring out what they are -- And Communications is how they move.

[KayV]

You could major in Communications, then fill your electives section with business classes. The business classes you already have wouldn't go to waste with a Communications degree.

[cookderosa]

I'm in a quandary. I'm enrolled at TESC, and really want a marketing degree, but accounting and statistics make my head spin. But the best alternative for me is Communications, which isn't as easy to test out of, from what I'm seeing. Both are equally relevant to my career path, and there's no specific preference in my field. I really just want to finish college, because I'm the only one at my company of 40 people who hasn't. But I feel like a copout going for the 'easier' classes because I know if I tried, I could do the harder ones - I just don't really *want* to work harder than necessary.

So that said, my big question for you folks:

Are there additional issues in testing out of a Communications degree that would make it more challenging than BSBA Marketing?

I don't know which degree you need in your career, but let me encourage you to challenge yourself and try hard things. Self esteem is built when you impress yourself.