A major choice: exploring the factors influencing undergraduate choices of Communication major

Naveen Mishra, Abduraoof Ahmed Ismail, Sanaa Juma Al Hadabi
2017 Learning & Teaching in Higher Education: Gulf Perspectives  
This study explores the reasons behind the popularity of majoring in Public Relations as opposed to Journalism or Digital Media among mass communications undergraduates in Oman. It attempts to gain insight into the factors influencing students' decision-making process in selecting their major. It explores factors such as choice of major and sources of information that shape students' knowledge and perception of the majors, using variables such as knowledge of job market, knowledge of
more » ... information sources and personal influences shaping major choice and selection. The study confirms that perception of the job market is a crucial factor in the selection of the majors. It also reveals that family plays a crucial role in influencing students' decision-making process while choosing a major. The study concludes that strengthening the role of the academic advisor and educating students on course content and learning outcomes can increase the acceptance of less popular majors among communication undergraduates. The study is relevant in the context that the falling numbers of student enrolments in some areas of media studies could lead to a decline in teaching and research activities in those areas, in addition to a possible shortfall of specific skilled professionals in the national labour market pool. Mishra, N., Ahmed Ismail, A. & Al Hadabi, S.J. (2017). A major choice: exploring the factors influencing undergraduate choices of Communication major. Learning and Teaching in Higher Education: Gulf Perspectives, 14(2). http://doi.org/10.18538/lthe.v14.n2.292 2 ongoing discussion in devising a mechanism that can help promote the underrepresented majors offered at Sur College of Applied Sciences -hereafter referred to as SUR CAS -by identifying and rectifying the problem areas, including possible major-related misconceptions, misplaced influences, false premises and similar obstacles. This paper, in essence, brings together an analysis of SUR CAS students' perceptions of the three communication majors, Journalism, Public Relations, and Digital Media, and an overview of the student decision-making process, with a focus on the possible areas of intervention relevant to developing a mechanism for preparing SUR CAS students to make an informed choice of a college degree programme. The study explores existing factors according to which students choose their major and the degree to which these factors influence students' decision-making process.
doi:10.18538/lthe.v14.n2.292 fatcat:75z7if4ycbex3b2257lm3tb6l4