Communication and Media Studies at DeVry University-Illinois

While a traditional liberal arts communications degree often emphasizes theory, DeVry’s program is structured more like a vocational school, focusing on the practical skills corporate employers in the Chicago area demand. You’re not just studying rhetoric; you’re learning to write press releases, manage social media campaigns, and develop internal corporate messaging from day one. This applied-skills approach creates a direct pipeline into entry-level roles at the numerous corporate headquarters, marketing agencies, and PR firms in the Chicagoland economic hub. Graduates are hired for their job-readiness, not their academic pedigree. Your key takeaway: To stand out, you must aggressively build a portfolio of real-world work. Seek internships and freelance projects in corporate communications or digital marketing to prove your skills and make your resume competitive against graduates from more traditional universities.