May 15, 2024  
ARCHIVED 2015-2016 Undergraduate Catalog 
    
ARCHIVED 2015-2016 Undergraduate Catalog [ARCHIVED CATALOG]

Organizational Communication, B.A.


This interdisciplinary program focuses on communication in professional settings, emphasizing historical and contemporary perspectives on the multitude of communicative practices that constitute organizational life. Students learn to think critically about communication in organizations, as well as develop specific skills for the presentation and analysis of organizational messages. Selected courses from other fields complement a core set of courses. Depending on the courses selected as well as coursework in a minor, students are prepared for positions in business, industry, non-profit, community and governmental organizations, and may take career paths in internal corporate communication, human resources, training and development, media and community relations, public relations, sales and marketing, customer service, community advocacy, technical communication and management.

Major Requirements:


This major consists of a minimum of 45 credit hours, including 10 core courses and five specialty courses as specified below.

Five specialty courses:


Recommended Course Sequence:


FIRST YEAR:
(9 hours)

SECOND YEAR:
(9-12 hours)
 

THIRD YEAR:
(12-15 hours)
FOURTH YEAR:
(12-15 hours)

 
  • SPC 230  (or junior year)
  • SPC 430  (or junior year)
  • SPC 185 , SPC 200  or SPC 260  
  • Second advanced communication course
  • Second advanced writing course
  • Second specialty course

 

Recommended Minors:


This major is compatible with a number of fields, and in order to develop expertise in a subject related to their career goals, students are encouraged to pursue a minor. Related minors include Marketing International Business , Human Resource Management , Journalism , Interactive Media Studies , Leadership Conflict Resolution Social Change Leadership , Psychology , Sociology , Gender and Women’s Studies , Global Studies , Political Science  and Urban and Suburban Studies . Other minors may be appropriate; students should consult with their academic advisor.

Recommended Internship:


The faculty highly recommends that majors incorporate field experience working in a professional environment with their program of study by completing at least one internship during their junior and/or senior year. Students should work with their academic advisor and Career Services to identify appropriate internship opportunities, and  they should consult the department’s current internship policy if they wish to receive academic credit for the experience.