Organizational Communication, B.S.
The bachelor of science (B.S.) degree program in organizational communication provides specialized, interdisciplinary instruction in professional aptitudes associated with workplace and community roles, teaching students to communicate effectively and ethically in modern organizations. This degree program offers two concentration options in partnership with the Pamplin School of Business Administration, each explaining key concepts and practices that underlie human and technical organizational communication systems.
The leadership and global sustainability concentration teaches conceptual understandings and competencies in collaborative leadership skills for a variety of 21st century organizational contexts, where “global” references concern for community and local organizing as well as international relationships, and “sustainable” emphasizes sustainable workplaces, relationships, and environments.
The organizing and public relations concentration teaches the conceptual understandings and skill competencies needed to organize, coordinate, and promote for-profit and not-for-profit organizations as well as social issues.
This degree prepares students for specialized graduate study in communication and related fields, and for professional work in several organizational roles and contexts.
University Requirements - 39 hours
See Core Curriculum
College Requirements - 6 hours
See College Requirements BS
Degree Requirements
Organizational Communication Requirements — 54 hours
Each of the following six courses (18 hours):
| CST 101 | Introduction to Communication Studies | 3 |
| CST 107 | Effective Public Speaking | 3 |
| CST 233 | Introduction to Organizational Communication Theory | 3 |
| BUS 200 | Principles of Marketing | 3 |
| CST 225 | Fundamentals of Interpersonal Communication | 3 |
| CST 332 | Collaborative Group Leadership | 3 |
6 credits - Two of the following three CST research methods courses (6 hours):
| CST 300 | Communication Research | 3 |
| CST 320 | Rhetorical Theory and Criticism | 3 |
| CST 334 | Qualitative Communication Research | 3 |
9 credits - Three upper-division CST courses students choose in consultation with their academic advisors
21 Credits - In consultation with their academic advisors, students take seven upper-division courses from among CST and BUS courses listed within either of these advisory concentrations. Students can mix courses from either concentration. A minimum of 6 credit hours must be BUS courses; a maximum of 9 credit hours can be BUS courses (21 hours total).
Choose Organizing and Public Relations
Take any seven of these, honoring relevant prerequisites:
or Leadership and Global Sustainability
Take any seven of these, honoring relevant prerequisites:
| CST 307 | Advanced Public Speaking | 3 |
| CST 327 | Argumentation and Advocacy | 3 |
| CST 333 | Applied Organizational Communication Skills | 3 |
| CST 352 | News Writing and Reporting | 3 |
| CST 401 | Rhetoric of Politics and Social Movements | 3 |
| CST 402 | Social Media and Cultures | 3 |
| CST 410 | Communication Theory | 3 |
| CST 411 | Communication Across Barriers | 3 |
| CST 416 | Negotiation and Conflict Management | 3 |
| CST 431 | Intercultural Communication and Identity | 3 |
| CST 433 | Advanced Organizational Communication | 3 |
| CST 391 | Seminar | Variable |
| Or | |
| CST 491 | Seminar | Variable |
| Or | |
| CST 492 | Seminar | Variable |
| BUS 360 | Cross-Cultural Management & Social Responsibility | 3 |
| BUS 364 | Innovation | 3 |
| BUS 376 | Sustainable Marketing | 3 |
| BUS 385 | Opportunity Assessment | 3 |
| BUS 443 | International Marketing Management | 3 |
| BUS 474 | Digital Marketing | 3 |
| BUS 486 | Venture Launch | 3 |
| BUS 487 | Social Entrepreneurship | 3 |
Total Credit Hours: 120
General Electives — 21-24 hours (3 hours of which must be upper-division coursework)