SC&I Courses

This course focuses in how decision-making happens within and between organizations. The course focuses on how communicative action and communication networks shape decision-making processes and outcomes. The course addresses the design of effective decision-making systems. Topics in include individual & group decision-making, problem-solving, conflict management, decision and negotiation support systems, decision-making in virtual and networked organizations, and the role of technology in decision-making.

The key issues explored in this course concern the management of interorganizational relationships and projection of organizational reputation, image, and identity to external audiences. The course begins with identification and specification of the external environment(s) of organizations. Readings and discussion explore interorganizational relationships, boundary-spanning communication, and management of external stakeholder relationships.

This course is an advanced masters-level course focused on the diverse array of topics studies in organizational communication research. We will examine the role of communication in issues of socialization and identification; power, conflict and control; decision making and leadership; ethics, performance, and feedback; turnover, burnout, and exit; culture; structure and networks; as well as image and reputation. It is based on theory and research, but will also address application.

Development of familiarity with the major theoretical and research orientations to the study of organizational culture. How the construction and management of "culture" is related to power, the representation of interests, decision making, productivity, personnel development, and social well-being. Investigate cross-cultural relations and cultural change related to global organizational developments.

Analysis and preparation of case studies in industry, labor, education, government, and trade organizations, and the application of public relations techniques.

This course will provide a theoretical orientation to communication processes in social media (e.g., Facebook, Twitter, blogs, wikis, and virtual worlds such as Second Life). Readings will be selected from a variety of disciplines, with a major emphasis on mediated communication theory and phenomena. Topics discussed include issues of self-presentation, identity, privacy, youth and social media, political participation, social networks, social capital, virtual worlds, collective action, uses of social media in the workplace. Methodological and ethical approaches to studying social media data will also be discussed.

The focus of this course is on being able to clearly communicate the "why" behind each of the four steps in the Public Relations process - Research, Planning, Implementation, and Evaluation. The course will focus on three essential components of PR strategy: informed campaign design, clear messaging, and efficient measurement and evaluation. In addition, the course will address the changing nature of the industry and the challenges and opportunities presented that require PR practitioners to be proactive and flexible regarding strategy.  The course is designed to teach advanced public relations skills and features readings, discussion, research, and practice in public relations. It builds on the public relations knowledge and techniques studied in previous courses, therefore requires higher-level/ critical thinking and evaluation and clear application of concepts.

This course explores various approaches to ethical behaviors and decision-making and applies them to diverse aspects of strategic communication in professional settings. Students will learn to discern a wide variety of ethical issues concerning communication behavior, apply systematic ethical analysis to various organizational situations, and clearly explain their analyses. The course applies abstract principles to specific cases in applied ethics (deductive approach) as well as using a bottom-up (inductive approach) in developing students’ ethical decision-making skills. Students will use the learned knowledge of moral decision-making and begin exploring contemporary topics in strategic communication ethics, such as political communication, public relations, advertising, marketing and health communication.

Principles and practices in organizational communication and quality assessment in industry, health care, government, and education. Topics include: surveys (communication audits and inventories), Baldrige-based assessment (criteria and application), interpretive approaches (historical analysis, participant observation, and in-depth and focus-group interviewing), and message analysis (content and interaction).

Applications and policy implications of innovative communication and information-processing technology in business, government, and education; emphasis on political, economic, and legal aspects.