Corporate and Organizational Communication, Bachelor of Arts (522P, 522)
Program Coordinator
Holly J. Payne, holly.payne@wku.edu, (270) 745-5876
The Corporate and Organizational Communication major prepares students to understand and apply communication theories and concepts that explain human interaction in the workplace and guide the formulation of messages for the organization and its constituencies in a wide range of situations. Students investigate how individuals influence and are influenced by organizations and their members as well as how stakeholders’ personal communication competencies affect participation in and quality of organizational life and society. In a pre-professional program, students engage in a solid core of organizational communication courses and are exposed to complementary courses focusing on message strategy, human relations, critical thinking, and proficient writing. Elective courses in the major are carefully chosen with an advisor to ensure the student receives the necessary background to succeed in an organizational setting.
Specific objectives of the Corporate and Organizational Communication major:
- To build competence in critically analyzing communication within organizations;
- To develop skill in assessing internal and external communication needs;
- To obtain proficiency in understanding audience differences and developing strategic communication plans accordingly.
Program Requirements (36 hours)
A baccalaureate degree requires a minimum of 120 unduplicated semester hours. More information can be found at www.wku.edu/registrar/degree_certification.php.
Students who began WKU in the Fall 2014 and thereafter should review the Colonnade requirements located at: https://www.wku.edu/colonnade/colonnaderequirements.php.
Admission Requirements
Students wishing to enter the major in Corporate and Organizational Communication initially are admitted as majors seeking admission (reference 522P). Prospective majors may take no more than 15 hours in the major before admission. Students must meet the following requirements before they can be admitted:
- Completion of a minimum of 24 hours of coursework applicable to a baccalaureate degree;
- A minimum overall grade point average of 2.3;
- Completion of COMM 200 with a grade of "C" or better.
All courses in the major must be completed with a grade of "C" or better. At least one-half of the hours in the major must be at the 300 or 400 level.
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Corporate Communication Core Courses: 2 | 21 | |
| Communication Foundations | ||
| Introduction to Communication Research Methods | ||
or AD 300 | Research in Advertising and Public Relations | |
or PS 302 | Research Design in Political Science | |
or SOCL 302 | Social Research Methods | |
or PR 321 | Communications Analytics in Public Relations and Advertising | |
| Persuasion | ||
| Small Group Communication | ||
| Organizational Communication | ||
| Advanced Organizational Communication | ||
| Internship in Communication | ||
| Required Corporate Communication Electives: | ||
| Select two courses from Message Strategy category: 1 | 6 | |
| Digital Tools | ||
| Advertising in a Digital World | ||
| Basic Marketing Concepts | ||
| Fundamentals of Public Relations | ||
| Advanced Public Speaking | ||
| Crisis Communication | ||
| Seminar in Political Communication | ||
| Communication in the Digital Age | ||
| Leading Change | ||
| Leadership Ethics and Decision-Making | ||
| Select two courses from the Human Relations Category: | 6 | |
| Leadership Communication | ||
| Organizational Relationships | ||
or COMM 348 | Interpersonal Communication | |
| Communication in Multinational Organizations | ||
| Leadership Theory and Application | ||
| Organization and Management | ||
| Human Resource Management | ||
| Management of Nonprofit Organizations | ||
| Personal Selling | ||
| Industrial / Organizational Psychology | ||
| The Psychology of Sales Behavior | ||
| Select one course from the Writing Proficiency Category: | 3 | |
| Introduction to Digital Texts and Media | ||
or ENG 212 | Introduction to Digital Texts and Media | |
| Creative Writing | ||
| Argument and Analysis in Written Discourse | ||
| Business Writing | ||
| Introduction to News Writing | ||
| Business Communication Fundamentals | ||
| Total Hours | 36 | |
- 1
Only one course may be taken at the 200-level in the Message Strategy Category.
- 2
With departmental approval, students may opt to substitute one of the following courses in fullfillment of a Corporate Communication elective:COMM 400, COMM 415, COMM 495. A minor, certificate or second major is required; neither the Communication Studies minor nor the Communication Studies major may be used to fulfill this requirement.
Finish in Four Plan - Corporate and Organizational Communication (522)
| First Year | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Fall | Hours | Spring | Hours |
| COMM 145 | 3 | ENG 100 | 3 |
| MATH 109 (or higher) | 3 | PS 110 or SOCL 100 (OR other Colonnade: Social & Behavioral Sciences) | 3 |
| Colonnade: Arts & Humanities | 3 | HIST 101 or HIST 102 | 3 |
| World Language, if needed OR General Elective | 3 | Colonnade: Natural & Physical Sciences w/lab | 3 |
| Colonnade: Natural & Physical Sciences | 3 | World Language, if needed OR General Elective | 3 |
| 15 | 15 | ||
| Second Year | |||
| Fall | Hours | Spring | Hours |
| COMM 200 | 3 | COMM Message Strategy Elective | 3 |
| ENG 200 or RELS 200 | 3 | 2nd Major/Certificate/Minor Course | 3 |
| Colonnade: Connections (Systems) | 3 | Colonnade: Connections (Local to Global) | 3 |
| 2nd Major/Certificate/Minor Course | 3 | Colonnade: Connections (Social & Cultural) | 3 |
| General Elective | 3 | General Elective | 3 |
| 15 | 15 | ||
| Third Year | |||
| Fall | Hours | Spring | Hours |
| COMM 300, PS 301, or SOCL 302 | 3 | COMM 346 | 3 |
| COMM 362 | 3 | COMM 349 | 3 |
| COMM Human Relations Elective | 3 | COMM Writing Proficiency Elective | 3 |
| 2nd Major/Certificate/Minor Course | 3 | 2nd Major/Certificate/Minor Course | 3 |
| General Elective | 3 | General Elective | 3 |
| 15 | 15 | ||
| Fourth Year | |||
| Fall | Hours | Spring | Hours |
| COMM 462 | 3 | COMM 489 | 3 |
| COMM Message Strategy Elective | 3 | COMM Human Relations Elective | 3 |
| 2nd Major/Certificate/Minor Course | 3 | 2nd Major/Certificate/Minor Course | 3 |
| 2nd Major/Certificate/Minor Course | 3 | General Elective | 3 |
| General Elective | 3 | General Elective | 3 |
| 15 | 15 | ||
| Total Hours 120 | |||