Corporate and Organizational Communication, Bachelor of Arts (522P, 522)

Department website: http://www.wku.edu/communication

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:

1. Completion of a minimum of 24 hours of coursework applicable to a baccalaureate degree;
2. A minimum overall grade point average of 2.3;
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.

Course List

Code	Title	Hours
Corporate Communication Core Courses: 2		21
COMM 200	Communication Foundations
COMM 300	Introduction to Communication Research Methods
or PS 302	Research Design in Political Science
or SOCL 302	Social Research Methods
COMM 346	Persuasion
COMM 349	Small Group Communication
COMM 362	Organizational Communication
COMM 462	Advanced Organizational Communication
COMM 489	Internship in Communication
Required Corporate Communication Electives:
Select two courses from Message Strategy category: 1		6
AD 240	Advertising in a Digital World
MKT 220	Basic Marketing Concepts
PR 255	Fundamentals of Public Relations
COMM 260	Organizational Interviewing
COMM 345	Advanced Public Speaking
COMM 364	Crisis Communication
COMM 388	Seminar in Political Communication
COMM 451	Communication in the Digital Age
Select two courses from the Human Relations Category:		6
COMM 330	Leadership Communication
COMM 470	Organizational Relationships
COMM 471	Communication in Multinational Organizations
MGT 311	Human Resource Management
MGT 333	Management of Nonprofit Organizations
MKT 325	Personal Selling
PSYS 370	Industrial / Organizational Psychology
PSY 371	The Psychology of Sales Behavior
Select one course from the Writing Proficiency Category:		3
COMM 212	Intro Digital Texts and Media
or ENG 212	Introduction to Digital Texts and Media
ENG 203	Creative Writing
ENG 301	Argument and Analysis in Written Discourse
ENG 306	Business Writing
JOUR 202	Introduction to News Writing
MGT 261	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