COMM 401 - Organizational Comm

Credit(s): 3-6
3-6 hours lecture, 3-6 hours contact
Prerequisite(s): An intermediate level communications course.
This seminar explores the structure and function of communication in modern, industrialized human organizations. Students will analyze information flow patterns – horizontal, upward, downward, and network patterns and how such patterns influence social and power relationships. Students will also examine the four general functions of communication in the organization such as innovation, organization performance, organization maintenance, and the human function. Students will learn how roles, functions, and organizational effectiveness are influenced by communication. They will also become familiar with the standards of organizational communication audits as prescribed by the International Communication Association (ICA). Authors to be read include: Grunig, Drucker, Weik Redding, Jablin and others. A Life Arts Project is required.

Only open to students in the B.A. Liberal Arts and Sciences program.