COMM 401 - Organizational Communication

Credit(s): 6 credits for students who began the program prior to Spring 2019 and 3 credits for students who began the program in Spring 2019 and Fall 2019
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.