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Business Communication
Business Communication Faculty
Full-Time: Sarah Crist, Nancy Curtin, Carrie Trimble
Major in Business Communication
With a Business Communication degree, students will craft and deliver the critical messages of a business to their essential stakeholders – their customers, employees, and investors. Students who major in Business Communication will have the communication skills and business acumen to identify organizational objectives, understand stakeholders, and convey meaningful insight and information. Students who complete a degree in Business Communication will be selfdirected team players who show initiative and accept responsibility of their communication work, which could include writing and posting blogs, creating press releases, proofing and editing, tracking metrics and maintaining business digital media platforms like LinkedIn, Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, Pinterest, and Instagram.
Learning Goals for the Digital Media Marketing Major:
• Students will demonstrate the ability to communicate in professional contexts through appropriate verbal, nonverbal, and mediated formats before diverse and varied audiences. • Students will distinguish the theories pertinent to communication studies and demonstrate the skills needed to create, present, analyze, and evaluate communication messages in relevant contexts and recommend strategic alterations to reach stated objectives. • Students will demonstrate critical thinking skills when generating, consuming, and evaluating messages in relevant business communication contexts. • Students will build a portfolio of practical experience.
Career Opportunities
A degree in Business Communication will prepare students for versatile careers in communication, marketing, and public relations fields. Specific career roles may include communication specialist, communication manager, fundraiser, talent acquisition/recruiting, customer relations, sales consultant, professional/corporate trainer and social media manager.
Requirements for the Major
Business Requirements (25 credits)
ET100. Business Creation (3) IS120. Intro to Business Analytics (3) ET230. Financial Decision Making (3) EC120. Principles of Economics (3) BU250. Written Business Communication (3) MK200. Principles of Marketing (3) FI300. Personal Finance (3) ET235. Customer Discovery (3) MG300. Organizational Behavior and Change (3)
Communication Core (18 credits)
CO101. Communication Theory (3) CO204. Communication Research Methods (3) CO341. Organizational Communication (3) CO432. Intercultural Communication (3) MK363. Brand Loyalty thru Digital Media (3) CO480. Communication Internship OR MK471 Digital Media Marketing Internship
Business Communication Electives (choose 15 credits)
AT110. Intro to Digital Media (3) CO251. Intro to Public Relations (3) CO360. Crisis Communication (3) CO343. Communication and Conflict (3) CO332. Gender Communication (3) EN305. Web Publishing (3) MK307. IMC Campaigns (3) MK308. Consumer Behavior & Analytics (3) MK310. Personal Selling & Sales Management (3) MK330. Event Planning (3) OL344. Organizational Leadership (3) PS130. Intro to Psych (3) PS305. Social Psychology (3) PS332. Memory & Cognition (3) PS315. Perception (3) SO313. Multiculturalism & Diversity (3) Other Communication or DMM courses as approved by chair
Communication www.millikin.edu/communication
Communication Department Faculty
Full-Time: Sarah Crist, Nancy Curtin
The drive to communicate forms the basis of human social behavior and is a critical element of any organization or field of employment, regardless of technological advancement or change. The study of communication provides the student with the knowledge and skills necessary to succeed in a rapidly changing society. Classes in communication, which blend theory, methodology, and practice, are central to the investigation and understanding of communicative processes.
Communication majors move on to careers in advertising, business, event planning, media, public relations, publishing, sales, training and development, and others. Recent graduates are now working for radio and TV stations, attending graduate school, planning media events, working in universities, organizing PR campaigns, trading commodities, and much more. A strong liberal arts background and intensive work in all aspects of communication uniquely qualify graduates for innumerable positions.
Outside the classroom, students are encouraged to engage in practical application of their studies. All students have the opportunity to work at the campus radio station, WJMU or the Decaturian. Off campus experiences, via internships, service learning projects, or study abroad programs are particularly valuable for the major and minor.
A student can earn either a B. A. or B. S. degree in the Communication major. Please refer to The Bachelor of Arts (B.A.) and The Bachelor of Science (B. S.) degree requirements listed in the bulletin.
To complete the major:
1. Complete all Communication Core classes. 2. Complete the General Communication Studies option or a specific Communication concentration option.
Communication Core
All majors must take the following foundation courses (21 credit hours): CO 101. Introduction to Communication Theory (3 credits) Oral Communication requirement CO 200 (3 credits) CO 204. Communication Research Methods (3 credits) CO 210. Communication Career Lab (2 credits) CO 308. Communication Ethics & Freedom of Expression or other approved ethics course (3 credits) CO 480. Capstone Internship Seminar (3 credits) CO 481. Communication Capstone Seminar (1 credit) Any writing course (beyond IN 180) (3 credits)
Communication majors must earn a C or above in the following courses:
CO 101. Introduction to Communication Theory CO 204. Communication Research Methods Oral Communication requirement (CO 200 or CO 230) Writing requirement (beyond IN 180)
If a Communication major does not earn a C or above in any one of these classes, s/he must repeat the class (or its equivalent) until s/he earns a C or higher.
General Communication Studies:
Students completing the General Communication Studies option take an additional 18 credits in communication electives, 12 of which must be 300/400 level courses. EN280 counts toward Communication elective hours (maximum 3 credit hours).
Health Communication Certificate
Students who complete a Health Communication Certificate will accomplish the following: • Study the role of communication in the ways that humans understand, develop, promote, and maintain health, as well as prevent, diagnose, and treat illness. • Engage in the application of knowledge in diverse health care contexts and issues. • Possible career paths: health promotion, public health, community outreach and education, medical office manager, pharmaceutical sales, patient advocate, public relations for a health care organization.
Requirements for the Health Communication Certificate Required Courses (6 credits):
CO 255. Communicating about Health (cross-listed as IN 251) CO 455. Culture and Health (cross-listed as IN 350)
Electives (6 credits; (all must be Communication courses)
Topics courses approved by chair
Minor in Communication
The minor in communication requires a minimum of 21 credits, including CO 101, Introduction to Communication Theory, and at least 12 credits in courses numbered 300 or above.
Communication Courses (CO) (Credits)
CO101. Introduction to Communication Theory (3)
Introduces students to the communication discipline and the systematic study of human communication. Emphasis is placed on providing students with the theoretical grounding necessary for future work in the Department of Communication. In the course of the semester, they will also meet department faculty, learn about their scholarly interests and explore career opportunities.
CO110. Introduction to the Radio Industry (3)
Study of practical and theoretical applications of radio production techniques, including performance, programming, editing, sales and management.
CO181. WJMU Radio Laboratory (1)
Students enroll in this course to earn credit for their work at WJMU.
CO200. Public Speaking (3)
Theory and practice in speech preparation and delivery. Emphasis is on inquiry, evidence, reasoning and decision making. Fulfills the University Studies Oral Communication Requirement.
CO204. Communication Research Methods (3)
Introduces students to the varied research methodologies, both quantitative and qualitative, used in the communication discipline. Specific attention is paid to representative scholarship from the discipline to facilitate student understanding of the sources and applications of communication knowledge.
CO210. Communication Career Lab (2)
This course is designed to enhance student self-discovery that leads to identifying one’s meaning and purpose. Students will engage in the career exploration process, learn to make informed career decisions, and how to develop and pursue career goals. Focus will be placed on each phase of the career development process via a holistic model that emphasizes career development as a lifelong process and encourages career self-management (owning your career). Students will also learn workplace expectations and the skills needed to succeed on the job, including Career Readiness Competencies from the National Association of Colleges and Employers.
CO220. Introduction to Video Production (3)
Designed to provide students with television production techniques as they pertain to single camera, electronic news gathering (ENG) and documentaries. Storyboarding, editing skills and script writing are emphasized. Production techniques under direct supervision of instructor will aid the student producer in creating news features and/or a documentary or original design.
CO225. Media History (3)
Media consumption and interaction are essential elements of citizenship in our ever-increasingly broadcast and streamed global culture. This course is designed as an exploration of the historical effects and role(s) of the mass media, particularly in western culture. The major forms of mass communication i.e. books, periodicals, recorded music, film, radio, television, and the internet will be covered. Special emphasis will be placed on critical analysis of how media messages have impacted individuals and societies, and on theories of communication. Students will move beyond being “consumers” of media to becoming “analysts” of media and its importance in the development of the contemporary culture.
CO230. Business Conversations (3)
Students will practice the skills necessary for interpersonal and group communication in business settings. This includes the use of communication technologies for presentations and meetings. Fulfills the University Studies Oral Communication Studies Requirement.
CO242. Business and Professional Communication (3)
The focus is on developing a working knowledge of the theory and skills for interpersonal, groups and teams, informative and persuasive presentations, and the use of communication technologies in business and professional presentations. Fulfills the University Studies Oral Communication requirement.
CO251. Introduction to Public Relations (3)
Covers basic public relations principles and tools such as research, planning, media relations, press releases, public service announcements, brochures, newsletters, layout and printing techniques, position papers, and special events.
CO 255. Communicating about Health (3)
In this course, you will gather a basic understanding of the principles of health communication research and theory. We will explore the U.S. healthcare system, discuss foundational and contemporary theory and research in the field of health communication, and examine the applied value of health communication research, theory, and practice. Course topics will center on health communication history and policy, interpersonal communication surrounding health, and mediated messages about health. You will leave the course prepared to utilize knowledge of the study of health communication in academic and applied settings.
CO260. Seminar in Communication (1-3) Per Semester
Topics to be announced each year but may include topics such as media and culture, nonverbal communication and communication in close relationships.
CO 281. WJMU Radio Laboratory II (1)
Students enroll in this course to earn credit for their work at WJMU.
CO306. Topics in Discourse Studies (3)
Critical studies of discourse in social context. Topics might include ethnic minority portrayals in the mass media, representations of law in popular culture, and the discourse concerning popular culture.
CO308. Communication Ethics & Freedom of Expression (3)
Considers the place of communication in the human situation, critically evaluates theories of ethics, takes up at least one significant problem in applied communication ethics, and makes an examination of some of the famous texts concerning freedom of expression.
CO310. Small Group Communication (3)
Designed to provide students with an understanding of theory, research and methods of group interactions. Practical applications stressed through study of roles, conflict and leadership.
CO314. Advanced Radio Production and Performance (3)
Copywriting, interviewing, on-air performance, and new studio production techniques are studied and practiced. Students are responsible for several broadcastready productions.
CO324. Advanced Video Production (3)
A more intensive study of advanced production techniques. Some of these include: script and treatment development, advanced camera and lighting techniques, nonlinear editing, and work with third party graphic and image manipulation programs.
CO330. Interpersonal Communication (3)
This course centers on the study, critique and application of the theory and research in communication interpersonal relationships. It examines the role communication plays in the construction of relationships.
CO332. Gender Communication (3)
The course explores the relationship between communication, gender, and culture in various contexts such as in the media, relationships and organizations. Also, in analyzing these various contexts we investigate how gender is culturally constructed through communication by examining expectations, identities, roles, similarities, and differences.
CO341. Survey of Organizational Communication (3)
Examination of the theories of communication within an organization. Topics include formal and informal networks, leadership and management styles, human relations, and corporate culture. Practical application through case studies, simulation and analysis of local companies.
CO342. Training and Technology Applications in Organizations (3)
In this course, students will explore how organizations can facilitate learning in a global environment with a specific emphasis on technology. Topics include such things as the following: adult learning theory, training techniques, and cutting-edge communication technologies. Students design and deliver training modules by utilizing various technology applications.
CO343. Communication and Conflict (3)
Introduces students to effective strategies for addressing conflict and mediating disputes. Participants analyze the ways they handle conflict and investigate theoretical approaches to conflict mediation.
CO344. Leadership & Communication (3)
Focuses on the key concepts of leadership and application of those concepts in real-world scenarios. Effective participation in this course should help the student better understand the complex interconnections between power, leadership, and group processes.
CO345. Leading Organizational Change (3)
Embracing and effectively managing change is essential for organizations to thrive in today’s dynamic and complex environments. Effectively responding to economic, social, demographic, legal, technological, competitive, global, and labor market variables, requires continuous organizational change ranging from relatively minor adjustments to major strategic shifts. Regardless of the nature and cause of change, improper approach and implementation can lead to unintended consequences and/or disastrous results. This course focuses on how to approach and implement organizational change in ways that maximize the likelihood of intended outcomes. Topics include organizational culture, reasons for change, framing problems as opportunities, psychology of change, approaches to change.
CO351. Topics in Writing for Communication Professions (3)
Specialized workshops in writing for students seeking to develop skills for mass media and public communication professions. Topics will include: RadioTelevision Newswriting, Speech Writing, and Public Relations Writing.
CO360. Seminar in Communication (3)
An intensive, junior-senior level study of a particular topic or communication context.
CO370. Internship (1-3, maximum total 3)
Opportunities for majors to work with local businesses and agencies in order to receive practical experience. Maximum of three credits.
CO 381. WJMU Radio Laboratory III (1-3)
Students enroll in this course to earn credit for their work at WJMU.
CO391. Independent Study (1-3) Per Semester
Directed study in a topic chosen jointly by student and instructor, with approval of Department Chair.
CO401. Topics in Persuasion (3)
Emphasizes the theoretical concepts that explain the process and effects of persuasion from both the source and the target perspective. Application of theories to the classroom, law, advertising, politics, marketing, interpersonal influence, corporate advocacy and social movements.
CO432. Intercultural Communication (3)
Students will learn the theory and research about communicating with various cultures, races and ethnicities. This course will provide insight into norms, values, beliefs and practices in various cultures. Major goals of this class will be to understand, adapt, and appreciate communication with different cultures, races, ethnicities. Ultimately, the focus and outcome is to improve one’s intercultural communication competence, both verbal and nonverbal in various intercultural situations. While we will cover various cultures, races, ethnicities, students will develop an in-depth project on one particular culture, race, and ethnicity.
