About the major in

Organizational Communication

The interdisciplinary major in Organizational Communication is anchored by the Department of Speech & Theatre. This major prepares students for careers in employee communication, special events and fund raising, strategic communication, and conflict management.

Mission Statement for the Major
The interdisciplinary major in Organizational Communication is a student-focused program that emphasizes theory, concepts, and skills necessary to understand how communication functions in non-profit and for-profit organizations.

Students learn application and analysis in organizational innovation, culture, training, assessment, supervision, conflict management, leadership, team-building, and communication networks. They learn to think critically, logically, creatively, and ethically, and to broaden understanding of organizational diversity, cultures, historical perspectives, and current issues.

Through experiential learning in both on-campus and online courses, the major provides hands-on opportunities, applied projects, and internships to involve students on campus and in the community.

Courses to take each year
For course suggestions for each year, see the suggested pattern of study for the Org Com major.  Also check out the 2011-2012 catalog and Planning Your Schedule.

All students majoring in Organizational Communication must receive a C (2.0) or better in all courses in the major for the course to count as a prerequisite or to count toward graduation.

• You may want to tailor your major to your specific interests, such as:
  (a) Student Affairs and Student Life
  (b) Non-Profit Organizations
  (c) Special Event Planning
  (d) Internal (Employee) Communication
  (e) Consulting
  (f) Fundraising
  (g) Intercultural and International Organizations
  (h) Arts Organizations
  (i) Sports and Fitness Organizations
  (j) Health Care Organizations

• During the first and second years, students take introductory courses in organizational communication and interpersonal communication, along with required general studies courses such as English, natural sciences, math, history, humanities, and social sciences.

• During the junior and senior years, students learn about organizational conflict, international and intercultural communication, training, special events and fundraising, organizational culture, and communication research and audits. They may choose courses in business, entrepreneurship, sociology, psychology, mass communication, and other areas. A three-hour internship (120 work hours) is required in the junior or senior year, and internship lists are updated weekly on this web site and at the MTSU Career and Employment Center.

Minor and required electives
A minor is not required. Students have 25 hours or more in electives and may earn a minor if they wish. They also must choose from among several groups of courses for an 18-hour cognate.

Experiential Learning
Many courses in the Organizational Communication major are experiential learning courses (EXL). These include hands-on learning projects and count toward the requirements of the EXL Scholars Program that formally began on campus in fall 2006. Research shows that students are more engaged in learning when they can learn "by doing." For more information about the EXL Scholars Program, check the website: http://www.mtsu.edu/~exl.

Mrs. Debbie Boyd teaches ORCO 3240 Introduction to Organizational Communication both online and on campus at MTSU. She is also lead course designer for ORCO 3240 Organizational Communications in the Regents Online Campus Collaborative.

Courses in Organizational Communication:

Course Number	ORCO Course Name	Semester Offered
ORCO 3240	Introduction to Organizational Communication (most sections are EXL)	Fall, Spring, and Summer
ORCO 3245 (same as LEAD 3245)	Women, Leadership, andCommunication (EXL)	Spring
ORCO 3250	Organizational Communication in Communities (EXL)	Fall and Spring
ORCO 3500	Strategic Communication in Organizations (most sections are EXL)	Fall, Spring, and online in Summer
ORCO 3650	Conflict and Organizations (EXL)	Fall, Spring, and online in Summer
ORCO 3750	Organizational Communication Analysis (EXL)	Fall and Spring
ORCO 3800 (same as THEA 3800)	Introduction to Arts Management	Fall and Spring
ORCO 4000	Topics in Organizational Communication (most sections are EXL)	Fall and Spring
ORCO 4200	Multinational Organizations (most sections are EXL)	Fall and Spring
ORCO 4210	Applied Organizational Projects (EXL)	Fall, Spring, and Summer
ORCO 4220	Internship in Organizational Communication (EXL)	Fall, Spring, and Summer
ORCO 4450	Directed Study in Organizational Communication	Fall, Spring, and Summer
ORCO 4500	Senior Capstone in Organizational Communication (EXL)	Fall, Spring, and online in Summer
ORCO 4850 (same as THEA 4850)	Development for Arts Organizations	Spring

*ORCO 3240 Organizational Communication is part of the Regents Online Degree Program, and is offered online during Fall, Spring, and Summer.

Students in Senior Capstone class enjoy working on their consulting projects, Spring 2009.

 

End of the semester celebration with Dr. Asbury, Spring 2012.

Another end of the semester celebration with Dr. Asbury, Spring 2012.

Org Com students having fun.



ORCO 3750 Analysis class, Fall 2006.