Enroll in a major designed for the future:

The interdisciplinary major in
Organizational Communication

Definition of Organizational Communication
A program that focuses on general communication processes and dynamics within organizations. Includes instruction in the development and maintenance of interpersonal group relations within organizations; decision-making and conflict management; the use of symbols to create and maintain organizational images, missions, and values; power and politics within organizations; human interaction with computer technology; and how communications socializes and supports employees and team members.  (source: U. S. Department of Education, http://nces.ed.gov/pubs2002/cip2000/ciplist.asp?CIP2=09)

A major in Organizational Communication will help develop skills in oral, written, and interpersonal communication along with critical thinking and problem-solving skills. Students interested in careers dealing with communication problems and opportunities should major in organizational communication.

Program of Study for Fall 2003 through Summer 2008
Program of Study beginning with Fall 2008

Match this Major to Your Interests
You can tailor the interdisciplinary Organizational Communication major to match your own interests, such as:

• Student Affairs and Student Life for students who want to work for colleges and universities in various aspects of Student Affairs and Student Life, including student involvement and leadership, judicial affairs and mediation, student organizations, and student unions and programming.
• Non-Profit Organizations for students who want to direct non-profit organizations by managing personnel, marketing, fund-raising, budgeting, strategic planning, volunteers, and boards of directors.
• Special Event Planning for students who want to plan events such as fundraisers, ceremonies, celebrations, commemorative events, reunions, weddings, informative events, meetings, and conferences for nonprofit organizations, corporations, hotels, resorts, and event management firms. A minor in Entrepreneurship is highly recommended if you want to own an event planning business.
• Internal (Employee) Communication for students who want to oversee communication programs for employees, and coordinate training sessions, benefits and health fairs, and special events in corporations, nonprofit organizations, and government agencies.
• Consulting for students who want to consult on employee communication, orientation and training, conflict management and resolution processes, employee recruiting and relocating, and intercultural/international communication, either internally as an employee or externally as a free-lance consultant. A minor in Entrepreneurship is highly recommended if you want to own a consulting business.
• Fundraising for students who want to coordinate philanthropy activities for corporations, and who want to coordinate fundraising for nonprofit organizations, political interest groups, and political candidates. Students might coordinate such fundraising events and activities as fun runs, galas and balls, annual fundraising campaigns, membership drives, gift clubs, capital campaigns, and phonathons.
• Intercultural and International Organizations for students who want to work in corporations and nonprofit organizations that have an intercultural or international focus. A minor in Global Studies or a foreign language is highly recommended.
• Arts Organizations for students wanting to work in nonprofit museums, house museums, art galleries, and for symphonies and theatres. A minor in an arts discipline and two internships with arts organizations are strongly recommended. One internship should focus on technical, stage management, or performance areas, and the second internship should focus on management within an arts organization. You must learn about the art form and how to talk to artists, as well as learn how the arts organization operates.
• Sport and Fitness Organizations for students who want to coordinate wellness, fitness, activity programs; plan special events for fitness and fundraising; and oversee wellness and fitness education efforts for corporations, nonprofit organizations, gyms, health clubs, camps, community recreation, and community sports teams.
• Health Care Organizations for students who want to coordinate training sessions for employees, oversee health fairs and health education efforts, coordinate volunteer and fundraising activities, and plan special events for medical centers, nursing homes, other health care facilities and offices. A minor in Health Care Services may be beneficial.

This interdisciplinary major offers broad exposure to several academic departments and disciplines and prepares students for employment in corporations and non-profit organizations. Through class work, internships, and cooperative education experiences, students sharpen their abilities to apply a wide range of information to specific situations.

For more information on the major in Organizational Communication, contact:
Dr. Virginia A. Donnell, vdonnell@mtsu.edu
Dr. Sharon S. Smith, sssmith@mtsu.edu
Dr. Janet K. McCormick, jmccormi@mtsu.edu

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.

Minor in Leadership Studies
Leadership Studies, affiliated with the major in Organizational Communication, prepares students for leadership opportunities in all aspects of life -- personal, business, government, education, and community. The 16-hour minor promotes the process of leadership development through an interdisciplinary curriculum and allows students to gain a better understanding of leadership through the study of leadership theories, organizational communication, group dynamics, personal development, and a community-based learning endeavor. 

For more information on the Leadership Studies minor, contact:
Dr. Deana Raffo, draffo@mtsu.edu

Careers for graduates in Organizational Communication and in Leadership Studies
Jobs can be found in organizations and corporations dealing with government and politics, education, health and medical care, charities and public service, museums and the arts, police and criminal justice, tourism and hospitality, transportation, information and merchandise distribution, retail and wholesale, sports communication, religious organizations, social agencies, and business.

Events, Fund Raising, and Jobs with Non-Profit Organizations

• Special events director
• Meeting and conference director
• Fund raising director
• Wedding coordinator
• Director of volunteers
• Alumni relations director
• Member services coordinator
• Arts administrator, theatre manager
• Non-profit organization director
• Student affairs or student life director

Jobs in Employee Communication

• Employee recruiter
• Employee orientation coordinator
• Employee training director
• Employee retention specialist
• Human rights officer or ethics officer
• Workplace diversity specialist
• Ombudsman or corporate mediator
• Human resources manager

Corporation and Consulting Jobs

• Communication campaign director
• Customer relations and customer service manager
• Director of corporate community involvement
• Director of corporate communication
• Crisis manager
• Corporate image consultant
• Director of corporate philanthropy
• Labor relations consultant
• Legal communication consultant
• Governmental press secretary

For information about jobs and internships, visit the MTSU Career and Employment Center.

Today, employers today want graduates:

• who have excellent oral and written communication skills
• who can think and analyze logically
• who have a strong liberal arts education
• who understand the significance of communication on the operating success of organizations
• who have knowledge and skills to manage many forms of communication to effectively advance any organization's mission

The major in Organizational Communication and/or the minor in Leadership Studies will help you acquire these skills and more.

The ORCO 3750 Analysis class, Fall Semester 2006 (what a great class!)

Several members of the COMM 3220 Small Group Communication class, Fall Semester 2006 (another great class!).