Communication Studies: Organizational Communication, B.S.

The Bachelor of Science degree program in Organizational Communication provides more specialized, interdisciplinary, knowledge application-oriented instruction in professional aptitudes key to working within and among organizations and communities.  Students complete coursework and learning experiences that give insight into the concepts and practices underlying human and technical organizational communication systems.  This degree prepares students for specialized graduate study in communication and related fields, and for professional work in several organizational contexts and roles, such as corporate communication, public relations, personnel, and organizational leadership.  This degree program offers two concentration options in partnership with the Robert B. Pamplin School of Business Administration: Leadership and Global Sustainability, and Organizing and Public Relations.

Students pursuing a Leadership and Global Sustainability concentration learn to demonstrate understanding and competency in collaborative leadership skills for a variety of 21st century contexts, where the notion of “global” references concern for community and local organizing as well as international relationships, and “sustainable” includes CST’s mission emphasis on sustainable workplaces, relationships, and environments.  Students choose from a range of innovative upper-division communication studies and business coursework to shape their degree program in this concentration.

Students seeking an Organizing and Public Relations concentration learn to demonstrate conceptual and applied abilities to understand, organize, coordinate, nurture, and promote the work of organizations and communities.  Again, students select their upper-division coursework from among a variety of advanced communication studies and business classes to shape their degree program.

Students in both concentrations are encouraged to explore potential occupations via the professional training made available through many community-based academic internships. 

University Core Requirements -- 39 hours

College Requirements, B.S. -- 6 hours 

Hrs.
3	Effective Communication (fulfilled with CST 101 for CST majors; CST 100, CST 107, CST 307, ENG 107, or ENG 311 also satisfy this College requirement)
3	Metaphysics (one course from PHL 331 through PHL 335)

Major Requirements -- 54 hours

Hrs.
3	CST 101 - Introduction to Communication Studies
3	CST 107 - Effective Public Speaking
3	CST 225 - Fundamentals of Interpersonal Communication
3	CST 233 - Intro to Organizational Communication Theory
3	CST 332 - Collaborative Leadership in Groups
3	BUS 200 - Principles of Marketing
6	Two of the following research methods courses:
	CST 300 - Communication Research
	CST 320 - Rhetorical Theory and Criticism
	CST 434 - Examining Organization Comm. in Natural Settings
9	Three upper-division CST courses of the student's choosing.
21	In consultation with their academic advisors, students take seven upper-division courses from among the CST and BUS courses listed within either of these advisory concentrations. Students can mix courses from either concentration. A minimum of 6 credit hours must be BUS courses; a maximum of 9 credit hours can be BUS courses.

Organizing and Public Relations Take and seven of the following, honoring relevant prerequisites:
	CST 307 - Advanced Public Speaking
	CST 327 - Argumentation and Advocacy
	CST 333 - Applied Organizational Communication Skills
	CST 352 - News Writing & Reporting
	CST 361 - Intro to Advertising
	CST 362 - Intro to Public Relations (pre-req: CST 352)
	CST 364 - Visual Communication
	CST 402 - Social Media & Culture
	CST 410 - Communication Theory
	CST 433 - Advanced Organizational Communication
	CST 435 - Advanced Visual Persuasion (pre-req: CST 364)
	CST 452 - Public Affairs Reporting (pre-req: CST 352)
	BUS 370 - Marketing Research
	BUS 371 - Consumer Behavior
	BUS 376 - Sustainable Marketing
	BUS 380 - Family Business and Small Business Management
	BUS 385 - Entrepreneurial Ventures (pre-req: BUS 200, junior status)
	BUS 443 - International Marketing Management*
	BUS 471 - Integrated Marketing Communication*
	BUS 472 - Personal Selling*
	BUS 474 - Digital Marketing*
	CST 391, 491, or 492 - Special Topics courses as appropriate

or

Leadership and Global Sustainability Take any seven of the following, honoring relevant prerequisites:
	CST 307 - Advanced Public Speaking
	CST 327 - Argumentation and Advocacy
	CST 333 - Applied Organizational Communication Skills
	CST 352 - News Writing & Reporting
	CST 401 - Rhetoric of Politics & Social Change
	CST 402 - Social Media & Culture
	CST 410 - Communication Theory
	CST 411 - Communication Across Barriers
	CST 416 - Negotiation & Conflict Management
	CST 431 - Cross-cultural Communication & Identity
	CST 433 - Advanced Organizational Communications
	CST 474 - Internship
	BUS 360 - Cross Cultural Organizational Behavior
	BUS 364 - Managing Innovation and Technology
	BUS 376 - Sustainable Marketing
	BUS 380 - Family Business and Small Business Management
	BUS 385 - Entrepreneurial Ventures (pre-req: BUS 200, junior status)
	BUS 443 - International Marketing Management*
	BUS 474 - Digital Marketing*
	BUS 486 - Venture Launch (pre-req: BUS 385, senior status)
	BUS 487 - Social Entrepreneurship
	CST 391, 491, or 492 - Special Topics courses as appropriate

*pre-req = BUS 376 - Sustainable Marketing

General Electives -- 21-24 hours (3 hours of which must be upper-division coursework)

Total Credit Hours -- 120

What can you do with a CST degree?
CST Undergraduate Student Handbook
Undergrad Admissions