I. Course Description: Survey of the theoretical and empirical literature dealing with human communication behavior as it occurs within the context of complex organizations, emphasizing critical and cultural perspectives.
II. Prerequisite: COM 32400 or consent of
instructor. While not formal prerequisites, this course
will be more beneficial to you if you have had a course that
introduces you to communication research methods (such as COM
30000) and an intermediate course in writing research papers
(such as ENG W233 or one of the other courses that satisfy the
Arts and Sciences second writing course requirement).
III. Course Goals: Upon completing this course,
you should be able to (or have enhanced your ability to):
1) demonstrate an understanding of the history of the study of
organizational communication;
2) articulate the nature and importance of communication in
the organizational context;
3) apply relevant organizational communication theories to the
behavior of yourself and others
4) evaluate the usefulness of some of these theories for
enhancing communication competence in your own workplace;
5) compare, contrast, and use some of the methods scholars use
in studying organizational communication;
6) recognize the multiple ways in which organization members
or observers can understand organizational life; and
7) have developed or enhanced research and critical thinking
skills.
IV. Course Tools:
• One required textbook, available from Follett’s IPFW
Bookstore in the Walb Student Union, The Bookmark on North
Anthony Boulevard, and from various web-based booksellers:
Bourhis, J., Adams, C., &
Titsworth, S. (2009). Style manual for communication studies (3rd
ed.). New York: McGraw-Hill. (ISBN: 0073385050).
• Links to required readings and other important course information will be e-mailed to course participants. Reading guides and other important information will be posted to the course web site. Accordingly, you are required to have an e-mail account and access to the World Wide Web. It is expected that your e-mail account will not be set to block e-mail from me as spam and that you will check this account regularly.
V. Course Assignments: This course will be graded on a 1000 point scale, as follows:
• Tests (2 at 250 points each = 500 points). The
tests will cover material in lecture, class discussions and
the readings.
• Research project (400 points). This project will require you to propose a topic relevant to this course that you wish to learn more about, and design and conduct a study on that topic, which may be either original research or a critical synthesis of published research. Upon approval of your proposal, graduate students will produce a 10-12 page paper suitable for presentation at a regional or national communication convention and undergraduate students will produce a 7-10 page paper suitable for presentation at an undergraduate research conference. Each student will make an in-class research presentation. This assignment will be introduced and described in more detail in class.
• Class contributions (100 points) You are expected to
attend class. Beyond mere attendance, though, this is a
participatory course. Your productive
contributions to class discussions and activities are
important. In addition, brief homework assignments
beyond the readings will be assigned. This portion of
your grade reflects my assessment of your participation in
class discussions and activities and brief homework
assignments. Each unexcused absence will reduce
your grade for this component by 20 points.
Six or
more unexcused absences will result in a grade of F for the
course.
All that is required here is that you account for yourself for
each class period, as follows: 1) If you know in advance you
won’t be able to attend a given class, you should let me know
the reason in advance, preferably by e-mail as that provides
us with a written record. 2) In emergency situations
where you can’t tell me in advance of your absence, it’s your
responsibility to account for those absences as soon as
possible afterward and in no event more than two weeks
afterward. 3) If you arrive to class after I have taken
attendance, it’s your responsibility to see me after class to
insure that I have recorded your presence. 4) Leaving
class early without permission shall constitute an unexcused
absence. 5) Use of a cell phone in class for any purpose
without express prior permission from the instructor shall
constitute an unexcused absence.
VI. Grading Scale: A = 930-1000; A- = 900-929; B+ = 870=899; B = 830-869; B- = 800-829; C+ = 770-779; C = 730-769; C- = 700-729; D+ = 670-699; D = 630-669; D- = 600-629; F = 0-599.
VII. Late or Missing Assignments and Tests: In the absence of extreme circumstances, assignments will not be accepted after the date and time they are due, Failure to turn in an assignment will result in a grade of F for the course.As Professor Carr used to say on his syllabi, “if caught cheating or plagiarizing, a student will receive no credit for the assignment and/or an ‘F’ for the course. Any instances of academic dishonesty will be reported to the Dean and Vice Chancellor and may result in expulsion from the University. Most instances of academic dishonesty result from a combination of the last-minute rush, poor judgment and a lack of familiarity with academic propriety. Consult the instructor well in advance of an assignment due date to clarify your responsibilities.”
IX. Incompletes: A grade of incomplete will only be given in compliance with IPFW’s policy on incomplete grades, available online at <http://new.ipfw.edu/committees/senate/regulations/grades.html> and then only under extraordinary circumstances. If such circumstances arise, please let me know and we will discuss whether an incomplete is appropriate.
• The Writing Center, Helmke Library, 2nd Floor, 481-5740, <http://www.ipfw.edu/casa/writing/>, provides one-on-one assistance with writing, both in person and online. There are also links to valuable writing resources on their web page.
• Information
Technology
Services, Kettler Hall 206, 481-6030 <http://new.ipfw.edu/its/>,
provides
student e-mail accounts and web space and administers the
student computing labs. Valuable computing help is
available on their web site and by telephone.
• TLC Child Care Center, 2041 Reed Road (Cor. State), 424-8852 <http://www.ipfw.edu/childcare/>, provides childcare services for students.
• A variety of other student services are described on pages 75-85 of the 2011-2012 Student Handbook and Planner.
XI. Course Contract: This document, together with assignments and other handouts you may receive from the instructor throughout the semester, explains some of the official course policies. Please read it carefully. If you have any questions, ask your instructor immediately. Your continued enrollment in this course after the first week of class signifies that you understand these policies and agree to participate in this course according to them.
Two of your classmates:
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Copyright
© 2001-2012 Irwin Mallin
Last Updated:
7 January 2012
URL:
http://users.ipfw.edu/mallini/574syl.html