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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!). |
