Master of Business Communication
Course Descriptions
ACCT 601 Financial Accounting
Credits: 3
Degree students only.
Financial accounting is an integral part of the planning, reporting and control functions of every business. It is ameans to achieving insights about the firm's financial condition, operating results, cash flows and ownership and capital structure. This course covers the fundamental terminology and calculations of financial accounting and reporting, as well as the comprehension and interpretation of financial statements. Ethical aspects of accounting are included.
DSCI 601 Data Analysis for Decision Making
Credits: 3
Degree students only.
Recommendation: Course should follow BCOM610. You may collect and analyze data for your final project.
Demonstrates the value and limitations of data and how they are analyzed to create information in support of a decision. This course includes design of the data collection process, analysis of data, tools for presenting data summaries, recognition of what data can and cannot reveal, and interpretation of results as an aid to making a decision.
GBEC 515 Principles of Economic Analysis
Credits: 3
Degree students only.
Presents techniques for analyzing the U.S. economy and applies those techniques to consumer behavior and business decisions. Develop your critical thinking skills through analysis of the national economy, employment, inflation, economic growth and the role of government. Current national and global issues are explored.
MKTG 600 Marketing Management
Credits: 3
Degree students only.
This course offers a managerial approach to the study of strategic market decision making. It will examine the basic principles of marketing and their use in developing an optimum marketing mix. It will cover such topics as market planning; segmentation and target marketing; channels of distribution; consumer behavior; competitive analysis; pricing, demand analysis and forecasting; promotion, sales management; and product decisions. The course is designed to build a conceptual foundation for understanding and analyzing marketing situations. You will learn a managerial approach to applying marketing principles to practical marketing situations.
BCOM 522 Communication Technology
Credits: 3
Explores the technology of communication including voice, data and video transmission. Major topics include business-world applications of telephone and computer systems, multi-media, the World Wide Web, video production and transmission systems. Presentations, tours, guest speakers and projects focus on the application of technology to communication opportunities.
BCOM 523 Commerce, Culture and Communication
Credits: 3
Inquires into the relationship between the liberal arts tradition and the intellectual foundations of contemporary professional life. Readings in areas such as literature, philosophy, and social thought stimulate discussions about the connections between commerce and culture. Small group discussion focuses on the relationship between student professional goals and the liberal arts.
BETH 525 Communication Ethics
Credits: 3
Examines ethical issues of particular concern to professional communicators. Sharpens skills in ethical analysis and decision making. Examines the roles played by professional organizations and their ethical codes. Gives particular emphasis to ethical issues in public relations, internal communication, and advertising.
BLAW 710 Communication Law
Credits: 3
Surveys legal issues of concern to business communicators. Includes study of patents, trademarks, trade secrets and confidential information; the rights of privacy; and publicity, copyrights, and the regulation of misleading advertising through private action in the courts and industry self-regulation.
BCOM 531 Business Writing
Credits: 3
Reviews business reports, letters, memos, and other forms of business writing. This course stresses the writing process, audience analysis, and the organization of content. Case studies highlight needs of decision makers in business. Develops skills in style and rhetoric that lead to clear, concise, forceful prose.
BCOM 535 Persuasion
Credits: 3
Demonstrates how effective persuasion is the basis of most business communication. Focuses on techniques and strategies that influence choice. Analyzes the use of sources, argumentation and audience understanding in the persuasion process.
BCOM 541 Organizational Communication
Credits: 3
Analyzes communicative dimensions of organizations, including formal and informal communication systems, the development and effect of culture, the process of change, and the methods for diagnosing problems and assessing communication effectiveness.
BCOM 543 Team Skills and Group Process
Credits: 3
Focuses on theory and principle of communication in groups. The course includes an examination of communication process, content and relationships in task groups. Helps participants understand and develop essential skills for group efficiency and problem solving. Stresses participation in group exercises, interaction in class, and observation and analysis of groups outside class.
BCOM 551 Presentational Speaking
Credits: 3
Focuses on the preparation, presentation and evaluation of original presentations by each student. It includes how to research a topic, analyze an audience, organize and develop content, sharpen focus, improve style, and listen actively.
BCOM 553 Interpersonal Communication
Credits: 3
Explores the nature of interpersonal communication in the workplace, including the study of self-concept, verbal and nonverbal behaviors, dyadic rules, relationship patterns, conflict assessment and management techniques. Course activities develop interpersonal skills.
BCOM 555 Communication Skills for Managers
Credits: 3
Focuses on positive, productive human interaction in the workplace while emphasizing communication problem solving and skill development for managers. Includes work with presentations, meeting management and interviewing. The student learns by performance and self-analysis, aided by peer, instructor and videotaped feedback.
BCOM 561 Public Relations Practice
Credits: 3
Considers public relations principles and practice in the business world. Describes how employee, investor, community, government and organizational public relations practices differ from each other, yet are used together to communicate a consistent organizational message. Case-histories focus on public relations programs and how research, planning, communication and measurement are applied.
BCOM 563 Public Relations Writing
Credits: 3
Prerequisite: BCOM 561 or equivalent work experience.
Develops the information-gathering, writing and editing skills necessary for the successful public relations practitioner. The student will gain experience in developing and writing a wide variety of communication pieces directed at targeted external audiences.
BCOM 565 Media Relations
Credits: 3
Prerequisite: BCOM 561 or equivalent work experience.
Focuses on how to identify and analyze news as well as how to work effectively with the media. Designed to enhance your confidence in working with the media by offering an understanding of the publicist's role and the media's perspective. Course components include field trips and guest speakers, along with planning, writing, pitching and implementing media relations efforts.
MKTG 780 Marketing Communications
Credits: 3
Provides a broad overview of the role of marketing communications processes. Explores the wide range of communications activities used in selling/promoting products and services, including advertising, public relations, sales promotion, direct marketing, and the strategies which drive them. Analyzes consumer behaviors, provides a framework for evaluating marketing communications campaigns, and stresses the need for an integrated communications plan.
MKTG571 Advertising Planning
Credits: 3
Emphasizes the development of an advertising plan as part of the overall marketing effort, including strategy plus creative and media planning. You will apply principles to actual practice in class projects. Guest speakers supplement text content with actual cases.
MKTG 573 Creative Strategy in Advertising
Credits: 3
Prerequisite: MKTG 780 or MKTG 571 or equivalent work experience.
Combines the skills of planning and creating advertising messages; identifies what an advertisement says to an audience and why it says it; develops skills in brainstorming, evaluating and directing creative work. Designed for people who manage or work with agency, in-house and freelance creative teams.
MKTG 577 Direct Marketing
Credits: 3
Prerequisite: MKTG 780 or MKTG 571 or MKTG 600 OR equivalent work experience.
Built around database strategies, this overview of direct marketing provides hands-on knowledge of the planning, creative, and basic mathematical techniques vital to success in this rapidly-expanding marketing area.
BCOM 581 Internal Communication
Credits: 3
Explores the principles of communication as applied to employee audiences. This course stresses research, planning, implementation, measurement and improvement of internal communication programs from a management perspective. Establishes a practical understanding of objective-based internal communications.
BCOM 610 Communication Research
Credits: 3
Degree students only.
Recommendation: This course is recommended as your 10th or 11th course. Register for DSCI601 the following semester to collect and analyze your data.
Considers various methodologies useful in applied research for both profit and non-profit organizations, including interpretation and evaluation techniques. Emphasizes techniques of research design and reporting. This course is recommended for MBC students beginning work on their final projects.
BCOM 620 The Creative Process
Credits: 3
Explores the literature of creativity, the study of creative persons and their contributions to society, and the process by which creative ideas are produced and communicated. Active participation in strategies for actualizing the creative potential of individuals and groups is an essential part of the course.
MKTG 630 Promotional Marketing
Credits: 3
Prerequisite: MKTG 780 or MKTG600 or equivalent work experience.
Considers the essentials of effective sales promotion planning as a primary component in the marketing mix. Presents appropriate application of promotion strategies for the consumer, sales force and retail-trade categories. Case studies are used to assess program feasibility and cost effectiveness, and explore trends in promotional marketing. Emphasizes understanding of consumer purchase behavior and formulation of promotion strategies that change behavior.
BCOM 640 Technical Writing
Credits: 3
This course introduces technical writing as both a skill and career path. It also focuses on the needs of technical readers and the skills of organizing and presenting complex material. Students practice writing through workshops with feedback from peers and instructor. Emphasis is on clear, concise style, including techniques for testing and evaluating documents.
BCOM 710 Topics in Communication
Credits: 3
Courses offered under this designation will address current issues in business communication and will vary from semester to semester. They may be offered for one semester or as ongoing classes.
BCOM 725 Corporate Communication Management
Credits: 3
Recommended: BCOM 561 or equivalent experience before enrolling in this course.
Focuses on the overall communication function in a large organization. The course is presented from the perspective of a director of communication and emphasizes the integration of corporate communication objectives, plans and activities.
BCOM 800 Management Priorities and the Communicator
Credits: 3
Examines the role of communication from the top management perspective. Explores the CEO's primary concerns, responsibilities, information needs, language and decision-making processes. By developing an integrative view of organizations, and emphasizing organizational strategy and goals, this course will help the communicator understand and respond to top management's concerns with effective communication strategies.
BCOM 802 Public Affairs for the Corporate Executive
Credits: 3
Presents a broad view of corporate relations with politicians, government regulators, advocacy groups and the media. Explores issues such as building grass-roots support for public policy issues, management of public affairs crises, and use of public policy to enhance corporate image. Case study analysis and presentation by guest lecturers enhance classroom experience.
