Course Syllabus

Description

The study of Organizational Communication examines the interactions of people and groups within organizations. During the course, students will examine communication principles and practices in organizations from a theoretical perspective. Students will also investigate methods of improving communication practices and review career opportunities in the field. The course will combine the theoretical perspectives of the field with practical applications of the course principles.

The BYU-Idaho standard expectation is for students to work two to three hours outside of class for every hour in class. As there is no “classroom” component of this course, anticipate three to four hours of work per credit. This will be approximately 9 to 12 hours of study and collaboration per week for a three-credit class, or 1½ to 2 hours a day, not including Sunday.

Course Outcome

  1. Identify essential principles and practices of communication within and between organizations.
  2. Analyze case studies using communication principles identified in the book and discussed in class.
  3. Evaluate the strategies employed by an actual organization to manage internal and external communication challenges.
  4. Employ negotiation strategies when responding to individual and group performance evaluation.

Textbook

The course uses the following textbook, which is built into the weeks:

Organizational Behavior, OpenStax CNX. Jul 12, 2019.

Syllabus Quiz and Online Learning Tutorial

The quiz will be open-syllabus and include questions about general classroom policies, specific assignments, and classroom procedures. The 10-point quiz includes ten questions.

You may take the syllabus quiz as many times as it takes you to earn 100%. Once the quiz is completed, the learning materials for the second week will become available for you to begin working on.

Worth a Thousand Words Discussion

The Purpose

This assignment will serve as an introduction to your classmates. This exercise will also help you become more comfortable with using some of the class discussion functions in I-Learn.

The Assignment

Part 1: Select two to three photos to introduce yourself, as well as write an explanation as to why you selected the specific photo, what is happening in the photo, or why this photo is important to you. These pictures can be of you, taken by you, or found online. Your instructor will provide an example online for you to examine.

Part 2: Come back after the mid-week deadline and read all of the posts submitted before the mid-week deadline. Make a list of individuals who share common interests, have similarities, or might be in a similar situation as you. Include this information in a reply to your initial post.

Mini-Case Discussion

The Purpose

Each week you will be presented with a mini-case to help apply the concepts we are discussing in the course. Each case will be different but will require similar preparation activities and final products. The purpose of this assignment is to help you gain knowledge from your peers through posts and discussion.

The Assignment

This assignment requires two parts (see the Calendar for the exact due dates and times):

Part 1: Original Post (due before the middle of the lesson)

First, you will develop your ideas from the current case instructions. You will need to use your insights and what you have learned from the lesson readings. Post these thoughts, and answers to any questions in the instructions, to your group discussion board in the current lesson forum. Go to Mini-Case Group Discussion and add a new thread by pressing “Reply.” Review the grading rubric to check for additional requirements.

Part 2: Group Discussion (due before the end of the week)

You will then read all of the responses of your group members and respond to three students’ posts. This part is important in helping you to learn from your classmates. Make sure to put thought into all of your posts.

Grading

The assignment is worth 10 points. The grade will be based on the assignment grading rubric.

Weekly Reflections

Reflections are due at the end of each week.

The Purpose

This assignment is meant to help you connect the subject matter to your own life and experiences. Each assignment will deepen your understanding of organizational communication principles.

The Assignment

Each week you will answer and fulfill the weekly reflections and submit them to I-Learn.

Grading

This assignment will be worth 10 points each week. The grade will be based on the assignment rubric.

Final Project

Final Project

Your Semester Project will be a 10–15 page paper that will involve analyzing a real organization to which you have a close connection or one you are interested in, using the principles and theories you learn each week. You should present a description of the organization, as well as a discussion of real problems existing within it, and your analysis and diagnosis. This project acts as your final exam. The key to completing this final project will be to identify the organization early in the semester. Successful projects will show a great depth of analysis and completeness.  Completion of your weekly reflection assignments will help you in writing your paper. You should use your references from your weekly reflection assignments as applicable, and at least three additional references that weren't used in your reflections. For these references, use APA format and use in-text citations. Feel free to use pictures, diagrams, etc. Please use your imagination and have fun. Your instructor will use it to determine the depth of your understanding of and ability to use the principles discussed in class, so please use them in your paper.

Midterm Project

Week 08 is dedicated entirely to completing a midterm project. For the midterm, you will be asked to develop a “research presentation” from one of the topics found in the first six weeks of the course. You will select a topic from the first half of the course and do a “deep dive” into that material. You will create a narrated presentation (PowerPoint, Prezi, etc.) that includes not only your slides, but also includes you in that video!

Make sure you check with your instructor to see if they can open the file you turn in. Your work needs to be completed by you and demonstrate your effort in digging deeply into the materials. Feel free to review the materials in the previous lessons as you make your selection. You are required to go beyond the materials presented in class.

Learning Model Architecture

All of the learning materials and activities for each topic are contained within a week folder.  The folders can be found in Modules and are divided by weeks. Each week includes activities that encourage you to Prepare, Teach One Another, and Ponder and Prove your new knowledge.

Most of the lessons last for one full week. All of the lessons have a mid-week due date and an end-of-week due date.

Two lessons are designed to last for two weeks, and it will take additional time to complete the activities. You will need to complete some preparatory readings and media and post them to both the group discussion and class discussion before the first due date. The rest of the activities (including the continuing group and class discussions, a case write-up, and a personal application project) are all due at the end of the week.

This course relies heavily upon your interaction with your peers, so be prepared to return to the course frequently to review new posts and further the discussions in the class and your group. Readings and activities have been carefully selected and designed for you to examine the world around you and collaborate with fellow students. We will work together to create an environment where all members of the class contribute as both teachers and learners. Each student will have personal experiences and examples that relate to many of the course topics; your experiences and examples will greatly enrich and benefit your fellow students and the instructor.

Prerequisites

  • There are no prerequisites for this course.

Required Materials

  • All course readings and materials are available within the course.

Grading Policies

 

Grading Policies
Assignment Name Points Total Points
Intro Week 20
Mini-Case Discussion Forums 10 x 10 100
Lesson Preparation Quizzes 10 x 10 100
Weekly Reflections 10 x 10 100
Midterm Project 50
Semester/Final Project 50
Total Course Points 420

Grading Scale

Grading Scale
Grade Percentage Range
A 100–93
A- 92–90
B+ 89–87
B 86–83
B- 82–80
C+ 79–77
C 76–73
C- 72–70
D+ 69–67
D 66–63
D- 62–60
F <60

“A” represents outstanding understanding, application, and integration of subject material and extensive evidence of original thinking, skillful use of concepts, and ability to analyze and solve complex problems. It also demonstrates the diligent application of Learning Model principles, including initiative in serving other students.

“B” represents considerable and significant understanding, application, and incorporation of the material that would prepare a student to be successful in next-level courses, graduate school, or employment. The student participates in the Learning Model as applied in the course.

“C” represents a sufficient understanding of the subject matter. The student demonstrates minimal initiative to be prepared for class. Sequenced courses could be attempted, but mastering new materials might prove challenging. The student participates only marginally in the Learning Model.

“D” represents poor performance and initiative to learn, understand, and apply course materials. Retaking a course or remediation may be necessary to prepare for additional instruction in this subject matter.

“F” represents a failure in the course.

University Policies

Students with Disabilities

Brigham Young University-Idaho is committed to providing a working and learning atmosphere that accommodates qualified persons with disabilities. If you have a disability and require accommodations, please contact the Disability Services Office at (208) 496-9210 or visit their website and follow the Steps for Receiving Accommodations. Reasonable academic accommodations are reviewed for all students who have qualified documented disabilities. Services are coordinated with students and instructors by the Disability Services Office.

This course does require synchronous meetings. If you are currently registered with the Disability Services Office and need an interpreter or transcriber for these meetings, please contact the deaf and hard of hearing coordinator at (208) 496-9219.

Other University Policies

Student Honor and Other Policies

Please read through the document called University Policies. It gives important information about the following topics:

  • Student Honor
    • Academic Honesty
    • Student Conduct
      • Sexual Harassment
  • Student with Disabilities
  • Complaints and Grievances
  • Copyright Notice

Go to the Student Resources module to review further resources and information.

Course Summary:

Date Details Due