Communication Management and Design Major— B.S.

Dennis Charsky, Associate Professor and Program Director

Communication management and design is a unique interdisciplinary program providing a comprehensive education in the theory and practice of both human and media-based communication by all types of organizations. Majors learn to create and manage interpersonal and mediated communication in such areas as meeting and event planning, workplace collaboration, internal corporate communication, government and stakeholder relations, fund-raising, training and workforce development, and promotional campaigns. Students learn skills such as presentation-media design, research and evaluation, website development, project management, team building, and appraisal of new media. In addition, they learn to assess critically and take leadership roles in such initiatives as globalization, performance improvement consulting, the virtual workplace, e-learning, simulations, and gaming.

There is ample opportunity to apply what is learned to real-world situations. Class projects and internships put students in the role of consultant to businesses and nonprofit organizations, where one might conduct a communication audit, produce a promotional video, devise a crisis communication plan, or develop a newsletter or annual report.

All majors take a common core of courses in which they develop essential design, production, management, and presentation skills. Beyond that, the student selects one of two concentrations within the major by the conclusion of the sophomore year: corporate communication or instructional technology. Concentrations help students focus their studies on particular interests or careers. Our graduates are employed in a wide range of positions, including event coordinator, corporate communication specialist, web developer, learning consultant, community relations associate, and museum educator.

Corporate Communication Concentration

The corporate communication concentration focuses on communication in organizations, providing the theoretical and practical context for examining how informal and formal communication occurs in organizations, including leadership styles, the impacts of technology and diversity, and the creation and change of corporate culture. Students gain a set of skills and concepts that can be applied in areas such as conflict management, workforce diversity initiatives, meeting planning and facilitation, employee communication, speechwriting, and crisis communication.

Instructional Technology Concentration

The instructional technology concentration addresses the application of theories in communication, systems, educational psychology, and management to such areas as designing and managing corporate training and development programs, developing computer-assisted learning software, creating job aids and incentive programs, designing and producing technical manuals, designing courses and educational materials, and analyzing and solving workplace performance problems. Students gain a set of skills that can be applied in areas such as instructional design, training, performance technology, technical communication, and management and evaluation of learning and performance systems.

Capstone

At the conclusion of the curriculum, students take a set of courses that synthesizes the concentrations and addresses ethical, managerial, research and evaluation, and critical issues in organizational communication. These courses serve as a transition between the curriculum and professional practice. The designated capstone course in the program is STCM 43400 Management of Strategic Communication.

Academic Policies

In addition to the general College guidelines for academic standing and the Park School academic policies, communication management and design majors are required to maintain a cumulative GPA of 2.50 in all communications school courses, as well as an overall cumulative GPA of 2.50. Courses at level 1 are open to seniors only by permission of the instructor. One-credit minicourses do not count as required communication management and design electives. All majors must complete a minimum of 60 credits outside communications, which includes the distribution requirements, and a minimum of 60 credits in courses designated as liberal arts (LA).

Departmental requirements

Supplemental requirements