BA in Organizational Communication

Why pursue an organizational communication degree at North Central College?

Become a writer, presenter, team member, and speaker and understand the dimensions of communication in professional settings like business, nonprofits, media, technology firms, government, and other organizations. You’ll learn to craft messages for different audiences, both internal (human resources and employee training) and external (media relations, sales, and customer service). North Central offers classes that combine theory with practical application, like group interaction, in which teams of students plan and stage fundraising events for nonprofit organizations. Organizational communication majors are advised to specialize in a second academic area like journalism, marketing, human resources, sociology, or interactive media studies depending on their career goals.

You can also:

• Analyze the organizational communication at local and Chicago organizations.
• Pursue competitive internships on campus and in Naperville and Chicago.
• Join the honor society Lambda Pi Eta.
• Become involved in student government and with campus offices such as admission and ministry and service.
• Conduct research and present your findings at professional conferences or at North Central's own Rall Symposium for Undergraduate Research.
• Assist professors with their research
• Join PRSSA, the students' public relations club.

Organizational Communication focuses on how people communicate in diverse organizational contexts. Students learn to think critically about communication practices in organizations, as well as develop specific skills for the development, presentation, and analysis of messages for different organizational stakeholders. Depending on the specific courses selected, as well as recommended coursework in a minor, students are prepared for positions in business, industry, non-profit, health care, community, and governmental organizations, and may take career paths in internal corporate communication, human resources, training and development, media and community relations, public relations, sales and marketing, customer/client service, community advocacy, technical communication, and management.

Because the major is compatible with a number of fields, and in order to develop expertise in a subject related to their career goals, students are strongly encouraged to pursue a minor. Please consult with the Communication faculty and your academic advisor.

The Communication faculty also highly recommend that majors incorporate field experience working in a professional environment by completing at least one internship. Students should work closely with faculty and Career Services to identify appropriate internship opportunities.

Major Requirements

Core Courses

• COMM 185 - Global Media in a Digital Age
• COMM 214 - Group Interaction
• COMM 280 - Business and Professional Communication
• COMM 301 - Rhetoric and Public Discourse
• COMM 330 - Organizational Communication Theory
• COMM 430 - Advanced Organizational Communication

Communication Context

One of the following:

• COMM 200 - Interpersonal Communication
• COMM 250 - Introduction to Public Relations
• COMM 285 - Argumentation and Debate
• COMM 287 - Advanced Public Speaking

Advanced Communication

Two of the following:

• COMM 317 - Intercultural Communication
• COMM 335 - Freedom of Expression
• COMM 350 - Public Relations Strategy
• COMM 367 - Persuasion Theory
• COMM 370 - Health Communication
• COMM 389 - Gender, Sexuality and Mass Media
• COMM 390 - Seminar in Communication
• COMM 397 - Internship
• COMM 400 - Communication Theory and Research
• COMM 490 - Seminar in Communication
• COMM 497 - Internship
• COMM 499 - Independent Study

Note:

*Completion of COMM 100 or CARD 102 is assumed; it is a prerequisite for several core courses.

Writing Courses

Two of the following:

• MEDI 200 - Digital Media Writing
• MEDI 250 - Copy Editing
• MEDI 255 - Social Media

Additional Requirements for the BA Degree

Foreign Language

Students must demonstrate elementary competence in a foreign language.

Philosophy Course

• PHIL 210 - Professional Ethics

A North Central education integrates career preparation with rich academic study. Our faculty encourages you to refine and apply your knowledge in an interconnected world. Here you'll learn to think independently and work globally to solve problems and lead.

Internships

• Sports marketing intern, Chicago Bulls/ Sox Training Academy, Lisle, Ill.
• Marketing and public relations intern, First Nonprofit Insurance Company, Chicago
• Membership and communications intern, Chicagoland Bicycle Federation, Chicago
• Sales intern, Live Nation Motorsports, Aurora, Ill.

Careers

Recent graduates in organizational communication include:

• Senior Manager, Insights and Strategic Planning, Sara Lee
• Director of convention services, Indianapolis Convention and Visitors Association
• Training manager, Spiegel Catalog
• Graphics manager, OfficeMax
• Guest connections representative, Walt Disney Co.
• Print production specialist, Abbott Laboratories
• Assistant vice president for external affairs, North Central College