Organizational Leadership and Communication (B.S.)

This course will explore theories, processes, and variables that explain and predict communication behavior in complex organizations. A major emphasis of the class will be on application of these concepts to actual organizational contexts.
Offered in the Adult Undergraduate program only.

This course provides an overview of leadership perspectives, frameworks and theories and also focuses on how communication is the essential tool for engaging in relational leadership processes. In the last 30 years information about leadership has exploded, and this class is designed to help you to be better consumers of information about leadership as well as to have a clearer and more useful repertoire of ideas, and practices to intentionally engage in the leadership process, no matter the role in which that engagement occurs. You will also spend time analyzing your own experiences, beliefs, and assumptions about leading, following and communicating effectively.

Interpersonal Communication for Leadership is a core course for Organizational Leadership and Communication majors at Nebraska Wesleyan University. The course is significant for students of all majors as every person participates in interpersonal relationships in a variety of contexts: leadership, family, friends and colleagues. In this course we will explore the dynamics of human interaction, relational sense-making, and the influence of context and individual variables on relationships. Primary emphasis will be placed on the application of interpersonal communication concepts and theory to leadership contexts.

Group and Team Dynamics is an intermediate-level course in the organizational leadership and communication curriculum that focuses on group and teams. In this class we will examine theories, variables, models, and processes of communication occurring in the context of formal and informal groups and teams. The course is designed to develop competent participation in and facilitation of group processes. Specifically, after taking this course you should be able to:
•Describe the factors that affect the performance of groups and teams
•Analyze theories and apply them to group activities in organizational settings
•Understand leadership process within groups and teams
•Describe how communication functions affect group members and the outcomes of group processes
•Demonstrate effective communication skills as a group member
•Demonstrate facilitation skills for group tasks and activities

Through many contexts in history and through the midst of conflicting forces that arise within organizational systems, leaders are faced with adaptive challenges. The course distinguishes between authority and knowledge, provides a diagnostic framework for assessing the typical mechanisms in which social systems avoid work on critical issues, and explores strategies and tactics of intervention to mobilize adaptive work.
Prerequisite(s): COMM 1100 Introduction to Organizational Communication, LEAD 3100 Introduction to Leadership, LEAD 3200 Interpersonal Communication for Leadership, and LEAD 4100 Group and Team Dynamics.

This course will introduce action research, a form of systematic inquiry by practitioners in their own practice. Students will attain a conceptual and practical understanding of action research methods in a variety of communication and leadership settings. In addition, students will prepare a sound action research proposal and explore strategies for transforming conditions through data-driven decision-making.
Prerequisite(s): LEAD 4300 Leadership for Complex Challenges.

This course focuses on constructive individual and group interaction by providing practical strategies for handling complex interpersonal dynamics. Class content weaves theory with skill building to help students explore the nature of conflict and a range of approaches to resolving differences. Students will discover what influences problem solving and decision-making through the application of negotiation, communication, and perceptual skills.
Offered in the Adult Undergraduate program only.
Prerequisite(s): Junior standing or permission of the instructor.

This course provides a conceptual framework for understanding behavior within the organization. Students explore behavior at the individual, group, and organizational levels. Units of analysis include personality, leadership, conflict, motivation, power, and politics.
Prerequisite(s): Grade of "C-" or better in BUSAD 2500 Principles of Management or permission of the instructor.
(Normally offered each fall semester.)

Provides a conceptual basis for managers to interpret, assess, and influence human behavior in an organization. Analyzes the interaction of individual, group, and organizational dynamics that influence human behavior in organizations and determines appropriate management approaches to foster a productive work environment. Examines a variety of theories, models and strategies used to understand motivation and individual behavior, decision making, the dynamics of groups, work teams, communication, leadership, power and politics, conflict resolution, work design, organizational structure and culture, and managing change.

This course is designed to provide students with an understanding of the uniqueness of cultures and the resulting variations in communication preferences and styles. The focus will be on the study of cultural dynamics that influence the exchange of meaning between individuals and groups of different cultural and/or racial backgrounds, particularly as this applies to global interactions. Strategies and skills for successfully communicating across cultural barriers will be discussed and implemented.
Offered through the Adult Undergraduate program only.

This course focuses on a variety of issues in a pluralistic society. It will provide a theoretical framework for examining pluralism and culture. Some of the major issues/themes to be discussed include an examination of the personal and institutional "-isms" (racism, sexism, etc), language, cultural diversity, and how race/ethnicity influence communication styles. Students will reflect upon their own cultural identity and how their personal and professional experiences are influenced by the course framework. Opportunities will be provided to reflect on the diverse nature of society in both oral and written formats.

This course provides a practical application of creative strategy, process, and execution. The overall goal is to help students design effective advertisements and commercials in a variety of media including print, television, radio, direct mail, outdoor, and web-based. Students will learn to produce ads for local, regional, national, and international markets.

This course is intended to serve as a general introduction for majors and interested students to the theories and research questions investigated by social scientists interested in the processes of human communication.
Prerequisite(s): Sophomore standing.

A study of the development of types of media including books, newspapers, magazines, radio, television, and film. The interaction of these media and their impact on society and the individual are included.
(Normally offered each spring semester.)

A study of theories and practices of persuasion within a variety of communication contexts. Students will be expected to apply these concepts to out-of-class persuasive situations.
Prerequisite(s): Junior standing and COMM 2301 Communication Theory or permission of the instructor.
(Normally offered each fall semester.)

The course in Public Relations is a study of the nature of public relations, the persons involved, its relationship to public opinion, and the channels of communication that are used. Special attention is given to the application of public relations strategies for particular events or organizations.
(Normally offered each semester.)

This course is a general introduction to research methods most commonly used in the Communication discipline. Students will learn how to identify, understand, and appropriately employ a variety of quantitative and qualitative research methods. Students will learn how to critically analyze and evaluate journal articles from Communication and related disciplines. This course will prepare students to complete research projects and use scholarly writing in future courses as well as in their careers. This course is quite similar to the COMM 3500 Research Methods Communication Research Methods course taught in CLAS, however, given the age, experiences and aspirations of the Adult Undergraduate Program students, a special effort will be made to provide a focused application to the organizational setting.
Prerequisite(s): Sophomore standing and COMM 2301 Communication Theory.

Students will explore the intersection of the theory and practice of communication in an organizational context. Particular emphasis will be placed on understanding how power within and between organizations is shaped by and shapes society. Topics include identity, power, globalization, technology, and ethics.
Prerequisite(s): Junior standing and Communication 2301 and Communication 3501 or permission of the instructor.

The course will provide knowledge and skill development relating to essential organizational communication effectiveness including individual, group, organizational and public strategies. Offered in the Adult Undergraduate program only.
Prerequisite(s): COMM 1200 Introduction to Professional and Academic Communication and COMM 1100 Introduction to Organizational Communication.

Students examine the role of marketing in society with an introduction to the fundamentals of strategic marketing planning and the development of the marketing mix. Topics include buyer behavior, market segmentation, distribution, pricing policies, communication strategies, and product development.
(Normally offered each semester.)

An introduction to management theory and practice. Students explore the history of management and the environment in which managers operate. Classroom discussion focuses on the basic managerial functions of planning, organizing, leading, and controlling.
(Normally offered each semester.)

Focuses on developing the appropriate mix of promotional tools used in marketing communications, including advertising, sales promotions, public relations, sponsorship, point of purchase, and personal selling. Examines the relationship of promotional strategies to the communication process. Students develop an integrated marketing communications plan for an area business.
Prerequisite(s): Grade of "C-" or better in BUSAD 2000 Principles of Marketing.
(Normally offered each spring semester.)

Application of behavioral science theories, concepts, methods, and research findings to the understanding and prediction of consumer behavior as the basis for decision making by marketing managers. Designed to provide additional insight into sociological, psychological, and environmental factors affecting the consumer decision process and their importance to marketing strategies.
Prerequisite(s): Grade of "C-" or better in BUSAD 2000 Principles of Marketing.
(Normally offered each spring semester.)

This course is taught from the leader's decision-making perspective with an emphasis on the marketing manager's role in the development and analysis of goal-oriented marketing strategies. Students explore how marketing decisions impact the overall development including market research, promotion, pricing, distribution, and competitive strategies.
Prerequisite(s): Grade of "C-" or better in BUSAD 2000 Principles of Marketing.
(Normally offered each fall semester.)

This course investigates ethical issues and moral dilemmas found in the modern business arena. The conflict between an organization's economic performance and its social obligations are studied. Various economic theories, legal regulations and philosophic doctrines are discussed. Contemporary Western moral philosophy, historic and contemporary Christian ethics, and social theory provide a context for the course. Case studies are integrated throughout the semester.
(Normally offered each spring semester.)

Students use multidisciplinary business skills to identify, analyze, and execute practical management solutions to the various problems and opportunities of a small business enterprise. The major projects preparation of an actual business plan. Lectures and guest speakers from the community help provide students a clearer understanding of the link between theoretical studies and the practical world of business.
Prerequisite(s): Junior standing and grades of "C-" or better in ACCT 1310 Principles of Accounting I, BUSAD 2500 Principles of Management and BUSAD 2000 Principles of Marketing, or permission of the instructor.
(Normally offered each spring semester.)

In this course students will examine the history of leadership theory to understand its development and to explore the future of leadership study. Additionally, students will also explore the nature and charactership of leadership addressing the key question, What is leadership? This course utilizes an interdisciplinary approach in its survey of leadership issues, incorporating historical, political, literary, scientific, sociologically, and theological prospectives.

This course sets the topics of management, finance, marketing, and other aspects of business decision making in a global context.  The course focuses on theoretical aspects (theory of international trade and finance) as well as applied aspects (overcoming cultural barriers, dealing with a different legal environment and standard systems) of international business.  Some other topics covered in class include: export and import strategies, international accounting issues, foreign exchange, and international labor relations.

This class provides a framework for understanding the importance of business ethics and corporate responsibility. The aspects of leadership, compliance and decision making in organization will be studied, along with the potential conflicts between, and impacts on the stakeholders of an organization. This course will examine the relationships between business and society, considering the ethical questions and implications involved.

This course invites students to explore the mindset of creativity and innovation with the application of creativity and innovation into the organizational and the entrepreneurial process. We will explore a variety of ways for students to increase their creativity and innovation in their professional roles. We will study companies which are creative and innovative and we will study companies who failed to be innovative and creative.

This capstone course is designed to explore the intersection of the theory and practice of communication in an organizational context. Particular emphasis will be placed on understanding how organizations function as a part of the larger society. Topics include organizational identification, globalization, power, communication roles, technologies, and multicultural influences on organizations. Student research groups will apply course material to an organization of their choosing.
Prerequisite(s): LEAD 4300 Leadership for Complex Challenges