This course will help students enhance their understanding of the strategic role that communication plays in the business world, and how effective communication can make or break a deal, an idea, a proposal, etc.  This course will analyze how communication is used to inform, motivate, facilitate change, and create value in today’s rapidly evolving organizations, and how the means of communication are constantly changing. 

It will evaluate what determines effective business communication, and how to achieve it.  Students will learn how to develop, support and organize arguments, and how to strengthen their research skills.  They will develop written, oral and interpersonal communication skills in business settings across a range of tasks including letters, memoranda, resumes, press releases, emails, reports and presentations.  Students will learn how to effectively deliver negative and positive business news while maintaining a confident tone, how to communicate persuasively, how to present themselves, how to present their “personal brands” to the business world through resumes and cover letters, print and electronic portfolios, and how to create and present effective and compelling visual aids. 

This course is writing-intensive.

Students will learn what makes written and oral business communication effective, how to think strategically about communication and achieve their aims by communicating successfully.  Routine, bad news and persuasive communication will be covered in depth, both in writing and speaking.

ATTENDANCE REQUIREMENTS AND EXAMINATION POLICY

Participation means contributing regularly to class in a constructive, intelligent and proactive way.  Students who miss or are late to more than 3 classes may be asked to withdraw from the class, 2 latenesses equal 1 absence.  Students should refer to the University catalog for the attendance and absence policy.

You cannot make-up a major exam (midterm or final) without the permission of the Dean’s Office. The Dean’s Office will grant such permission only when the absence was caused by a serious impediment, such as a documented illness, hospitalization or death in the immediate family (in which you must attend the funeral) or other situations of similar gravity. Absences due to other meaningful conflicts, such as job interviews, family celebrations, travel difficulties, student misunderstandings or personal convenience, will not be excused. Students who will be absent from a major exam must notify the Dean’s Office prior to that exam. Absences from class due to the observance of a religious holiday will normally be excused. Individual students who will have to miss class to observe a religious holiday should notify the instructor by the end of the Add/Drop period to make prior arrangements for making up any work that will be missed. The final exam period runs until ____________