I. ASCRC General Education Form
Group
VII Social Science
Dept/Program
Communication Studies
Course Title
Prerequisite
Course #
Organizational Communication
None
Credits
230
3
II. Endorsement/Approvals
Complete the form and obtain signatures before submitting to Faculty Senate Office
Please type / print name Signature
Date
Greg Larson/ Joel Iverson
4161
greg.larson@mso.umt.edu
Program Chair
Betsy Bach
Dean
Gerald Fetz
III. Description and purpose of the course: General Education courses must be introductory
and foundational. They must emphasize breadth, context, and connectedness; and relate course
content to students’ future lives: See Preamble:
http://www.umt.edu/facultysenate/gened/GEPreamble_final.htm
Instructor
Phone / Email
In Organizational Communication, students study theories and concepts that explore
and explain the nature, development and functioning of organizations in a variety of contexts.
The course surveys current social problems in organizations, such as globalization, ethics, and
employee empowerment programs, situates those problems within historical contexts,
demonstrates how various theories address those problems, and discusses the merits of those
various theoretical explanations. Students learn how to critique social phenomena in
organizations, such as hierarchy, power, gender and rationality, through the application of
theories to case studies. In addition, students are exposed to social science research and
methods, and learn to read and interpret primary research.
IV. Criteria: Briefly explain how this course meets the criteria for the group. See:
http://www.umt.edu/facultysenate/ASCRCx/Adocuments/GE_Criteria5-1-08.htm
systematically study individuals, groups or The course systematically studies the role of
social institutions
individuals, groups and institutions at shaping
organizations and organizational life.
analyze individuals, groups, or social
problems and structures
The course analyzes important social problems
(for example, globalization, ethics, employee
empowerment programs, corporate social
responsibility programs, and quality of work/life
programs) and structures (for example, hierarchy,
bureaucracy, technology, culture, and alternative
organizational structures) that influence
contemporary organizational life.
give considerable attention to ways in
which conclusions and generalizations are
developed and justified as well as the
methods of data collection and analysis
The course explores the ways in which concepts
and theories related to organizational
communication are developed, justified and
evaluated. In addition, students are exposed to
primary research and a discussion of the methods
involved in that research.
V. Student Learning Goals: Briefly explain how this course will meet the applicable learning
goals. See: http://www.umt.edu/facultysenate/ASCRCx/Adocuments/GE_Criteria5-1-08.htm
Describe the nature, structure, and historical The purpose of the course is to explore the
development of human behavior,
nature, structure and historical development of
organizations, social phenomena, and/or
organizations from a communication
relationships;
perspective.
use theory in explaining these individual,
Students are exposed to numerous theories in
group, or social phenomena; and/or
the organization studies and communication
literatures that help to explain organizations and
organizing. Examples of such theories include
bureaucracy, Taylorism, concertive control,
sensemaking, identification, critical theory, and
feminist theories of organizing.
understand, assess, and evaluate how
The course examines the progression of
conclusions and generalizations are justified organizational theory explaining how particular
based on data
theories arose in specific contexts to explain
current organizational phenomena. Students will
be exposed to the strengths and weakness of
these various theoretical explanations. Finally,
students in the course are exposed to primary
research, including discussion of how data was
collected and how to read and interpret
research.
VII. Syllabus: Paste syllabus below or attach and send digital copy with form. ⇓ The syllabus
should clearly describe how the above criteria are satisfied. For assistance on syllabus
preparation see: http://teaching.berkeley.edu/bgd/syllabus.html
http://www.cas.umt.edu/dcs/Faculty/Larson/comm230/home.html
*Please note: As an instructor of a general education course, you will be expected to provide
sample assessment items and corresponding responses to the Assessment Advisory Committee.