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CMN2

The BA in Organizational Communication explores effective and participatory communication across organizational contexts. Students are encouraged to identify and explain theoretical frameworks operative in organizational and group communication; apply multiple theoretical perspectives to a variety of organizational and group contexts and events; express ideas and information competently in written or oral form with clarity and organization; appraise similarities and differences among multicultural and global communication contexts and events; formulate appropriate communicative messages for group and organizational effectiveness.

The curriculum is both deep and broad, enabling students to gain practical expertise in their area of interest while gaining a working knowledge of related areas. The curriculum focuses on ethical practice and the convergence of traditional and new media, preparing students for professional practice in an evolving marketplace. Students learn to express themselves well in oral and written communications, to think critically about communication events all around them, to develop skills valuable in the workplace, and to communicate effectively in a diverse world.​​​​​​​

Program Requirements Quarter Hours
College Core Requirements​ 16
Liberal Studies Requirements 84
​Major Requirements 40
​Open Electives 52
Total hours required 192

Learning Outcomes

​Students will be able to:

  • Explain group organizational communication from multiple theoretical perspectives.
  • Apply group organizational concepts in explaining communication behavior.
  • Design manage appropriate messages for organizational stakeholders.
  • Recognize diversity as a dynamic force in group organizational contexts.

College Core Requirements 

Modern Language Requirement 

Modern Language Option

All majors in the College of Communication consist of a four-course common core plus an additional combination of program requirements and electives.

College Core Requirements

Four core courses are required of all College of Communication students:

Course Title Quarter Hours
CMN 101INTRODUCTION TO HUMAN COMMUNICATION4
CMN 102INTRODUCTION TO MASS COMMUNICATION4
CMN 103INTERCULTURAL COMMUNICATION4
CMN 104PUBLIC SPEAKING4

Students are encouraged to complete all four prior to taking additional coursework in the major.

Modern Language Requirement

Students who intend to graduate with a Bachelor of Arts degree in the College of Communication will be required to demonstrate a measure of competence in a modern language, as defined by the college. Such competence may be demonstrated in one of several ways:

  • completing the last course in a second year high school course work in a modern language or Latin
  • completing the last course in the first-year college sequence of any language
  • completing a college course beyond the first-year level in any language
  • achieving a satisfactory score on any of the Modern Language placement examinations administered at DePaul
  • achieving a satisfactory rating in a proficiency examination accepted by DePaul
  • achieving a score of 3 or higher on the Advance Placement (AP) test for any language (must be completed during high school)
  • achieving a score of 5 or higher in the Language B assessment from a Standard or Higher Level International Baccalaureate (IB) program
  • achieving a satisfactory score on the CLEP examination. 

Modern Languages courses with an E-designation are taught in English and may not be applied to the Modern Language Requirement. Students with some modern language training should consult with the Modern Language Department about the course with which they should begin. Students with little or no previous work in the language will be required to complete the entire three-course introductory sequence.

Modern Language Option

The Modern Language Option is available to all BA students who wish to study a modern language beyond the level necessary to meet the College’s modern language requirement. Students selecting the option may substitute a three-course language sequence for three learning domain courses, or two upper-level courses in the same language for two learning domain requirements. Modern language option  waivers cannot be applied to courses in the Math and Computing Domain or courses in the Scientific Inquiry domain. Modern Languages courses with an E-designation are taught in English and may not be applied to the Modern Language Option.

Any substitutions must be consistent with the principle that students complete at least one course in each learning domain. ​​​​​​

Liberal Studies Requirements

Honors program requirements can be found in the individual Colleges & Schools section of the University Catalog. Select the appropriate college or school, followed by Undergraduate Academics and scroll down.

Plan of Study Grid
First Year ProgramHours
Chicago Quarter
LSP 110
DISCOVER CHICAGO
or EXPLORE CHICAGO
4
Focal Point
LSP 112 FOCAL POINT SEMINAR 4
Writing
WRD 103 COMPOSITION AND RHETORIC I 1 4
WRD 104 COMPOSITION AND RHETORIC II 1 4
Quantitative Reasoning
MAT 120 QUANTITATIVE REASONING 2 4
Sophomore Year
Race, Power, and Resistance
LSP 200 SEMINAR ON RACE, POWER, AND RESISTANCE 4
Junior Year
Experiential Learning
Required 4
Senior Year
Capstone
CMN 396 CAPSTONE IN COMMUNICATION 1 4
1

Students must earn a C- or better in this course.

2

Readiness for MAT 120 is determined by the math placement test taken online after admission. Students may need to take developmental coursework prior to MAT 120. The MAT 120 requirement may be waived by passing a dedicated proficiency exam, or by credit earned for advanced math coursework at DePaul (MAT 135MAT 136MAT 147MAT 148MAT 149MAT 150MAT 151MAT 152MAT 155MAT 156MAT 160MAT 161MAT 162MAT 170MAT 171MAT 172, or equivalent) or any transfer, CLEP, IB, or AP Calculus credit. Calculus course(s) may be used to fulfil any of the three QR/MCD requirements.

Learning Domains

Arts and Literature (AL)

  • 2 Courses Required

Historical Inquiry (HI)

  • 2 Courses Required

Math and Computing (MC)

  • 2 Courses Required
    [1 CR Course and 1 SR Course]

Philosophical Inquiry (PI)

  • 2 Courses Required

Religious Dimensions (RD)

  • 2 Courses Required

Scientific Inquiry (SI)

  • 2 Courses Required
    [1 Lab Course and 1 SWK Course]​​​​​

Social, Cultural, and Behavioral Inquiry (SCBI)  

  • 2 Courses Required

Note

Courses offered in the student's primary major cannot be taken to fulfill LSP Domain requirements. If students double major, LSP Domain courses may double count for both LSP credit and the second major. Students who choose to take an experiential learning course offered by the major may count it either as a general elective or the Experiential Learning requirement.

In meeting learning domain requirements, no more than one course that is outside the student’s major and is cross-listed with a course within the student’s major, can be applied to count for LSP domain credit. This policy does not apply to those who are pursuing a double major or earning BFA or BM degrees.

Major Requirements

Course Requirements

All Organizational Communication majors must complete the four core courses required of all College of Communication students. In addition, they must take two required courses and choose six classes from among the Organizational Communication course offerings. Organizational Communication majors must also take any two electives within the College of Communication.  All Organizational Communication majors must complete a total of 14 classes, or 56 credit hours. ​

Course Title Quarter Hours
CMNS 251ORGANIZATIONAL COMMUNICATION4
CMNS 201BUSINESS AND PROFESSIONAL COMMUNICATION4
Select six of the following:24
ADOBE CREATIVE CLOUD WORKSHOP (2.0 quarter hours) 2
MAKING THE MOST OF YOUR COMMUNICATION INTERNSHIP
COMMUNICATION INTERNSHIP SPECIAL TOPICS
RESEARCH PRACTICUM 1
INDEPENDENT STUDY 1
EFFECTIVE COMMUNICATION IN TEAMS AND SMALL GROUPS
RESEARCH METHODS
TOPICS IN ORGANIZATIONAL AND GROUP COMMUNICATION
HEALTH COMMUNICATION
COMMUNICATION AND DECISION-MAKING IN GROUPS AND TEAMS
PERSUASION
WORK/FAMILY COMMUNICATION
MINDFULNESS
EFFECTIVE COMMUNICATION FOR THE HUMAN RESOURCES PROFESSIONAL
COMMUNICATION AND THE CORPORATE CULTURE
COMMUNICATION AND ORGANIZATIONAL CHANGE
EMPLOYMENT INTERVIEWING
CONFLICT MANAGEMENT
COMMUNICATION CONSULTING
DARK SIDE OF ORGANIZATIONAL COMMUNICATION
DIVERSITY, LEADERSHIP, & TEAM BUILDING
THE FUTURE OF REMOTE AND VIRTUAL TEAMS
RELATIONAL, GROUP, AND ORGANIZATIONAL THEORY
GENDER AND COMMUNICATION
APPLIED RESEARCH METHODS IN COMMUNICATION STUDIES
ORGANIZATIONAL COMMUNICATION PRACTICUM
PUBLIC RELATIONS
Select two electives (8 credits) from any College of Communication offerings8
1

Students may take up to 4 hours of credit in this course toward graduation requirements. 

2

A maximum of 8 credits from two credit College of Communication courses can be applied to major requirements. 

Internship Credit

Students in the major may take CMN 394 and/or CMN 395 (when work relates to the major). In order to take CMN 394 or CMN 395, students must have completed two of the four communication core classes (CMN 101, CMN 102, CMN 103CMN 104), two courses in the chosen major and have fulfilled internship program eligibility requirements.  

Open Electives

Open elective credit also is required to meet the minimum graduation requirement of 192 hours.