Online Communications Degree

This course teaches students to think like sociologists, or, in other words, to see and understand the hidden rules, or norms, by which people live, and how they free or restrain behavior. Students will learn about socializing institutions, such as schools and families, as well as workplace organizations and governments. Participants will also learn how people deviate from the rules by challenging norms and how such behavior may result in social change, either on a large scale or within small groups.

Welcome to Introduction to Communication: Connecting with Others! It may seem like common knowledge that communication skills are important, and that communicating with others is inescapable in our everyday lives. While this may appear simplistic, the study of communication is actually complex, dynamic, and multifaceted. Strong communication skills are invaluable to strengthening a multitude of aspects of life. Specifically, this course will focus on communication in the professional setting, and present material from multiple vantage points, including communicating with others in a variety of contexts, across situations, and with diverse populations. Upon completion, you will have a deeper understanding of both your own and others’ communication behaviors, and a toolbox of effective behaviors to enhance your experience in the workplace.

In this course you will learn key critical thinking concepts and how to apply them in the analysis and evaluation of reasons and evidence. The course examines the basic components of an argument, the credibility of evidence sources, the impact of bias, and how to construct an argument that provides good support for a claim. The course consists of an introduction and four major sections. Each section includes learning opportunities through readings, videos, audio, and other relevant resources. Assessment activities with feedback also provide opportunities to check your learning, practice, and show how well you understand course content. Because the course is self-paced, you may move through the material as quickly or as slowly as you need to gain proficiency in the four competencies that will be covered in the final assessment. If you have no prior knowledge or experience, you can expect to spend 30-40 hours on the course content.

Welcome to Composition: Writing with a Strategy! In this course, you will focus on three main topics: understanding purpose, context, and audience, writing strategies and techniques, and editing and revising. In addition, the first section, will offer review on core elements of the writing process, cross-cultural communication, as well as working with words and common standards and practices. Each section includes learning opportunities through readings, videos, audio, and other relevant resources. Assessment activities with feedback also provide opportunities to check your learning, practice, and show how well you understand course content. Because the course is self-paced, you may move through the material as quickly or as slowly as you need to gain proficiency in the seven competencies that will be covered in the final assessment. If you have no prior knowledge or experience, you can expect to spend 30-40 hours on the course content.

Introduction to Systems Thinking and Applications provides learners with the skills required to engage in a holistic systems-based approach to analyzing complex problems and solutions. This course introduces the foundational concepts and principles of systems thinking and provides opportunities to use a systems thinking approach to analyze and evaluate real-world case studies. The course will culminate with using systems thinking to develop a solution to an authentic complex problem. This course has no prerequisites, but general education math (C955 or C957) is preferred. Because the course is self-paced, learners may move through the material as quickly or as slowly as needed, with the goal of demonstrating proficiency in the five competencies covered in the final assessment. If learners have no prior knowledge of this material, they can expect to spend 30 to 40 hours on the course content.

Influential Communication through Visual Design and Storytelling provides learners with foundational visual design and storytelling techniques to influence and create a lasting impression on audiences. Learners will first explore how human behavior is influenced by visuals and when to apply visual techniques to better communicate with audiences. Next, learners will learn techniques for creating compelling stories that create memorable images within the audience's mind. Ultimately, learners who master these skills will be well-positioned to apply their visual and storytelling techniques to not only better communicate their thoughts and ideas to an audience, but to also influence or motivate them.

Health, Fitness, and Wellness focuses on the importance and foundations of good health and physical fitness, particularly for children and adolescents. This course addresses health, nutrition, and fitness, and substance use and abuse.

This course provides students with an overview of the basic principles and unifying ideas of the physical sciences: physics, chemistry, and earth sciences. Course materials focus on scientific reasoning and practical, everyday applications of physical science concepts to help students integrate conceptual knowledge with practical skills.

Applied Probability and Statistics is designed to help students develop competence in the fundamental concepts of basic statistics including: introductory algebra and graphing; descriptive statistics; regression and correlation; and probability. Statistical data and probability are often used in everyday life, science, business, information technology, and educational settings to make informed decisions about the validity of studies and the effect of data on decisions. This course discusses what constitutes sound research design and how to appropriately model phenomena using statistical data. Additionally, the content covers simple probability calculations, based on events that occur in the business and IT industries. No prerequisites are required for this course.

This is World History: Diverse Cultures and Global Connections. In this course, you will focus on three main topics—cultural and religious diversity; pandemics; and the relationship of empires and nation states—as well as the skills of identifying root causes, explaining causes and effects, and analyzing complex systems. This course consists of an introduction and four major sections. Each section includes learning opportunities through reading, images, videos, and other relevant resources. Assessment activities with feedback also provide opportunities to practice and check how well you understand the content. Because the course is self-paced, you may move through the material as quickly or as slowly as you need to, with the goal of demonstrating proficiency in the four competencies covered in the final assessment. If you have no prior knowledge of this material, you can expect to spend 30-40 hours on the course content.

Introduction to Business Accounting provides students with an introduction to the discipline of accounting and its context within the business environment. This course will help students gain a fundamental knowledge of the role of financial and managerial accounting and the use of financial statements, budgeting, and managing costs and profits in business. This course is designed for business generalist students. There are no prerequisites for this course.

Introduction to Business Finance provides students with an introductory look at the discipline of finance and its context within the business environment. This course will help students gain an understanding of the systems, structure, roles, and impact of finance in business. Students will also gain an understanding of the uses of financial ratios, the application of the time value of money concepts, and capital budgeting in business. This course provides the student a business generalist overview of the field of finance. The prerequisite for this course is Introduction to Business Accounting.

Success in today’s workplace requires more than technical skill. It depends on emotional awareness, cultural understanding, and ethical decision-making. This course will help you strengthen your ability to communicate effectively, connect across differences, and lead with empathy. These are not soft skills. They are the professional capabilities employers value most and the human qualities that technology can never replace.

This course covers an important part of being a business professional: the knowledge and skills used in building and implementing business strategy. The course helps students build on previously acquired competencies in the areas of management, innovative thinking, and risk management while introducing them to the concepts and theories underpinning business strategy as a general business perspective. The course will help students gain skills in analyzing different business environments and in using quantitative literacy and data analysis in business strategy development and implementation. This course helps to provide students with a generalist overview of the area of business strategy.

Principles of Management provides students with an introductory look at the discipline of management and its context within the business environment. Students of this course build on previously mastered competencies by taking a more in-depth look at management as a discipline and how it differs from leadership while further exploring the importance of communication within business. This course provides students with a business generalist overview in the areas of strategic planning, total quality, entrepreneurship, conflict and change, human resource management, diversity, and organizational structure.

Business Environment Applications 1 provides students with a generalist overview of the business environment and a deeper look at a number of topics that make up the non-discipline areas of business which are required for a business person to be successful within any business environment. The first part of the course focuses on knowledge about organizations and how people operate within organizations, including the areas of organizational theory, structure, and effectiveness. The course then looks at business from a legal perspective with an overview of the legal environment of business. The course will prepare the student to consider specific legal situations and to make legal and ethical decisions related to those situations.

Fundamentals of Spreadsheets and Data Presentations offers learners an overview of the use of spreadsheet functions and methods for presenting data within spreadsheets. Learners will have the opportunity to explore features and uses of MS Excel and apply the tools to situations they may encounter while studying in their program. They will also be introduced to real world uses and tools to collect, organize and present data.

Business Environment II: Logistics, Process, and Operations provides students with a generalist overview of the business environment as they explore themes of ethics, problem-solving, and innovative thinking. This course adds to the students’ business skills and knowledge in a number of professional areas. The first part of the course uncovers a series of business processes like project and risk management. The second part gives an introductory-level look at the specialized areas of operations management, supply chains, and logistics. The course finishes with models of change management and how to use them to overcome barriers in organizations.

Concepts in Marketing, Sales, and Customer Contact introduces students to the discipline of marketing and its role within the strategic and operational environments of a business. This course covers fundamental knowledge in the area of marketing planning, including the marketing mix, while also describing basic concepts of brand management, digital marketing, customer relationship management, and personal selling and negotiating. All of this helps students identify the role of marketing within an organization. This course provides students with a business generalist overview of the field of marketing and an exploration of the marketing major.

Principles of Economics introduces students to foundational economic theories on markets and market behavior. This information is valuable to students pursuing careers involving decision making and is applicable to any industry. This course has three competencies: The Economic Way of Thinking, Microeconomics, and Macroeconomics. In the first, economics is defined, and fundamental economic principles are introduced. Microeconomics develops the supply and demand model and demonstrates how it is used to understand business interactions and to make public policy decisions. The competency includes supply, demand, elasticity, efficiency, market failure, costs, production, and market structure. Macroeconomics focuses on the measurement and performance of the nation economy. The competency includes macroeconomic variables, aggregate supply, aggregate demand, money, monetary policy, fiscal policy, and international trade.

Managing in a Global Business Environment provides students with a generalist overview of business from a global perspective, while also developing basic skills and knowledge to help them make strategic decisions, communicate, and develop personal relationships in a global environment. Business today is by its very nature a global environment, and individuals working in business will experience the global nature of business as they progress through their careers. This course builds on previously acquired competencies by providing an overview of U.S. federal laws in relation to doing business in a global environment.

This course ties together all the skills and knowledge covered in the business courses and allows the student to prove their mastery of the competencies by applying them in a simulated business environment. This course will help take the student's knowledge and skills from the theoretical to applicable.

Foundations of Strategic Communications provides a foundation for developing clear, concise, and compelling messaging for specific situations and audiences across various business purposes. Students will be introduced to strategic communication theories and the legal and ethical issues to consider when planning, implementing, and evaluating communications based on intended goals, outcomes, and audiences. In this course, students will collaborate with peers as they gain the skills necessary to be effective and ethical communicators. Students will develop confidence in presenting ideas, persuading others, and navigating complex strategic communications situations.

Crafting a Communications Strategy Through Research and Data Insights prepares learners to develop a strategic communications plan based on data and research. Learners will conduct audience analysis, create a persona, and create internal and external communication strategies to inform their messaging, targeting, and content creation. In this course learners will collaborate with peers to gather insights on audience preferences and behaviors and use this information to shape audience specific communication strategies. As learners develop the ability to harness data and research to make informed decisions, connect with their audience and communicate ethically and effectively, they will address various stakeholder needs to achieve a desired outcome.

Delivering a Communications Strategy prepares students to create effective internal and external communications to achieve business objectives. Students will collaborate with peers to develop content for multimedia, press releases, and social media, to successfully implement and deliver a strategic communications plan. Students will create specific messaging for internal communications to build strong corporate cultures, improve workplace communication, and support business needs. Students will also develop external communications for particular goals, purposes, and audiences to ensure content relevancy. This course teaches storytelling techniques and content repurposing to deliver multichannel communications.

Evaluating a Communications Strategy introduces students to key performance indicators (KPIs) used to measure the effectiveness of strategic communications plans. Students will develop metrics that align with specific organizational performance goals and will understand how to use these metrics to assess and improve communication strategies. As students gain hands-on experience in measuring and optimizing communications strategies to achieve business objectives, they will select appropriate KPIs for a given strategic communications plan, analyze results, use data visualization to present outcomes, and recommend continuous improvements. In this course, students will collaborate with peers as they gain the skills necessary to determine KPIs and iterate on communications strategies.

Leveraging AI and Technology in Strategic Communications provides students with the current landscape of artificial intelligence (AI), its evolution, and its impact on communications. Students will explore the ethical implications of using AI and other emerging technologies when creating communications content. Students will gain the skills necessary to use AI and other new technologies in ethical and innovative ways, lead teams in devising ethical guidelines for using AI in creating communications and use communication technology to enhance organizational productivity.

Crisis Communication prepares students to plan for and manage crisis responses. Students will analyze the stages of a crisis, create plans and messages for managing a crisis, and coach spokespeople to deliver the appropriate message using multiple channels. While engaging in a crisis communication simulation, students will explore how to establish and maintain message positioning, foster working relationships with news and media agencies, and build trust within stakeholder communities. Students will create internal and external crisis response communication plans to ensure coordinated, unified, and effective messaging.  

Communications Applied Learning Capstone provides students with real-world applications to prepare them for the communications industry. In this course, students will integrate and apply skills gained throughout the program by working with an organization on a strategic communications project. The capstone allows students to apply their technical knowledge while reinforcing the power skills of giving, receiving, and incorporating feedback, demonstrating empathy and inclusive collaboration, planning within ambiguous situations, and navigating a complex problem. Further, students will refine their portfolios and personal brands to enhance their marketability and strategically plan for their future communications careers.

Organizational Behavior and Leadership explores how to lead and manage effectively in diverse business environments. Students are asked to demonstrate the ability to apply organizational leadership theories and management strategies in a series of scenario-based problems.

Project Management prepares you to manage projects from start to finish within any organization structure. The course represents a view into different project-management methods and delves into topics such as project profiling and phases, constraints, building the project team, scheduling, and risk. You will be able to grasp the full scope of projects you may work with on in the future, and apply proper management approaches to complete a project. The course features practice in each of the project phases as you learn how to strategically apply project-management tools and techniques to help organizations achieve their goals.

Change Management provides an understanding of change and an overview of successfully managing change using various methods and tools. Emphasizing change theories and various best practices, this course covers how to recognize and implement change using an array of other effective strategies, including those related to innovation and leadership. Other topics include approaches to change, diagnosing and planning for change, implementing change, and sustaining change.

Values-Based Leadership guides students to learn by reflection, design, and scenario planning. Through a combination of theory, reflection, value alignment, and practice, the course helps students examine and understand values-based leadership and explore foundations in creating a culture of care. In this course, students are given the opportunity to identify and define their personal values through an assessment and reflection process. Students then evaluate business cases to practice mapping the influence of values on their own leadership. In this course, students also participate in scenario planning, where they can practice implementing their values in their daily routine (i.e., behaviors) and then in a leadership setting. The course illustrates how values-driven leadership is used in goal setting as well as problem-solving at an organizational level. There are no prerequisites for this course.

Human resource management is where strategy and people come together. This course introduces you to the full scope of HR functions, including workforce planning, talent acquisition, compensation, employee development, labor relations, and workplace safety. By understanding how these functions work together, you will see how HR professionals influence both business results and the employee experience.

Giving, Receiving, and Incorporating Feedback introduces students to the skills and strategies used to successfully receive feedback, iterate based on feedback, and provide constructive feedback to others. This course explores personal and professional settings in different contexts, including culturally complex or diverse settings. Students will engage with their peers as they are introduced to self-assessment and reflection as forms of feedback that can help them explore personal interests and preferences as well as professional relationships and networks.

Adapting to Ambiguity prepares students to navigate ambiguous situations in uncertain and rapidly changing environments. Students will collaborate with peers as they develop a proactive mindset toward ambiguity and learn how to approach ambiguous situations through adaptability, clarity, and creative problem-solving. This course enables students to apply tools for reframing ambiguous situations, creating a vision for success, planning incremental steps, and adapting to both personal and professional situations as growth opportunities. In addition, students will explore the importance of a professional portfolio and how to curate artifacts for a given purpose and career goal.

Empathy and Inclusive Collaboration guides students toward understanding the value and benefits of culturally diverse groups, identifying their own implicit and explicit biases, and applying strategies to overcome these biases. Students will learn to leverage diverse perspectives, ensure inclusivity, apply empathetic listening strategies, and build collaborative work groups. Students will learn that having multiple perspectives is imperative to being a creative and innovative problem-solver and developing inclusive solutions. Students will develop an awareness of power disparity, an ability to decentralize their own perspectives, and the knowledge of how to seek deeper context on issues rather than act through implicit bias.

Navigating Complex Problems introduces students to problem-solving techniques needed to address organizational challenges and implement solutions for desired results. Students will identify the data required to define complex problems, differentiate between short- and long-term problems, and develop strategies for resolution. Students will focus on root cause analysis, ethics and biases, communications, and the steps to strategically solve problems, while learning how to create an implementation plan for stakeholders.