BCM 447 500--Organizational Communication Spring 2012 Syllabus Professor: Dr. Betty S. Johnson, Professor Phone: 936 468-1833 Office: BU 229N, Department of General Business E-Mail: Bjohnson@sfasu.edu McGee Business Building Office Hours in BU 229N: 9:30 a.m.--12 noon and 2:00--4:00 p.m. Tuesdays 9:00 a.m. 12 noon Wednesdays 9:30 a.m.--12 noon Thursdays Other times by appointment Required Text: Modaff, D. P., DeWine, S., & Butler, J. (2008). Organizational Communication Foundations, Challenges, and Misunderstandings. 2nd ed. Boston, MA: Pearson Education Inc./Allyn and Bacon. This textbook is required reading. You are unlikely to be able to successfully complete the course without studying the textbook. Course Description: The study of the total organizational communication process within business organizations, including organizational culture, diversity, power, leadership, conflict resolution, ethics, and international communication. Objectives of the Course: Upon successful completion of this course, you should be able to: 1. Understand and explain the major theories and perspectives used to examine organizational communication. 2. Recognize communication issues in organizations and apply organizational communication concepts, models, and theories to resolve such issues. 3. Demonstrate competent oral, written, and analytical communication skills necessary for effective performance in different organizational contexts. In this course, we will explore the situations and issues that influence how communication occurs within organizations. The concepts we study are not limited to business organizations. They are applicable to profit and non-profit, social, community, and family organizations as well. Along the way, we will refine our personal communication skills that can help us communicate better.
Course Methods: As a participating member of the class, you will take part in the following types of activities: readings from the text book and from the posted module content, individual and group discussions, written assignments, and electronic communication. Class Policies: 1. Learning in this course takes two major forms cognitive and experiential. The latter requires participation and observation in common experiences. All material discussed online through the module content, the assigned sections of the textbook, and in related chapter activities is fair game for exams. 2. Our objective is to build a learning climate that is professional and comfortable for all. In a communication class, it is especially important that we (1) display respect for all members of the class including the instructor and fellow classmates, (2) pay attention to and participate in all class assignments and activities; and (3) avoid racist, sexist or other negative language that may unnecessarily exclude members of our campus and class. This is not an exhaustive list of behaviors; rather, they represent the minimal standards that help to make the course communications productive and professional for all concerned. Students who engage in unprofessional conduct will be asked to leave the class. Course Organization: First, we do not have any scheduled face-to-face sessions; however, please feel free to stop by my campus office (BU 229N) if you are on campus. I will be happy to meet you and assign a face to your name. Although there are no face-to-face classes, this is NOT a self-paced course. We will be moving through the course materials as a group. Assignments will only be available during the module time frame. At the end of the due date, all assignments for that module will be hidden. What does this mean? You cannot submit late journal entries, discussion posts, or assignments. Therefore, you will need to be very conscientious about completing your assignments on time. Assignments: All class materials are organized into learning modules. Each learning module contains important instructional material and assignments. As you will see on the class schedule, you will have one chapter of reading materials and multiple assignments to complete each week. You will have a journal entry and an objective quiz for each chapter. Additionally, you will have an activity associated with each chapter. Some of these activities will be group discussion topics; others will be individual assignments. Because the discussion posts require feedback from classmates, they must be posted on an earlier date than the other assignments so that people will have an opportunity to respond to your comments. Refer to your class schedule for specific due dates for each assignment. You can access all discussion assignments, assignments, and quizzes through the related Chapter Learning Module. You can track your grades through the My Grades function. However to preserve the
integrity of the exam, you will not have access to your quiz and exam grades until the availability period has ended. Please note that Blackboard is frequently offline for maintenance from 10:00 p.m. Friday evening until 10:00 a.m. Saturday morning, so plan your work schedule accordingly. Communication: I will be in my office and available for face-to-face, telephone, or email discussions during the office hours listed on the syllabus. Also, I will be available via email throughout the course. Your email through Blackboard will be our primary channel of communication. I will check my Blackboard e-mail at least once each day. I encourage you to do the same, as I will use this channel to make announcements regarding activities and assignments. If for some reason, Blackboard isn't operational, you may email me directly at bjohnson@sfasu.edu. However, do NOT send assignments to me at this address. I must receive your assignments through Blackboad to assign grades for the work completed. Basis for Grades: Objective exams--three objective exams will be given during the semester. These exams will cover materials from the textbook and from the learning modules. Online journals--for each module, you are responsible for one entry in your online journal in mycourses@sfasu.edu. For each entry, select one concept from the chapter and discuss it. Next apply the concept to your experience. Then reflect how you will apply this concept in the future. 14 entries @ 15 points each. Module quizzes Each module will have a brief quiz that checks your understanding of the content. 14 quizzes @ 10 points each. Activities--Each week you will have an activity associated with the assigned chapter. Some of these activities will be group discussions; others will be individual assignments. Check your class schedule for specific due dates as discussion posts have an earlier due date than other activities. For each discussion, you will be responsible for posting a message on the topic AND for providing meaningful responses to messages posted by your colleagues. 15 activities @20 points each. Total Points 300 points 210 points 140 points 300 points 950 points
BCM 447 500--Organizational Communication Class Schedule Spring 2012 Dates Available Modules Assignments Due Due Date Wednesday, January 18- Tuesday, January 24 Wednesday, January 18- Tuesday, January 24 Wednesday, January 25- Monday, January 30 Tuesday, January 31- Monday, February 6 Tuesday, February 7- Monday, February 13 Tuesday, February 14- Monday, February 20 Monday, February 20- Tuesday, February 21 Tuesday, February 21- Monday, February 27 Tuesday, February 28- Monday, March 5 Tuesday, March 6- Monday, March 19 Tuesday, March 20- Monday, March 26 Monday, March 26- Tuesday, March 27 Tuesday, March 27- Monday, April 2 Tuesday, April 3- Tuesday, April 10 Getting Started Introductory Assignment Tuesday, January 24 Chapter 1 Chapter 2 Chapter 3 Chapter 4 Chapter 5 Journal 1 Quiz 1 Assignment 1 Journal 2 Quiz 2 Assignment 2 Journal 3 Quiz 3 Assignment 3 Journal 4 Quiz 4 Assignment 4 Discussion 5 Post Journal 5 Quiz 5 Discussion Responses Tuesday, January 24 Monday, January 30 Monday, February 6 Monday, February 13 Discussion Post: Thursday, February 16 All other assignments: Monday, February 20 Chapters 1-5 EXAM I Tuesday, February 21 Chapter 6 Chapter 7 Chapter 8 Chapter 9 Journal 6 Quiz 6 Assignment 6 Discussion 7 Post Journal 7 Quiz 7 Discussion Responses Journal 8 Quiz 8 Assignment 8 Journal 9 Quiz 9 Assignment 9 Monday, February 27 Discussion Post: Thursday, March 1 All other assignments: Monday, March 5 Monday, March 19 Monday, March 26 Chapters 6-9 EXAM II Tuesday, March 27 Chapter 10 Chapter 11 Journal 10 Quiz 10 Assignment 10 Journal 11 Quiz 11 Assignment 11 Monday, April 2 Tuesday, April 10
Dates Available Modules Assignments Due Due Date Wednesday, April 11- Tuesday, April 17 Wednesday, April 18- Tuesday, April 24 Wednesday, April 25- Tuesday, May 1 Monday, May 7- Tuesday, May 8 Chapter 12 Chapter 13 Chapter 14 Discussion 12 Post Journal 12 Quiz 12 Discussion Responses Journal 13 Quiz 13 Assignment 13 Journal 14 Quiz 14 Assignment 14 Discussion Post: Friday, April 13 All other assignments: Tuesday, April 17 Tuesday, April 24 Tuesday, May 1 Chapters 10-14 EXAM III Tuesday, May 8 To Summarize: If you follow the timeline, you will understand when your material should be read, when the modules should be read, when work is to be completed, and when assignments are due. Though the class is online, you will need to complete assignments by their due dates; late work is unacceptable, and unless there are really extenuating circumstances, you will not be granted extensions. Some online courses grant unlimited access to modules and assignments. BCM 447 IS NOT ONE OF THOSE COURSES. Getting behind has a way of snowballing. Missing one assignment will not seriously affect your final grade; missing more than one assignment may! If you do find yourself getting behind, don't just give up, go away, or drop out. Call or e-mail me. There is a solution to every problem, and I'm here to help you find them. So keep in touch! January 17, 2012
Rusche College of Business Syllabus Addendum Program Learning Outcomes Program learning outcomes define the knowledge, skills, and abilities students are expected to demonstrate upon completion of an academic program. These learning outcomes are regularly assessed to determine student learning and to evaluate overall program effectiveness. You may access the program learning outcomes for your major and particular courses at http://cobweb.sfasu.edu/plo.html. General Student Policies The following policies apply to all students enrolled in courses at Stephen F. Austin State University. You may also access these policies at http://cobweb.sfasu.edu/gsp.html. Academic Integrity (A-9.1). Academic integrity is a responsibility of all university faculty and students. Faculty members promote academic integrity in multiple ways including instruction on the components of academic honesty, as well as abiding by university policy on penalties for cheating and plagiarism. Definition of Academic Dishonesty. Academic dishonesty includes both cheating and plagiarism. Cheating includes but is not limited to (1) using or attempting to use unauthorized materials to aid in achieving a better grade on a component of a class; (2) the falsification or invention of any information, including citations, on an assigned exercise; and/or (3) helping or attempting to help another in an act of cheating or plagiarism. Plagiarism is presenting the words or ideas of another person as if they were your own. Examples of plagiarism are (1) submitting an assignment as if it were one's own work when, in fact, it is at least partly the work of another; (2) submitting a work that has been purchased or otherwise obtained from an Internet source or another source; and (3) incorporating the words or ideas of an author into one's paper without giving the author due credit. Please read the complete policy at http://www.sfasu.edu/policies/academic_integrity.asp. Withheld Grades Semester Grades Policy (A-54). Ordinarily, at the discretion of the instructor of record and with the approval of the academic chair/director, a grade of WH will be assigned only if the student cannot complete the course work because of unavoidable circumstances. Students must complete the work within one calendar year from the end of the semester in which they receive a WH, or the grade automatically becomes an F. If students register for the same course in future terms the WH will automatically become an F and will be counted as a repeated course for the purpose of computing the grade point average. Students with Disabilities. To obtain disability related accommodations, alternate formats and/or auxiliary aids, students with disabilities must contact the Office of Disability Services (ODS), Human Services Building, and Room 325, 468-3004/468-1004 (TDD) as early as possible in the semester. Once verified, ODS will notify the course instructor and outline the accommodation and/or auxiliary aids to be provided. Failure to request services in a timely manner may delay your accommodations. For additional information, go to http://www.sfasu.edu/disabilityservices/. Acceptable Student Behavior. Class behavior should not interfere with the instructor's ability to conduct the class or the ability of students to learn from the instructional program (see the Student Conduct Code, policy D-34.1). Unacceptable or disruptive behavior will not be tolerated. Students who disrupt the learning environment may be asked to leave the class and may be subject to judicial, academic, or other penalties. This prohibition applies to all instructional forums, including electronic, classroom, labs, discussion groups, field trips, etc. The instructor shall have full discretion over what behavior is appropriate/inappropriate in the class. Students who do not attend/log in regularly or who perform poorly on class projects/exams may be referred to the Early Alert Program. This program provides students with recommendations for resources or other assistance that is available to help SFA students succeed.