BCOM 205 Business English and Document Editing (3 crs)

Professional written communication must be clear and credible. This introductory course is designed for students who are interested in writing in business settings. The course will include instruction in standard Business English (i.e., spelling, grammar, mechanics, and punctuation); proofreading and editing techniques for business documents; use of style guides; and business document formatting. Through class exercises, individual writing assignments, tutorials, and teamwork, students will improve writing and editing skills to produce more focused, polished, and effective business documents.

Grading Basis: A-F Grades Only

Lecture/Discussion Hours: 3

Lab/Studio Hours: 0

BCOM 206 Business Communication: Writing, Speaking, and Collaborating (3 crs)

Prerequisite: Minimum sophomore standing.

Develop essential business communication skills, focusing on written communication, oral communication, and collaboration. Topics include workplace communication, message creation, emerging technologies, presentation techniques, and virtual and in-person collaboration. Engage in practical exercises, case studies, and projects to enhance clarity, coherence, and professionalism in messaging for various business audiences and contexts.

Attributes: CL Communication Literacy, LE-S1 Written and Oral Communication

Grading Basis: A-F Grades Only

Lecture/Discussion Hours: 3

Lab/Studio Hours: 0

BCOM 207 Business Communication: Persuasive Messaging, Conversations, and Professional Development (3 crs)

Prerequisite: Minimum sophomore standing.

This course builds essential business communication skills across written, oral, visual, and digital formats. You will leverage foundational communication strategies and communication analysis to communicate in a variety of business contexts, including delivering bad-news messages, crafting persuasive messages, writing and presenting reports and visuals, and communicating in meetings. You will also develop your professional image and prepare for an employment search.

Attributes: CL Communication Literacy, LE-S1 Written and Oral Communication

Grading Basis: A-F Grades Only

Lecture/Discussion Hours: 3

Lab/Studio Hours: 0

BCOM 208 Technology for Business Communication (3 crs)

•Formerly offered as BCOM 308.

Apply current and emerging technologies and applications in order to improve the efficiency and effectiveness of business communication in an organization. Discuss theoretical and practical aspects of business communication technologies to select, use, manage, and problem solve using a range of technologies to process, convey, and present information in business contexts.

Grading Basis: A-F Grades Only

Lecture/Discussion Hours: 3

Lab/Studio Hours: 0

BCOM 306 Advanced Business Writing (3 crs)

Prerequisite: A grade of C or better in BCOM 206 or BCOM 207

Further develop your writing skills by creating formal business reports, news releases, instructions, and brochures. Explore writing for print vs. electronic environments.

Attributes: Undergraduate/Graduate Offering

Lecture/Discussion Hours: 3

Lab/Studio Hours: 0

BCOM 307 Advanced Business Presentations (3 crs)

Prerequisite: A grade of C or better in BCOM 206 or BCOM 207

Theory and practice in making presentations in a variety of professional settings using a variety of support media. Student presentations are evaluated.

Attributes: Undergraduate/Graduate Offering

Lecture/Discussion Hours: 3

Lab/Studio Hours: 0

BCOM 309 Communicating in Workplace Relationships (3 crs)

Prerequisite: A grade of C or better in BCOM 206 or BCOM 207

This course is designed to enhance students' understanding of the multiple workplace relationships employees may experience in their organization and to develop the business communication skillset necessary to navigate these relationships. Particular emphasis is placed on experiential learning to improve students’ ability to communicate successfully in workplace relationships. Students will author a business communication case study and lead peers through a discussion of the case, conduct informational interviews with full-time working adults on their experiences in workplace relationships and provide an analysis of those experiences, use articles to generate recommendations on how to communicate competently in workplace relationships, and develop and facilitate a training workshop designed to improve some aspect of workplace relationships.

Grading Basis: A-F Grades Only

Lecture/Discussion Hours: 3

Lab/Studio Hours: 0

BCOM 310 Theoretical Approaches to Business Communication (3 crs)

Prerequisite: A grade of C or better in BCOM 206 or BCOM 207

Students explore theoretical lenses and common methodologies for analyzing contemporary business communication genres. Particular focus is on the application of theoretical approaches and frameworks commonly used in the rhetorical tradition to critique an organization's messaging and create effective business messages.

Grading Basis: A-F Grades Only

Lecture/Discussion Hours: 3

Lab/Studio Hours: 0

BCOM 315 Co-Creating with AI for Business Communication (3 crs)

Prerequisite: A grade of C or better in BCOM 206 or BCOM 207

Explore how artificial intelligence is transforming the way we write, present, and collaborate in professional settings. In this course, students explore a variety of AI tools and workplace scenarios to strengthen rhetorical awareness and business communication skills. They learn to analyze audience, purpose, and context while co-creating with AI to craft messages that are clear, concise, and professional. Through hands-on projects, students create advanced professional communications while identifying the benefits and limitations of AI in business contexts. Students learn to collaborate with AI in ways that infuse human creativity, discernment, and rhetorical awareness in business communication.

Grading Basis: A-F Grades Only

Lecture/Discussion Hours: 3

Lab/Studio Hours: 0

BCOM 399 Independent Study - Juniors (1-3 crs)

Prerequisite: Minimum junior standing. Resident and total GPA 2.75.

Consent: Department Consent Required

Individual project under the direction of a faculty member.

Repeat: Course may be repeated

BCOM 401 Data Visualization for Business Communication (3 crs)

Prerequisite: A grade of C or better in BCOM 206 or BCOM 207; IS 240.

Data-driven organizations seek business professionals who can expertly communicate information. This course draws from best practices and research in business communication, graphic design, information literacy, cognitive science, and visual communication to prepare students to effectively incorporate data visualizations in their business communication efforts. Conceptual knowledge and practical application will enable students to grow in their data literacy.

Grading Basis: A-F Grades Only

Lecture/Discussion Hours: 3

Lab/Studio Hours: 0

BCOM 405 Advanced Business Communication (3 crs)

Prerequisite: A grade of C or better in BCOM 206 or BCOM 207.

An in-depth application of business communication skills. As internal communication specialists, students work in teams to prepare, organize, and deliver business communication training seminars. The course format is an applied business communication context.

Attributes: Undergraduate/Graduate Offering, Capstone Course

Lecture/Discussion Hours: 3

Lab/Studio Hours: 0

BCOM 490 Internship in Business Communication (1-3 crs)

Prerequisite: BCOM 206, 207 with C or better; Minimum junior standing.

Consent: Department Consent Required

• Additional BCOM course work is recommended.

Students gain on-the-job experience in business communication in a supervised professional setting.

Attributes: LE-CEL Community-Engaged Learning, LE-I1 Integration, Special Course Fee Required

Repeat: Course may be repeated for a maximum of 3 credits

Grading Basis: A-F Grades Only

BCOM 491 Selected Topics in Business Communication (1-3 crs)

Prerequisite: BCOM 206, 207 with C or better; Minimum junior standing.

Selected topics in business communication chosen because of a special interest on the part of students or faculty.

Repeat: Course may be repeated for a maximum of 3 credits

Grading Basis: A-F Grades Only

BCOM 495 Directed Studies (1-3 crs)

• Permission of department chair for each new topic.

Permits a student or group of students to pursue a defined problem in an intensive way under the direction of departmental faculty members.

Attributes: Undergraduate/Graduate Offering

Repeat: Course may be repeated

Grading Basis: No Auditors

BCOM 499 Independent Study - Seniors (1-3 crs)

Prerequisite: Minimum senior standing. Minimum resident and total GPA of 2.75.

Consent: Department Consent Required

Individual project under the direction of a faculty member.

Repeat: Course may be repeated

BCOM 798 Graduation Only (1 cr)

Repeat: Course may be repeated

Grading Basis: PR Only Grade Basis