Bachelor of Arts in Strategic Communication

Modern living is complex due to competing desires and obligations: family, career, community, and personal needs. Learning how to balance these competing claims on our attention and affections often involves making choices based on core values. This course explores answers to a variety of timeless questions so students can come to a better understanding of themselves, their desires, and their obligations. Questions that will be explored may include: What does it mean to live a good life? What is the meaning of life? Does life have a meaning? What does it mean to be ethical and how does one know right from wrong? What makes work meaningful? What does it mean to be happy? What does it mean to be successful? What is the relationship between work, success, and happiness? To whom in my life am I responsible, and what do I owe them? Drawing on religion, philosophy, and literature, students will examine and critique a diversity of responses to these kinds of questions, reflect on the relevance of these responses in their lives, and formulate their own responses to these questions. In keeping with Merrimack College’s Catholic and Augustinian mission, special attention is paid to the Christian tradition and the life and thought of Augustine of Hippo.

As part of the Professional Core in the BA in Applied Arts and Sciences program, this course emphasizes: effective communication (oral and written), critical thinking, ethical judgment and decision-making, effective teamwork, the ability to work independently, initiative, proactive planning, and real-world applications. Credits: 4

Examination of the major issues, theories, and findings in the psychological study of positive emotions and experience (Positive Psychology). Emphasis is on the scientific investigation of such topics as the nature of happiness and well-being, psychological flow, savoring, love, optimism, resilience, character strengths and virtues, and the meaningful life. Credits: 4

This course focuses on the concepts and practices associated with effective public communication. A central aspect of this course entails the mastering of public speaking through the process of researching, preparing, and delivering presentations in a variety of formats (e.g., informative, persuasive, and impromptu). The classroom serves as a laboratory to develop the skills needed for effective public communication. In addition, students will also analyze public speaking events as a means of developing a critical understanding of the public communication process.

For personal and professional reasons, it is imperative that you are able to effectively communicate and relate with others. This course has been designed to introduce you to a series of interpersonal and organizational communication theories focused on relating with others. The theories covered in this course present a comprehensive view of each theory and how to apply that theory to personal, social, and workplace relationships. In so doing, this course will center on issues such as self-concept, perception, self-disclosure, power, and conflict. While it does not offer a formula for communicative success, students will become aware of the communication processes that both disintegrate and nurture dynamic human relationships. Credits: 4

This course presents an overview of basic public relations principles, concepts and relation of theory and practice. Students will explore the field of professional public relations covering the role, origin and trends affecting the future of the practice. Special emphasis will be placed on problem-solving and the tools and techniques of the trade as applied to real-life situations. The scope of the course will also examine the foundations of public relations as a communications discipline, as understood historically in the role of society, public opinion, effective strategy and tactics, process, identification of public, publicity techniques and effective use of media. Moreover, the course will address the ethical and legal implications of the profession. Credits: 4

This course is designed to provide you with a basic understanding of how to write for strategic communication. Writing skills are essential for any strategic communication professional. You need to write accurately and concisely. Tight-deadline writing is a critical skill that most professionals in the field must acquire in order to succeed. As developing these skills takes practice, this course is designed to be more hands-on, rather than the professor talking about writing. This means that you will write a lot in this course. Opportunities for writing in a variety of contexts, such as public relations, news, and business, will be incorporated into the assignments. This course also will give you an appreciation for the importance of having a strong work ethic and collaborating with others. Credits: 4

This course is designed for students planning to pursue careers as communication professionals in the fields of advertising, public relations, marketing, and media. This kind of employment requires skills in integrated communication and demands a more complete understanding of the strategies and tactics used in traditional advertising, public relations, and marketing. In this course, students will explore the emergence of integrated communication, analyze new dimensions of mass communication, and develop practical skills to transform the way memorable ideas are delivered. Credits: 4

This course is designed around the assumption that conflict in its various forms is an integral and unavoidable component in human affairs. The course approaches the study of conflict from a communication-centered perspective. As such, students explore how communication theory and research can add to our understanding of conflict. Wide ranges of conflict contexts are examined (e.g., interpersonal; intercultural; small group; organizational) along with contemporary models and theories of effective conflict management. Credits: 4

This course provides an introduction to the distinctive characteristics, communicative features and organizational strategies of nonprofits. Students will learn about the strengths and limitations of non-profit organizing as a model for addressing contemporary social problems, and in doing so, better understand the overall challenges related to enacting social change. Credits: 4

This course is designed to examine the study of persuasive communication as it evolved from the disciplines of psychology and sociology. Special emphasis is placed on types of social influence and how people try to influence one another attitudinally or behaviorally in a wide variety of real-life communication contexts, situations, and settings. Some topics discussed will include consistency, credibility, and compliance-gaining. The course will also investigate structuring and ordering persuasive messages, the relationship between choice and coercion, as well as tactics for resisting another’s attempt to persuade. Ethics, deception, motivational appeals, propaganda, social responsibility, and conformity are other areas critically assessed. Prerequisite: COM 1020. Credits: 4

The course will examine issues that develop during and post-crisis phases and discuss unique goals and strategic practices in each phase. Emphasis will be placed on practical application of crisis communication theories and concepts to real-life issues, with historic and contemporary examples of crises and activities that public relations professionals do for crisis management. Prerequisite: COM 1020. Credits: 4

This course explores deceptive communication, its causes and consequences in a wide range of contexts (family and romantic relationships, art, media, politics, etc.), and the strategies used to detect their occurrence (behavioral cues, polygraphs, etc.). We will examine the processes by which people attempt to deceive others and/or themselves. We will consider communicative processes involved in specific deception phenomena such as doublespeak, equivocation, false advertising, forgery, political spin, and white lies, among others. Prerequisite: COM 1020. Credits: 4

This course examines scholarly research and current events with concerted attention toward the improved practice of communication in intercultural, international, and interfaith settings. The primary questions investigated in the course will address the dynamics of culture, ethnicity, religion, and identity in terms of issues of representation, inequality, and empowerment against the backdrop of global transition in the 21st century. The course will pay particular attention to the ways religion and ethnic identity influence each other at the individual, community, national, and international levels and will closely interrogate communication practices between people of Jewish, Christian, and Muslim faiths. The course will call upon research from critical and functional perspectives that utilize qualitative and quantitative methods of inquiry. Prerequisite: COM 1020. Credits: 4

Having a great idea is not enough; you have to be able to effectively communicate your idea to others. This course will examine the principles of interpersonal, organizational, and community-based communication as a means of shaping how individuals respond to advocacy efforts. The critical skills discussed will help you both understand how people are influencing you, and how you can more successfully influence others. This course will prepare you to be a competent communicator in a variety of contexts. Prerequisite: COM 1020. Credits: 4

This course focuses on the enactment of leadership through communication. Students explore the relationship between leadership and communication. Traditional and contemporary approaches to leadership within various social contexts are examined. Special emphasis is given to how communication theory can enhance our understanding of leadership. Students engage in course-curriculum activities, including personal interviews, aimed at uncovering leadership as a product of human communication, as well as refining individual leadership potential and skills.
Prerequisite: COM 1020. Credits: 4

This course explores theories of leadership, leadership philosophies and styles, as well as how leaders achieve institutional goals in an increasingly complex and challenging world. It addresses questions such as who can be a leader, society’s biases and norms about what constitutes leadership, the differences between leadership styles (i.e., collaborative, cooperative, problem-solver, and hierarchical), concepts such as mentorship and sponsorship, as well as the challenges, opportunities, and obstacles faced by marginalized groups who seek leadership positions. Students will have an opportunity to address their relationship to leadership and strengthen their capabilities through interactive and engaging assignments and activities, including Harvard’s Implicit Association Test, Myers-Briggs Type Indicator, Leadership Style Self-Assessment and Optional Thinking Leadership Assessment, among others. Credits: 4

Leaders as change agents necessarily drive change in an ever-evolving ecosystem. Navigation of organizational change requires leadership competencies in change management, new approaches and tools to increase leaders’ understanding of transformation, and formal organizational strategies, such as structure, business processes, management systems, technology, products, services, culture, and the like. This course will explore change in the context of people and processes. “People” refers to the human dynamics that either influence the change or are triggered by it. These dynamics include dealing with people’s emotional reactions, turning resistance into commitment, motivation, engaging people in shaping the change, learning new behaviors or skills, changing mindsets, dealing with politics and relationships, and addressing cultural implications of the change. “Process” refers to how the organization will transform and the decisions and action steps it will take along the way.

This course is a study of successful change processes and the leader’s role in creating a culture conducive to change; establishing a vision, buy-in, and purpose among the influencers, and implementing sustainable, transformative change within an organization. Through the examination and discussion of change theory, case studies, and change agents, this course considers effective approaches to confronting resistance and to leading change both vertically and horizontally.

This course explores leadership in relation to principles, power and persuasion. These three elements aid a leader in navigating various leadership challenges, styles, and access to positions of power and influence. Defining successful leadership is not done in isolation — it requires an understanding and close examination of what guides a leader’s assumption, beliefs, and actions in concert with their pursuit of power and ability to persuade others,including those who are different from themselves. Learning how to maintain one’s principles even while reaching a compromise is a necessary leadership skill. Holding position, power and influence, and using them ethically and for the greater good are also ideals and aspects of leadership. Persuading others to embrace a workplace change, adapting an organizational mission in an agile environment, or commanding and holding attention are essential skills for leaders. Credits: 4

This course builds on the knowledge and skills developed through the Business Enterprise core courses. The course will focus on individual and group-level organizational behavior within domestic and international contexts, with specific emphasis on leadership, power, communication, negotiation, organizational change and self-managed team processes. This course is designed to deepen students’ understanding of behavioral theories and provide them with opportunities to apply that learning to interpersonal, group, and organizational problems. This is an experiential course and it is recommended for students planning to apply to graduate school in business or related areas. Prerequisite: MGT 1100. Credits: 4

This is a broad survey course providing a comprehensive overview of several human resource functions, including recruitment and selection, compensation, training, performance evaluation, labor and employee relations. Students will consider HRM topics as they relate to all employees with different roles and perspectives for supervisors and subordinates, and how these topics apply to creating strategic directions for an organization. Using an applied setting focus, instruction methods combine interactive lectures, experiential exercises, current events, case review, and external project analysis and presentation. Prerequisite: MGT 1100. Credits: 4

The marketing course introduces marketing as a functional area of a business enterprise. You will study numerous marketing principles and functions, including the marketing concept, the marketing mix, buyer behavior, market segmentation, product position, and marketing research, all within a global context. Prerequisite: MGT 1100. Credits: 4

Businesses are currently facing a fundamental change in the ways that consumers interact with brands and each other. Social media has connected consumers with family and friends while also giving them considerable power over marketers and brands. This course offers an overview of how marketing has changed due to the increasing prominence of social media as a digital marketing tool. The curriculum of this course is designed to equip students with the relevant knowledge, perspectives, and practical skills required to both develop and present an effective social media marketing strategy. Prerequisite: MKT 2205. Credits: 4

Emphasizes the centrality of social context in our psychological processes. Explores how people think about, influence and relate to each other. Prerequisite: PSY 1000. Credits: 4

This course will explore cultural perspectives on what it means to be a leader and how notions of leadership are both socially constructed and reinforced in ways that reify gender norms, as well as gender, racial, and other biases. Using the lenses of feminist theory, critical race theory, queer theory, and intersectionality, students will explore how racialized notions of masculinity and femininity, along with heteronormativity and ability, function to determine culturally valued standards of leadership. We will look at historical and contemporary contexts, locally and globally, in which leaders emerge and the ways in which leadership has been/is defined and represented. In effect, then, this is a course that examines power and how norms and biases are deployed to grant or limit access to leadership. The course will examine leadership in times of crisis and across a range of categories and fields such as political leadership (Congress/presidency); social movement leadership; and business/corporate/workplace leadership. This course will explore the ways in which leadership is represented in media, as well as the language and symbols associated with leadership. Finally, our study will focus on both those who seek leadership roles and “unintentional leaders” — people who find themselves thrust into leadership positions by circumstances (i.e., Malala Yousafzai or Greta Thunberg). This course culminates by examining whether (and how) leadership as a concept can be reimagined and reinvented to allow for greater diversity. Credits: 4

The purpose of the capstone is to provide a personal culminating experience for students in which they both look back on their education thus far and look forward to next steps in their career and life in general. This reflection on experience is distinctly Augustinian. Each capstone experience will be designed by the student in consultation with an Education Specialist, and approved by the Chair of the Bachelor Degree Completion Faculty Learning Council and one member of the Faculty Learning Council who is serving as the faculty of record for the course. The capstone experience will take the form of an independent study that could include but is not necessarily limited to the following approaches: the creation of a professional development plan, an environmental scan and analysis of a particular industry, a scholarly research project and/or a portfolio development project. The course will conclude with public dissemination of the student’s capstone experience and a self-reflective paper. Credits: 4