Strategic Communications (BA) Curriculum

Through this course, students will develop professional communication skills needed in the fast-moving professional environment. With a focus on oral and written communication for business, students discover how to design and deliver messages in both formal and informal venues. Students will record themselves delivering speeches, thus they will need to know how to use a webcam and how to upload video files from their devices into the assignment dropbox in the Learning Management System.

This course explores applications within the Microsoft Office Suite with an emphasis on the tools needed in a business context. While covering Word, Excel, and PowerPoint, focus is placed on the use of Excel for analyzing and presenting data. Techniques for the creation of professional documents are addressed.

This course provides students with a broad overview of public speaking, including such topics as audience analysis, idea generation and development, speech organization and speech delivery. Topics include how to outline speeches, create effective introductions and conclusions, use appropriate language and control nervousness. In addition, students examine guidelines for and practice delivering informative and persuasive speeches. Students will record themselves delivering speeches, thus they will need to know how to use a webcam and how to upload video files from their devices into the assignment dropbox in the Learning Management System.

This course explores the challenges of building and maintaining relationships through verbal and nonverbal language; conflict management; perception; and listening skills. Ideas are applied to everyday aspects of interaction in both personal and professional relationships. The course also provides an in-depth perspective on communication and the role is play in everyday challenges. Students will record themselves delivering speeches, thus they will need to know how to use a webcam and how to upload video files from their devices into the assignment dropbox in the Learning Management System.

The course introduces the concepts and theories related to conflict communication, conflict styles and conflict resolution techniques. Students will develop and apply skills needed to resolve conflict in various personal and professional arenas. Students will record themselves delivering speeches, thus they will need to know how to use a webcam and how to upload video files from their devices into the assignment dropbox in the Learning Management System.

This course draws from theories in the fields of communication, sociology, and philosophy in order to provide a comprehensive overview of the concept of civility. The theories provide a lens through which communication in the digital age, and its impact on individuals and communities, will be examined. Practical tools and techniques offer an opportunity for the application of effective and appropriate civil communication in various social contexts.

Our daily decisions and experiences can be explained by communication theory. Introduction to Communication Theory explains the key concepts and theories of human communication. This course will examine the key theories of human communication, both general theories and those specific to particular contexts, such as intrapersonal, interpersonal, small group, intercultural and public communication.

Mass Media Communications is designed to familiarize students with the field of communications. This course is intended to introduce the basic factors affecting mass communications in the digital age. History, models, theories, concepts and terminology of mass communication trend in newspapers, radio, television, film, books, the internet, advertising, public relations, visual messages, media law and ethics are also examined. This course will enable students to understand the complex interactions between media and society, and think critically about the ways in which mass media inform our everyday lives.

This course explores the way we read, write and speak the language of digital media by bridging theory to practice. Students will learn how and why the digital world is constructed the way it is through the examination of topics such as the definition of digital media, Internet customers and potential customers, blogging and web design, and social media tools and channels. Additionally, students will examine many of the practical and critical skills necessary to become technically proficient in digital/social media use.

Media Ethics explores the origins of ethical behavior, issues and dilemmas in mass communication. Additionally, students will examine classical and contemporary approaches and their application to modern media practices.

Students are introduced to basic computer concepts as well as techniques and tools for folder and file navigation and manipulation. Students explore the fundamentals of an office productivity suite, developing skills in word processing, spreadsheet and presentation applications.

This course covers the principles of managing information systems in the context of an enterprise. Topics include coverage of information technology in management, information systems in decision-making, planning of information systems, systems development, controls and security measures, and electronic commerce.

This course is an advanced study of how businesses and organizations may use technology to measure website traffic, enhance business presence, and conduct market research.

This course is an overview of web development software. Topics include web page creation and website management, and the creation, revision, and enhancement of web pages with links, graphics, tables, and forms via a variety of authoring tools. This course will also cover planning, building, promoting and maintaining a professional website using the software packages available.

The course shows how to use Hypertext Markup Language (HTML), Extensible HTML (XHTML) and Cascading Style Sheets (CSS) to create a website. 'Best practices' in website and web page design and creation are used.

Students gain skills in interactive techniques that combine XHTML with CSS and JavaScript. Also emphasized is XML document creation. The course focuses on skill building for advanced web design. This is a continuation of IS301.

This course provides a foundation for understanding and applying research findings on leadership, focusing on classical leadership theories.

This course presents leadership as a way of acting that involves the influence of people to inspire change toward a mutually desired outcome. Technological advancements and globalization have created a business environment where rapid and constant change is the norm. This course uncovers how effective leaders embrace the inevitability of constant change and diversity, and use their interpersonal skills to promote change, communicate vision, provide a sense of direction and inspire employees.

This introductory course provides students with a practical and concrete explanation of the concepts and techniques they will need as managers in today's new organizations. The sequence of topics follows the familiar pattern of planning, organizing, leading, and controlling. Throughout the course, the manager's role in leading and accommodating change is emphasized. The course also introduces the student to the issues of managing global businesses, especially the ways in which managers need to develop a global perspective in order to be successful. Issues in strategy, diversity, and entrepreneurship are covered extensively.

This course provides students with a comprehensive review of the concepts and techniques associated with strategic human resource management (HRM) in an emerging global context. Key issues examined are the legal, ethical, and regulatory nature of the business environment. Also studied are the specific technical areas of job evaluation, recruitment and selection, compensation and benefits, training and development, performance appraisal and employee relations. Of particular importance is the examination of such areas as technology, international staffing, and global competition.

This course on the principles of marketing provides an introduction to the nature and fundamentals of the marketing activity in modern businesses. The broad view of marketing that is presented builds on the integration of marketing with the entire enterprise, reinforced by theories and concepts as well as practices and applications. Topics include an analysis of the economic factors influencing buyer behavior, marketing research, market segmentation, development of marketing programs (new product, price, advertising and distribution decisions), and international marketing. The course also covers new marketing technologies that are revolutionizing the way companies bring value to their customers.

This course provides students with a baseline understanding of marketing communication strategies. Starting with the theoretical background to marketing communications, the course moves to the mechanics of producing marketing materials, describing the various techniques marketers have for telling their stories. By taking the concept of marketing as a launching point, students examine the layers of a sound marketing implementation plan by looking at several communication strategies. Initial topics include communication and miscommunication in the marketing world. The course is practical examination of real-life marketing communication tactics.

This course provides students with an advanced, managerial approach to marketing strategies, exposing students to major decisions that marketing managers may face in their effort to balance an organization's objects and resources against the needs and opportunities in the global market. Initial topics include an in depth view of strategic marketing strategies and the national and international marketing environment. Building upon this foundational knowledge, the course also explores marketing in the Internet age, the ethics of marketing from a social perspective, the global marketplace, and relationship marketing.

This course presents methods in making analytical decisions using statistics. The course focuses on the characteristics of numerical and categorical data, methods of presentation, and descriptive statistics. The course also introduces students to basic methods of sampling and of making inferences using one or two independent samples. NOTE: Credit may not be awarded for both MA215 and MA230.

This course provides students with an in-depth analysis of public relations practices. The course aims to demonstrate the critical need for effective public relations communication in the 21st-Century by placing emphasis on the principles, processes, and practices that lead to building positive relationships in a 24/7 communications environment. Starting with an understanding of how communications research, theory, and public opinion can be applied to strategic public relations planning and creation of believable and persuasive messages, the course moves through a series of 'Speaking of Ethics' features that bring to life the daily dilemmas that confront professional public relations practitioners.

This course introduces students to concepts and principles of organizational behavior. Students investigate the impact that individuals, groups, and structures have on behavior within organizations, for the purpose of applying such knowledge toward improving an organization's effectiveness. Topics addressed include motivation, leadership, communications, group structure and process, attitude and values, and the change process.

This course presents the fundamental concepts of database systems. The course covers the relational model, structured query language (SQL), data modeling, database design and database administration.

Study of a significant topic in information systems that is not available through other program offerings.

This course introduces students to the University of Arkansas Grantham policies and staff, provides information about higher education funding resources, discusses important skills for success in the online learning environment, and provides information about University of Arkansas Grantham student support services. Students practice submitting assignments and navigating the Learning Management System (Blackboard). Students will be required to demonstrate fundamental skills necessary for success in the online learning environment at the University of Arkansas Grantham.

This course covers the process and method of science applied to understanding biological concepts at the molecular, cellular, organismal and community levels. The emphasis of this course is on biological diversity in major groups of living organisms and ecology. This course includes a lab.

This course stresses human systems, with applications to contemporary issues in human health and the environment. The scientific method and social applications of scientific information related to human issues are emphasized. This course includes a lab.

This introductory course provides an overview of current and traditional concerns and methods of macroeconomics. Topics that are covered include: economic growth, unemployment inflation, government deficits, monetary policy, investment and capital, the role and methods of the Federal Reserve, Keynesian and monetarist theories and comparative advantage.

This course emphasizes the writing process. Students will apply principles of good writing practice through various genre (narrative, persuasive, expository writings). Additionally, students will analyze reading material as part of the critical and creative thinking processes associated with written communication.

This course introduces students to terms, concepts, and documents related to Technical Writing (writing in the work environment). The concepts and skills presented in the course are intended to be a foundation for effective writing that combines content and format with knowledge of the target audience. Technical writing covers many document types; the course will provide an overview of documents used in the work place such as visual elements, instructions, reports, and presentations. Students will create a portfolio of technical writing documents including: a proposal, progress reports, feasibility and recommendation reports, visual elements, and descriptions of a mechanism and a process.

This course provides the fundamentals of data aptitude. Through this exploration of quantitative reasoning, emphasis will be placed on how to interpret graphs, charts, and pictorial representations of data, along with an understanding of the principles underlying statistics and financial information.

This course examines critical thinking and the analysis of arguments in terms of premises, reasons, and conclusions. Course topics include obstacles to critical thinking, diagramming arguments, belief and doubt, logical fallacies, inductive reasoning, deductive reasoning, inferences, and judging scientific theories.

This course is a survey of ethical systems with an examination of how such systems can be applied to business, medical, legal, environmental, and personal issues.

This course provides an introduction to American government and politics. Topics include the concept of a constitutional democracy, federalism, amendment rights and equal rights under the law. Also covered are political culture, political ideology, interest groups, lobbying, and political campaigns and elections.

This course presents an introductory overview of psychology. The course includes topics such as the history of psychology, nature vs. nurture, biological psychology, sensation, perceptions, developmental theories, classical conditioning, operant conditioning, memory, cognition, personality, health, and social psychology.

This course offers a global perspective to help students understand their own lives as well as presenting the most current research in the field of sociology. Students will explore social diversity while critically examining the issues and challenges facing society. Topics covered include the theoretical and empirical foundations of sociology, the major themes of sociological research, and the techniques employed.