Main Content
Syllabus
The information contained on this page is designed to give students a representative example of material covered in the course. Any information related to course assignments, dates, or course materials is illustrative only. For a definitive list of materials, please check the online catalog 3-4 weeks before the course start date.
CAS 352 Organizational Communication (3 credits): This course examines the function and structure of communication in both formal and informal situations.
Overview
Everything is provided in your World Campus course that would normally be included in a classroom situation, except face-to-face contact with your instructor. In each lesson, an online commentary replaces the classroom lecture.
At the end of each lesson, your knowledge will be tested: you will respond to questions in each lesson activity. Some questions you will answer in individual essays that you send to your instructor. Others will involve posting comments and responding to the comments of others about a given scenario or question, and others will have multiple choice responses. You will need to collaborate with your team members when working on your team contract, Team Project I and Team Project II.
All in all, we think you will enjoy your learning experience. It isn't easy; in fact, it takes a lot of self-discipline to successfully complete your course. When you do complete it, you will feel a sense of accomplishment that more than compensates for the time spent on the course.
Structure of the course
The structure of this course may be quite different from other World Campus courses you've experienced, as this is a cohort-based course. That is, you will work with the same group of students who will start and end the class at the same time. You will have approximately 14 to 15 weeks to complete the course, and you will have a schedule to follow so that you and your small group of fellow students (your cohort group) will all basically be at the same point in the course at the same time. Obviously, this is necessary when doing activities in which you will be collaborating. This cohort system allows you to work both independently and with team members throughout the length of the course. Teamwork is a key component in many organizations today, and team experiences in this class can help better prepare you for future team interactions in organizations.
This website will facilitate communication among class members and the instructor. Of course, you will study on your own, but most of the class will be conducted on the website; you will communicate with other class members and the instructor there, as well as use it to submit your individual lessons and group projects. This site provides us with the chance for more interaction and communication versus some other ways of conducting this class. You also will have the opportunity to communicate with your colleagues using Blackboard Collaborate. This collaborative tool allows people to share documents and communicate synchronously (in real time). Once you get the hang of it, you'll find the class both challenging and enjoyable.
Finally, the nature of the course mandates that you receive two types of grades: individual grades and group grades. Additional details can be found in the "Course Requirements and Grading" section of this syllabus.
Topics to be covered
- The Nature of Communication in Organizations
- Overview of Organizational Theories
- Individuals in Organizations
- Problem Solving and Decision Making
- Organizational Conflict: Critical Thinking and Listening
- Small Groups and Teams
- Organizational Culture and Socialization
- Ethics and Leadership
- Innovation, Change, and Strategic Organizational Communication
Course Objectives
Upon completion of this course you should be able to
- Understand and evaluate various theoretical frameworks for making sense of organizational communication.
- Recognize and analyze the ways in which organizational roles and relationships affect communication behaviors and processes.
- Evaluate the ways in which ethics and values influence organizational communication.
- Describe and analyze the nature and effect of communication in today's organizations.
- Explain and assess the basic communication competencies needed by individual organizational members.
- Delineate and apply the communication skills and dynamics necessary to work effectively in task-oriented groups and teams.
Required Course Materials
Most World Campus courses require that students purchase materials (e.g., textbooks, specific software, etc.). To learn about how to order materials, please see the Course Materials page. You should check LionPATH approximately 3–4 weeks before the course begins for a list of required materials.
Library Resources
Many of the University Libraries resources can be utilized from a distance. Through the Libraries website, you can
- access magazine, journal, and newspaper articles online using library databases;
- borrow materials and have them delivered to your doorstep—or even your desktop;
- get research help via email, chat, or phone using the Ask a Librarian service; and
- much more.
You must have an active Penn State Access Account to take full advantage of the Libraries' resources and service. The Off-Campus Users page has additional information about these free services.
Software
Students must use Office 2007 or higher (MS Word 2007 users MUST "Save As" .doc).
Students should test their system to ensure they are ready to run Blackboard Collaborate from the First Time Users support page in order to participate in real-time small group discussions.
One of the benefits of being a registered Penn State student is that you are eligible to receive educational discounts on many software titles. If you are interested in learning more about purchasing software through our affiliate vendor, please visit the Technology and Software page.
Technical Specifications
| Operating System | Canvas, Penn State's Learning Management System (LMS), supports most recent versions of Microsoft Windows and Apple Mac operating systems. To determine if your operating system is supported, please review Canvas' computer specifications. |
|---|---|
| Browser | Canvas supports the last two versions of every major browser release. It is highly recommended that you update to the newest version of whatever browser you are using. Note: Cookies must be enabled, and pop-up blockers should be configured to permit new windows from Penn State websites. |
| Additional Canvas Requirements | For a list of software, hardware, and computer settings specifically required by the Canvas LMS, please review Canvas' computer specifications. |
| Additional Software | All Penn State students have access to Microsoft Office 365, including Microsoft Office applications such as Word, Excel, and PowerPoint. |
| Hardware | Monitor: Monitor capable of at least 1024 x 768 resolution |
| Mobile Device (optional) | The Canvas mobile app is available for versions of iOS and Android. To determine if your device is capable of using the Canvas Mobile App, please review the Canvas Mobile App Requirements. |
If you need technical assistance at any point during the course, please contact the Service Desk.
For registration, advising, disability services, help with materials, exams, general problem solving, visit World Campus Student Services!
Course Schedule
The schedule below outlines the topics we will be covering in this course, along with the associated activities.
| READINGS: |
Textbook
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|---|---|
| ACTIVITIES: |
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| READINGS: |
Textbook
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|---|---|
| ACTIVITIES: |
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Note: If you are planning to graduate this semester, please communicate your intent to graduate to your instructor. This will alert your instructor to the need to submit your final grade in time to meet the published graduation deadlines. For more information about graduation policies and deadlines, please go to the Graduation Information on the My Penn State Online Student Portal.
Formal instruction will end on the last day of class. Provided that you have an active Penn State Access Account user ID and password, you will continue to be able to access the course materials for one year, starting from the end date of the academic semester in which the course was offered (with the exception of library reserves and other external resources that may have a shorter archival period). After one year, you might be able to access the course based on the policies of the program or department offering the course material, up to a maximum of three years from the end date of the academic semester in which the course was offered. For more information, please review the University Course Archival Policy.
Course Requirements and Grading
Your final grade for the course will be based on individual writing assignments, online discussions, as well as team projects, presentations, and a group-produced final report.
Details of each activity and expectations are included in the appropriate lessons. Activities are due at 11:59 p.m. Eastern time on the final day of the week listed on the course schedule (every week, except the last week of the course, ends on a Sunday, so the activities are due at 11:59 p.m. on Sunday night. For the last week of the course, activities are due at 11:59 p.m. on the Course End Date, as stated in the Coures Schedule.). Feel free to submit activities early, but please note that all activities will be graded after the due date. All activities submitted after 11:59 p.m. on the date due will lose 2 points per day late (2 points, not 2 percent), so be sure to submit activities on time. I strongly recommend completing activities a few days early. Also, read instructions carefully for each activity. Many activities have multiple portions you must complete.
If a student does not complete the first three activities by the end of the third week of the semester, this student will be removed from their work group and be unable to earn credit for group activities. Further, if a student does not complete both Group Projects (I and II/Lessons 9 & 12) she/he will not pass the course and receive an “F” for the semester.
Furthermore, a student that does not communicate with the instructor or participate in the class during the first three weeks of the semester may not complete the course for any reason.
Group Versus Individual Grading Criteria
Both individual and group grades will be earned in this course. Group grades will apply for Lessons 6, 9, and 12. Lesson 6 involves writing a team contract. Lessons 9 and 12 entail submitting group projects. All group members should expect to receive the same grade for lessons 6, 9, and 12. At the end of these lessons, students will have an opportunity to confidentially evaluate their group members' contributions. The instructor reserves the right to assign any particular group member a higher or lower score if a great deal of extra effort or significant inadequacy is apparent. If an individual does not participate for any reason, he or she will not receive any points for the activity. Because the responsibility for group projects is shared, all group members should expect to receive the same grade. Students should keep a record of participation in group activities (e.g. record Blackboard Collaborate sessions, communicate on the Angel discussion board, etc.) and complete the confidential peer evaluation surveys at the end of Lessons 6, 9, and 12.
Group Work
You will be required to complete certain activities in and as a group. You will also get a group grade for these activities. The instructor will assign the groups.
- If you have a group member (or members) drop the course, you and your group will still be a group with the same expectations intact.
If you experience a group member that is not contributing you will have a chance to make that known in peer evaluations that will only be read by the instructor. Feel free to let the instructor know if your group is experiencing a member not pulling her/his weight, however, please use good judgement when alerting the instructor to the situation.
Point Allocations
| Activities |
Points
|
|---|---|
| Lesson 1: Get familiar with software |
not graded
|
| Lesson 2: Discussion Question | 2 Replies | 2 | 2 |
| Lesson 2: Individual Essay: 500-750 Words | 3 |
| Lesson 3: Individual Essay: 250-500 Words | 3 |
| Lesson 3: 250-500 Word comparative/response essay | 2 |
| Lesson 3: Discussion Question | 2 Replies | 2 | 2 |
| Lesson 4: Discussion Question | 1 Reply | 2 | 1 |
| Lesson 4: Individual Essay: 500-750 Words | 4 |
| Lesson 5: Individual Essay 250-500 Words | 3 |
| Lesson 5: Discussion Question | 2 Replies | 2 | 2 |
| Lesson 5: Reading Check Quiz – 12 Questions | 6 |
| Lesson 6: Team Contract | 6 |
| Lesson 7: Individual Essay: 600-800 Words | 4 |
| Lesson 7: Reading Check Quiz – 8 questions | 4 |
| Lesson 8: Individual Essay 600-800 Words | 4 |
| Lesson 9: Web Conference Presentation | 8 |
| Lesson 9: Team Essay 500-750 Word | 4 |
| Lesson 10: Individual Essay: 500-750 Words | 4 |
| Lesson 10: Discussion Question | 2 Replies | 2 | 2 |
| Lesson 10: Reading Check Quiz | 6 |
| Lesson 11: Discussion Question | 2 Replies | 2 | 2 |
| Lesson 11: Individual Essay: 500-750 Words | 4 |
| Lesson 12: Web Conference Presentation | 8 |
| Lesson 12: Executive Summary | 4 |
| Total Points | 100 |
Grading Scale
| Grade | Points | Percent |
|---|---|---|
| A | 95–100 | 95–100 |
| A- | 90–94.9 | 90–94.9 |
| B+ | 87.9–89.9 | 87.9–89.9 |
| B | 83.3–87.8 | 83.3–87.8 |
| B- | 80–83.2 | 80–83.2 |
| C+ | 75–79.9 | 75–79.9 |
| C | 70–74.9 | 70–74.9 |
| D | 60–69.9 | 60–69.9 |
| F | 0–59.9 | 0–59.9 |
Please refer to the University Grading Policy for Undergraduate Courses for additional information about University grading policies.
Late/Grading Policies
The course schedule and progression may be different from other online or World Campus classes you’ve taken. Essentially, we move along similar to how an in-residence class would move through the regular semester. Activities are due each week and there are penalties for late work. Two things to note about weekly activities are: 1) you can work ahead on some of the projects but not all; and 2) you cannot catch up by turning in activities whenever you can get to them. You must stay on top of the course work as we move along.
I. Re-Grading
The process of assigning grades is intended to be one of unbiased evaluation. Students are encouraged to respect the integrity and authority of the instructor’s grading system and are discouraged from pursuing arbitrary challenges to it.
If you believe an inadvertent error has been made in the grading of an individual activity or in assessing an overall course grade, a request to have the grade re-evaluated may be submitted. You must submit such requests in writing to the instructor within 7 days of receiving the grade, including a brief written statement of why you believe that an error in grading has been made.
II. Grading
- Please allow a 5-7 day turnaround time [after the due date] for grades and feedback. The instructor doesn’t always get activities turned around that fast, however, he/she will do his/her best to get feedback to you before the next activity is due.
- Unexpected occurrences and technical difficulties occur, but are not excusable reasons for submitting activities late. If you have technical problems please contact the Help Desk. A link to the Help Desk is located under the Tech Help heading.
- Please read instructions carefully for each activity and ask questions if you have them before the due date.
Due dates [Repeat but important information]
- Along with due dates: each activity generally gives you one week to complete the lesson. Activities are due at 11:59pm on the date specified by the course schedule [for example Lesson 3 may give you the time frame January 27 to February 2. The due date is February 2 at 11:59pm. February 3 at 12 midnight is LATE].
- Late work comes with a 2 point per day penalty with the above example, turning it in at midnight on Feb 3 is a 2pt penalty. Some of the activities are only 4pts so a 2pt penalty results in an F (50%).
Academic Integrity
According to Penn State policy G-9: Academic Integrity , an academic integrity violation is “an intentional, unintentional, or attempted violation of course or assessment policies to gain an academic advantage or to advantage or disadvantage another student academically.” Unless your instructor tells you otherwise, you must complete all course work entirely on your own, using only sources that have been permitted by your instructor, and you may not assist other students with papers, quizzes, exams, or other assessments. If your instructor allows you to use ideas, images, or word phrases created by another person (e.g., from Course Hero or Chegg) or by generative technology, such as ChatGPT, you must identify their source. You may not submit false or fabricated information, use the same academic work for credit in multiple courses, or share instructional content. Students with questions about academic integrity should ask their instructor before submitting work.
Students facing allegations of academic misconduct may not drop/withdraw from the affected course unless they are cleared of wrongdoing (see G-9: Academic Integrity ). Attempted drops will be prevented or reversed, and students will be expected to complete course work and meet course deadlines. Students who are found responsible for academic integrity violations face academic outcomes, which can be severe, and put themselves at jeopardy for other outcomes which may include ineligibility for Dean’s List, pass/fail elections, and grade forgiveness. Students may also face consequences from their home/major program and/or The Schreyer Honors College.
How Academic Integrity Violations Are Handled
World Campus students are expected to act with civility and
personal integrity; respect other students' dignity, rights, and
property; and help create and maintain an environment in which all
can succeed through the fruits of their own efforts. An environment
of academic integrity is requisite to respect for oneself and
others, as well as a civil community.
In cases where academic integrity is questioned, the Policy on Academic Integrity indicates that procedure requires an instructor to inform the student of the allegation. Procedures allow a student to accept or contest a charge. If a student chooses to contest a charge, the case will then be managed by the respective college or campus Academic Integrity Committee. If that committee recommends an administrative sanction (Formal Warning, Conduct Probation, Suspension, Expulsion), the claim will be referred to the Office of Student Accountability and Conflict Response.
All Penn State colleges abide by this Penn State policy, but review procedures may vary by college when academic dishonesty is suspected. Information about Penn State's academic integrity policy and college review procedures is included in the information that students receive upon enrolling in a course. To obtain that information in advance of enrolling in a course, please contact us by going to the Contacts & Help page .
Accommodating Disabilities
Penn State welcomes students with disabilities into the University's educational programs. Every Penn State campus has resources for students with disabilities. The Student Disability Resources (SDR) website provides contacts for disability services at every Penn State campus. For further information, please visit the SDR website.
In order to apply for reasonable accommodations, you must contact the appropriate disability resources office at the campus where you are officially enrolled, participate in an intake interview, and provide documentation based on the documentation guidelines. If the documentation supports your request for reasonable accommodations, your campus's disability resources office will provide you with an accommodation letter. Please share this letter with your instructors and discuss the accommodations with them as early in your courses as possible. You must follow this process for every semester that you request accommodations.
Additional Policies
For information about additional policies regarding Penn State Access Accounts; credit by examination; course tuition, fees, and refund schedules; and drops and withdrawals, please see the World Campus Student Center website.
Disclaimer: Please note that the specifics of this Course Syllabus are subject to change, and you will be responsible for abiding by any such changes. Your instructor will notify you of any changes.