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 assignment. 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 and your minor and major projects.
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 assignments 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 Web site 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 Web site; you will communicate with other class members and the instructor there as well as submit your individual lessons and group projects via the Web site. This Web site provides us with the chance for more interaction and communication than some of the other ways of conducting this class. Once you get the hang of it I think 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 Grading section of this syllabus.
Topics to be covered
- The Nature of Communication in Organizations
- Overview of Organizational Theories
- Individuals in Organizations
- Organizational Culture and Socialization
- Small Groups and Teams
- Problem Solving and Decision Making
- Conflict Management in Professional Settings
- Leadership and Ethics
- Career Choices: Landing the Job You Want
Course Objectives
Upon completion of this course you should be able to:
- 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
These textbooks are required and may be purchased from MBS Direct:
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.
Writing Tutoring Available for CAS 352 Students
Penn State World Campus and the University Learning Centers, the Undergraduate Writing Center, and the Center for Excellence in Writing at Penn State University Park are pleased to announce that students in CAS 352 can now access tutoring services online. Get tutoring support before those final papers are due!
To meet with a tutor online, complete the form available at:
http://www.worldcampus.psu.edu/online-tutoring.shtml
Once you have sent in your request, a tutor will be in touch to arrange a time for you to meet online. Tutoring sessions will take place in Elluminate Live!, a synchronous audio environment that will allow you to talk to your tutor. When you request your tutoring session you will be provided with information on how to access Elluminate Live!
Software
Students using PCs must use Office 2003 or higher (MSWord 2007 users MUST "Save As" .doc); students using Macs must use Office 2004 or higher.
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 Buying Software section of the Course Materials page.
Technical Requirements
For this course we recommend the minimum World Campus technical requirements listed below:
| Operating System | Windows Vista, Windows 7, Windows 8*; Mac OS X 10.5 or higher *Windows 8 support excludes the tablet only RT version |
|---|---|
| Processor | 2 GHz or higher |
| Memory | 1 GB of RAM |
| Hard Drive Space | 20 GB free disk space |
| Browser | We recommend the latest ANGEL-supported version of Firefox or
Internet Explorer. To determine if your browser fits this criterion,
and for advice on downloading a supported version,
please refer to the following ITS knowledge base article: Supported Browsers and Recommended Computers.
Note: Cookies, Java, and JavaScript must be enabled. Pop-up blockers should be configured to permit new windows from Penn State websites. Due to nonstandard handling of CSS, JavaScript and caching, older versions of Internet Explorer (such as IE 6 or earlier) do not work with our courses. |
| Plug-ins | Adobe Reader [Download from Adobe]
Flash Player (v7.0 or later) [Download from Adobe] |
| Additional Software | Microsoft Office (2007 or later) |
| Internet Connection | Broadband (cable or DSL) connection required |
| Printer | Access to graphics-capable printer |
| DVD-ROM | Required |
| Sound Card, Microphone, and Speakers | Required |
| Monitor | Capable of at least 1024 x 768 resolution |
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!
[printer-friendly version]Course Schedule
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.
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Grading
Your final grade for this course will be based on several written individual assignments, online discussions, a problem-solving chat, individual job application materials, and a group-produced final report. Details of each assignment and expectations are included in the appropriate lessons. Assignments are due at midnight Eastern time on the final day of the week listed on the course schedule (every week ends on a Sunday, so the assignments are due at midnight on Sunday night). Feel free to submit assignments early, but please note that all assignments will be graded after the due date. Please allow 5 business days to finish grading. All assignments submitted after midnight on the date due will lose 2 points per day late (2 points, not 2%), so be sure to submit assignments on time. I strongly recommend completing assignments a few days early. Also, read instructions carefully for each assignment. Many assignments have multiple portions you must complete. If a student does not complete the first three assignments by the end of the third week of the semester, this student will be removed from their work group and unable to earn credit for group assignments. 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 will receive the same grade for lessons 6, 9, and 12 unless the group member is designated as a free rider.
| Assignments |
Points
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| Total Points |
100
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| Lesson 1-Introduction and Getting Started: |
not graded
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| Lessons 5 and 8 (5 points each) |
10
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| Lessons 2, 3, 4, 6, 7, 10 and 11 (10 points each) |
70
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| Lesson 9: Minor Group Project |
5
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| Lesson 12: Major Group Project |
15
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Remember, your participation grade on the two projects will be based on a transcript that your instructor will have of the entire collaboration process on the Web.
| Grade | Points | Percent |
| A | 94-100 | 94-100 |
| A- | 90-93 | 90-93 |
| B+ | 87-89 | 87-89 |
| B | 84-86 | 84-86 |
| B- | 80-83 | 80-83 |
| C+ | 77-79 | 77-79 |
| C | 70-76 | 70-76 |
| D | 60-69 | 60-69 |
| F | 0-59 | 0-59 |
Please refer to the University Grading Policy for Undergraduate Courses for additional information about University grading policies.
If, for reasons beyond the student's control, a student is prevented from completing a course within the prescribed time, the grade in that course may be deferred with the concurrence of the instructor. The symbol DF appears on the student's transcript until the course has been completed. Non-emergency permission for filing a deferred grade must be requested by the student before the beginning of the final examination period. In an emergency situation, an instructor can approve a deferred grade after the final exam period has started. Under emergency conditions during which the instructor is unavailable, authorization is required from one of the following: the dean of the college in which the candidate is enrolled; the executive director of the Division of Undergraduate Studies if the student is enrolled in that division or is a provisional student; or the campus chancellor of the student's associated Penn State campus.
For additional information please refer to the Deferring a Grade page. 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 refer to Graduation at the Chaiken Center for Student Success.
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
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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.