Course Syllabus
Contact Information
Course Details
For a list of course activities, scroll to the bottom of this page.
Course Prerequisites
The only prerequisite is graduate standing.
Course Materials
- No textbook required. Assigned readings will be posted to Canvas.
- Some titles will require a course-pack to be purchased from Harvard Business Publishing. Students will need to create an account at the website in order to purchase materials assigned to this course.
Grades
Breakdown
| Activity | Description | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Participation |
Attend and actively participate in Live Sessions |
10% |
| Quizzes (14) |
5-10 question weekly quiz |
10% |
| Mid Term Exam (1) |
Written response exam |
15% |
| Discussion |
Prompts based on assigned readings |
15% |
| Presentation (1) |
Short presentation based on one of the weeks’ readings. Includes questions/prompts to be submitted in advance for use in the week’s Discussion assignment. |
20% |
| Final Project (1) |
Select a topic/scenario directly related to your work as a professional in the field and suggest strategic tactics to address the scenario. |
30% |
| Total | 100% |
Scale
| Percentage | Letter Grade |
|---|---|
| 90–100% | A |
| 80–89% | B |
| 70–79% | C |
| 60–69% | D |
| Below 60% | F |
Course Components
Participation
Students are expected to attend the Live Sessions to engage with their colleagues and participate in the group discussion. To gain knowledge and improve your understanding and mastery of strategic communication, active participation is critical. The assigned readings will serve as the basis for our discussions and provide important background information on many of the theories that guide our daily communications activities and decisions. Yet it will be the in-class discussions and exercises which will serve as the basis for this course.
Quizzes
The quizzes are intended to ensure that students have the foundational knowledge needed to fully participate in the Live Sessions, where they will be asked to apply or extend their learning. This auto-graded quiz holds students accountable for the reading and video lectures. It will serve as a formative assessment to check students’ general understanding and comprehension of key concepts.
Discussion
Each week's presenters will create questions/prompts related to their reading, submitted ahead of Live Session. Students will answer in terms of ways that show that they have an understanding of the readings. You should explicitly bring in elements from the assigned readings, and relate to your personal experience and the larger discussion
Presentation
As a seminar class, the students have a role in making this class a success. Students must take ownership of their own learning through an active role in presenting portions of the Live Sessions, along with leading class discussions. Students will be assigned to create a short presentation based on one of the weeks’ readings. Presentation will occur during an assigned Live Session and will include three questions/prompts to be submitted in advance for use in the week’s Discussion assignment. Detailed information is provided on Presentation Assignment page.
Midterm Exam
Students are responsible for all of the material covered from the readings, Live Sessions, class discussions and any other materials assigned. The format of exam will be essay and problem-solving questions based on the readings and discussions.
Final Project
Based on what you’ve learned throughout the course, students will select a topic/scenario directly related to your work as a professional in the field and will suggest strategic tactics to address the scenario. Detailed information is provided on the Final Project Assignment page.
Course Policies
Communication
The best way to communicate with me is through email. If you have a question, I will respond as soon as possible, usually within 24 hours. If you would like to schedule a call, send me an email, give me a few dates and times that work with your schedule and I will confirm a time that works for me as well.
Late Policy
All assignments (discussion responses, quizzes, exams) will be considered late if not submitted in on Canvas at the date/time specified.
Every student will be allotted one flex day that can be used at any point during the semester. The flex day will allow you to submit an assignment one day late without penalty. You can use this day for any assignment except for the Presentation, due to the nature of its dependence in the Live Session. You do not need to provide a reason: simply email me in advance and tell me that you would like to use the flex day and for which assignment.
All other late assignments will lose 10% of their score for each day late.
University Academic Policies and Student Support
Course Catalog
Search the OU Course Catalog.
Student Handbook
Please familiarize yourself with the OU Student Handbook.
Online Library
Access digital materials and other resources at OU Libraries.
Academic Misconduct
In addition to the course conduct policies outlined by your professor in the Course Syllabus in the online classroom, please review the Graduate Student Handbook.
It is the responsibility of each student to be familiar with the definitions, policies, and procedures concerning academic misconduct. The Student Code is available from the Office of the Vice President for Student Affairs and is contained in the Student's Guide to Academic Integrity.
This site also defines misconduct, provides examples of prohibited conduct, and explains the sanctions available for those found guilty of misconduct.
Plagiarism
Plagiarism is the most common form of academic misconduct at OU. There is basically no college-level assignment that can be satisfactorily completed by copying. OU's basic assumption about writing is that all written assignments show the student's own understanding in the student's own words. That means all writing assignments, in class or out, are assumed to be composed entirely of words generated (not simply found) by the student, except where words written by someone else are specifically marked as such with proper citation. Including other people's words in your paper is helpful when you do it honestly and correctly. When you don't, it's plagiarism.
For more information about plagiarism, watch this video and then take this short course offered by University Libraries.
Diversity Statement
The University of Oklahoma is committed to achieving a diverse, equitable, and inclusive university community by embracing each person's unique contributions, background and perspective. The University of Oklahoma recognizes that fostering an inclusive environment for all, with particular attention to the needs of historically marginalized populations, is vital to the pursuit of excellence in all aspects of our institutional mission. This enhances the OU experience for all students, faculty and staff and for the communities we engage.
Land Acknowledgement
Long before the University of Oklahoma was established, the land on which the University now resides was the traditional home of the “Hasinais” Caddo Nation and “Kirikirʔi:s” Wichita & Affiliated Tribes.
We acknowledge this territory once also served as a hunting ground, trade exchange point, and migration route for the Apache, Comanche, Kiowa and Osage nations.
Today, 39 tribal nations dwell in the state of Oklahoma as a result of settler and colonial policies that were designed to assimilate Native people.
The University of Oklahoma recognizes the historical connection our university has with its indigenous community. We acknowledge, honor and respect the diverse Indigenous peoples connected to this land. We fully recognize, support and advocate for the sovereign rights of all of Oklahoma’s 39 tribal nations. This acknowledgment is aligned with our university’s core value of creating a diverse and inclusive community. It is an institutional responsibility to recognize and acknowledge the people, culture and history that make up our entire OU Community.
Non-Discrimination Policy
The University does not discriminate or permit discrimination by any member of its community against any individual based on the individual’s race, color, religion, political beliefs, national origin, age (40 or older), sex, sexual orientation, genetic information, gender identity, gender expression, disability, or veteran status in matters of admissions, employment, financial aid, housing, services in educational programs or activities, or health care services that the University operates or provides. For more information, please contact the Institutional Equity Office.
Reasonable Accommodation for Disabilities
The University of Oklahoma is committed to providing reasonable accommodation for all students with disabilities. Students with disabilities who require accommodations in this course should contact their professor as early in the semester as possible.
Students with disabilities must be registered with the Accessibility and Disability Resource Center before receiving accommodations in this course.
If you have a disability and you would like to request reasonable accommodation, please see the Graduate Student Handbook or get in touch with the Accessibility and Disability Resource Center.
Adjustments for Pregnancy/Childbirth Related Issues
Should you need modifications or adjustments to your course requirements because of documented pregnancy-related or childbirth-related issues, please contact me as soon as possible to discuss your options. Generally, modifications will be made where medically necessary and similar in scope to accommodations based on temporary disability. Learn more about the rights of pregnant and parenting students by consulting the FAQ sheets provided by the Institutional Equity Office.
Title IX Resources
For any concerns regarding gender-based discrimination, sexual harassment, sexual misconduct, stalking, or intimate partner violence, the University offers a variety of resources, including advocates on-call 24/7, counseling services, mutual no-contact orders, scheduling adjustments and disciplinary sanctions against the perpetrator. Please contact the Title IX Office at 405-325-2215 (8–5, M–F) or OU Advocates at 405-615-0013 (24/7) to learn more or to report an incident. Also, please be advised that a professor/GA/TA is required to report instances of sexual harassment, sexual assault, or discrimination to the Sexual Misconduct Office.
Religious Holidays
It is the policy of the University to excuse absences of students that result from religious observances and to provide without penalty for the rescheduling of examinations and additional required classwork that may fall on religious holidays. It is the responsibility of the student to make alternate arrangements with the instructor at least one week before the actual date of the religious holiday.
Student Grievances
In addition to any policies outlined related to submitting an informal or formal grievance by your professor in the Course Syllabus in the online classroom, please review the Graduate Student Handbook for more information about the process of submitting a formal grievance.
Copyright Policy
It is illegal to download, upload, reproduce, or distribute any copyrighted material, in any form and any fashion, without permission from the copyright holder or their authorized agent. The University of Oklahoma expects all members of its community to comply fully with federal copyright laws. If such laws appear to have been violated by any user, the university reserves the right (1) to terminate that user's access to some or all of the university's computer systems and information resources and (2) to take additional disciplinary actions as deemed necessary or appropriate. Repeat offenders will be sanctioned and their privileges terminated.
Registration and Withdrawal
If you choose to withdraw from this course, you must complete the appropriate University form and turn the form in before the deadline. If you stop attending the course and doing the coursework without doing the required paperwork, your grade will be calculated with missed homework and examination grades entered as zero. This could result in receiving a grade of F in the course. Deadlines are shown in the Academic Calendar, which is available from the Office of the Registrar.
Course Summary:
| Date | Details | Due |
|---|---|---|