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.
- A copy of the most recent edition of the APA Style Manual is recommended. Additional information can be found at Purdue's OWL.
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 the Live Session. Students will answer in terms of ways that show that they have an understanding of the readings. You should try to explicitly bring in elements from the assigned readings, and relate to your personal experience and the larger discussion. You can cite other scholarly and/or authoritative sources as well, as noted on the "What makes a good discussion post" page (please note this page and the guidelines may be somewhat different than those you may have encountered previously in this program). APA-style citations are expected.
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. Presentations 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 and that will also serve as a jumping-off point for further class discussion in the live sessions. More 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.
Live Sessions
Live Sessions will primarily consist of student-led presentations and discussions over the assigned readings. You are expected to attend all Zoom Live Sessions. Participation is expected and can occur through respectful discourse in the Zoom window or in the chat. Students learn and interact in a variety of ways, however, it is important that you show us you are engaged in some manner. To successfully participate in the class, you need to do the required reading ahead of time so that you can critically think about, discuss, and analyze the issues we have prepared for that week.
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.
Student Support Services
OU offers a variety of services to support students. For more information, please refer to the Student Support Module in your Orientation course.
Online Library
Access digital materials and other resources at OU Libraries.
Copyright Statement and Privacy Information
Sessions of this course may be recorded or live-streamed. These recordings are the intellectual property of the individual faculty member and may not be shared or reproduced without the explicit, written consent of the faculty member. In addition, privacy rights of others such as students, guest lecturers, and providers of copyrighted material displayed in the recording may be of concern. Students may not share any course recordings with individuals not enrolled in the class or upload them to any other online environment.
Academic Integrity
As a member of the OU community, it is your responsibility to protect your educational investment by knowing and following the rules. 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.
Academic honesty is incredibly important within this course. Cheating is strictly prohibited at the University of Oklahoma, because it devalues the degree you are working hard to get. Should you know of someone else engaging in academic misconduct, please report it to your instructor or directly to the Office of Academic Integrity. Your instructor has a professional obligation to report 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.
Religious Observance
It is the policy of the University to excuse the absences of students that result from religious observances and to reschedule examinations and additional required classwork that may fall on religious holidays, without penalty. [See Faculty Handbook 3.15.2].
Reasonable Accommodation for Disabilities
The Accessibility and Disability Resource Center (ADRC) is committed to supporting students with disabilities to ensure that they are able to enjoy equal access to all components of their education. This includes your academics, housing, and community events. Please review OU's Accessibility Policy.
If you are experiencing a disability, a mental/medical health condition that has a significant impact on one or more life functions, you can receive accommodations to provide equal access. Possible disabilities include but are not limited to learning disabilities, AD(H)D, mental health, and chronic health. Additionally, we support students with temporary medical conditions (broken wrist, shoulder surgery, etc.) and pregnancy.
To discuss potential accommodations, please contact the ADRC at 730 College Avenue, (phone) 405-325-3852, or adrc@ou.edu.
Title IX Resources
Anyone who has been impacted by gender-based violence, including dating violence, domestic violence, stalking, harassment, and sexual assault, deserves access to resources so that they are supported personally and academically.
The University of Oklahoma is committed to offering resources to those impacted, including: speaking with someone confidentially about your options, medical attention, counseling, reporting, academic support, and safety plans. If you would like to speak with someone confidentially, please contact OU Advocates (available 24/7 at 405-615-0013) or another confidential resource (see "Can I make an anonymous report?").
You may also choose to report gender-based violence and discrimination through other means, including by contacting the Institutional Equity Office (ieo@ou.edu, 405-325-3546) or the police (911).
Because the University of Oklahoma is committed to the safety of you and other students, I, as well as other faculty, Graduate Assistants, and Teaching Assistants, are mandatory reporters. This means that we are obligated to report gender-based violence that has been disclosed to us to the Institutional Equity Office. This includes disclosures that occur in class discussions, writing assignments, discussion boards, emails, and during Student/Office Hours.
For more information, please visit the Institutional Equity Office.
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.
Mental Health Support Services
If you are experiencing any mental health issues that are impacting your academic performance, counseling is available at the University Counseling Center (UCC). The Center is located on the second floor of the Goddard Health Center, at 620 Elm Rm. 201, Norman, OK 73019. To schedule an appointment, call 405-325-2911. For more information, please visit the University Counseling Center.
Final Exam Preparation Period
Pre-finals week will be defined as the seven calendar days before the first day of finals. Faculty may cover new course material throughout this week. For specific provisions of the policy please refer to OU's Final Exam Preparation Period policy.
Required Policies for Students On Campus
Emergency Protocol
During an emergency, there are official university procedures that will maximize your safety.
Severe Weather: If you receive an OU Alert to seek refuge or hear a tornado siren that signals severe weather:
- Look for severe weather refuge location maps located inside most OU buildings near the entrances
- Seek refuge inside a building. Do not leave one building to seek shelter in another building that you deem safer. If outside, get into the nearest building.
- Go to the building’s severe weather refuge location. If you do not know where that is, go to the lowest level possible and seek refuge in an innermost room. Avoid outside doors and windows.
- Get in, Get Down, Cover Up.
- Wait for official notice to resume normal activities.
Additional Weather Safety Information is available through the Department of Campus Safety.
Severe Weather Preparedness Video
Armed Subject/Campus Intruder
If you receive an OU Alert to shelter-in-place due to an active shooter or armed intruder situation or you hear what you perceive to be gunshots:
- Avoid: If you believe you can get out of the area without encountering the armed individual, move quickly towards the nearest building exit, move away from the building, and call 911.
- Deny: If you cannot flee, move to an area that can be locked or barricaded, turn off lights, silence devices, spread out, and formulate a plan of attack if the shooter enters the room.
- Defend: As a last resort fight to defend yourself. For more information, visit:
OU's Emergency Preparedness site
Shots Fired on Campus Procedure
Fire Alarm/General Emergency
If you receive an OU Alert that there is danger inside or near the building, or the fire alarm inside the building activates:
- Leave the building. Do not use the elevators.
- Know at least two building exits
- Assist those that may need help
- Proceed to the emergency assembly area
- Once safely outside, Notify first responders of anyone that may still be inside the building due to mobility issues.
- Wait for official notice before attempting to re-enter the building.
Course Summary:
| Date | Details | Due |
|---|---|---|