Public & Organizational Relations (M.A.) - Graduate - 2011 University Catalog
You are viewing the 2011 University Catalog. Please see the newest version of the University Catalog for the most current version of this program's requirements.
The Master of Arts degree in Public and Organizational Relations is offered by the Department of Communication Studies. The curriculum guides students through a programmatic exploration of organizations’ internal and external communication processes, emphasizing concepts and skills that are particularly important in contemporary life: new technology/media; inter- and multi-culturalism; globalization; team leadership and membership; collaborative problem solving and innovation; crisis communication; and the management of organizational identity. Throughout, learning integrates communication theory, empirical research, and experiential practice. The program is appropriate for current and aspiring professionals in the communication industry (such as public relations and human resources practitioners) as well as scholars anticipating doctoral studies.
Admission Requirements
Students wishing to matriculate into the Public and Organizational Relations program are recommended to have completed an undergraduate major or the equivalent in a related humanistic or social scientific discipline, such as: anthropology, art and design, broadcasting, communication, journalism, marketing, psychology, sociology, etc. Students who need to improve their preparatory backgrounds to qualify for admission may take undergraduate courses at Montclair State (note: such courses do not qualify for graduate credit.)
For further information: Communication Studies webpage.
PUBLIC & ORGANIZATIONAL RELATIONS
Complete 33 semester hours including the following 3 requirement(s):
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CORE COURSEWORK
Complete the following 5 courses for 15 semester hours:
SPCM 502 Researching Public and Organizational Relations 3 SPCM 505 Issues of Public and Organizational Relations 3 SPCM 530 New Media Applications 3 SPCM 555 Survey of Public and Organizational Relations 3 SPCM 556 Leadership and Collaborative Innovation 3 -
CAPSTONE COURSE
Complete for 3 semester hours.
SPCM 580 Globalization and Contemporary Communicaiton 3 -
ELECTIVE COURSEWORK
Complete the following 2 requirement(s) for a total of 15 semester hours:
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ELECTIVES
Complete 9 semester hours (with Thesis option) or 15 semester hours (with Comprehensive Exam option) from the following:
ARGD 500 Graduate Graphic Design I 3 ARGD 510 Graduate Graphic Design II 3 COUN 559 Dynamics of Group Process 1-3 ELAD 510 Effective Leadership in a Diverse Society: From Theory to Practice 3 PSYC 566 Interventions for Effective Organizations 3 PSYC 571 Organizational Psychology 3 SPCM 509 Problems in Communication 3 SPCM 510 Special Topics In Communication 3 SPCM 520 Public Relations Writing and Media Relations 3 SPCM 526 Theories of Human Communication 3 SPCM 534 Readings in Communication 3 SPCM 536 Persuation and Media 3 SPCM 545 Issue Management 3 SPCM 547 Seminar in Organizational Communication 3 SPCM 560 Internship: Communication 3-6 SPCM 581 Media and Mass Culture 3 SPCM 582 Techniques of Communication 3 SPCM 599 Independent Study 3 -
THESIS OR NON-THESIS OPTION
Complete 1 of the following options:
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THESIS OPTION
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Complete for 6 semester hours.
SPCM 698 Master's Thesis 3-6 -
Submit the completed Thesis original and one copy to the Graduate Office. See Thesis Guidelines for details.
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Successfully complete the Comprehensive Examination.
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Course Descriptions:
ARGD500: Graduate Graphic Design I
Techniques and principles of design of printed matter and displays, elements of layout, illustration, typography, printing process, and preparation of copy for the printer. (4 hours studio.) 3 sh.
Prerequisites: Departmental approval.
ARGD510: Graduate Graphic Design II
Continuation of ARGD 500. Taken serially. (4 hours studio.) 3 sh.
Prerequisites: ARGD 500 or instructor's permission.
COUN559: Dynamics of Group Process
A laboratory-based course for the development of group skills and understandings. Focus is on experimental learning and personal growth. Readings in human interaction theory will be related to actual group participation. () 1 - 3 sh.
Prerequisites: Graduate students with majors in the Counseling and Educational Leadership department.
ELAD510: Effective Leadership in a Diverse Society: From Theory to Practice
This course will focus on concepts and techniques of leadership for learning and organizational theory, the changing roles of a leader in a diverse society, and the use of strategic planning and data analysis in the implementation of a vision for school and student success. Leadership style and its interconnectedness to the power and authority of leaders will guide student work throughout the course in developing the skills, knowledge and dispositions to lead effectively. Starting Summer 2012: This course focuses on concepts and techniques of leadership for student learning and systems change, the changing roles of leaders in a diverse society, and the use of strategic planning and data analysis in the implementation of a vision for school success and student achievement. Throughout the course, students develop the skills, knowledge and dispositions to lead effectively, guided by the literature on leadership style and its interconnectedness to the power of authority of leaders. (3 hours lecture.) 3 sh.
Prerequisites: Graduate students in Educational Leadership (ELAD), Administration and Supervision (ADSU), or undeclared.
PSYC566: Interventions for Effective Organizations
Interventions based on psychological principles that are used to enhance individual and organizational effectiveness will be examined. Common interventions that are covered in the course include: training and development programs, executive coaching, leader and leadership development, talent management, organizational design, and innovation processes among others. Knowledge and skills important to developing these interventions, as well as skills to be able to facilitate these in applied settings, will be developed. (3 hours lecture.) 3 sh.
Prerequisites: PSYC 571 and PSYC 559; or permission of the instructor.
PSYC571: Organizational Psychology
This course examines the psychological aspects of organizational behavior. Emphasis on the organization effected by individual psychological processes and behavior. Areas covered include social norms, group and team processes, leadership and power, motivation, job attitudes and satisfaction, and organizational change. (3 hours lecture.) 3 sh.
SPCM502: Researching Public and Organizational Relations
This course introduces students to standard empirical techniques of communication inquiry. These quantitative and qualitative methods pertain to both social scientific inquiry and professional applications. Particular attention is devoted to approaches for investigating problems and phenomena that are typical of contemporaray organizations' internal and external communication processes. (3 hours lecture.) 3 sh.
SPCM505: Issues of Public and Organizational Relations
This course orients students within the academic discipline and professional field of public and organizational relations. Students learn about the history of communciation scholarship, academic and professional membership associations, literature and other resources and communication-related career paths. As well, the course surveys social scientific and humanisitic theories pertaining to key issues of organizations' internal and external communication, providing a foundation for subsequent coursework in the Public and Organizational Relations program of study. (3 hours lecture.) 3 sh.
SPCM509: Problems in Communication
Individual problems in communication. Reports, papers, panel discussion and experimentation. May be repeated twice for a total of 9 semester hours. (3 hours lecture.) 3 sh.
SPCM510: Special Topics In Communication
Special Topics in Communication is intended as a multipurpose course that can be used both to teach rotating special topics courses and to pilot test new courses. Special Topics in Communication is intended to be repeatable and to be used by both the public relations and the organizational communications tracks to offer advanced and special topic courses. The course may be repeated an unlimited number of times provided the topic of the course has changed. (3 hours lecture.) 3 sh.
SPCM520: Public Relations Writing and Media Relations
Students practice public relations skills, including press release writing; press kit development and distribution; analyses of publics; and media relations. Special attention is devoted to the potentials of traditional and new media for enabling creative and effective public relations. (3 hours lecture.) 3 sh.
SPCM526: Theories of Human Communication
In-depth study of human communication behavior as it relates to theories of intrapersonal, interpersonal, small group, public and mass communication. Students develop awareness of communication behavior patterns and cultivate the ability to select appropriate and effective communication behaviors for optimum results. (3 hours lecture.) 3 sh.
SPCM530: New Media Applications
This course explores the roles and potentials of various traditional and emergent technologies/media in organizations' internal and external communication processes. Considering issues inherent to contexts, messages, and audiences, students gain insights about choosing and applying media in particular situations, and recognizing how such choices affect meaning-making. Special attention is devoted to the ways in which new technologies/media are transforming organizations' day-to-day functioning, identities, and public relationships. (3 hours lecture.) 3 sh.
SPCM534: Readings in Communication
Study and assessment of major literature in communication. Competence demonstrated in research assignments and papers. Course may be repeated once for a total of 6 semester hours. (3 hours lecture.) 3 sh.
SPCM536: Persuation and Media
This course explores psychological, relational, and rhetorical theories of persuasion and provides students with practical strategies. Considering the functions of persuasion in organizational and public contexts, emphasis is placed on the roles of technology and media in facilitating creative and effective messages and campaigns. (3 hours seminar.) 3 sh.
SPCM545: Issue Management
Issue Management deals with issues such as problem solving, crisis communication and the process of shaping public opinion. Areas such as lobbying, political public relations, persuasion, dialogue, apologia, and rhetorical approaches to public influence are dealt with as means of managing organization-public relationships. (3 hours lecture.) 3 sh.
SPCM547: Seminar in Organizational Communication
This course focuses on special topics in organizational communication relating to leadership strategies and tools for assessment of organizational culture. Leadership is viewed in behavioral and interactionist terms rather than as a position within an organizational hierarchy. Systems of organizational culture are viewed as patterned behaviors with consequences for organizational effectiveness. Tools are offered for observation and intervention in organizational development efforts focused on team building and leadership. (3 hours seminar.) 3 sh.
SPCM555: Survey of Public and Organizational Relations
This course overviews the related disciplines of organizational communication and public relations, with an integrative approach to understanding organizations' internal and external communication processes. Topics include: comparative structural conceptions of organizations; key organizational processes (e.g., leadership, change management, technology/media use, cultural diversity, and assimilation); organizational identity; informative and persuasive public campaigns; dialogic public partnerships; and issue/crisis management. (3 hours lecture.) 3 sh.
SPCM556: Leadership and Collaborative Innovation
Students explore communication dynamics of teams and small groups with emphasis on leadership and innovation. Recognizing that contemporary organizations often value teamwork (rather than top-down delegation) as means for creative problem solving, this course examines theories and practices pertaining to: leadership; membership; interpersonal and inter-group conflict management; cultural heterogeneity; problem solving and decision making; meeting facilitation; and cooperative execution of complex projects. Course content is conducted through and experiential group practicum. (3 hours lecture.) 3 sh.
SPCM560: Internship: Communication
Off-campus practicum assignments that range from serving on a political campaign staff to coaching students and/or conducting forensic tournaments or assisting on a Public Relations staff. Broad, balanced and locally supervised experience by arrangements.) () 3 - 6 sh.
Prerequisites: Communication Studies majors only; departmental approval.
SPCM580: Globalization and Contemporary Communicaiton
This capstone course in the Public and Organizational Relations curriculum integrates programmatic topics within discussions of globalization's processes and consequences. Considering themes pertaining to new technologies/media, inter- and mulit-culturalism, organizational identity, and organizational culture, the course examines theoretical, ethical, and practical dimensions of contemporary cases. Guest lecturers from various academic and professional backgrounds provide opportunities for students to interact with experienced practitioners and to explore pertinent communication problems of globalization. (3 hours lecture.) 3 sh.
Prerequisites: 21 credit hours completed in the Public and Organizational Relations Master of Arts Curriculum.
SPCM581: Media and Mass Culture
Influences and effects of the media on society; policy decisions and the influence of the broadcast media as conveyors of information and stimulus for change. Open to all graduate students. (3 hours lecture.) 3 sh.
SPCM582: Techniques of Communication
Techniques and ethics in the production of informative and persuasive messages for public consumption. Open to all graduate students. Course may be repeated once for a total of 6 semester hours. (3 hours lecture.) 3 sh.
SPCM599: Independent Study
Individual projects in communication that result in significant research or creative projects. Student and instructor agree upon an area of study, readings are assigned, research is done and student submits final findings in form of a paper or a series of annoted bibliographies or position papers. The nature of the course permits advanced graduate students to pursue areas of speech not covered by present offerings. Course may be repeated once for a maximum of 6.0 credits. () 3 sh.
Prerequisites: Communication Studies majors only; departmental approval.
SPCM698: Master's Thesis
Independent research project done under faculty advisement. Students must follow the MSU Thesis Guidelines, which may be obtained from the Graduate School. Students should take SPCM 699 if they don't complete SPCM 698 within the semester. () 3 - 6 sh.
Prerequisites: Departmental approval.
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