USC Marshall School of Business

Program

This online program helps you turn your thoughts into persuasive written words that are indispensable to every level of success. Learn how to plan your content and the importance of style, tone and language choice for all written emails, letters, documents and presentations. From successfully communicating sensitive information to skillfully framing written messages, this course will help your written words come alive and your great ideas find ready acceptance.

This approximately 12-hour online course can be taken at your own pace over a three-week period. It includes online video sessions, interactive exercises and discussions with faculty and course participants.

Topics

Executive communication and effective writing

• Writing's importance
• Communication theory
• Organization
• Document choices
• Design and Style
• Spiral process

Style and tone, plain language

• Pre-writing and critical thinking
• Spiral process
• Design
• Plain Language
• How to manage jargon

E-mail

• Importance-time, money, security
• Organizational communication decisions
• Netiquette
• Format
• Alternatives to e-mail
• Case study--impact on organization

Who Should Take This Program

The program is geared to business professionals -- managers, directors and executives seeking to improve their business writing and communicate more effectively.

Online Teaching Method & Experience

Designed to fit your busy schedule, this approximately 12 to 18-hour "on demand" online course can be taken at your own pace over a three-week period. It includes online video sessions, reading and case studies, interactive exercises and discussions with faculty. For more detailed information click here.

Faculty

Dr. Sandra Chrystal, Ph. D., Director of the Center for Management Communication and Associate Professor of Clinical Management Communication, teaches classes including "Using 21st Century Technologies to Achieve Strategic Goals," Advanced Writing for Business, Communication Strategy for Business, and Public Communication in Ethics and Research for the Marshall School of Business at the University of Southern California. She also teaches ethics-in-business classes for the Leventhal School of Accounting at USC and ethics micro seminars for freshman orientation. She has taught at USC since 1999. Prior to teaching at USC, Dr. Chrystal taught at the Georgia Institute of Technology, Clayton State College & University, and at the University of Notre Dame.

Her most recent publications include a chapter, "Nudging Academic Boundaries: Business Writing Students Partner with Not-for-Profit Agencies" in Mary Moore & Phylis Lan Lin's book, Emerging Service-Learning Paradigms in Higher Education, and a chapter, "Technology Leverages a Community University Collaboration" in Janet Salmons and Lynn Wilson, eds. Handbook of Research on Electronic Collaboration and Organizational Synergy.

Dr. Chrystal received her Ph.D. and M.A. from the University of Notre Dame and her B.S. from Miami University. For more detailed information on Dr. Chrystal's background, click here.

Fee

$595 per person includes tuition and course materials. There is a 10% discount for three or more registrants from the same company.

Financial Aid

The USC Marshall School of Business, Office of Executive Education, does not offer any financial aid for its programs. However, you may be able to find external financial aid to help you with our courses through the two private loan programs listed below or elsewhere. This is not an exhaustive list; The USC Marshall School of Business, Office of Executive Education, does not specifically endorse any financial aid program.

Sallie Mae Career Training Loan

Wells Fargo Education Connection Loan

For more information regarding refund, complaint and program cancellation policies, please contact our offices at 213.740.8990.