USC Marshall School of Business

Undergraduate Electives in Management Communication

BUCO 252: The Art of Case Analysis and Presentation
2 units | Fall, Spring | Profs. Yolanda Kirk and Michael Coombs
Develop analytical problem-solving and persuasive presentation skills to successfully analyze strategic business situations and convincingly argue your position in a competitive environment.

BUCO 260: Business Communication Across Cultures
2 units | Fall | Prof. Jolanta Aritz
Reflect and build on your LINC, GLP, or other overseas experiences – or prepare for upcoming USC international trips. Acquire intercultural communication competencies, analyze international business situations.

BUCO 333m Communication in the Working World: Managing Diversity and Conflict
4 units | Fall, Spring | Profs. Sharoni Little and Naomi Warren
Learn about communication strategies to manage workplace diversity and conflict. Examine historical, social, legal precedents and institutional barriers to diversity. Fulfills USC diversity requirement.

BUCO 425 Ethics and Professional Communication
4 units | Fall | Prof. Steve Byars
Study the intersection between business and professional leadership, language, and ethics. Analyze and present results to public audiences through publications, professional conferences, ethics case competitions.

BUCO 450 Communication for Organizations: Exploring Creativity
2 units | Fall, Spring | Prof. Ellen-Linnea Dipprey
Develop individual creative thinking and problem solving skills; enhance managerial communication skills necessary to foster workplace creativity.

BUCO 458 Managing Communication and New Media
4 units | Spring | Prof. Sandra Chrystal
Achieve interpersonal and collaborative success with new media in the workplace through creative assessment of e-culture management, including analysis of corporate use of YouTube, Second Life, blogs, Skype, and social media.

BUCO 460 International Business Communication
4 units | Spring | Prof. Pete Cardon
Understand cultures and global systems to deepen your interpersonal, cultural and organizational communication skills and prepare you to be successful in international business settings.

BUCO 485 Business Communication Management for Nonprofits
4 units | Spring | Prof. Lucy V. Lee
Explore the communication issues and challenges that nonprofit managers face. Design communication tools used to conduct fundraising and visibility campaigns, work with a board of directors, attract and retain volunteers, write grants and report on program outcomes, and demonstrate accountability to a variety of private and public constituencies.

Fulfills elective option for completion of Marshall’s minor in Social Entrepreneurship, SPPD’s minor in Nonprofits and Social Innovation

For MBAs: Developing Your Personal Brand, Communicating in Teams and with Clients, Understanding Gender, Work, and Communication

BUCO 503: Advanced Managerial Communication – Fall, Spring

The class is an advanced-level course in managerial communication. Using an “executive coaching” model common in business today, your professor will work with you to accomplish the goals you establish for yourself at USC, in your career search, and beyond. You’ll be delivering a series of business briefings, exploring interpersonal and relational communication dynamics, cultural and emotional intelligence, and professional development and networking strategies.

MAJOR DELIVERABLES: Peer coaching assessments; networking, informational interview, and persuasive briefings

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BUCO 533: Managing Communication in Organizations: Communication Strategies for Leading Teams – Fall, Spring

The overall objective of this course is to give you exposure to and practice in a set of communication and managerial challenges common in business organizations today, particularly in team settings. From these experiences, you will learn more about your personal strengths and about the skills that will help you solve problems and succeed as a team player and leader.

MAJOR DELIVERABLES: Consulting project engagement letter, project management plan, final report and team presentation to client

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GSBA 599: Gender, Work, and Communication – Spring

Women make up a growing proportion of students in MBA programs, nearly 40 percent in the United States. However, a comparable number do not populate the boardrooms and executive suites of America’s corporations. This course is designed to help students (both women and men) understand why this disparity exists and to better prepare them for dealing with the challenges it presents. This course is valuable to both men and women, providing an opportunity to learn more about gender, identity, and gendered communication issues in the workplace.

MAJOR DELIVERABLES: Personal Mission Statement, Network Action Plan, Mid-term Exam, Communication Map, Final Communication Action Plan, Final Exam

Marshall Ph.D. Program: Communication for Doctoral Students

A series of CMC-developed one-unit courses, workshops, assessments, one-on-one tutorials and other activities designed to support Marshall doctoral students in developing the communication skills essential for success in writing and speaking about their research, and in teaching.

To learn more about doctoral student support services and coursework, contact Prof. Lee Cerling at cerling@marshall.usc.edu