Organizational Communication
Bachelor of Arts or Bachelor of Science
Explore the organizational communication bachelor's degree program at UW-Eau Claire
Learn how to analyze, develop and deliver messages to a variety of stakeholders with an organizational communication bachelor's degree from the University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire. Our career-building program will introduce you to best practices across all types of communication, including organizational, professional, multimedia, interpersonal, intercultural, small group, leadership and health communication.
Coursework focuses on deepening your understanding of strategic message design. Through case studies and real-world examples, you will analyze messages within organizations, identify common organizational needs and develop effective strategies to address them. Unique projects and presentations will help you to improve communication in ways that enhance individual experiences and organizational productivity.
A critical component of all our programs at UW-Eau Claire is providing students with opportunities to gain professional experience and make industry connections. Here, you'll have opportunities to collaborate with faculty on research, intern at local organizations or study abroad.
With a growing need for skilled communicators, a degree in organizational communication is in high demand. Previous students have gone on to work in management, human resources, marketing, training and development, event planning, community relations and a variety of other areas in for-profit and nonprofit organizations.
Organizational communication degree scholarships
UW-Eau Claire has built a supportive community and alumni network that can help students pay for college. For example, the Donald L. and Geraldine T. Wolfarth Fund awards a number of scholarships (up to $3,600) to communication students who have actively participated in programs, activities and/or work related to the communication field. The award is made possible by Donald L. Wolfarth, who held a teaching position in the speech department at UW-Eau Claire from 1967 until his retirement in 1988.
Learn more about additional scholarships and resources available to you by checking out our scholarships page.
Financial aid at UW-Eau Claire
Working to make your college education affordable is very important to us. We are here to walk you through the financial aid process and make applying for aid and paying your bill as easy as possible.
To get this process started, please contact our staff at Blugold Central — our one-stop-shop for tuition and financial aid. They will help you learn how to pay for your education and minimize debt, freeing you up to focus on academics and your organizational communication degree.
Learn more about our financial aid process at UWEC.
Quick facts
Organizational communication program details
- Program length: four years
- Availability: campus
- This major requires a minor.
- This program is also available as a minor.
Student organizations
- Communication and Journalism Organization (CJO)
- Forensics
- International Association of Business Communicators (IABC)
- Kappa Tau Alpha
- The Spectator
Organizational communication bachelor’s degree program highlights
Skill-building facilities. The communication and journalism department is home to the Communication and Journalism Center, a state-of-the-art facility that includes TV and radio news studios and projection facilities, a visual communication studio and lab, and the offices of The Spectator and Blugold Radio (WUEC FM 89.7) — student media outlets. Here, you can take what you've learned in the classroom and put it into practice, all while gaining professional experience.
Career preparation. Rigorous coursework will prepare you for the demands and challenges of a career in organizational communication. Many classes throughout the major have a strong emphasis on professional development. Learn the fundamentals of effective public speaking, mindful interviewing and self-presentation.
Collaborative research opportunities. Through our student-faculty collaborative research program, you will have opportunities to participate in fascinating research projects, like the link between recruitment messages and applicant leadership qualities or the analysis of messages in corporate rhetoric. In addition to bolstering your resume and portfolio, these projects help you foster relationships with mentors, the community and even potential employers.
Relevant student organizations. Many of our communication students are active in on-campus student clubs and organizations, like the Communication and Journalism Organization (CJO). These extracurriculars are excellent ways to learn new skills, network and explore career paths.
Supportive faculty experts. Classes are taught by passionate, enthusiastic professors who know and love their field. Through creative projects and guest presentations, they go out of their way to immerse you in the diverse world of communication. Small class sizes help you form meaningful relationships and gain an even more personalized education.
What jobs can you get with an organizational communication degree from UWEC?
Our organizational communication graduates are experiencing successful careers all over the world. From Wisconsin to England to Antigua, Blugolds are helping organizations make decisions, craft effective messages and build reputable brands.
Where are organizational communication alumni now?
- Client service coordinator, Banfield Pet Hospital, Minnesota
- Community manager, American Cancer Society, Wisconsin
- Communications assistant, Mission Impact, Antigua
- Advertising coordinator, Post-Bulletin, Minnesota
- Social media and communications coordinator, Harlaxton College, England
- Administrative coordinator and department liaison, Boys & Girls Club of the Greater Chippewa Valley, Wisconsin
Organizational communication jobs
- Events specialist
- Marketing communications specialist
- Digital marketing coordinator
- Talent acquisition specialist
- Sales and events coordinator
- Event operations
- Marketing specialist
From the moment I stepped on campus, UWEC felt like home. I've been lucky to study abroad twice (in Jamaica and Spain), complete student-faculty research submitted for publishing, serve on the Executive Board of numerous organizations, raise money for Blugold scholarships, and follow multiple passions. UWEC was the perfect place to lay down roots and prepare for an exciting career in Minneapolis as a technology consultant for a Fortune 50 company.
Organizational communication bachelor's degree program curriculum
Curriculum within the organizational communication major is intentionally built to provide you with firsthand experience. A Communication Research Seminar capstone course will require you to investigate current research issues in interpersonal, group, intercultural, organizational and public communication.
You may also choose to pursue a communication internship — many of which count for credit. There, you'll apply classroom knowledge and skills to a variety of professional activities, taking away new skills and an impressive resume.
Classes for organizational communication majors may include:
- Fundamentals of Human Communication
- Research Methods
- Small-Group Communication
- Advanced Organizational Communication: Strategic Message Design
- Professional Communication
- Intercultural Communication
- Strategic Event Planning
- Leadership Communication
Learn more about the organizational communication major in the UWEC course catalog.
Learn more about the organizational communication minor in the UWEC course catalog.
Related programs at UW-Eau Claire
Thinking about a bachelor’s degree in communication? Here are other programs you may be interested in exploring.