Organizational Communication and Leadership

A better you begins here.

Are you fascinated by how people interact with one another? Do you want to develop your communication skills? Are you interested in gaining a broader perspective of how the world works? Do you want to bring a greater value to your family, workplace and community?

A degree in organizational communication provides you the tools you need to succeed. Let our experienced faculty and practical classes prepare you to be a change agent in your future workplace.

Whether you are a traditional student or a working professional, our programs are designed for you to advance in your dream career.

Undergraduate Degree Tracks

Our programs in the Department of Organizational Communication and Leadership equip students with the skills to lead organizations in the public, private, nonprofit and sports sectors.

  • To be accepted into the program, students must have a minimum 2.5 grade point average (GPA) in their first year of undergraduate enrollment at Murray State or any other higher education institution.
  • A 2.5 GPA must be maintained in all courses counting toward a major in organizational communication. Students who fail to maintain a 2.5 GPA will not be permitted to take new courses in the department until they reach or exceed a 2.5 GPA.
  • The total number of credit hours earned in business courses (AAC, BPA, CIS, FIN, MGT, MKT, OSY, RES) cannot exceed 25 percent of total curriculum requirements.
  • Students enrolling in the organizational communication major after their sophomore year may need more than two years to complete the requirements for their major.

View Curriculum

  • To be accepted into the program, students must have a minimum 2.5 grade point average (GPA) in their first year of undergraduate enrollment at Murray State or any other higher education institution.
  • A 2.5 GPA must be maintained in all courses counting toward a major in organizational communication. Students who fail to maintain a 2.5 GPA will not be permitted to take new courses in the department until they reach or exceed a 2.5 GPA.
  • The total number of credit hours earned in business courses (AAC, BPA, CIS, FIN, MGT, MKT, OSY, RES) cannot exceed 25 percent of total curriculum requirements.
  • Students enrolling in the organizational communication major after their sophomore year may need more than two years to complete the requirements for their major.

View Curriculum

Important Note: A maximum of 3 hours may be chosen with advisor approval from courses not on the list.

Globally, amateur and professional sports is a multi-billion dollar industry with millions of fans, consumers, and participating athletes. Students who are looking for an exciting career in the sports industry should highly consider a minor in Sports Communication. The benefits of the Sports Communication minor will allow you to select a major that fits your interests and career objectives and combine it with a minor that focuses on the sports industry. 

Examples Include:

  • Journalism Major + Sports Communicatoin Minor = Possible Career in Sports Journalism/Broadcasting
  • Organizational Communication and Leadership Major + Sports Communication Minor = Possible Career in Sports Administration
  • Advertising Major + Sports Communication Minor = Possible Career in Sports Equipment Manufacturing (NIKE)
  • Business Administration Major + Sports Communication Minor = Possible Career in Professional or College Sports
  • Television Production Major + Sports Communication Minor = Possible Career working with NBA, NASCAR, etc.
  • Psychology Major + Sports Communication Minor = Possible Career in Coaching

The combinations are truly endless; The application of the minor will vary based upon the students major. However, the Sports Communication minor at Murray State University will prepare students for working in the fast paced sports industry.

VIEW CURRICULUM

Graduate Degree Tracks

Undergraduate students in organizational communication may be eligible for our accelerated graduate program. Please check our accelerated graduate program page.

Learn about the Graduate Program

MASTER OF ARTS IN ORGANIZATIONAL COMMUNICATION

MASTER OF SCIENCE IN ORGANIZATIONAL COMMUNICATION

CERTIFICATE IN ORGANIZATIONAL DYNAMICS

CERTIFICATE IN HEALTH COMMUNICATION

Nonprofit Leadership Studies

Learn about Nonprofit leadership Studies

Major in Nonprofit Leadership Studies/Nonprofit Management

Master of Science in Nonprofit Leadership Studies

Online Master of Public Administration in Nonprofit Leadership

Minor in Nonprofit Leadership Studies

Certificate in Nonprofit Leadership Studies

EEQ Certified

EEQ Cert logoOrganizational Communication and Leadership has received the Essential Employability Qualities Certification as granted by the Quality Assurance Commons. This certification follows a rigorous process of external and independent review.

EEQ Certified programs foster a distinctive set of attributes in their graduates and completers. These qualities are intended to prepare students to make important contributions in their workplaces: communication, thinking and problem solving, inquiry, collaboration, adaptability, principles and ethics, responsibility and professionalism, and learning.

“My passion for communication is becoming more important in today’s interconnected world. Murray State’s organizational communication program has given me the necessary foundation to be a leader in my dream career.”

Katie WaideOrganizational Communication Major, Madisonville, Kentucky

Career options

A degree in organizational communication will open countless doors to your future. Our programs build transferable communication skills that apply to a wide variety of careers. Currently, our graduates hold titles such as:

  • Business development coordinator
  • Director of communication and events
  • Human relations director
  • Legislative correspondent
  • Marketing coordinator
  • National recruiter
  • President/CEO
  • Public relations specialist
  • Student relations director
  • Training director

In fact, job growth in the field is higher than average with the work being done by organizational communication graduates more important than ever. Our alumni can be found all over the world working for well-known companies, including:

  • American Cancer Society
  • Disney
  • General Motors
  • HCA Healthcare
  • Humana
  • Proctor & Gamble
  • Sony
  • St. Jude Hospital
  • State of Kentucky
  • SocialCoaster

And that’s only the beginning.

What’s next?

Learn more about becoming a Racer

Then tour campus and connect with current organizational communication students and faculty to see the incredible opportunities waiting for you at Murray State.

REQUEST INFORMATIONSCHEDULE A CAMPUS VISITApply Now

Contact

Dr. David Gesler

Chair, Department of Organizational Communication and Leadership
Arthur J. Bauernfeind College of Business

Take the next step

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