Minor in Organizational 

A minimum of 19 semester hours is required, including:

IDS 115:  Qualities of a Leader
ENG 325:  Professional Writing
IDS 483:  Organizational Leadership
IDS 485: Experiential Leadership

Choose one of the following courses in addition to the communication requirement in Core curriculum requirement: (ie. Select one COM course for Core requirements and one more different course from this list)

COM 202: Public Speaking (This used to be numbered 102)
COM 201: Interpersonal Communications
COM 250: Small Group Communications
COM 275: Workplace Communication
COM 306: Organizational Communication

Choose one of the following Ethics courses:

PHR 303: Ethics
PHR 304: Environmental Ethics
PHR 340: Christian Ethics
HHP 424: Contemporary and Ethical Issues in Sports

Choose one of the following courses in a particular field of study:

POL 220:  Political Leadership
BSA 303:  Principles of Management
EQS 308: Ranch and Stable Management
AVS 405:  Air Transportation Management
HHP 412: Management of Health Enhancement and Sport Programs
MSL 301:  Training Management and the Warfighting Function
IDS 485 Experiential Leadership (1 credit)

This capstone course gives the student hands-on leadership experience outside of the classroom.  In consultation with an advisor in the Organizational Leadership minor and under the direction of a coach, advisor or mentor, as appropriate, the student will participate in leadership activities to strengthen their leadership skills and then create a capstone project or paper that assesses their own leadership effectiveness.  Options for the leadership experience include participation in an internship, in a job shadow experience, on an athletic team, in an extra-curricular activity, as a resident advisor or other activities as approved by the advisor.

Prerequisite:  IDS 115, COM course in the Organizational Leadership minor, junior or senior standing.

AVS 405 – Air Transportation Management

Semester: Fall
Semester Hours: 3
This course provides a comprehensive experience for the aviation student by examining the air transportation industry. Areas of concentration include airline operation, maintenance, marketing, and economic factors affecting the industry. The class uses a simulation program where students create an airline and then compete with other students. Additional aviation program fees apply.

BSA 303 – Principles of Management

Semester: Fall and Spring
Semester Hours: 3
Students examine the management functions and basic concepts and principles of management, including planning, organization, coordination, control, job design, and human resource management. Topics in human resource management include recruitment, selection, administration of personnel policies, and dismissals.
Prerequisite: ACC 210, ECO 205

COM 201 – Interpersonal Communication

Semester: Fall and Spring
Semester Hours: 3
This course examines how intimate, personal, and professional relationships are created and maintained. Students develop an increased awareness of and sensitivity to communication that facilitates interpersonal relationships, as well as communication that creates obstacles to building relationships. Topics discussed include perception, self-concept, listening, and conflict.

COM 202 – Public Speaking

Semester: Fall and Spring
Semester Hours: 3
This course examines key aspects of writing and delivering public speeches. Focal topics include audience analysis, speech organization, developing supporting materials, argumentation, and delivery. By the end of the course, students will be able to write and support both informative and persuasive speeches and will be able to identify differences between the two. Students will also gain skills in delivering a variety of speeches.

COM 250 – Small Group Communication

Semester: Fall and Spring
Semester Hours: 3
This course explores how and why people come together in groups, how groups develop norms for acceptable behavior, and how individuals can help groups work efficiently and effectively. Because employers seek competent communicators, this course is designed to provide students with an opportunity to develop communication skills that can be applied in both personal and professional contexts.

COM 275 – Workplace Communication

Semester: Spring (Odd years)
Semester Hours: 3
This course explores communication skills required in business processes and professional settings. Students will study interpersonal communication, group communication, nonverbal communication, written communication, presentation skills, and interviewing techniques. The course applies theoretical concepts to real-world workplace scenarios, including superior/subordinate communication, technical communication, workplace diversity, and customer communication.

COM 306 – Organizational Communication

Semester: Fall
Semester Hours: 3
This course examines communication within large cooperative networks, particularly in professional work settings. It focuses on the roles of leadership, management, and conflict resolution in organizations. By the end of the course, students will understand how organizational values and cultures emerge through communication.
Prerequisite: Any 200-level COM course

ENG 325 – Professional Writing

Semester: Fall and Spring
Semester Hours: 3
This course teaches concepts, practices, and skills for communicating technical, scientific, or business-related information. Topics include audience analysis, document design, incorporating graphics, writing about statistical results, rewriting, editing, and using the Internet effectively. This course is especially useful for non-English majors seeking to improve their professional communication skills.
Prerequisite: ENG 119

EQS 308 – Ranch and Stable Management

Semester: Fall
Semester Hours: 3
This course provides an overview of business essentials in the equine industry. Students will apply their knowledge in a ranch project, tour industry facilities, and engage with professionals to gain insights into equine business practices.
Prerequisite: EQS 201

HHP 412 – Management of Health Enhancement and Sport Programs

Semester: Spring
Semester Hours: 3
Students explore the organization, supervision, and administration of various health enhancement and sport programs.

HHP 424 – Contemporary and Ethical Issues in Sports

Semester: Spring
Semester Hours: 3
This capstone course covers issues of concern in sports today, such as substance abuse, gender issues, the impact of Title IX on college sports, sportsmanship, morality standards, and ethical decision-making in sports.
Prerequisite: Junior or senior standing

IDS 115 – Qualities of a Leader

Semester: Fall
Semester Hours: 3
This course examines the art of leadership and how leadership skills can be developed. Students will study historical leaders, from Sun Tzu to modern examples, through readings, discussions, group participation, and film analysis. The course also explores personal leadership characteristics that contribute to success in academics and society.

IDS 483 – Organizational Leadership

Semester: Spring (Even years)
Semester Hours: 3
This course is structured around open discussion, experiential exercises, case studies, and interaction with public leaders. Students will develop their leadership perspectives through critical examination and real-life applications.
Prerequisite: IDS 115 and junior or senior standing

IDS 485 – Experiential Leadership

Semester: Offered at the discretion of the department
Semester Hours: 1
This capstone course provides hands-on leadership experience outside the classroom. Students will participate in leadership activities under the guidance of an advisor, coach, or mentor. Options include internships, job shadowing, athletic leadership, extracurricular activities, or serving as a resident advisor. A capstone project or paper will assess leadership effectiveness.
Prerequisite: IDS 115, one COM course from the Organizational Leadership minor, junior or senior standing

MSL 301 – Training Management and Warfighting Functions

Semester: Fall
Semester Hours: 3
This course applies the adaptive leadership model and the Leadership Development Program (LDP) to develop self-awareness, behavior modification, and critical thinking. Students engage in battle drills, personal fitness training, and tactical exercises.
Prerequisite: MSL 101, MSL 102, MSL 201, MSL 202, or MSL 204
Corequisite: MSL 106

PHR 303 – Ethics

Semester: Spring (Odd years)
Semester Hours: 3
This course provides a philosophical foundation in ethics, covering thinkers from Plato to Nietzsche. Students will analyze contemporary ethical discussions and explore how philosophical principles apply to modern ethical dilemmas.

PHR 304 – Environmental Ethics

Semester: Fall (Even years)
Semester Hours: 3
This course examines the ethical considerations surrounding environmental issues. Students will explore whether natural beings and the environment have inherent rights and discuss the moral responsibilities humans have toward nature.

PHR 340 – Christian Ethics

Semester: Fall (Odd years)
Semester Hours: 3
This course explores how Christian beliefs inform moral decision-making. Students will study biblical ethics and modern Christian ethicists, analyzing how religious principles translate into ethical action.

POL 220 – Political Leadership

Semester: Spring (Odd years)
Semester Hours: 3
This course surveys leadership theories as applied to politics and examines the biographies of influential political leaders. Students will analyze leadership styles, methods, and the impact of leadership decisions on global and local events.

• Clete Knaub, Associate Professor