As business is reshaped by new technologies and by social and economic change, and as the United States becomes more visibly a culture of many cultures, the challenges and opportunities for communication specialists increase. The program is designed with these challenges and opportunities in mind.
Track Descriptions
The Organizational and Multicultural program offers four tracks: Organizational, Multicultural, Training and Development, and Dual. The tracks share some common coursework, however, each concentration also has its own distinct focus.
Organizational Communication Track
The Organizational Communication track focuses on communication challenges specific to business and organizational settings. It helps students understand and manage the broad communication processes within organizations while enabling them to develop their individual skills as communicators. This track will be of interest to professionals in profit and nonprofit settings, particularly those who manage employees or have responsibilities for personnel issues.
Multicultural Communication Track
The Multicultural Communication track focuses on the dynamics of communication across cultures. It explores not only what happens when people of two different national cultures meet, but also what happens when people from a variety of cultures and ethnicities come together in one organization, community or country. This track will be of particular interest to those who work with international and multiethnic corporations and to public service personnel serving individuals from a variety of backgrounds and cultural traditions.
Training and Development Track
The Training and Development track provides students a foundation in adult learning theory and organizational change. It meets the needs of those wishing to work as trainers for management consulting firms, as diversity specialists for human resources departments, or as management consultants. Students learn how to conduct organizational assessments and interventions to facilitate organizational problem-solving. Furthermore, students are taught how to design and implement training activities in organizational contexts. The track also provides opportunities for students to explore organizational diversity conceptually and as an ongoing influence on organizational communication processes.
Dual Track
Students may also elect to take a Dual track of courses that cut across two of the three tracks (i.e., Organizational and Multicultural, or Organizational and Training and Development). This option may appeal to students interested in such areas as diversity in the workplace, international training and development, communication education, and consulting.
Flexibility and Convenience
DePaul’s quarter system lets you work at your own pace; by taking two classes per quarter, you’ll earn an M.A. in two years. If your schedule allows you to take more than two classes per quarter, you can finish even faster.