The Vinculum Business, Management and Communication for the 21st Century

Organizational Communication

One of the undergraduate degrees in the University of the Philippines Manila is a course called “BA Organizational Communication”. And, I’m already enrolled in it for four years. Many people wonder what it is all about and even some of them associate it with classic degrees such as Broadcast Communication and Mass Communication. For clarity’s sake, let us answer all the frequently asked questions to beat ignorance. Well for me, it’s not a problem of anonymity; it’s more of a problem of misinformation.

What is BA Organizational Communication (OrCom)?

It is an undergraduate degree offered in two big universities in the Philippines: De La Salle University Manila and The University o f the Philippines Manila. The latter was the first one to offer the course.

Dr. A. Sarile, the founder of the course in UP Manila, defines OrCom as the manner in which members of the organization analyze the communication situations within and outside the organization and select appropriate communication strategies that will contribute to the effectiveness and efficiency of the organization.

The course aims to provide students with a comprehensive training on communication dynamics operating within organizations and companies today. The four-year curriculum leading to the degree focuses on organization-related communication skills in the effort to address the increasing demand for expertise in modern communication as related to organizations in the Philippines.

What are the things that I will learn in Organizational Communication?

The entire program has 7 umbrella courses.

1. Organizational Communication and Management
   1. Introduction to Organizational Communication (OrCom 101)
   2. Introduction to Organizational Theories (OrCom 140)
   3. Communication Processes and Organizational Structures (OrCom 142)
   4. Approaches to Communication in Management (OrCom 143)
   5. Communication Trends and Styles (OrCom 152)
   6. Dynamics of Public Relations (OrCom 105)
2. Levels of Communication
   1. Interpersonal Communication (OrCom 104)
   2. Intercultural Communication  (OrCom 107)
3. Language and Communication
   1. Introduction to the Study of Language (Linguistics 100)
   2. Psychology of Language and Communication (OrCom 143)
4. Written Communication
   1. Technical Writing I (OrCom 109.1)
   2. Technical Writing II (OrCom 109.2)
5. Oral Communication
   1. Forms of Public Address (Speech Communication 136)
   2. Argumentation and Debater (Speech Communication 133)
   3. Group Discussion and Conference Leadership (Speech Communication 137)
6. Audio-Visual Communication (Speech Communication 183)
7. Organizational Communication Research
   1. Organizational Communication Research (OrCom 199 and OrCom 200)
   2. Practicum (OrCom 180)

What are the job opportunities waiting for me upon earning a degree?

A degree in BA Organizational Communication will enable students to be employed in the following fields:

1. Advertising
2. Broadcast Media
3. Communication Research
4. Public Relations
5. Corporate Communications
6. Foreign Service
7. Human Resource Development
8. Management
9. Sales and Marketing
10. Entrepreneurship
11. Knowledge Management

What is OrCom’s difference from Mass Communication or Broadcast Communication?

Organizational Communication focuses on the dynamics of communication inside and outside an organization; for example, communication within companies and communication from companies to other companies. Mass Communication, on the other hand, focuses on the dynamics of communication from a sender (news organization) to a receiver (the public).

Why should I choose OrCom?

1. The industry today has a high demand of organizational communication practitioners. Only a selected few could have such degree so it is easier to find a job.
2. There are a lot of industries OrCom graduates could go into.
3. In corporations and businesses, one of the most highly paid departments are the ones that have communication functions.

How could I enrol in the degree?

1. Take the UPCAT (University of the Philippines College Admission Test) sometime during August of a year. Choose Organizational Communication as your first degree choice under UP Manila as your first campus choice. Alternatively, you can at least choose the program and the campus as one of your 4 choices (2 degrees per campus; 2 possible campuses).
2. If you are already enrolled in UP Manila, you can apply as a shiftee. You should have a satisfactory GWA in order to be accepted since the degree has the biggest number of applicants every year.
3. If you are outside UP Manila (including other UP Campuses), you can apply as a transferee. Again, you should have a satisfactory GWA in order to be accepted since the degree has the biggest number of applicants every year.

Where could I find more information?

1. You could comment in this entry for your questions.
2. You could see other blogs that are owned by genuine Organizational Communication students or alumni.
3. You could subscribe to The Vinculum’s RSS Feed so you could feel how an OrCom student life is. Haha.

Sources: Department of Arts and Communication and The Organizational Communication Society.

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