Business communication courses cover a broad range of topics, with the goal of teaching students how to effectively use and improve communication in a variety of business settings. Some of the courses covered are general business communication, which is applicable to all business situations, while others are specialized or tailored to a particular type of business environment. In order to gain a solid understanding of typical business communication principles, students are usually required to take foundational courses in business communications before moving on to advanced or specialized courses. Following that, students enroll in advanced or specialized courses to hone their skills, adapt to new situations, or learn new skills relevant to a particular industry.
The content of business communication courses varies greatly between colleges and even between business-related degree programs. Regardless of the differences, a typical foundational course in business communication will cover the same topics in order to hone the necessary skills. Basic business communication principles, communication theory, group communication skills, and writing skills as applied to email, letter, and report writing are all covered in a foundational course. The foundational course, which covers the fundamentals of business communications, will usually serve as a prerequisite for advanced courses, in which students will learn to improve their business writing, oral communication, group communication, and interpersonal communication skills. Both business and communication majors are usually required to refine their skills.
Depending on the university and its curriculum, advanced business communication courses are known a variety of names. Business writing, advanced business communication, advanced business writing, intercultural business communication, organizational communication, or media communication, including presentation skills, are some of the courses that may be offered. These types of courses delve deeper into the application of business communications in a variety of business settings and scenarios. Students who enroll in advanced business communications courses can expect to learn how to apply such skills effectively rather than just competently. Students who complete advanced courses are usually eligible to enroll in specialized courses, some of which are only available at the graduate level.
Often, topics specific to a particular business environment or industry will be covered in specialized business communication courses. Grant writing, for example, is typically a course taken business or social science majors who plan to work for or manage non-governmental organizations or non-profits. Another course where advanced business communication is integrated into the syllabus with sports communication is sports management communication. For all types of business and communication-related majors, a wide range of specialized courses are available, and most universities encourage students to research the courses’ relevance to their intended career goals.