Business Communication & Professional Development
Communicating at Work: An Art and a Science
The Business Communication Program offers students comprehensive skills-focused coursework, including workplace communication, professional development, and management and leadership communication skills.
Innovative Communication Practices
Designed to meet the demands of today’s business world, the business communication program combines cutting-edge topics in communication with practical skills that will empower students to excel in their careers. The program is highly innovative and driven to help students succeed.
Program Highlights
- Skills Development and Career Readiness: The courses on professional communication help students build critical soft skills. Employers are looking for “communication, critical thinking, and teamwork.” The courses taken by students develop soft and hard skills in these three areas.
- Innovative Approach: The business communication program takes an innovative approach. We integrate communication and artificial intelligence (AI), and we focus on the fundamentals of effective business communication. The courses cover topics like effective writing and speaking at work, soft skills, and skills for communicating as an intern, employee, and later as a manager, entrepreneur, or C-suite executive. In skills-based projects, students explore the intersection of communication and AI, including AI Applicant Tracking Systems (ATS), resume optimization, interview strategies, and presentations.
- Practical Takeaways: Students in the program leave with more than skills, knowledge, and “know-how”. Each student creates, refines, and improves a LinkedIn profile optimized for job searching, a resume ready to pass online screening, and a Personalized Portfolio (“POP”).
- Faculty Expertise: Led by Program Director Sarah Moore, Ph.D., our team of faculty members brings extensive professional and academic research and teaching experience to the program. They are dedicated to providing students with a transformative learning experience and preparing them for success. Research areas include interpersonal and organizational communication including job search communication, AI and professional communication, global communication, and business communication rhetoric and pedagogy,
- Internship Preparation and Virtual Exchange: We actively prepare students for securing internships across a wide range of industries, ensuring they have valuable real-world experiences to enhance their career prospects. Additionally, our faculty members have pioneered virtual exchange programs, allowing students to gain cross-cultural communication experiences without leaving campus.
Sarah Moore, Ph.D
Associate Professor of Instruction
Director, Business Communication Program
Director,
Business Communication Center
Our program, one of the best business communication programs in the country, empowers students with essential communication skills to thrive in today’s dynamic business landscape. We believe in the power of words, persuasion, and collaboration. Our innovative curriculum, dedicated faculty, and cutting-edge research shape the communicators of tomorrow. Business communication is an art and a science, through which theory and research provide a foundation for a skills-focused curriculum.
Join us on a transformative journey of self-discovery, communication mastery, and personal growth. Together, we make every word count, creating a world where effective communication drives success and inspires change.
Courses Offered
BCOM 1300 – Professional Communication: This course is designed specifically for incoming first-time college students. It provides a solid foundation in professional communication skills, including written and oral communication, interpersonal skills, and presentation techniques. Students are also prepared to search for internships.
BCOM 3300 – Business Communication: This course caters to students who transfer or change their majors. It covers advanced topics in business communication, including professional writing, strategic communication, and effective teamwork. Students are also prepared to search for internships.
BCOM 1300 & 3300 – Lab: The first-semester learning experience introduces students to critical skills for academic and professional success. Topics include career planning, major selection, grit and perseverance, strengths development, study skills, creating a plan for graduation, and stress management. Students earn certificates in Word, Excel, and PowerPoint, and they have activities to promote campus engagement and retention.
BCOM 4300 – Advanced Professional Communication: This course is a transformative experience that all JSOM students take. It delves into advanced communication strategies, leadership communication, and emerging trends in business communication, and it trains students in critical communication skills, including transitioning from internships to full-time employment and searching for jobs.
Resources and Support
Business Communication Center: Our program collaborates closely with the Business Communication Center, a dedicated resource available to all enrolled students. The center provides tutoring, workshops, and one-on-one consultations to enhance students’ communication skills and boost their professional development. Click here to learn more
Quinncia.io and Premium Grammarly: As part of the program, students have access to Quinncia.io, an AI Applicant Tracking System (ATS) simulation that helps them optimize their resumes and improve their interview skills. Additionally, all JSOM students receive premium access to Grammarly, a powerful online writing assistance tool, to refine their written communication.Click here to learn more
Student Support and Research Opportunities
Tutoring and Mentoring: The Business Communication Center offers personalized tutoring sessions and mentoring programs to support students in their communication skills development. Our dedicated team of tutors and mentors are here to help students succeed.
Research Opportunities: For students interested in research, there are opportunities to collaborate with our faculty members on communication-related projects. Engaging in research can provide valuable experience and enhance students’ understanding of the business communication.
Business Communication Blog Posts and News
Jindal School Students Shine at State Conference Competition
For the second year in a row, every Jindal School competitor made it to the national competition, which will take place in Atlanta in June. JSOM students had 12 first-place finishes, six second-place finishes and two third-place finishes.
FBLA Nationals Triumph for Jindal School Students
Jindal School students placed in eight events at the Future Business Leaders of America Nationals Leadership Conference June 22-25, including a first-time entrant who won first place in both categories in which he competed.
Business Communications Faculty
Contact Us
For inquiries about the Business Communication Program, please email us at bcom@utdallas.edu. Our team will be happy to assist you with any questions you may have.