Course Overview
In today’s fast-paced business environment, effective communication is essential for success. This course is designed to equip students with the knowledge and skills necessary to excel in the world of enterprise through clear, concise, persuasive communication. Whether you’re delivering presentations, preparing reports, or engaging in professional correspondence, this course will provide you with the tools and techniques to communicate effectively in various business contexts.
All students who successfully complete the course will receive a Certificate of Completion and have the opportunity to request a Syracuse University credit or noncredit transcript.
Learning Objectives
In this course, students will:
- Understand the importance of effective business communication in achieving organizational goals.
- Develop proficiency in creating clear and concise enterprise-related messages, documents, and presentations
- Master the art of data visualization and presentation design for impactful presentations
- Enhance interpersonal communication skills for effective collaboration within teams and across organizations
- Explore digital communication tools and platforms used in modern business settings
- Apply ethical principles to business communication practices
Course Information
Course Prefix and Number: IST 344 / SCN 136
Format: On Campus (at Syracuse University)
Eligibility: Students must be of rising high school sophomore* junior, or senior status – or a 2025 high school graduate.
*Rising sophomores are only eligible for the noncredit version of this course.
Credit: 3 credits or Noncredit
Grading:
- Credit: A-F
- Noncredit: Pass/Fail
Cost:
3 Credits:
- Residential: $4,895
- Commuter: $3,919
Noncredit:
- Residential: $4,295
- Commuter: $3,318
Program rates are subject to change and will be approved by the board of trustees. Discounts and scholarships are also available.
Program Information
Summer College – On Campus: Experience what college is really like: take a college-level course, live in a residence hall, have meals with friends in a dining hall, and participate in activities and events on campus.
Course Dates and Details
| Program | Course Dates | Class Time (Eastern Time) | Credit/Noncredit |
|---|---|---|---|
| Summer College – On Campus | 2-Week Session II: Sunday, July 20 – Friday, Aug. 1, 2025 | MTWThF; 9 a.m. – 4 p.m. | 3 credits or Noncredit |
To see if this course is ‘open,’ refer to the full course catalog.
Course Requirements
Required Supplies
Please know that any supply purchases are not included in the overall tuition fee. Students will need to budget for additional course supplies, textbooks, supply kits, etc.
- Students should bring smart casual attire for Shark Tank presentations.
Typical Day
Tentative Schedule
- 9 – 9:30 a.m.: Thinkin’ & Recordin’ Communication Activity: Opening of class, students will conduct a digital vlog or podcast style reflection on a facet of interpersonal or professional communication. A prompt will be provided to help students contextualize. Example: “Visit and explore ‘2023’s Guide to the Most Common Interview Questions & Answers’. Select 3 interview questions from the list and do some research on how to best answer the question. How would you describe to your peers best ways to respond to each of the questions? What additional advice would you give?”
- 9:30 – 10 a.m.: Presentations of Thinkin’ & Recordin’ Communication Activity: Students will present their vlogs or podcasts to the class.
- 10 – 10:45 a.m.: Business Communications Theme of the Morning: We will focus on a business communications-related concept or perspective and use it to apply throughout the remainder of class. Example: “Discrimination in Data Visualization: What is it and how can we prevent it?”
- 10:45 a.m. – Noon: Morning Cooperative Activity: Students will collaborate on a follow-up activity based on the morning themes. This will typically consist of an afternoon presentation. Example: “Students will create a series of infographics considering ethics in data visualization while using a software tool of their choice . Students will present their findings in the afternoon.”
- Noon – 1 p.m.: Lunch Break
- 1 – 1:45 p.m.: Presentations from Morning’s Cooperative Activity
- 1:45 – 2:45 p.m.: Professional Portfolio Time: Students will use this time to cultivate their professional portfolio which will include a resume, cover letter, LinkedIn profile, and an organizational audit.
- 2:45 – 3:30 p.m.: Shark Tank Production: Students will use this time to collaborate with their peers on an end-of-term “Shark Tank” presentation.
- 3:30 – 4 p.m.: Business Communications Trivia: Let’s save some time at the end of the day for playing some trivia to test our knowledge on the day’s information.
Faculty Bio
Christopher Perrello
Christopher Perrello is currently an Assistant Teaching Professor for the School of Information Studies and teaches Data in Society, Business Communications, Interviewing, and Persuasion. His research interests are diverse and include discursive identity construction on reality television, classroom communication, and rhetorical criticism of political campaign speeches. When Perrello is not in the classroom teaching, you can find him running on his Peloton or attending some type of live music.