BA 214 Business Communications
Lecture Hours: 4
Credits: 4
Develops the written, oral, and nonverbal communication skills needed for success in today’s workplace. Plan, compose, and format professional letters, memos, emails, and reports, including good-news, bad-news, routine, and persuasive messages. Addresses résumé development, job application letters, and interview communication. Emphasizes clarity, audience awareness, tone, and document design, as well as the ethical and practical use of technology and AI tools in business writing. Examines issues such as accuracy, bias, privacy, and the importance of human oversight when using AI to support workplace communication tasks.
Prerequisite: BT 210 or WR 121Z , either with a grade of C or better, or consent of instructor.
Student Learning Outcomes:
- Analyze the oral, written, and nonverbal communication processes and identify barriers that reduce clarity, effectiveness, and audience understanding in business settings.
- Plan, compose, and format professional business documents-including letters, memos, emails, and short reports-using appropriate organization, tone, and style for good news, bad news, routine, and persuasive messages.
- Demonstrate effective workplace communication skills by applying strategies for clarity, conciseness, positive language, and inclusive, audience-centered tone in both written and oral assignments.
- Evaluate communication situations to select the appropriate message type, channel, and format, and revise documents to meet professional business standards.
- Use artificial intelligence (AI) tools responsibly to support the writing process, including drafting and revising business messages, while applying ethical practices related to accuracy, privacy, intellectual property, and human oversight.
- Prepare employment communication materials-such as résumés, application letters, and interview responses-that effectively present qualifications and adhere to professional conventions.
Content Outline
- Communication Basics
- Why communication matters in business
- Oral, written, and nonverbal communication
- Barriers to effective communication
- Listening and feedback
- Choosing the right communication channel
- Technology, Ethics, and AI in Communication
- How technology impacts communication
- Using AI tools for writing
- Ethical issues: accuracy, bias, privacy, and hallucinations
- Importance of human oversight
- Style and Tone
- Clear and appropriate word choice
- Active vs. passive voice
- Concise writing
- Positive and professional language
- Inclusive and non-biased language
- The Writing Process
- Planning and organizing messages
- Drafting and revising
- Formatting letters, memos, and reports
- Proofreading
- Business Documents
- Good news and routine messages
- Bad news messages (with AI drafting practice)
- Persuasive messages and sales writing
- Short and APA-style reports
- Employment Communication
- Job search basics
- Résumés
- Cover/application letters
- Interview preparation
- Follow-up messages
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