Although I have found each of my classes to be beneficial to me in some way, there are several courses in which I have enjoyed the most. In COM 100 Spoken Word, I was able to enhance my understanding of interpersonal and public communication processes and practices. I was also able to develop effective listening and speaking strategies which are needed in personal, academic, and professional life. Overall, I found the course to be educational as well as fun because I had the opportunity to create my own speeches and present them to the class. The course is listed as one of the core requirements, so all students will take this class.
In COM 300 Advanced Composition, I learned how to write nonfiction works. The writing assignments involved descriptive, expository, and persuasive writing. Overall, I have learned style and methods to meet the needs of a variety of audiences. I took this course because I had planned to get a minor in Communication Studies, but I know I will not be able to complete all the required courses before graduation.
One of my most favorite classes that I have taken within my major has been BUS 260 Business Research. In this course, you learn how to gather information and make decisions in business. For this course, I had to complete three reports/projects which were not necessarily hard, but time consuming. For the first assignment, I had to interview a decision-maker of my choice (which was a retail manager) to learn more about how decisions are made in organizations. By conducting the interview, I have learned that being an interviewer is much more difficult than it appears to be. It takes talent to get the other person to open up and express themselves. For the second assignment, I had to use library resources and other secondary sources to research a company and report my findings. The third assignment involved data analysis using SPSS. Not only did I have to give a written report of my research findings, but an oral one as well. My professor played the role as my supervisor and I was the analyst discussing my research findings. This particular assignment was somewhat challenging, but the purpose for completing this assignment became more clear in the end. Overall, this course has provided me with some practical information and it has helped prepare me better for success in business. I feel my writing has improved a lot since I started college and these courses have contributed to that skill.
The Mount offers many great courses in which I believe you will like. Remember: Learn everything you can from your courses whether it is a course within the core requirements or within your major and pay attention in class. I know it will help you once you are in the workforce. : )