Integrative Studies - Organizational Design Thinking (MS)
Required Credit Hours/Tuition and Fees
- 36
- Visit the Paying for College website for detailed tuition information
The integrative studies degree with a focus area in organizational design thinking combines courses in applied communication studies with courses from instructional technology. Through this course work, you will learn to apply design thinking methodology at the nexus of communication, technology, and organizational training.
Your coursework will teach you how to effectively redefine organizational problems, ideate to envision possibilities, facilitate processes to bring those ideations to fruition, and test your solutions to ensure meaningful results. And, what’s more, you will learn to do all of these within a design process that helps you create a culture of empathy among all stakeholders.
Format
Combination of evening courses and online learning
What is Organizational Design Thinking?
Design thinking is an innovative methodology for creatively uncovering and solving problems. This problem-solving methodology can be applied in many ways and across multiple settings. Design thinking can be used to improve processes, develop organizational structures, and create new products and services.
The heart of a design thinking methodology is developing user-centered empathy through systematic activities. Thus, design thinking is not about linearly applying algorithms. Rather, it’s about developing sensitivities to a problem’s context and considering the strengths and weaknesses of various technological and communicative solutions. Design thinking is partially an art, partially a science, and fully a human-centered activity that depends upon a theoretically-informed practice to best ensure reliable decisions in real-world situations.
Career Outlook
Graduates of the integrative studies degree with a focus in organizational design thinking can pave numerous paths. Principles of design thinking can be useful in a wide variety of organizations, including educational institutions, for-profit businesses, and non-profit organizations. The career outlook is not limited to becoming a technician who serves an organization, as graduates will be prepared to be an innovative leader, manager or entrepreneur.
Curriculum
Students will take courses in both departments, according to the master’s in integrative studies program requirements:
- 30 credit hours of graduate-level electives which must be split equally between the two departments, specifically, 15 hours of instructional technology courses and 15 hours of applied communication studies courses.
- Of the minimum required credits, students may take six credits of electives from an approved list of applied communication studies seminars.
- At least half of the 30 credit hours of coursework must be at the 500-level.
- No more than three credit hours of the 30 credit hours of coursework can be independent study.
- All students will complete six credit hours of integrative studies thesis or non-thesis capstone work.
Required Courses
Applied Communication Studies
ACS 540-3 - Survey of Organizational Communication Research
ACS 541-3 - Seminar in Organization Culture
ACS 542-3 - Communication Consulting
Instructional Technology
- IT 500-3 - Principles of Instructional Technology
- IT 505-3 - Needs Assessment and Program Evaluation
- IT 510-3 - Instructional Systems Design
- IT 520-3 - Performance Technology
- IT 596-1 - Design Studio I
- IT 597-2 - Design Studio II
Elective Seminars (Select 2)
Applied Communication Studies
- ACS 510-3 - Group Communication
- ACS 511-3 - Intercultural Communication
- ACS 520-3 - Interpersonal Communication
- ACS 521-3 - Computer-Mediated Communication
- ACS 522-3 - Family Communication
- ACS 541-3 - Organizational Culture
- ACS 550-3 - Public Relations
- ACS 560-3 - Speech Education
Integrative Studies Capstone Project
(1) INTG 500 Proposal Development
(5) INTG 599 Thesis Research or (5) INTG 593 Final Project
Admission Requirements
- Graduate School application and $40 fee
- Official copies of all postsecondary transcripts
- Successful completion of a bachelor's degree prior to enrollment. Applicants may be required to take prerequisites or resolve any deficiencies before classified status is approved.
- Minimum GPA 3.25
- A faculty member from applied communication studies who has agreed in writing to serve as a graduate mentor must be identified by the applicant in order to be considered for acceptance into the program. Applicants are encouraged to contact Dr. Scott Sellnow-Richmond.
- International Applicants: Proof of English Proficiency, minimum requirements are TOEFL (79), IELTS (6.5) or equivalent
- A letter of intent clearly articulating the applicant’s academic/career goals, how his/her academic background prepares him/her to undertake the program successfully, and how the program serves his/her goals must be submitted with the application.
Program application materials may be uploaded during the application process, but official transcripts must be sent directly from the school attended, and test scores must be verifiable with the appropriate testing service. Please contact the Graduate Admissions office with questions regarding the application submission process at graduateadmissions@siue.edu.
Applicants must also meet any additional admissions requirements stipulated by the participating departments, which may include but are not limited to holding a specific undergraduate degree, one or more prerequisite courses, or a standardized test score, such as the GRE.
Applicants with a baccalaureate and/or graduate-level GPA between 2.5 and 3.25 may be considered if all the following conditions are met.
- The baccalaureate degree and/or graduate-level work was earned more than four years prior to the application submission.
- The applicant provides a written explanation of their performance in the baccalaureate degree.
- The applicant provides a written explanation of why they will be successful in the integrative studies program.
Review the SIUE Admissions Policy for more information.
Faculty
Dave S. Knowlton, EdD
Instructional Technology
Scott Sellnow-Richmond, PhD
Applied Communications Studies
