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BUS 284 Online Course

BUS 284 Online Course

BUS 284 Professional Communication for Business is offered online during the winter and summer terms.

BUS 284 is a required course for all FSB students. BUS 284 fulfills the Advanced Writing requirement in the Miami Plan and is available to all business majors who have completed the FYIC. Consult with your advisor to determine if it might be a suitable choice for you.

Online offerings of BUS 284 have the same rigor and content as face-­to-­face courses but, you can take them from anywhere in the world provided you have reliable internet access.

Course Duration

The course runs for about 4 weeks, with class "meetings" Monday-Saturday except for national holidays.

What is BUS 284?

Business 284 is a 3-­credit course that builds on the rhetorical and communication skills you learned in BUS 102. In this course you will learn more advanced strategies for oral, written, and digital professional communication that you can apply to other writing tasks in FSB and the workplace. The course also meets the Advanced Writing requirement in the Miami Plan.

The main projects in BUS 284 are:

  • Creating Digital Presence (with a focus on LinkedIn)
  • Delivering Bad News
  • Facilitating Intercultural Communication

How does BUS 284 online work?

The majority of the online class happens asynchronously. This means you complete course tasks and assignments (e.g., discussions, reading reflections, etc.) on your own time rather than meeting together as a class at scheduled times.

However, there are a few synchronous meetings where you will meet via video chat with your instructor and classmates. There will be various time options for synchronous meetings, so you will be able to work around your schedule.

Is attendance required for an online course?

Yes. Because of the condensed time frame of online courses, and the collaborative nature of class discussions and group projects, you will want to be active, present, and engaged on the course Canvas page every day the course "meets" and complete assignments on time.

If you will be away from internet access and unable to complete coursework for more than two days of the course, this class may not be for you. Successfully completing an online course requires consistent participation in coursework.

What are the benefits of taking BUS 284 online?

The benefits of an online course include being able to complete a semester-­long course in about four weeks and at times of the day that fit your schedule. This frees up your regular semesters for other courses and enables you to work or hold an internship during the summer, too (the summer online course typically begins immediately after the Spring semester and finishes early June).

You will also have the advantage of learning important and useful advanced business communication skills that will help you in your future FSB courses, internships and career opportunities. Because of the extensive use of digital collaboration tools in today’s hybrid business environment, you will also benefit from gaining direct experience in communicating and collaborating in virtual spaces.

Is the online version of BUS 284 easier than the regular version?

Definitely not. The online version of the BUS 284 class will be just as rigorous as the course during the regular semester. You will be completing the same assignments and held to the same standards as in regular semester BUS 284 classes, but will be doing that work in about 4 weeks instead of 15. You should expect to spend between 4-6 hours on the course per day. 

What does the course cost?

Visit the One Stop website for information regarding the cost of this 3­ credit course and summer/winter course fees. Information about the business surcharge is available on the Farmer School of Business website.

What textbooks do I need?

BUS 284 does not require a textbook. All course materials are provided in the Canvas course site, either as PDFs or links to the public web.

What if I need individual help?

For course help, your instructor will be available for 1­on­1 consultation. You can always email your instructor questions, and you can arrange for a 1­on­1 video or telephone discussion. Your instructor will also be holding frequent office hours just like in a regular semester.

For technology help, Miami’s office of eLearning and IT support has online and phone support. Links to those resources are available in the course web site.

What technology do I need for the class?

First and foremost, you need a reliable internet connection. You will also need a web camera and a microphone/recorder, both of which are usually built into laptops.

How do I register for the online BUS 284 class?

You register for summer/winter courses the same way you do for regular semester courses, in Banner. Once you are registered for the class, you will automatically be added to the course Canvas site. Be sure to activate and check your Miami email account, as that is the primary way that your instructor will communicate with you about the course!

Questions?

If you have any questions about registering for BUS 284, you can speak with an advisor in Student Services, FSB 1022. If you have specific questions about how the online BUS 284 class will work for you, contact Brad Reitz, Coordinator of BUS 284, at reitzbd@miamioh.edu.