Forum: Revisiting the Writing Requirement

Business Communication Curricula Today

“…The survey had approximately a 20% response rate with 229 responses and collected data regarding instructor coverage of the following areas: communication theory, written communi-8 Business Communication Quarterly 76 (1) Although these studies based on survey methodology are not directly comparable to Knight's study of exemplary programs or to the study we report here, some similar findings are suggestive of patterns in business communication curricula. First, all of the studies indicate that business communication courses tend to be taught within the business college; this finding also aligns with a 1998 study conducted by Kleen and Gros (as cited in Ryan, 1999), who surveyed deans at 335 AACSB accredited schools. More than three quarters (77%) said there was a required course to address writing standards, and more than half (57%) of those courses were taught in the business college rather than in other departments.…”

“…In reviewing previous studies, it was at times difficult to determine how much they distinguished between general (not business specific) writing and communication requirements and those that were actually business communication courses. For example, when the deans surveyed by Kleen and Gros (as cited by Ryan, 1999) indicated that there was a required course addressing writing standards, were they referring only to business communication courses or to general university writing courses that were required by the business school? By specifically focusing on business communication courses, we eliminate this confusion and provide a sense of how business communication curricula have (and have not) changed since the earlier studies were conducted, which can help us envision how we would like them to change in the future.…”