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Strategists, Experts & Theorists
Improving workplaces and building stronger individual and group communication
Who We Are
The George Washington University's Department of Organizational Sciences and Communication in the Columbian College has nearly two centuries of history educating students on the interactive relationships between individuals, organizations and the environment. Our undergraduate and graduate programs set students up for successful careers in consulting, management, human resources and much more.
For any individual or organization to succeed — whether they are in the for-profit, not-for-profit, government, military, service or manufacturing sectors — they must be ready to think and act effectively. In three academic focus areas, students learn to master the techniques and philosophies that will help them communicate cultural problems, make difficult decisions, resolve conflicts and rise to top leadership positions.
“In every course, I found relevance, I found value and I learned a tremendous amount. I think there are few programs where you can say that everything mattered as much as this curriculum did.”
Dane D'Alessandro
MA '11, Organizational Sciences
Academic Focus Areas
Communication
Employers across all sectors seek candidates who are able to think and write critically, speak persuasively and analyze and solve communication problems on the job. The Communication Program, which dates back to GW’s founding in 1821, offers courses, workshops and fieldwork that investigate how humans constitute meaning in an abstract world, how we decide on a meaningful course of action and how we live with the choices we make.
Organizational Sciences
Successful organizations have a deep understanding of how individuals, groups and organizations can excel within a global environment. The Organizational Sciences Program ties managerial and executive success to the integration of knowledge in three key areas: strategy and change management, leadership and communication, and performance and talent management. Subject material applies to a variety of fields, including business, government and nonprofit work.
Industrial-Organizational Psychology
Diversity and inclusion training, leadership consulting and training, workplace discrimination and employee motivation all fall under the expertise of industrial-organizational psychology professionals. With more than 60 years of history, GW’s highly selective Industrial-Organizational Psychology (I-O) Program is designed in accordance with guidelines established by the Society for Industrial and Organizational Psychology.