BUKD-X 703 Special Topics Residency 1 (EDBA)

• 12 weeks
• 3.00 credits
• Prerequisite(s): Kelley Direct Online Executive Doctor of Business Administration (EDBA) students only

This 3-credit residency course introduces first-year EDBA students to the latest empirical research and evidence-based practices in strategic executive communication.

The residency, conducted over four days on campus (in addition to extensive asynchronous and synchronous pre-work online before the in-person component), is designed for those aspiring to, or are currently in, C-suite roles, and explores how effective communication influences leadership success, organizational strategy, and stakeholder relationships. Students will engage in intensive seminars, workshops, and simulations focused on corporate crisis communication, media relations, leadership messaging, and strategic communications, and the role these elements play in decision-making in organizations, including the role of strategic communication and corporate governance.

The residency emphasizes research-based approaches to communication challenges that executives face, providing participants with evidence-based tools for improving their leadership presence and effectiveness. The course combines theoretical frameworks with practical application, thus, students will evaluate real-world case studies and research to design strategic communication solutions for leadership challenges, such as crisis response, corporate reputation management, and stakeholder engagement. Workshops will emphasize data-driven approaches to better understand aspects of leadership traditionally viewed as “soft skills” such as executive presence, interpersonal interactions, emotional awareness, and conflict management and apply these elements to crisis communications and response planning. Workshops will prepare EDBA students to use research to inform strategic communication strategies that align with organizational goals.