Excellent communication skills are a powerful tool of leadership in all organisations, from small businesses to large government departments.
Leaders who possess superb written and verbal communication skills; and who can manage teams of individuals to perform at their best; play an important role in an organisation's success.
These skills are equally essential for anyone who wishes to pursue a career in public relations, marketing or climb the ranks of management.
In this subject you'll explore the theory and practice of communication, such as writing business reports or giving professional speeches, and learn how to engage, motivate and influence people.
You'll also gain an understanding of managing conflict, persuasion and negotiation, and helping organisations to implement strategic changes.
We'll inspire and challenge you throughout the course using a mixture of lectures, tutorials, group reports, self-reflective writing and team presentations.
If you have good listening skills, wish to become a confident communicator and aspire to become a great leader, then this subject may be a good fit for you.
Internationally recognised
Waikato is ranked in the world's top 250 universities for Business & Management Studies, by the prestigious QS World University Subject Rankings 2017.
You'll study at our internationally recognised Waikato Management School, which has Triple Crown Accreditation from AACSB, EQUIS and AMBA, placing it in the top 1% of all business schools worldwide.
Qualifications
Leadership Communication can normally be taken as a Minor subject (4 papers) for any undergraduate degree offered at the University of Waikato.
In particular, take a look at the Bachelor of Communication Studies, the Bachelor of Business, or the Bachelor of Management Studies with Honours. Otherwise, you could take just one or two Leadership Communication papers as electives.
If you'd like to gain specialist expertise at postgraduate level, take a look at our Master of Management Studies in Leadership Communication.
Student clubs
Leadership Communication students can get involved with the award-winning Management Communication Students' Association (MCSA), a student club that organises regular workshops and social events for its members.
Career opportunities
- Communications officer/manager
- Community engagement adviser
- Change management specialist
- Business/community/political leader
- Diversity consultant
- Management trainer
- Mediation specialist
- Motivational speaker
- Professional fundraiser/negotiator
- Professional writer
- Public relations consultant
Qualifications
Study Leadership Communication in any of these qualifications
Leadership Communication as a Minor (Bachelor's degree)
- Bachelor of Business - BBus
- Bachelor of Business Analysis - BBA
- Bachelor of Communication Studies
- Bachelor of Management Studies with Honours - BMS(Hons)
- Almost any other bachelor's degree at the University of Waikato
Postgraduate qualifications
- Postgraduate Certificate in Leadership Communication
- Postgraduate Diploma in Leadership Communication
- Master of Management Studies in Leadership Communication
- Doctor of Philosophy in Leadership Communication
Papers
100 level
| Introduction to Leadership Communication | LCOMM101 | 15.0 Points |
| Communication in an Online Society | LCOMM102 | 15.0 Points |
200 Level
| Management Communication | LCOMM200 | 15.0 Points |
| Professional Speaking | LCOMM201 | 15.0 Points |
| Leadership and Facilitation | LCOMM202 | 15.0 Points |
| Communication Consulting | LCOMM203 | 15.0 Points |
| Leadership Communication | LCOMM205 | 15.0 Points |
| Management Communication | MCOM200 | 20.0 Points |
| Health Communication Campaigns | PUBRL202 | 15.0 Points |
300 Level
| Professional Speaking and Speechwriting | MCOM330 | 20.0 Points |
| Managing Conflict and Consensus | MCOM331 | 20.0 Points |
| Professional and Public Relations Writing | MCOM332 | 20.0 Points |
| Negotiation and Persuasion | MCOM336 | 20.0 Points |
| Communication Interventions | MCOM338 | 20.0 Points |
| Events and Communication Management | MCOM339 | 20.0 Points |
| Communicating Social Change | MCOM340 | 20.0 Points |
| Diversity Leadership | MCOM376 | 20.0 Points |
| Special Topic | MCOM380 | 20.0 Points |
| Communication Internship | MCOM387 | 20.0 Points |
| Directed Study | MCOM390 | 20.0 Points |
| Leading Change for Sustainability | MCOM392 | 20.0 Points |
| Communication Investigation in the Workplace | MCOM399 | 20.0 Points |
| Industry Experience 2 | MSYS319 | 20.0 Points |
| Managerial Decision Making | MSYS335 | 20.0 Points |
| Self Actualising Leadership | STMG325 | 20.0 Points |
400 Level
| Professional Speaking and Speechwriting | MCOM430 | 20.0 Points |
| Negotiation and Persuasion | MCOM431 | 20.0 Points |
| Professional and Public Relations Writing | MCOM432 | 20.0 Points |
| Communication Interventions | MCOM438 | 20.0 Points |
| Communicating social change | MCOM440 | 20.0 Points |
| Diversity Leadership | MCOM476 | 20.0 Points |
| Special Topic | MCOM480 | 20.0 Points |
| Directed Study | MCOM490 | 20.0 Points |
| Leading Change for Sustainability | MCOM492 | 20.0 Points |
| Industry Experience 4 | MCOM495 | 20.0 Points |
| Report of an Investigation | MCOM499 | 20.0 Points |
| Advanced Managerial Decision Making | MSYS435 | 20.0 Points |
| Self-Actualising Leadership | STMG425 | 20.0 Points |
Prescriptions for the GradCert(LComm) and GradDip(LComm)
A Graduate Certificate and Graduate Diploma are available to graduates who have not included Leadership Communication at an advanced level in their first degree. The requirements for the Graduate Certificate and Graduate Diploma are prescribed in the Waikato Management School Student Handbook.
Prescriptions for the BCS(Hons), BMS(Hons), PGCert(LComm), PGDip(LComm) and MMS
Leadership Communication may be taken as a major for the BMS(Hons) and as a subject for the BCS(Hons) and MMS. A Postgraduate Certificate and a Postgraduate Diploma in Leadership Communication are also available. The requirements for the major and subject are prescribed in the Waikato Management School Student Handbook.
Students enrolling in 500 level Leadership Communication papers should normally have a minimum of a B average in undergraduate Leadership Communication papers, with no less than that in 300 and 400 level Leadership Communication papers. All students should discuss their programme with the Management Student Centre before enrolling.
Prescriptions for the MPhil
The Master of Philosophy is a one year research-based degree in which students undertake a programme of approved and supervised research that leads to a thesis which critically investigates an approved topic of substance and significance, demonstrates expertise in the methods of research and scholarship, displays intellectual independence and makes a substantial original contribution to the subject area concerned, and is of publishable quality.
| Management Communication MPhil Thesis | MCOM800 | 120.0 Points |
Prescriptions for the PhD
The Doctor of Philosophy is a three year research-based degree in which students undertake a programme of approved and supervised research that leads to a thesis which critically investigates an approved topic of substance and significance, demonstrates expertise in the methods of research and scholarship, displays intellectual independence and makes a substantial original contribution to the subject area concerned, and is of publishable quality.
| Management Communication PhD Thesis | MCOM900 | 120.0 Points |
Subject requirements
Postgraduate Certificate (PGCert)
To complete the requirements for a Postgraduate Certificate in Leadership Communication, you'll need to pass 60 points at 500-level from one subject area and meet the specific requirements prescribed for any subject.
The specific requirements for Leadership Communication are that you have to meet with the department's Graduate Convenor to discuss an appropriate personal programme of study.
Please note: If you fail a paper then you may repeat it once. If you fail more than one paper, or you fail the same paper twice, then you will not be permitted to proceed with the certificate. You may need to meet any additional paper prerequisites unless a waiver is obtained and depending upon your programme of study.
Postgraduate Diploma (PGDip)
To complete the requirements for a Postgraduate Diploma in Leadership Communication, you'll need to pass 120 points at 500-level and submit a Portfolio of Achievement (see the Postgraduate Diploma qualification information for further details). You must also meet the specific requirements prescribed for any subject. You can choose to take up to 30 points from other graduate subjects with the permission of the department's Graduate Convenor.
The specific requirements for Leadership Communication are that you have to meet with the department's Graduate Convenor to discuss an appropriate personal programme of study and include at least 60 points from:
- MCOM576 Intercultural Communication
- MCOM579 Communication in Organisations
- MCOM583 Leadership, Communication and Transformation
And no more than 60 points from:
- MCOM501 Meaningful Work and Wellbeing
- MCOM502 Managing Virtual Team Communication
- MCOM503 Networking
- MCOM504 Organisational Change and Communication
- MCOM505 Internal Communication
- MCOM506 Reputation Management
- MCOM566 Special Topic
- MCOM584 Sustainable Futures
- MCOM585 Public Relations: Context and Applications
- MCOM587 Communication Internship
- MCOM590 Directed Study
- MCOM591 Dissertation
- MNGT501 Research Methods in Management Studies
Please note: If you fail a paper or papers (no more than 30 points), then you may repeat the paper once, or take an alternative paper. If you fail more than 30 points you will not be permitted to proceed with the diploma. You may need to meet any additional paper prerequisites unless a waiver is obtained and depending upon your programme of study.
Master of Management Studies (MMS)
The completion requirements for the Master of Management Studies are dependent upon your admission criteria. Please refer to the qualification information for further details. However, you'll need to:
- Meet with the department's Graduate Convenor to discuss an appropriate personal programme of study and to ensure any specific subject requirements are met.
- Take MNGT501 Research Methods in Management Studies (unless passed previously)
- Take a dissertation (591/592) or thesis (593/594) in Leadership Communication.
- Submit a Portfolio of Achievement.
- Meet the specific requirements prescribed for any subject.
You'll also need to include at least 60 points from (unless passed previously):
- MCOM501 Meaningful Work and Wellbeing
- MCOM502 Managing Virtual Team Communication
- MCOM503 Networking
- MCOM504 Organisational Change and Communication
- MCOM505 Internal Communication
- MCOM506 Reputation Management
- MCOM576 Intercultural Communication
- MCOM579 Communication in Organisations
- MCOM583 Leadership, Communication and Transformation
- MCOM584 Sustainable Futures
Note: If you fail a paper or papers (no more than 30 points), then you may repeat the paper once, or take an alternative paper. If you fail more than 30 points you will not be permitted to proceed with the degree. You may need to meet any additional paper prerequisites unless a waiver is obtained and depending upon your programme of study.
Master of Philosophy (MPhil) or Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)
Please contact the Graduate Convenor.
Contacts
Management Student Centre (MSC)
Phone: +64 838 4303 or 0800 654 303
Email: msc@waikato.ac.nz
Website: www.management.ac.nz/msc
Opening hours: 8.45am - 4.45pm Monday to Friday
Location: MSB.1.50, Hillcrest Road, University of Waikato, Hamilton
One of the best times to pop into MSC is Open Advice Day, held every Wednesday from 10am to 2pm.
Leadership Communication subject convenors:
Professor David McKie
Undergraduate/Graduate Advisor
Email: dmckie@waikato.ac.nz
Professor Juliet Roper
Undergraduate/Graduate Advisor
Email: jroper@waikato.ac.nz