COMM 4449 Crisis Communication
Satisfies one of two writing intensive courses required within the Communication major. Restricted to Juniors and Seniors. This course is designed to examine events and situations that potentially threaten the viability of an organization. Attention is devoted to developing an effective crisis communication plan, speaking to multiple stakeholders, decision-making under pressure, and resolving-rather than litigating-organizational problems. Among the studies examined are the Tylenol product tampering incident, the Exxon Valdez accident, the Union Carbide gas leak, the Challenger Space Shuttle disaster, the Three Mile Island accident, and the Pepsi syringe hoax.
Course overview
- Department
- Communication
- School
- MCAS
- Credits
- 3
- Level
- Undergraduate
- Offered
- Every Fall, Every Spring
Requirements fulfilled
- Communication: Electives (four courses, 12 credits): any 3-credit class offered by the department; COMM5589 Internship Practicum may count once (Current University Catalog; students should confirm their catalog year)
- Communication: Writing Intensive Seminars (two courses numbered COMM4425-COMM4499, excluding COMM4485) (Current University Catalog; students should confirm their catalog year)
Course evaluations
- Course rating
- 4.44 / 5 · Very Good
- Instructor rating
- 4.57 / 5 · Excellent
- Terms evaluated
- 14
| Term | Instructor | Course overall | Instructor overall | Well organized | Clear learning objectives | Intellectually challenging | Helpful assignments | Applicable beyond course | Attendance necessary | Weekly effort | Responses |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring 2026 | Donald Fishman | 4.3 | 4.7 | 4.8 | 4.6 | 4.4 | 4.4 | 4.7 | 4.3 | — | 12 of 15 |
| Fall 2025 | Donald Fishman | 4.3 | 4.3 | 4.7 | 4.7 | 4.7 | 4.2 | 4.2 | 4.2 | 1–3 hrs/week | 7 of 14 |
| Summer 2025 | Donald Fishman | 5.0 | 5.0 | 5.0 | 5.0 | 5.0 | 5.0 | 5.0 | 5.0 | 7–9 hrs/week | 3 of 14 |
| Spring 2025 | Donald Fishman | 4.0 | 3.9 | 4.4 | 4.4 | 4.4 | 4.2 | 4.6 | 4.2 | 1–3 hrs/week | 14 of 15 |
| Fall 2024 | Donald Fishman | 3.9 | 4.2 | 4.5 | 4.4 | 4.2 | 4.1 | 4.3 | 4.2 | 1–3 hrs/week | 11 of 14 |
| Summer 2024 | Donald Fishman | 5.0 | 5.0 | 5.0 | 5.0 | 5.0 | 5.0 | 5.0 | — | 7–9 hrs/week | 1 of 10 |
| Spring 2024 | Donald Fishman | 4.7 | 4.8 | 4.8 | 4.7 | 4.7 | 4.6 | 4.8 | 4.5 | 4–6 hrs/week | 12 of 14 |
| Fall 2023 | Donald Fishman | 4.5 | 4.5 | 4.7 | 4.8 | 4.6 | 4.7 | 4.7 | 4.5 | — | 13 of 16 |
| Summer 2023 | Donald Fishman | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 3 of 16 |
| Spring 2023 | Donald Fishman | 4.5 | 4.6 | 4.5 | 4.5 | 4.4 | 4.3 | 4.5 | 4.5 | 1–3 hrs/week | 12 of 14 |
| Fall 2022 | Donald Fishman | 4.6 | 4.9 | 4.7 | 4.7 | 4.8 | 4.7 | 4.8 | 4.7 | 1–3 hrs/week | 13 of 16 |
| Summer 2022 | Donald Fishman | 4.8 | 4.8 | 5.0 | 4.8 | 4.3 | 4.8 | 4.8 | 4.8 | 7–9 hrs/week | 4 of 19 |
| Spring 2022 | Donald Fishman | 4.6 | 4.9 | 5.0 | 5.0 | 4.5 | 4.6 | 4.9 | 4.5 | 1–3 hrs/week | 8 of 18 |
| Fall 2021 | Donald Fishman | 4.5 | 4.6 | 4.6 | 4.6 | 4.9 | 4.7 | 4.9 | 4.8 | — | 8 of 18 |