SPCH 115 Intercultural Communication

This course is an overview of the theories and practices of using messages to generate meaning in intercultural contexts. Using directed readings, stories, media, and activities, this course is designed to increase students’ sensitivity to other cultures, and just as importantly, increase awareness of their own cultural backgrounds and the contexts (social, cultural, and historical) in which we live and communicate. This course is designed for students to explore communication differences and similarities when living and working with people of different ethnicity, race, sex, and/or nationality. Through increased awareness and sensitivity, students will be able to articulate intercultural influences on communication.

Credits

3

Prerequisite

Eligible to enroll in ENGL 121

Hours Weekly

3

Course Objectives

1. Analyze one’s own cultural values and articulate how these values affect decision making, while developing a capacity to honor and be inclusive of many other cultures.
2. Demonstrate an ethno-relative state of understanding and acceptance of cultural differences rather than one of ethnocentricity, and demonstrate the corresponding communication skills.
3. Identify the beliefs, values, and norms of one’s own culture, and recognize and articulate differences and commonalities in dominant cultural patterns.
4. Demonstrate an understanding of the impact and influence of media used throughout the world on shaping of cultures and perceptions of culture.
5. Demonstrate competent and ethical communication strategies in a variety of cross-cultural contexts.

Course Objectives

1. Analyze one’s own cultural values and articulate how these values affect decision making, while developing a capacity to honor and be inclusive of many other cultures.

   Learning Activity Artifact

   • Writing Assignments
   • Individual presentation

   Procedure for Assessing Student Learning

   • Oral Communication Rubric

   Oral Communication

   • OC1
2. Demonstrate an ethno-relative state of understanding and acceptance of cultural differences rather than one of ethnocentricity, and demonstrate the corresponding communication skills.

   Learning Activity Artifact

   • Writing Assignments
   • Individual presentation

   Procedure for Assessing Student Learning

   • Oral Communication Rubric

   Oral Communication

   • OC3
   • OC2
3. Identify the beliefs, values, and norms of one’s own culture, and recognize and articulate differences and commonalities in dominant cultural patterns.

   This objective is a course Goal Only

   Learning Activity Artifact

   • Writing Assignments

   Procedure for Assessing Student Learning

   • Other (please fill out box below)
   • assignment rubric

   Oral Communication

   • OC4
4. Demonstrate an understanding of the impact and influence of media used throughout the world on shaping of cultures and perceptions of culture.

   This objective is a course Goal Only

   Learning Activity Artifact

   • Writing Assignments
   • Group presentation

   Procedure for Assessing Student Learning

   • Other (please fill out box below)
   • assignment rubric

   Oral Communication

   • OC2
5. Demonstrate competent and ethical communication strategies in a variety of cross-cultural contexts.

   Learning Activity Artifact

   • Other (please fill out box below)
   • presentation

   Procedure for Assessing Student Learning

   • Oral Communication Rubric

   Oral Communication

   • OC4