Course Description
Factors that facilitate or impede effective communication between members of different cultural groups. Considers interactions between people from different nations as well as co-cultures within the same nation. Effects of differing world views, value systems, language varieties, nonverbal codes, and relational norms. Skills for disseminating ideas across cultures and for building intercultural competence.
Athena Title
Intercultural Communication
Equivalent Courses
Not open to students with credit in COMM 4800
Non-Traditional Format
This course will be taught 95% or more online.
Semester Course Offered
Offered summer semester every year.
Grading System
A - F (Traditional)
Course Objectives
The purpose of the course is to enhance students’ understanding of intercultural communication and its utility to impact individuals and societies. The population of the United States has become increasingly diverse, as the world has become increasingly interconnected. It is important to understand how an individual’s background, worldview and value systems affect his/her capacity to communicate effectively with people from other cultures. Students in this class will embark on a journey of change from the inside out. First, by understanding their own potential biases and apprehension, challenging themselves to become more open, and improving skills as communicators with diverse populations. Then, they will attempt to use the theories they have learned to develop ideas and strategies of how to impact the world around them.
Topical Outline
Week 1: Intercultural Communication: Interaction in a Multicultural World Week 2: Communication and Culture: The Voice and the Echo Week 3: The Deep Structure of Culture: Lessons From Family Week 4: Worldview: Cultural Explanations of Life and Death Week 5: Cultural History: Our Antecedents Week 6: Cultural History Cont’d Week 7: Cultural Values: Guidelines for Behaviors Week 8: Cultural Values Cont’d Week 9: Culture and Identity: Situating the Individual Week 10: Culture and Identity Cont’d Week 11: Verbal Messages: Exchanging Ideas Through Language Week 12: Nonverbal Communication: The Messages of Action, Space, Time, and Silence Week 13: Nonverbal Communication Cont’d Week 14: Intercultural Communication in Contexts Week 15: Intercultural Communication in Contexts Cont’d Week 16: Group Presentations Finals week: Final Exam