I. General Information

1. Course Title:
Introduction to Communication

2. Course Prefix & Number:
COMM 1410

3. Course Credits and Contact Hours:

Credits: 3

Lecture Hours: 3

4. Course Description:

This beginning-level course is designed to introduce students to four key areas of the communication discipline: interpersonal communication, intercultural communication, small group communication and public speaking. Through this course, students will explore the fundamental theories of communication as well as identify and apply the basic skills from each of those core areas so they can become more effective communicators in a variety of contexts.

5. Placement Tests Required:

Accuplacer (specify test):

Reading College Level CLC or Reading College Level

Score:

6. Prerequisite Courses:

There are no prerequisites for this course.

9. Co-requisite Courses:

There are no corequisites for this course.

II. Transfer and Articulation

1. Course Equivalency - similar course from other regional institutions:

Lake Superior College, COMM 1100 Introduction to Communication, 3 credits
Anoka Ramsey Community College, CMST 1110 Introduction to Communication, 3 credits

III. Course Purpose

2. MN Transfer Curriculum (General Education) Courses - This course fulfills the following goal area(s) of the MN Transfer Curriculum:
Goal 1 – Written and Oral Communication

IV. Learning Outcomes

1. College-Wide Outcomes

College-Wide Outcomes/Competencies	Students will be able to:
Demonstrate oral communication skills	Successfully complete at least one speech from either the informative or persuasive category.
Demonstrate interpersonal communication skills	Demonstrate interpersonal communication that is both effective in goal-reaching as well as appropriate for the time, place and purpose.
Work as a team member to achieve shared goals	Effectively participate in a group to solve a problem.

2. Course Specific Outcomes - Students will be able to achieve the following measurable goals upon completion of the course:

• Successfully complete at least 1 speech from either the informative or persuasive category  (MnTC Goal 1);
• Construct an appropriate outline and demonstrate correct citation skills associated with informative and/or persuasive speeches (MnTC Goal 1);
• Demonstrate interpersonal communication that is both effective in goal-reaching as well as appropriate for the time, place and purpose (MnTC Goal 1);
• Demonstrate active listening skills (MnTC Goal 1);
• Effectively participate in a group to solve a problem (MnTC Goal 1);
• Describe the role of perception on the interpersonal, intercultural, small group and public speaking process and illustrate how best to manage perception for communication competency (MnTC Goal 1);
• Demonstrate knowledge of intercultural communication theory by analyzing nonverbal variables affecting intercultural communication (MnTC Goal 1);
• Compare and contrast conflict management strategies for interpersonal, intercultural, and small group situations (MnTC Goal 1); and
• Compare and contrast how social media and other mediated communication affects strategies for competency in interpersonal, intercultural, public speaking and small group situations (MnTC Goal 1).

V. Topical Outline

Listed below are major areas of content typically covered in this course.

1. Lecture Sessions

1. Elements of communication
• Human communication
• Communication defined
• Types of communication
• Functions of communication
• Defining communication competence
• The Self, Perception and Communication
• The development of self
• Self-fulfilling prophecies
• Culture and self-concept
• Identity management
• Perception
• The perception process
• Common perception tendencies
• Culture and perception
• Gender and perception
• Empathy
• Language
• The nature of language
• The power of language
• Disruptive language
• Gender and language
• Culture and language
• Listening and Active Listening
• The listening process
• Challenges to effective listening
• Listening styles
• Informational listening
• Critical listening
• Nonverbal Communication
• Characteristics of nonverbal communication
• Cultural nonverbal
• Functions of nonverbal communication
• Types of nonverbal communication
2. Interpersonal Communication
• Understanding interpersonal Communication
• Why we form relationships
• Characteristics of interpersonal communication
• Intimacy in interpersonal relationships
• Self-disclosure
• Improving Interpersonal Relationships
• Communication climates
• Managing interpersonal Conflict
3. Intercultural Communication
• Understanding Intercultural Communication Inclusively
• Characteristics of Culture
• Variables of Culture
• Identity and Culture
• Intercultural Competency
• Individual, Cultural and Institutional isms
• Understanding prejudice/bias, stereotyping, discrimination
4. Communication in Groups
• The Nature of Groups
• What is a group?
• Group and individual goals
• Characteristics of groups
• Cultural influences on groups
• Leadership and power in groups
• Solving problems in groups
• Advantages of group problem solving
• Group problem solving strategies
• Approaches and stages in group problem solving
• Dangers in group discussions
• Conflict Management Comparisons
• Interpersonal Communication
• Intercultural Communication
• Mediated Communication
5. Public Communication
• Choosing and developing a topic
• Defining your purpose
• Analyzing the speaking situation
• Research
• Organization and support
• Structuring your speech
• Outlining
• Organizational patterns
• Using transitions
• Introductions and conclusions
• Supporting material
• Presenting your speech
• Speaking apprehension
• Types of delivery
• Practicing your speech
• Guidelines for delivery
• Using visual aids
• Informative Speaking
• Types of informative speeches
• Techniques of informative speaking
• Persuasive Speaking
• Characteristics of persuasion
• Types of persuasion
• Creating a persuasive message
• Adapting to the audience
• Building credibility as a speaker
6. Mediated Communication
• Competencies for personal online communication
• Competencies for professional online communication
• Competencies for presenting through web-enhanced mediums