COM 245W - Intercultural Communication

1. Describe the rationale for studying intercultural communication and how diversity affects us as citizens of a community, a nation, and the world.
   1. Describe the reasons for studying intercultural communication: economic, technological, demographic, peace, self-awareness, and ethical.
   2. Analyze intercultural communication challenges within organizations.
   3. Analyze intercultural opportunities within organizations.
2. Describe the importance of history and identity in understanding contemporary intercultural communication issues.
   1. Describe the importance of constructing history through narrative.
   2. Describe how multi-faceted histories influence cultural and self-identity.
   3. Describe how identities are multiple and reflect gender, age, race, ethnicity, physical ability, religion, class, nationality, sexual orientation and other aspects of our society and culture.
   4. Analyze how identity is expressed through core symbols, labels, and norms of behaviors.
   5. Describe how identity develops for various groups.
   6. Describe how that identity process impacts communication.
3. Identify the building blocks of and the barriers to effective intercultural communication.
   1. Define culture, communication, context, and power.
   2. Explain barriers to intercultural communication: ethnocentrism, prejudice, and discrimination.
   3. Discuss how different cultural groups are portrayed in the media.
   4. Define pop-culture.
   5. Describe the ways in which pop-culture forms images of culture groups.
   6. Describe how those images influence consumption of pop-culture products.
4. Describe verbal and nonverbal aspects of intercultural communication.
   1. Describe the components of language and the cultural variations in language.
   2. Describe the relationship between language and power.
   3. Describe universal and culture-specific aspects of nonverbal communication.
   4. Discuss how nonverbal communication can provide a basis for stereotyping and prejudice.
5. Demonstrate listening skills.
   1. Describe strategies for effective listening in intercultural communication situations.
   2. Describe barriers to effective listening in intercultural communication situations.
   3. Demonstrate effective listening in intercultural communication situations.
6. Demonstrate the skills that facilitate productive activity in intercultural communication.
   1. Identify characteristics of intercultural conflict.
   2. Describe how conflict management varies from culture to culture.
   3. Describe the personal and social aspects of conflict.
   4. Demonstrate effective conflict management strategies.
   5. Describe how relationships may differ across cultures.
   6. Describe the challenges of intercultural relationships.
   7. Describe the benefits of intercultural relationships.
7. Use writing to promote learning of all of the above Outcomes and Objectives.