Catalog Course Search Details

 Department:    CMST

 Course #:    205

 Credits:    5

 Variable:     No

 IUs:    5

 CIP:    231001

 EPC:    n/a

 REV:    2018

 Course Description  

A comparative study of cultural perspectives, communication styles, relationships, and customs. May include analysis of and participation in cross-cultural interactions.

 Prerequisite  

Prerequisite: Appropriate placement or grade of 2.0 or higher in ENGL 099.

Contact Hours (based on 11 week quarter)

Lecture: 55

Lab: 0

Other: 0

Systems: 0

Clinical: 0

Intent: Distribution Requirement(s) Status:  

Academic Humanities  

Equivalencies At Other Institutions

Learning Outcomes

After completing this course, the student will be able to:

1. Understand the influence of culture on communication, specifically
   • Identifying how personal and cultural values shape cultural perspectives
   • Characterizing the communication styles of a culture in terms of language, nonverbal communication, and listening patterns
   • Analyzing societal roles and relationships within and between cultures
   • Using empathy to bridge differences in personal and cultural values and build relationships with others
   • Understanding the unique roles of the individual in communicating within one's own culture and between cultures
2. Develop critical thinking skills by applying intercultural learning, specifically
   • Listening actively and with cultural sensitivity
   • Applying critical thinking skills to group or individual projects
   • Adapting communication appropriately in intercultural situations
   • Integrating intercultural learning in out-of-class situations
3. Demonstrate basic intercultural communication skills, including
   • Identifying and explaining the model, components, conditions, and common terminology of communication and culture
   • Using intellectual frameworks to describe and understand communication between culturally diverse individuals and groups
   • Building confidence in communicating verbally, nonverbally, in small groups, and before the class
   • Describing personal and/or social obstacles to effective intercultural relationshiops and applying appropriate techniques to improve intercultural communication
   • Applying textbook and supplemental reading assignments and library and/or technological research to individual and/or group projects

General Education Learning Values & Outcomes

Revised August 2008 and affects outlines for 2008 year 1 and later.

1. Information Literacy

Definition: Recognizing when information is needed and have the ability to locate, evaluate, and use effectively the needed information.

Outcomes: Students will be able to . . .
1.1 Determine the extent of information needed.
1.2 Access the needed information effectively, efficiently, ethically, and legally.
1.3 Evaluate information and its sources critically.

2. Critical Thinking

Definition: The ability to think critically about the nature of knowledge within a discipline and about the ways in which that knowledge is constructed and validated and to be sensitive to the ways these processes often vary among disciplines.

Outcomes: Students will be able to . . .
2.1 Identify and express concepts, terms, and facts related to a specific discipline.
2.2 Analyze issues and develop questions within a discipline.
2.3 Identify, interpret, and evaluate pertinent data and previous experience to reach conclusions.
2.4 Evaluate decisions by analyzing outcomes and the impact of actions.
2.8 Describe how one’s own preconceptions, biases and values affect one’s response to new and ambiguous situations.
2.9 Apply and/or create problem-solving strategies to successfully adapt to unpredictable and/or changing environments.

3. Communication

Definition: Understanding and producing effective written, spoken, visual, and non-verbal communication.

Outcomes: Students will be able to . . .
3.1 Recognize, read, and comprehend academic and/or professional writing.
3.2 Recognize, produce and demonstrate appropriate interpersonal, group, and public speaking skills.
3.3 Demonstrate effective listening skills.
3.4 Produce academic and/or professional writing and integrate it into written and spoken projects.
3.5 Recognize, comprehend, and use non-verbal behaviors appropriate to a given context.
3.7 Adapt communication to diverse audiences and media.

4. Community & Cultural Diversity

Definition: Recognizing the value of human communities and cultures from multiple perspectives through a critical understanding of their similarities and differences.

Outcomes: Students will be able to . . .
4.1 Identify and express concepts, terms, and issues associated with the diverse perspectives of race, social class, gender, sexual orientation, disabilities, and culture.
4.2 Understand, value and respect human differences and commonalities as they relate to issues of race, social class, gender, sexual orientation, disabilities and culture.
4.3 Understand the historically and socially constructed nature of—and the meanings attributed to—human differences.
4.4 Demonstrate effective communication across differences in human communities and cultures.
4.5 Adapt to and function effectively in communities and cultures different from one's own.

5. Global & Local Awareness & Responsibility

Definition: Understanding the complexity and interdependence of, and stewardship responsibilities to, local and global communities and environments.

Outcomes: Students will be able to . . .
5.2 Identify diverse communities and their shared/competing interests and develop strategies for prevention and resolution of conflict.

6. Individual Awareness & Responsibility

Definition: Understanding, managing, and taking responsibility for one’s learning and behavior in varied and changing environments.

Outcomes: Students will be able to . . .
6.3 Apply successful organizational strategies of planning, goal setting, prioritizing, resolving conflict, and managing time to specific goals and/or projects.
6.4 Use self-reflection to recognize and define a sense of self-identity in personal, social/gender, and/or cultural/global terms and in relationship to others.

10. Technology

Definition: Understanding the role of technology in society and using technology appropriately and effectively.

Outcomes: Students will be able to . . .
10.1 Demonstrate an understanding of the development and impact of technology in human experience (history, global, and local).
10.4 Demonstrate an understanding of the impact of technology in one’s personal and professional life.

Course Contents

1. Definitions and terminology of intercultural communication
2. Intercultural relationships and contexts
3. Language and nonverbal barriers
4. Cultural patterns (values, beliefs, norms)
5. Cultural biases
6. Differences in cultural perspectives