INSTRUCTION
Course Package
COM 121
INTERPERSONAL COMMUNICATION
PRESENTED AND APPROVED: MAY 4, 2012
EFFECTIVE: FALL 2012-13
MCC Form EDU 0007 (rev. 10/07/11)
INSTRUCTION
Course Package
Prefix & Number COM 121
Purpose of this submission:
If this is a change, what is being changed?
(Check all that apply)
Course Title: Interpersonal Communication
New
X Change/Updated
Retire
Update Prefix
Course Description
Title
Course Number
X Format Change
Credits
X Prerequisite
Competencies
Textbook/Reviewed Competencies-no changes
needed
Does this course require additional fees? X No
Yes If so, please explain.
Is there a similar course in the course bank? X No
Yes (Please identify)
Articulation: Is this course or an equivalent offered at other two and four-year universities in Arizona?
No
X Yes (Identify the college, subject, prefix, number and title: ASU, COM 110; NAU, CST 151;
UA, COMM 114; Central Arizona College, COM 101; Chandler-Gilbert CC, COM 110; Cochise College,
COM 270; Estrella Mountain CC, Gateway CC, Glendale CC, Maricopa CC, Mesa CC, Paradise Valley CC,
Phoenix College, Rio Salado College, Scottsdale CC, South Mountain CC, all COM 110; Yavapai College,
COM 134.
Is this course identified as a Writing Across the Curriculum course?
No
X Yes
Course Textbook, Materials and Equipment
Textbook:
Current
edition:
2nd.
Title
Author(s)
Publisher
Interpersonal Messages
DeVito
Allyn and Bacon
Title
Author(s)
Publisher
Software/
Equipment
Course Assessments
Description of Possible Course Assessments (Essays,
multiple choice, etc.)
Exams standardized for this course? X No.
Midterm
Final
MCC Form EDU 0007 (rev. 10/07/11)
Tests (essay, short answer, multiple
choice, true/false); quizzes; research
papers and personal essays; oral
presentations; participation in group
activities, projects, and presentations;
chapter assignments; and selfassessments.
Are exams required by the department?
X No
Yes
If Yes, please specify:
INSTRUCTION
Course Package
Other (Please specify):
Student Outcomes: Identify the general education goals for
student learning that is a component of this course.
Check all that apply:
apply:
1. Communicate effectively.
a. Read and comprehend at a college level. X
b. Write effectively in a college setting.
X
c. Communicate orally.
X
2. Demonstrate effective quantitative reasoning and
problem solving skills.
X
3. Demonstrate effective qualitative reasoning skills. X
4. Apply effective methods of inquiry.
a. Generate research by gathering information
from varied sources, analyzing data and
organizing information into a coherent
structure.
X
b. Employ the scientific method.
5. Demonstrate sensitivity to diversity.
a. Experience the creative products of humanity. X
b. Describe alternate historical, cultural, global
perspectives.
X
Office of Instruction Use only:
CIP Code:
ONET Code:
Minimum Qualifications:
MCC Form EDU 0007 (rev. 10/07/11)
Method of Assessment
Tests; quizzes; research papers and
personal essays; oral presentations,
participation in group activities,
projects, and presentations; chapter
assignments; and self-assessments.
Statistical evaluation in tests; quizzes;
research papers and personal essays;
oral presentations; group activities,
projects, and presentations; chapter
assignments; and self-assessments.
Tests; quizzes; research papers and
personal essays; oral presentations;
participation in group activities,
projects, and presentations; chapter
assignments; and self-assessments.
Research papers, oral presentations;
group projects and presentations.
Participation in being responsive
audience member for other classmate’s
presentations.
Tests; quizzes; research papers and
personal essays; oral presentations;
participation in group activities,
projects, and presentations; chapter
assignments; and self-assessments.
INSTRUCTION
Course Package
COURSE INFORMATION
Initiator: John Kitts
Date of proposal to Curriculum Sub-Committee: 5/4/12
Effective Semester/Year
X Fall 2012
Spring
Summer
Prerequisite will be reflected in the 2013-14 catalog.
Prefix & Number: COM 121
Full Title: (100 character limit)
Interpersonal Communication
Short Title: (30 character limit)
Catalog Course Description: Emphasizes the development of effective interpersonal communication skills
significant to both personal and career success. Students will explore basic elements of interpersonal
communication, including self-concept, perception, listening, verbal and non-verbal expression, emotional
expression, critical thinking, conversational skills, personal relationships, intercultural communication,
conflict resolution and personal power. Students evaluate their present communication styles and increase
competency in communicating successfully with others.
SUN Course Number: N/A
Credit Hours: 3
Lecture Hours: 3
Lab Hours: N/A
Prerequisite(s) Appropriate score on assessment test or successful completion of PCS 021 and TRE
089.
Co-requisite(s)
Intended Course Goals
By the end of the semester, students will be able to:
1. Demonstrate increased proficiency in judging effective communication behavior.
2. Analyze communication situations and accurately apply communication concepts.
3. Exercise interpersonal competency through an increased sensitivity to
multiculturalism while decreasing ethnocentrism.
4. Describe physiological, social and cultural factors that affect perception and
misunderstandings.
5. Explain the nature of language and nonverbal messages as they apply to effective
and ineffective decoding of messages.
6. Employ effective listening skills in interpersonal relations.
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7. Assess problems in relationships and generate solutions for maintaining and
improving relationships.
8. Define and use a vocabulary of relational communication terms.
9. Apply major theoretical concepts in the field of relational communication to real
world situations.
10. Analyze personal role in family, professional, friendship, interracial/intercultural,
and/or intimate relationships.
11. Demonstrate knowledge of academic research tools, methodologies, and strategies.
Course Competencies and Objectives
By the end of the semester, students will be able to:
Competency 1 Describe the nature of interpersonal communication.
Objective 1.1 Define interpersonal communications.
Objective 1.2 Explain the value of a course in interpersonal communication.
Objective 1.3 Identify the major similarities and differences between interpersonal communication
and large group communication.
Objective 1.4 Differentiate between linear, interactional, and transactional models of interpersonal
communication.
Objective 1.5 Articulate the similarities and differences between face-to-face communication and
computer-mediated communication.
Competency 2 Describe the essential elements of interpersonal communication.
Objective 2.1 List and define the five essential elements of interpersonal communication.
Objective 2.2 Explain the coding-decoding dynamics between source-receiver.
Objective 2.3 Distinguish between types of messages.
Objective 2.4 Identify relevant types of noise and explain how each can interfere with receiving
messages.
Objective 2.5 Identify and explain four dimensions of context.
Competency 3 Explain the principles of interpersonal communication.
Objective 3.1 Analyze interpersonal communication as a package of signals.
Objective 3.2 Differentiate between content and relationship messages.
Objective 3.3 Explain the relationship between communication accommodation and the process of
adjustment.
Objective 3.4 Discuss the tendency of interpersonal communication to express ambiguity.
Objective 3.5 Summarize how interpersonal communication involves various dimensions of power.
Objective 3.6 Discuss ways in which interpersonal communication is inevitable, irreversible, and
unrepeatable.
Competency 4 Differentiate between and describe self-concept, self-awareness, and self-esteem.
Objective 4.1 Explain four sources of self-concept.
Objective 4.2 Discuss how culture influences self-concept.
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Objective 4.3 Summarize the importance of achieving self-awareness.
Objective 4.4 Explain the Johari Window four-selves model.
Objective 4.5 Evaluate your personal level of self-awareness utilizing the four panes of the Johari
Window.
Objective 4.6 Describe methods to increase the open self, manage the hidden self, and reduce the
blind and unknown self.
Objective 4.7 Identify strategies to increase self-esteem.
Competency 5 Recognize the purposes for and appropriate types of self-disclosure.
Objective 5.1 Define self-disclosure.
Objective 5.2 Articulate what factors influence whether or not to engage in self-disclosure.
Objective 5.3 Discuss the rewards of self-disclosure.
Objective 5.4 Explain the risks and potential dangers of self-disclosure.
Objective 5.5 Determine personal guidelines for engaging in self-disclosure.
Objective 5.6 Articulate guidelines for facilitating and responding to the self-disclosures of others.
Objective 5.7 Discuss the influence of culture on levels of self-disclosure.
Competency 6 Clarify how communication apprehension functions in interpersonal communication.
Objective 6.1 Propose potential benefits of communication apprehension.
Objective 6.2 Discuss potential devastating effects of communication apprehension.
Objective 6.3 Explain strategies to reduce apprehension in various interpersonal communication
situations.
Competency 7 List and define the stages of perception.
Objective 7.1 Describe the five stages of perception
Objective 7.2 Differentiate between organization by rules, organization by schemata, and
organization by scripts.
Objective 7.3 Discuss reasons for the unreliability of memory, explaining why memory is
reconstructive rather than reproductive.
Objective 7.4 List factors that influence accuracy of recall.
Competency 8 Explain common influences on your ability to accurately perceive others and their
ability to accurately perceive you.
Objective 8.1 Explain the concept of implicit personality theories.
Objective 8.2 Describe the cause and effect of self-fulfilling prophecies.
Objective 8.3 Compare and contrast primacy and recency.
Objective 8.4 Define the concept of consistency, explaining the human tendency toward it and the
dangers of misperception due of it.
Objective 8.5 Explain and differentiate between the concepts of attribution, overattribution, selfserving bias and fundamental attribution error.
Competency 9 Demonstrate increased accuracy in perceiving others and their messages.
Objective 9.1 Analyze your process of perceiving.
Objective 9.2 Discuss the dangers of quick conclusions, confirmation bias, and disconfirmation
bias.
Objective 9.3 Articulate methods of perception that reduce the factor of uncertainty.
Objective 9.4 Detail strategies to increase cultural sensitivity in perception.
Competency 10 Explain the concept of listening.
Objective 10.1 Define five stages of listening.
Objective 10.2 Articulate the difference between hearing and understanding.
Objective 10.3 Explain why memory is reconstructive, not reproductive.
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Objective 10.4 Describe strategies for accurate evaluating.
Objective 10.5 Explain the phases of responding, including backchanneling cues.
Objective 10.6 List various obstacles to listening.
Competency 11 Investigate available styles of listening.
Objective 11.1 Discuss the importance of empathy to objective listening.
Objective 11.2 Describe the tension between nonjudgmental and critical listening.
Objective 11.3 Express the difference between surface-level communication and depth listening.
Objective 11.4 Describe the functions of active listening.
Objective 11.5 Explain techniques for active listening.
Objective 11.6 Differentiate between active and inactive listening.
Competency 12 Explain the role of cultural differences in listening.
Objective 12.1 Discuss potential barriers to communication between different cultures.
Objective 12.2 Detail how various cultures differ in directness, explaining cultural differences in
direct speech and indirect speech.
Objective 12.3 Discuss the variance of cultural display rules.
Competency 13 Explain the role of gender differences in listening.
Objective 13.1 Compare and contrast the speaking styles of men and women.
Objective 13.2 Explain how men attempt to achieve power through lecture and interruption.
Objective 13.3 Compare and contrast men’s and women’s use of listening cues.
Competency 14 Explain the principles of verbal messages.
Objective 14.1 Explain how message meanings are determined internally rather than externally.
Objective 14.2 Differentiate between denotative and connotative meanings.
Objective 14.3 Describe differences between indirect messages and direct messages.
Objective 14.4 Explain why different cultures and genders differ in directness of messages.
Objective 14.5 Describe the difference between abstract and concrete terms, and explain how
messages vary in abstraction.
Objective 14.6 Identify differences between nonassertive, assertive, and aggressive messages.
Objective 14.7 Detail principles for increasing assertiveness in creating verbal messages.
Objective 14.8 Give reasons to practice confirmation and avoid disconfirmation in interpersonal
communication.
Competency 15 Explain how verbal messages communicate racism, heterosexism, ageism, and
sexism.
Objective 15.1 Differentiate between individual and institutionalized forms of racism,
heterosexism, ageism, and sexism.
Objective 15.2 Identify qualities and effects of racist language.
Objective 15.3 Propose principles for self-evaluating personal language for signs of racism.
Objective 15.4 Detail how heterosexism can be displayed through attitudes, behavior, and
language.
Objective 15.5 Suggest ways to avoid heterosexist language.
Objective 15.6 Define ageism and show how it reveals itself in attitudes, behavior, and language.
Objective 15.7 Identify illogical stereotypes that create the basis of much ageist language.
Objective 15.8 Prescribe methods to enhance communication with the hearing impaired.
Objective 15.9 Detail how sexism can be displayed through attitudes, behavior, and language.
Objective 15.10 Evaluate your personal level/tendency toward sexist language.
Objective 15.11 Discuss how sexism can lead to sexual harassment.
Objective 15.12 Explain quid pro quo and hostile environment harassment.
MCC Form EDU 0007 (rev. 10/07/11)
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Competency 16 Describe how to use verbal messages effectively and critically.
Objective 16.1 Discuss the symbolic nature of language.
Objective 16.2 Explain the need to avoid intensional [sic.] orientation and embrace extensional
orientation.
Objective 16.3 Define and explain the conceptual distortion known as allness.
Objective 16.4 Differentiate between a factual statement and an inferential statement, and define
fact-inference confusion.
Objective 16.5 Explain how messages can obscure significant distinctions through indiscrimination,
polarization, and static evaluation.
Competency 17 Explain methods by which nonverbal communication can be effectively sent and
received.
Objective 17.1 Explain various functions of non-verbal communication.
Objective 17.2 Describe body and facial messages.
Objective 17.3 Discuss facial management techniques and the facial feedback hypothesis.
Objective 17.4 Relate the uses of eye contact and eye avoidance.
Objective 17.5 List the four proxemic distances.
Objective 17.6 Define the concept of territoriality and identify the three types of territorial markers
humans use.
Objective 17.7 Discuss artifactual messages as tools of communication.
Objective 17.8 List the five meanings of touch.
Objective 17.9 Evaluate the significance of touch avoidance.
Objective 17.10 Give examples of paralanguage messages.
Objective 17.11 Discuss the function of silence in communication.
Objective 17.12 Define chronemics and discuss the characteristics of past, present, and future
orientations.
Objective 17.13 List four types of messages in olfactory communication.
Competency 18 Distinguish cultural differences in nonverbal communication, and explain how
nonverbal signals can be utilized effectively in intercultural situations.
Objective 18.1 Name common gestures seen as offensive in other cultures
Objective 18.2 Discuss various cultural display rules concerning gesture, facial expression, colors,
and touch.
Objective 18.3 Explain the variations of speech rate and functions of silence in different cultures.
Objective 18.4 Discuss cultural differences between formal and informal time, monochromic and
polychromic time orientations, and the social clock.
Competency 19 Describe the process of conversation.
Objective 19.1 Identify five steps in conversation.
Objective 19.2 List and define four types of feedforward.
Objective 19.3 Describe positive and negative ways of communicating feedback.
Objective 19.4 Propose potential methods of repairing conversation.
Competency 20 Explain the principles for satisfying conversation.
Objective 20.1 Contrast dialogic and monologic conversation.
Objective 20.2 Explain the importance of reciprocity.
Objective 20.3 Explain how emotional expression is governed by display rules.
Objective 20.4 Discuss the three major obstacles to effective emotional communication.
Objective 20.5 List the major characteristics of powerless speech.
Competency 21 Explain the special principles that apply to emotional conversations.
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Objective 21.1 Describe how body, mind, and culture influence emotions.
Objective 21.2 List primary emotions and blends.
Objective 21.3 Explain how emotional expression is governed by display rules.
Objective 21.4 Discuss the three major obstacles to effective emotional communication.
Objective 21.5 Describe what it means to own your own feelings.
Objective 21.6 Discuss techniques for successful anger management.
Competency 22 Explain the stages of relationships.
Objective 22.1 List and describe six stages of relationships.
Objective 22.2 Discuss the benefits and risks of intimacy.
Objective 22.3 Define immediacy, and give ways to communicate immediacy to a partner.
Objective 22.4 Discuss common characteristics of most families.
Objective 22.5 Suggest methods of dealing with dissolution.
Objective 22.6 Evaluate advantages and disadvantages of interpersonal relationships.
Competency 23 Describe the destructive dark side of violence in interpersonal relationships.
Objective 23.1 Define and detail three types of relationship violence.
Objective 23.2 Discuss the effects of violence on the individual and society.
Objective 23.3 Present alternatives to violence.
Objective 23.4 Suggest positive strategies in dealing with a violent partner or in dealing with
yourself as the violent partner.
Competency 24 Discuss types of relationships.
Objective 24.1 Distinguish between three types of friendships.
Objective 24.2 List characteristics of six types of love.
Objective 24.3 Describe various types of families.
Objective 24.4 Discuss common characteristics of most families.
Objective 24.5 Discuss potential dynamics of workplace relationships.
Objective 24.6 Explain the growing interest in online relationships.
Objective 24.7 Discuss advantages and disadvantages of online relationships.
Competency 25 Summarize four notable relationship theories.
Objective 25.1 Discuss the three tenets of attraction theory.
Objective 25.2 Explain the economic paradigm of social exchange theory.
Objective 25.3 Discuss the rewards-to-cost dynamics of equity theory.
Objective 25.4 Explain the success experienced by ardent followers of rules theory.
Competency 26 Explain culture’s role in interpersonal communication.
Objective 26.1 Discuss the U.S. shift from expecting cultural assimilation to celebrating cultural
diversity.
Objective 26.2 Explain the contrasting concepts of enculturation and acculturation.
Objective 26.3 Summarize the benefits of adopting a positive cultural perspective.
Competency 27 Describe ways cultures differ from each other.
Objective 27.1 Identify the difference between individualistic and collectivist cultures.
Objective 27.2 Differentiate between high-context and low-context cultures.
Objective 27.3 Contrast highly masculine and highly feminine cultures.
Objective 27.4 Specify the effects of power concentration between high-power distance cultures
and low-power distance cultures.
Objective 27.5 Contrast high-ambiguity-tolerance and low-ambiguity-tolerance cultures.
Competency 28 Identify how to communicate successfully in intercultural situations.
Objective 28.1 Discuss guidelines to achieve heightened culture sensitivity.
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Objective 28.2 Evaluate your degree of ethnocentrism.
Objective 28.3 Describe four stages of culture shock.
Objective 28.4 Detail principles for communication efficiency in intercultural relations.
Objective 28.5 Discuss principles for maintaining peaceful relationships.
Competency 29 Describe the nature and list the styles of interpersonal conflict.
Objective 29.1 Define interpersonal conflict.
Objective 29.2 Explain the inevitability of interpersonal conflict.
Objective 29.4 Discuss five different conflict styles.
Competency 30 Explain the stages of conflict management.
Objective 30.1 List Dewey’s five stages of conflict resolution.
Objective 30.2 Identify techniques to define conflicts.
Objective 30.3 Describe deBono’s “Thinking Hats” method of increasing perspective in evaluating
solutions.
Competency 30 Summarize the major strategies for conflict management.
Objective 31.1 Contrast win-lose to win-win strategies.
Objective 31.2 Discuss avoidance, including non-negotiation and gunnysacking.
Objective 31.3 Explain the differences between defensiveness and supportiveness.
Objective 31.4 Identify face-detracting strategies and contrast them with face-enhancing
techniques.
Objective 31.5 Contrast verbal aggressiveness and argumentativeness.
Objective 31.6 Suggest strategies for cultivating argumentativeness.
MCC Form EDU 0007 (rev. 10/07/11)