[CMST 101-44503] Syllabus

COMMUNICATION STUDIES 101: INTRODUCTION TO INTERPERSONAL COMMUNICATION
(CMST-101-44503)

SANTA ANA COLLEGE

SPRING 2018

Instructor: Mari I. Harris

Course Hours: Fri. 9:00 am. C-214

Messages: harris_mari@sac.edu


                              Class handouts will not be distributed through emails.

Purpose of Course: Humans are social beings; we spend the majority of our time communicating with others and/or within ourselves. In order to be a competent communicator, we need to gain understanding of the processes and dynamics of interpersonal communication. In this course, we will examine and explore selected issues of human communication through lectures, discussions, activities, readings, and writing assignments.

Course Objectives:
1. Alert the student to the role, impact, and practice of effective interpersonal communication in relation to selected issues.
2. Gain understanding of the concepts and theories involved in the genre of interpersonal communication.
3. Develop the student's awareness of the different approaches used in various settings of human interaction.

Course Student Learning Outcomes:
1. Students will demonstrate the ability to compose written and oral examples of appropriate and effective communication strategies/messages.
2. Students will demonstrate flexibility and adaptability when communicating with others.
3. Students will identify and demonstrate perception checking, active listening techniques, conflict resolution, appropriate self-disclosure, and assertion techniques.

Text: Adler, Ronald B., Lawrence B. Rosenfeld, and Russell F. Proctor II.
Interplay: The Process of Interpersonal Communication
13th ed. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 2015.

Lectures and Notes: Lectures will provide much supplemental information that cannot be found in the text. Be sure to take careful notes. Please note that students are responsible for obtaining missed notes due to absences from their classmates. The instructor will not loan her notes. PowerPoint slides, if used, will not be available outside of class.

Attendance and Drop Policy: Your regular attendance is necessary in order for you to successfully complete this course. One un-excused absence will be permitted so long as it is not on an examination day or the due date for an assignment. After the first absence, unless your illness is verifiable by a physician's note, you may be dropped from the class. However, do not quit coming to class simply assuming that you will be dropped. Should you choose to drop, it is your responsibility to complete the procedure with the Admissions and Records Office before the deadline. Failing to complete the procedure may result in receiving an F.

Examinations: Three written examinations will be given. The examination will be any combination of objective (true/false and multiple-choice) questions. Each examination will cover readings from the text and lectures/discussions in class. A study guide will be provided before each examination. Make-up examination will not be given unless prior arrangements are made with the instructor or in the event of a verifiable emergency or illness. Regardless of the reason, make-up examinations, if given at all, will be considerably harder. In addition, students who are permitted to take a make-up examination must take it at the Testing Center on campus during their open hours. No extra credit will be offered for this class.

Additional Assignments: One paper and one short speech will be assigned. Specific requirements for the assignments such as the subject, format, grading criteria, and due date will be discussed fully in class. Late papers/speeches will be penalized severely. Papers cannot be submitted via email; they must be submitted in class.

Students with disabilities: A student with a disability, who would like to request an academic accommodation, is responsible for identifying herself/himself to the instructor and to the Disabled Student Program and Services (DSPS). To make arrangements for academic accommodations, contact the Disabled Student Office (VL-203) or call (714) 564-6295.

Academic honesty: The college's policy on academic honesty is strictly enforced in this class.  In case where a violation of academic honesty is discovered, the instructor will file an "Academic Misconduct Report" form and the student will receive a grade of "F" on the assignment. 

Important policy: No electronic devices are allowed during class sessions including cell phones, cameras, laptops, and tablets. They must be turned off and put away, out of reach and out of sight.

Grade Distribution: Grading Scale:

Exam #1  50      198 - 220  A
Exam #2  50      176 - 197  B
Exam #3  50      154 - 175  C
Paper       40      132 - 153  D
Speech     30         0 - 131   F
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Total 220