Interpersonal Communication

Catalog Description: 
A practical approach to interpersonal communication that analyzes its underlying concepts leading to the acquisition of communications skills necessary in social and professional life.

Rationale: 
Although the college student may express himself/herself through speech, writing, music, and other forms of communication, rarely is he or she proficient in interpersonal skills. The requirements of English 1010 and English 1111 emphasize writing skills, which ensure that at a minimum, expression in English is not an outstanding obstacle to the interpersonal process. The development of interpersonal skills is necessary for those whose managerial or administrative skills are being formed. Furthermore for fields of study in which counseling, interviewing, and problem solving are required, this course is essential for coping with the many problems that surface when interaction occurs socially and professionally. Objectives: As a result of taking this course, the student should be able to:
1. Employ active listening techniques in interpersonal situations.
2. Apply theories of encoding and decoding in processing messages.
3. Understand that choices made in interpersonal communication are guided by ethical considerations as well as other determinable factors.
4. Explain the transactional nature and irreversibility of interpersonal communication.
5. Appreciate the ways in which non-verbal and verbal messages interact.
6. Analyze the rewards and dangers of self-disclosure and evaluate the disclosure of others.
7. Be able to employ corrective techniques to communication problems involving polarization.
8. Understand proxemic distance in communication.
9. Assimilate concepts of primary secondary and public territories.
10. Categorize artifactual communication, including cultural displays.
11. Explain cultural and psychological time
12. Interpret interpersonal interaction in terms of compliancy gaining and resisting strategies.
13. Understand and employ conflict-management strategies.
14. Evaluate roles and responsibilities of primary relationships.
15. Appreciate behavior, that improves communication within primary relationships and families.

Learning Activities: 
Lectures that demonstrate the principles of interpersonal communication. Group exercises that explore the concept of self-disclosure, role playing exercises that deal with situations found in society in which effective interpersonal skills are vital for the success of intended transactions. Group discussion, surveys, assigned readings and projects.