Course Syllabus

JOHN CABOT UNIVERSITY

COURSE CODE: "CMS 280-3"
COURSE NAME: "Intercultural Communications"
SEMESTER & YEAR: Fall 2024

SYLLABUS

INSTRUCTOR: Effie Marie Quattrociocchi
EMAIL: [email protected]
HOURS: MW 4:30 PM 5:45 PM
TOTAL NO. OF CONTACT HOURS: 45
CREDITS: 3
PREREQUISITES:
OFFICE HOURS:

COURSE DESCRIPTION:
An exploration of some of the historical and political conditions that make intercultural communication possible, the barriers that exist to effective intercultural communication, and possible solutions to the problem of intercultural misunderstanding. The course examines examples of differences in communication styles not only between cultures but also within. As a result, issues of race, nation, class, gender, religion, immigration, and sexual orientation will be of significant concern. The course stresses the notion that knowledge of human beings is always knowledge produced from a particular location and for a particular purpose. As a result it encourages students to think carefully about the discipline of Intercultural Communication—its conditions of possibility, its assumptions, and its blind spots—as well the need to be mindful of the limitations and interests of our positioning as investigating subjects.

SUMMARY OF COURSE CONTENT:

This course investigates the impact of culture in the communication process through understanding how cultural identities are formed and negotiated and the challenges present in communicating cross-culturally. Through in-class lecture and discussion, media analysis, and written assignments, issues of identity, history, power, representation, relationships, conflict and conflict resolution will be examined.

LEARNING OUTCOMES:

Students will be able to identify and understand how culture shapes communication exchanges both in sending and interpreting messages.

Students will be able to recognize global and historical conditions shaping intercultural communication exchanges and identity formation.

Students will be able to evaluate the role of media and communication technologies in intercultural exchanges.

Students will examine the sources and possible solutions to intercultural miscommunication.

TEXTBOOK:

NONE

REQUIRED RESERVED READING:

NONE

RECOMMENDED RESERVED READING:

NONE

GRADING POLICY
-ASSESSMENT METHODS:

Assignment	Guidelines	Weight
Final Exam	Short and long answer questions.	20%
Homework/reflections/quizzes	These are a collection of primarily weekly assignments and short answer quizzes done in class or as homework. They may be media responses, participation in mini, informal presentations, or responses to out-of-class excursions.	30%
Representation and Culture Essay	1500 essay on media and cultural representation	25%
Comparing Cultures Autoethnography	1500 word autoethnography essay	25%

-ASSESSMENT CRITERIA:
A100-90%. Work of this quality directly addresses the question or problem raised and provides a coherent argument displaying an extensive knowledge of relevant information or content. This type of work demonstrates the ability to critically evaluate concepts and theory and has an element of novelty and originality. There is clear evidence of a significant amount of reading beyond that required for the course.
B89-80%. This is highly competent level of performance and directly addresses the question or problem raised. There is a demonstration of some ability to critically evaluatetheory and concepts and relate them to practice. Discussions reflect the student’s own arguments and are not simply a repetition of standard lecture andreference material. The work does not suffer from any major errors or omissions and provides evidence of reading beyond the required assignments.
C79-70%. This is an acceptable level of performance and provides answers that are clear but limited, reflecting the information offered in the lectures and reference readings.
D69-60%. This level of performance demonstrates that the student lacks a coherent grasp of the material. Important information is omitted and irrelevant points included. In effect, the student has barely done enough to persuade the instructor that s/he should not fail.
F59-0%. This work fails to show any knowledge or understanding of the issues raised in the question. Most of the material in the answer is irrelevant.

-ATTENDANCE REQUIREMENTS:

Attendance is crucial to student success.

You will be allowed three, no questions asked absences. After the third absence, 10% will be deducted from the overall grade for a fourth absence and 15% for a fifth. The sixth absence will result in being dropped form the course.
The only absences that will be excused are those that are approved by the Dean’s office.
You are responsible for the material covered and completing in-class assignments if you are absent. Ask a classmate, check the Moodle course page or email me.
Late work will be accepted up to 24 hours after the due date and will receive a 10% point reduction.
If you must miss a lesson for religious reasons, please inform me in advance.
Absence does not excuse work from being graded as late.
Students who arrive to class after attendance has been taken will be counted as late. Two late arrivals will count as one absence.

ATTENDANCE REQUIREMENTS AND EXAMINATION POLICY
You cannot make-up a major exam (midterm or final) without the permission of the Dean’s Office. The Dean’s Office will grant such permission only when the absence was caused by a serious impediment, such as a documented illness, hospitalization or death in the immediate family (in which you must attend the funeral) or other situations of similar gravity. Absences due to other meaningful conflicts, such as job interviews, family celebrations, travel difficulties, student misunderstandings or personal convenience, will not be excused. Students who will be absent from a major exam must notify the Dean’s Office prior to that exam. Absences from class due to the observance of a religious holiday will normally be excused. Individual students who will have to miss class to observe a religious holiday should notify the instructor by the end of the Add/Drop period to make prior arrangements for making up any work that will be missed.

ACADEMIC HONESTY
As stated in the university catalog, any student who commits an act of academic dishonesty will receive a failing grade on the work in which the dishonesty occurred. In addition, acts of academic dishonesty, irrespective of the weight of the assignment, may result in the student receiving a failing grade in the course. Instances of academic dishonesty will be reported to the Dean of Academic Affairs. A student who is reported twice for academic dishonesty is subject to summary dismissal from the University. In such a case, the Academic Council will then make a recommendation to the President, who will make the final decision.

STUDENTS WITH LEARNING OR OTHER DISABILITIES
John Cabot University does not discriminate on the basis of disability or handicap. Students with approved accommodations must inform their professors at the beginning of the term. Please see the website for the complete policy.

SCHEDULE

Important dates:

Sept.2nd: Classes Begin

Sept.6th: Last day to drop or add classes

Sept. 20: Makeup day for Thursday Nov. 28th

Oct. 22nd: Midterm Warnings

Oct. 29th: Last day to withdraw from class

Nov. 28th: Holiday. No Class

Dec. 9-13: Final Examinations

Schedule:

The schedule provided below provides a general outline of the units, content and due dates of major assignments. The schedule is subject to change. See the course schedule on Moodle for daily/weekly assigned readings and due dates for minor assignments. Any changes to major assignments will be announced in class and posted on Moodle.

Week 1-4	Part 1. Introduction to Intercultural Communication, Origins of the field of Intercultural Communication, Cultural Dimensions (E.T.Hall, Hofstede, Meyer and others)
Week 5-7	Part 2. Identity, Nonverbal and Verbal Communication, Identity formation, semiotics and culture, implicit bias and intercultural interactions Comparing Cultures Essay due week 5.
Week 8-10	Part 3. Representation, Media and Intercultural Communication, Media and representation theories (S.Hall, E.Said, and others). Representation and intercultural interactions, media production.
Week 11-12	Part 4. Globalization, Migration and Adaptation, Migration trends/patterns, Migrant host relationships, Intercultural Sensitivity, Migrant Adaptation trends. Culture and Representation Essay due Week 11.
Week 13-14	Part 5. Intercultural relationships, Conflict and Conflict resolution. Interpersonal dialectics and cultural values, conflict style, organizational and global conflict, conflict resolution
Week 15	Finals