MALC 629 Seminar in Interpersonal Communication

Course Description

This seminar takes an interdisciplinary approach to the study of interpersonal communication. The course examines the impact of communication on relationships, communication competencies, interpersonal communication as it relates differences, communication in conflict and in groups.

Prerequisite Courses

 None.

Course Outcomes

Upon completion of this course, learners should be able to:

  1. Define and describe the interpersonal communication process including the operation of communication on the various levels—interpersonal, organizational, and sociocultural.
  2. Evaluate theories and models of communication to better explain, predict, and control human behavior.
  3. Explain and apply concepts of communication to personal experience to facilitate personal and professional communication competence.
  4. Synthesize insights from research to demonstrate understanding of skilled interpersonal communication.

Course Materials

Required Texts

Other Required Readings

Other required readings will be available in Regis E-reserves.

Optional Recommended Materials:

Strunk, William & E. B. White (any edition). The elements of style. Needham Heights, MA: Longman Pearson.

Technology Tools

Minimum Technology Requirements

Course Assignments & Activities 

NOTE: *If you are in an online course, discussions take place in the Discussions forum within WorldClass. If you are in a ground-based classroom course, you will be having in-class discussions.

Your instructor will post your weekly discussion questions in the discussion area.

With the exception of the introductions discussion, your first post no later than Thursday, 11:59pm (MST) of week it was assigned. Reply to at least two of your classmates, no later than Sunday, 11:59pm of the same week.

Week Reading Graded Assignments
Week 1: Background on Interpersonal Communication
  • Textbook: Dainton & Zelley Chapters 1 & 2

E-reserves

  • Galvin, K.M and Wilkinson, C.A. (2010). The Communication Process: Impersonal and Interpersonal. In  K.M. Galvin (Ed). Making connections: Readings in relational communication (5th ed). New York: Oxford University Press.
  • Berger, C. R. (2014). Interpersonal Communication: Historical Foundations and Emerging Directions. In P. J. Schultz and P. Cobley (Series Eds.) & C. R. Berger (Vol. Ed.), Handbooks of communication science: Vol. 6. Interpersonal communication (pp. 3-27). Berlin: De Gruyter Mouton.

Introductions Discussion (required but not graded) - due no later than Wednesday at 11:59 PM MT

Defining Communication Discussion (5 pts) -Always make your first post no later than Thursday, 11:59 PM MT of Week 1. Reply to at least two others' posts, no later than Sunday, 11:59 PM MT of Week 1.
Week 2: The Self, Perception and Communication
  • Textbook: Dainton & Zelley Chapter 3

E-reserves

  • Hybels, S., & Weaver, R. L. (2015). Communicating effectively (11th ed.). New York: McGraw-Hill Education.

Journal Article Discussion (5 pts)

Self-Concept and Perception Discussion (5pts)
Week 3: Interpersonal Communication Theories
  • Textbook: Dainton & Zelley Chapter 5

E-reserves

  • Frampton, B. D., & Child, J. T. (2013). Friend or not to friend: Coworker Facebook friend requests as an application of communication privacy management theory. Computers in Human Behavior, 29(6), 2257-2264.

Politeness Theory Discussion (5 pts)

Dialectical Perspective Discussion (5 pts)

Theory Application Paper (30 pts) is due to the assignments area by Sunday 11:59pm.
Week 4: Individual and Social Approaches to Communication
  • Textbook: Dainton & Zelley Chapter 4

E-reserves

  • Remland, M. S. (2017). Nonverbal communication in everyday life (4th ed.). Thousand Oaks, CA: SAGE.
  • Riggio, R.E. and Reichard, R.J. (2008). "The emotional and social intelligences of effective leadership: An emotional and social skill approach." Journal of Managerial Psychology, Vol. 23 Issue: 2, pp.169-185.

Interpersonal Communication Case Study Discussion (5 pts)

Emotional Intelligence Discussion (5 pts)
Week 5: Communication & Conflict

E-reserves

  • Carrere, S. and Gottman, J. M. (1999). Predicting Divorce among Newlyweds from the First Three Minutes of a Marital Conflict Discussion. Family Process, 38: 293–301.
  • Hocker, J. L. and Wilmot, W. (2017). Interpersonal conflict (10th ed.). New York. New York: Mcgraw-Hill Education.

Conflict Styles Discussion (5 pts)

Destructive Conflict Discussion (5 pts)

 
Week 6: Interpersonal Skills

E-reserves

  • Harris, T.E. and Sherblom, J.C. (2010). Listening and Feedback: The Other Half of Communication. In  K.M. Galvin (Ed). Making connections: Readings in relational communication (5th ed). New York: Oxford University Press. 
  • Spitzberg, B. H., & Cupach, W. R. (2011). Interpersonal skills. In M. L. Knapp & J. A. Daly (Eds.), Handbook of interpersonal communication (4th ed., pp. 481-524). Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage.
  • Spangle, M., & Moorhead, J. (1998). Interpersonal communication in organizational settings: communication skills for business and professional success. Dubuque, IA: Kendall/Hunt Pub. Co.

Interpersonal Skills Discussion (5 pts)

Effective and Appropriate Communication Discussion (5 pts)

Interpersonal Conflict Analysis Paper (30 pts) is due to the assignments area by Sunday 11:59 PM MT.
Week 7: Communication & Culture
  • Textbook: Dainton & Zelley Chapter 6

E-reserves

  • Lustig, M. W., Koester, J., & Halualani, R. (2017). Intercultural competence: interpersonal communication across cultures (8th ed.). NY, NY: Pearson.

Cultural Differences Discussion (5 pts)

Cultural Differences Follow-up Discussion (5 pts)
Week 8: Interpersonal Communication in Groups
  • Textbook: Dainton & Zelley Chapter 8

E-reserves

  • Bang, H., Fuglesand, S. L., Ovesen, M. R., & Eilertsen, D. E. (2010). Effectiveness in top management group meetings: The role of goal clarity, focused communication, and learning behavior. Scandinavian Journal of Psychology, 51, 252-261.

Group Decision Discussion (5 pts)

Groupthink Discussion (5 pts).

Interpersonal Communication Best Practices Paper (30 pts) is due to the assignments area by Sunday 11:59 PM MT.

Grading Overview

Activity/Assignment Total Points Possible

15 Discussions @ 5 pts each

Discussion Rubric

 75 points
Week 3: Theory Application Paper 30 points
Week 6: Interpersonal Conflict Analysis Written Assignment 30 points
Week 8: Interpersonal Communication Best Practices Written Assignment 30 points
Total Points Possible 165 points

NOTE TO LEARNERS: On occasion, the course faculty may, at his or her discretion, alter the Learning Activities shown in this Syllabus. The alteration of Learning Activities may not, in any way, change the Learner Outcomes or the grading scale for this course as contained in this syllabus. Examples of circumstances that could justify alterations in Learning Activities could include number of learners in the course; compelling current events; special faculty experience or expertise; or unanticipated disruptions to class session schedule.

NOTE TO LEARNERS: On occasion, the course faculty may, at his or her discretion, alter the Learning Activities shown in this Syllabus. The alteration of Learning Activities may not, in any way, change the Learner Outcomes or the grading scale for this course as contained in this syllabus. Examples of circumstances that could justify alterations in Learning Activities could include number of learners in the course; compelling current events; special faculty experience or expertise; or unanticipated disruptions to class session schedule.

Academic Resources and Policies

School for Professional Advancement Policies

University Student Resources