Learning Outcomes

Upon successful completion of this course, the student will be able to:

• Understand and explain the components of culture (traditions, customs, rituals, narratives, celebrations, artistic traditions, symbols, language, beliefs, norms, and values) and cultural universals.
• Develop aids to intercultural competence, such as positive perceptual filters, cultural relativism, diction, observation, and empathy – along with KMS (knowledge, mindfulness, and skills).
• Recognize perceptual barriers to intercultural competence (such as ethnocentrism, stereotyping, prejudice, racism, and discrimination), while also being able to demonstrate attitudes which foster intercultural competence.
• Recognize and articulate the distinctions between global communication styles.
• Apply communication models, theories, and terms to interpersonal and international communication settings.
• Apply knowledge of the dimensions of intercultural and interpersonal communication to assess a given culture and create a presentation for peers on best practices for business communication in this culture.
• Explain the factors which encompass effective interpersonal communication within an intercultural and/or international setting – utilizing theories from Geert Hofstede and Edward Hall and others– and be able to relate these features to work-based situations where communication and conflict resolution strategies can be utilized.
• Apply knowledge of the major features of a destination culture or society, with respect to issues of communication and business, in order to adapt communication styles to that destination culture.
• Analyze the ambiguity, controversy, complexity, and relative merits of interpretations of communication issues which are central to a respective culture or society.
• Apply knowledge, mindfulness, and skills surrounding intercultural communication best practices to assess the encounters of intercultural communication in the destination culture.
• Use critical thinking, reading, and writing skills to research and analyze a topic in intercultural communication.
• Produce an essay and a final paper, which utilize proper referencing and citations.
• Critically evaluate information to determine if it is accurate, relevant, and complete, and to use critical thinking to develop strong arguments.

Effective as of Spring/Summer 2016