SPCH 150 - Intercultural Communication
Course Description:
This course is an introduction to intercultural communication. Emphasis is placed on applying intercultural theories and concepts to understand the influence of cultural membership upon communicative situations. Students who complete the course improve their intercultural communication competence. This course is recommended for students in all fields, but particularly for students majoring in communication studies and students who anticipate high levels of interaction with people from diverse cultures.

I. Cover

CC Discipline/Department: Communications and Languages
Planning Department: Speech
Course Number: SPCH 150
Course Title: Intercultural Communication
Units: 3.000 Units
Lecture: 54.000 Hours
Lab: 0.000
Discussion Hours: 0.000
Total Contact Hours: 54.000 Hours
Outside-of-Class Hours: 108.000 Hours
Total Student Learning Hours: 162.000 Hours
It is advised that students be able to engage in written composition at a college level and read college-level texts.
TOP Code: 1506.00 - Speech and Rhetorical Studies
CIP Code
SAM Code: Non-Occupational

III. Title 5 Requirements

A. Entering Skills (“Upon entering the course, students should be able to…”):
Comprehend textbook reading written at the early college level.
Write a multi-paragraph essay with a thesis statement and general introductory and concluding remarks.
B. Exiting Skills (“Upon exiting the course, students should be able to”):
Compare and contrast how core values, worldview, and communication patterns shape identity; and manifests itself in one’s communication
Explain how communication rules, norms, laws are impacted by cultural differences
Explain a clear understanding of cultural identity development
Explain and contrast how culture impacts verbal and nonverbal communication behavior
Describe key intercultural communication theories and concepts
Identify the impacts of the situation, and relational stage on the intercultural communication exchange
Elucidate the barriers to effective intercultural competencies such as stereotyping, prejudice, and ethnocentrism
Compare and contrast the cultural level influences upon a conflict situation, and exhibit the skills to manage conflict in an intercultural interaction
Exhibit the knowledge, skills, and attitudes that facilitate effective intercultural communication competence
Analyze comparative cultural perspectives on both Western and non-Western societies.
C. Minimum Required for a “C”:
Completion of required work with at least 70% of all possible points
D. Grade Options:
  • Standard Letter

IV. Course Content

Lecture Outline:

1. Rationale for intercultural communication competence
     A. The imperative for intercultural competence
     B. The challenge of living in an intercultural environment
2. Conceptualization of intercultural communication
     A. Definitions of culture, intercultural, communication, competence, nation, race, ethnicity, sex/gender, and related terms
     B. Cultural groups in the U.S.
     C. Intergroup and interpersonal behavior
3. The historical, environmental, and biological conditions that influence cultural differences
     A. History, ecology, technology, biology, institutional networks, interpersonal communication patterns
     B. Environmental influences on the intercultural process; such as, physical and situational environment
     C. Contact Theory
4. Cultural patterns and communication
     A. Components of cultural patterns: beliefs, values, and norms
     B. Taxonomies of cultural patterns: Hall’s high and low context patterns, Hofstede’s dimensions of cultural variability, Kluckhohm and Strodtbeck’s value orientations, individualism – collectivism, Parsons’ pattern variables
5. Sociocultural influences on the intercultural communication process
     A. The nature of social groups and social identity
     B. Cultural identities influencing our communication
     C. Formation of social (cultural) identity
     D. The microcultural context: microcultures in the US.
     E. Muted microcultural groups
6. Psycho-cultural influences on the intercultural communication process
     A. The nature of expectations and expectancy violations
     B. Stereotyping, ethnocentrism, prejudice, discrimination, and racism
     C. Interpreting messages: perceptual, attributional and cognitive processes
     D. Understanding and managing cultural biases, such as implicit biases
7. Intercultural Relationship Development
     A. Universal aspects of relationships
     B. Cultural variations in interpersonal and romantic relationship development
8. Verbal Messages
     A. The nature of verbal messages
     B. Cultural variations in language usage and verbal messages
     C. Cultural differences in direct and indirect styles, and elaborate and understated styles
     D. The Sapir-Whorf Hypothesis of linguistic relativity
9. Nonverbal Messages
     A. The nature of nonverbal messages
     B. Cross-cultural variations in nonverbal messages
     C. Nonverbal cues in communicating with outgroup members
10. Managing Intercultural conflict
     A. Cultural and Ethnic differences in managing conflict
     B. Managing intercultural and intergroup conflict
     C. Kim’s Model of intercultural conflict
     D. Facework and communication conflict styles
     E. Constructive conflict management
11. Cultural variations in intercultural interactions and contexts
     A. Persuasion in intercultural communication
     B. Intercultural communication in: Health-Care, Education, and Business
12. Intercultural Communication Competence
     A. Conceptualization and components of communication effectiveness and competence
     B. Ethics of Intercultural communication
     C. Cross-cultural adaptation
     D. Adaptation and psychological health
     E. Principles of community building
     F. BASICS of intercultural competence
13. Intercultural Communication Competence across contexts such as in Business, Healthcare, and Education settings.

V. Course Objectives

The Student Will Be Able To:
Compare and contrast how core values, worldview, and communication patterns shape identity; and manifests itself in one’s communication
Explain how communication rules, norms, laws are impacted by cultural differences
Explain a clear understanding of cultural identity development
Explain and contrast how culture impacts verbal and nonverbal communication behavior
Describe key intercultural communication theories and concepts
Identify the impacts of the situation, and relational stage on the intercultural communication exchange
Elucidate the barriers to effective intercultural competencies such as stereotyping, prejudice, and ethnocentrism
Compare and contrast the cultural level influences upon a conflict situation, and exhibit the skills to manage conflict in an intercultural interaction
Exhibit the knowledge, skills, and attitudes that facilitate effective intercultural communication competence
Analyze comparative cultural perspectives on both Western and non-Western societies.

VI. Methods of Instruction:

Activity (group)
Case Studies
Discussion (classroom)
Internet Research
Lecture
Observation
Reading Assignments

VII. Assignments:

  1. View assigned video programs and write opinion papers on them.
  2. Read assigned textbook chapters
  3. Writing assignments to understand important concepts in intercultural communication
  4. Assigned readings
  5. Self-reflective essay
  6. Research paper on a cultural related topic
  7. Class exercises, simulation activities, and discussions of culturally influenced case studies

VIII. Methods of Evaluation:

Measure understanding of course material through objective exams and quizzes containing multiple choice, true-false and/or short answer questions.
Assess multi-paragraph writing assignments for evidence of college level proficiency in organization, grammar and accuracy in identifying evidence to support a thesis statement.
Appraise ability to research course related content in terms of thoroughness and relevancy.
Assess group case studies for evidence of collaborative work, organization, clarity and accuracy.
Assess individual case studies for evidence of individual work, organization, clarity and accuracy.
Assess electronic discussions and chats for accuracy and content relevancy.

IX. Student Learning Outcome

  1. In a discussion, students will examine cultural identity, privileges, challenges and how to manage cultural anxiety.
  2. In a discussion, students will examine how culture impacts verbal communication and nonverbal communication behavior.
  3. In a final research paper, students will demonstrate communication competence from an intercultural setting.
  4. In a paper, students will differentiate cultural communication patterns.
  5. In a project, students will apply intercultural communication theories.

X. Texts/Instructional Materials:

Textbooks:
Martin, J. & Nakayama, T., 180 Days for Experiencing Intercultural Communication, 7th ed., San Francisco, McGraw-Hill, (ISBN: 9781264177592) (2021)
Lustig, W.M. & Koester, J., Intercultural Competence, 8th ed, San Francisco, CA: Pearson, (ISBN: 9780137498796) (2021)
Other Instructional Material:
Other culturally themed work in mass media (film, plays, newspaper/magazine resources) as assigned by individual instructors.