LCOMM4110 Introduction to Communication Studies Course Descriptor

Course Overview

This course is an introduction to the fundamental components of the human communication process. The course will examine the basic concepts of human communication and interaction behaviour. It will also explore the meaning and importance of human communication, verbal and nonverbal communication, listening as well as relationships. This course provides an overview of many of the specialty areas within the communication studies discipline such as, but not limited to, organisations and small groups, interpersonal and intercultural relationships, media and technologies, and rhetoric.

Course Aims

• To describe the complex nature of communication in various contexts. 
• To connect theoretical concepts of communication to real-life experience. 
• To introduce key terms used by communication researchers and practitioners.

Learning Outcomes

On successful completion of the course, students will be able to:

Knowledge and Understanding

Subject Specific Skills

Transferable and Professional Skills

Teaching and Learning

Teaching and learning strategies for this course will include: 

A minimum of 36 contact hours, typically to include interactive group teaching, co-curriculars, individual meetings, in-class presentations and exams.

Course information and supplementary materials are available on the University’s Virtual Learning Environment (VLE).

Students will receive individualised developmental feedback on their work for this course.

Students are required to attend and participate in all the formal and timetabled sessions for this course. Students are also expected to manage their directed learning and independent study in support of the course.

Assessment

Formative

Students will be formatively assessed in class through class activities, and during office hours. Formative assessments are ones that do not count towards the final grade but will provide students with developmental feedback.

Summative

Further information on the structure of summative assessment elements can be found in the Summative Assessment Briefs.

Feedback

Students will receive feedback in a variety of ways: written (including via email correspondence); oral (within office hours or on an ad hoc basis) and indirectly through class discussion.

For summative assessments that contain no exams:

Feedback is provided on summative assessment and is made available to the student either via email, the VLE or another appropriate method.

Indicative Reading

Note: Comprehensive and current reading lists for courses are produced annually in the Course Syllabus or other documentation provided to students; the indicative reading list provided below is used as part of the approval/modification process only.

Books

Alberts, J. K., Nakayama, T. K., & Martin, J. N. (2019). Human Communication in Society, 5th edition. New York: Pearson.

Beauchamp, S. R., & Baran, S. J. (2019). Introduction to Human Communication: Perception, meaning, and identity. New York: Oxford University Press.

Journals

Carr, C. T., & Hayes, R. A. (2015). Social Media: Defining, Developing, and Divining. Atlantic Journal of Communication, 23 (1), pp. 46 65. DOI: 10.1080/15456870.2015.972282

Phutela, D. (2015). The Importance of Non-verbal Communication. IUP Journal of Soft Skills, 9 (4), pp. 43-49.

Badea, M. (2014). Social Media and Organisational Communication. Procedia-Social and Behavioural Sciences, 149, pp. 70-75.

Electronic Resources

NA

Indicative Topics

• Human Communication Process
• Effective Human Communication Skills
• Communication Contexts

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