University of Memphis Course Syllabus COMM 4375 Intercultural Communication Instructor Information Katy Pearce kpearce@memphis.

edu Please note that I will not be on campus, so all questions, concerns, or problems must be conducted by electronically. Course Description COMM 4375 Intercultural Communication (3 credits) This course examines the process of communication among individuals from different cultures and subcultures. It focuses on the development of cultural awareness of self and others, knowledge, appreciation, skills development, and factors that facilitate or impede effective communication competence. Students study the effects of differing worldviews, value systems, religions, language, nonverbal codes, and relational norms. Students also explore race, class, and gender to understand how these cultural and social constructs shape our sense of identity, beliefs, actions, and relationships with each other. Students are offered ample opportunities for thinking critically about the intellectual and political issues involved in cross-cultural encounters. Course Goals The overall goal of this course is to develop an understanding of the process of communicating across cultural boundaries. Specifically, we will aim to: 1. Understand psychological and social processes in contact between people of different groups. 2. Recognize stereotypes and prejudices. 3. Understand intercultural stress and adaptations. 4. Understand and articulate what culture is and why it is significant to human interactions at every level. 5. Learn how to notice, observe, and interpret intercultural dynamics, starting with awareness of ones own cultural responses. 6. Discover the importance of the roles, context, and power in studying intercultural communication. 7. Recognize the influence of ones own cultural group on intercultural communication interactions. 8. Become more willing, self-reflective, flexible, and open communicators in intercultural communication interactions. 9. Describe personal biases and assumptions and roles affecting verbal and nonverbal communication. 10. Listen, understand, and interact respectfully with individuals expressing opinions and perspectives differing from ones own. Course Materials Required Text: Experiencing Intercultural Communication, 4th ed., by Martin and Nakayama, New York: McGrawHill, 2011. Note: There is also a textbook companion website that you may use to check your knowledge of the readings. Course Structure Each week you will be expected to complete the following: 1. Read the assigned chapter. 2. Watch the instructor video about the assigned chapter. 3. Post a response to the weeks discussion forum. a. You must post your reply by Tuesday of that week at 11pm Eastern Time. b. Each posting must be carefully written to address the question and to follow written guidelines for posting. Your writing must have a clear purpose in addressing the question. 4. Take the weekly quiz. a. You put complete the quiz by Wednesday of that week at 11pm Eastern Time.

5. Upload a written reaction paper assignment (some weeks there will not be an assignment) a. 2 pages, single spaced. b. You must upload your reaction paper into the dropbox by Thursday of that week at 11pm Eastern Time. c. Reaction papers must be well-developed and show evidence of thought, organization, effective writing, and responsiveness to the question. You are required to edit and proofread you work before submitting it. Gross errors in grammar, spelling and punctuation will lower grades and compromise the credibility of your work. 6. Respond to at least 3 of your classmates discussion forum posts. a. You must post your replies by Friday of that week at 11pm Eastern Time. b. This means writing more than I agree you will be evaluated on the quality of your responses. 7. There will be an online final exam. a. Available online at December 9th, must be completed by December 12th, 11pm Eastern Time. Assignments Assignment Discussion Postings/Replies Reaction Papers Unit Quizzes Final Exam Grading Scale: A=500-470 A- = 469-450 B+ = 449-435 B = 434-420 B- = 421-400 C+ = 399-385 C = 384-370 C- = 369-350 D+ = 349-330 D = 329-300 F = 299 or below How to Prepare and Submit Assignments All papers must be typed and single-spaced, with 1-inch margins, 12 point font, correct spelling and grammar, lack of genderized language, and on time to receive full credit. Papers must be documented properly to avoid plagiarism and must also conform to APA style. Keep an electronic and hard copy of your assignments to prevent despair over lost, dog-eaten, etc., papers. Please do not email the instructor about computer problems or Internet problems concerning assignments. Completing assignments on time is your responsibility, so plan ahead. Strategies for Success Strategies for success in the course; these can be found in the UM Successful Student Guide for tips on how to succeed in online courses. Academic Integrity I use Turnitin to evaluate the originality of your assignments submitted for class. As part of this process, you will be required to submit electronic copies of your written work, or be given other instructions to follow. According to the Points each 13 at 10 points each 10 at 20 points each 13 at 10 points each 1 at 40 points each Total points 130 200 130 40 500 total points

U of Ms Office of Legal Counsel (10/17/ 2005) by taking this course, you agree that all assignments may undergo this review process and that the assignment may be included as a source document in Turnitin.com's restricted access database solely for the purpose of detecting plagiarism in such documents. Any assignment not submitted according to the procedures given by the instructor may be penalized or may not be accepted at all. According to the University of Memphis Student Handbook, your assignments must reflect your own effort (or a group effort for team assignments). When using outside sources those written by other individuals - you must acknowledge your sources and add your own analysis. Otherwise, it is plagiarism. If you plagiarize or cheat, the minimum penalty is an F on the assignment; other penalties could include an F for the course and/or suspension. All instances of academic dishonesty will be reported to the Office of Judicial Affairs. Expectations for academic integrity and student conduct are described in detail on the website of the Office of Student Judicial and Ethical Affairs: http://saweb.memphis.edu/judicialaffairs/dishonesty/definitions.htm Students with Disabilities Qualified students with disabilities will be provided reasonable and necessary academic accommodations if determined eligible by the appropriate disability services staff at their home institution. Prior to granting disability accommodations in this course, the instructor must receive written verification of a students eligibility for specific accommodations from the disability services staff at the home institution. It is the students responsibility to initiate contact with their home institutions disability services staff and to follow the established procedures for having the accommodation notice sent to the instructor. Syllabus Changes The instructor reserves the right to make changes as necessary to this syllabus. If changes are necessitated during the term of the course, the instructor will immediately notify students of such changes both by individual email communication and posting both notification and nature of change(s) on the course bulletin board. Technology Requirements Students need daily access to a personal computer and basic computer skills (including the ability to use email) and an Internet connection on a computer that is capable of running a reasonably current Internet browser. Technical Support If you are having problems logging into your course, timing out of your course, using your course web site tools, or other technical problems, please contact the ITD Help Desk by calling: 901-678-8888 or go to the AskTom website at: http://asktom.custhelp.com.