Intercultural Communication: Theory and Practice

Bachelor 2020/2021

Type: Elective course (Media Communications)

Area of studies: Media Communications

Delivered by: Institute of Media

Where: Faculty of Creative Industries

When: 2 year, 3 module

Mode of studies: distance learning

Instructors: Alexander Kupriyanov

Language: English

ECTS credits: 4

Contact hours: 2

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Abstract

This course is designed to provide an overview of major theories in communication science along with its practical applications. The course focuses on the theoretical approaches, research methods and real-life cases of communication theory as a discipline. It is suited for undergraduate students in various fields and for communication practitioners who want to improve their practical approach through the knowledge of theoretical basis. Major goal of this course is to provide the theoretical grounds in communication studies and its practical implications. By the end of the course students will be familiar with the role of theory in communication studies, key traditions of communication theory as well as the key influencers from different from communication academic fields.

Learning Objectives

To acquaint students with the basic concepts of constructs and definitions by topics: Interpersonal communication Group Communication Public Rhetoric and Persuasion Mass communication and media effects Social Media Theories of PR Critical Theory in Communication Theory guided communication

Expected Learning Outcomes

To be aware of types of communication theory field;
To understand how interperswonal theory of communication has developed and how what are its implications in different contexts;
To identify, analyse, and discuss actual case studies and/or strategic communication in fields of: interpersonal communication.
To understand how gtoup communication theory has developed and what are its implications in different contexts;
To identify, analyse, and discuss actual case studies and/or strategic communication in field of group communication.
To understand the rhetorical perspective in communication theory and what are its implications in different contexts;
To identify, analyse, and discuss actual case studies and/or strategic communication in field of persuasive communication
To understand how mass communication theory developed and what are its implications in different contexts;
To identify, analyse, and discuss actual case studies and/or strategic communication in field of mass and mediated communciation
To understand how communication theory in modern online social media research had emerged;
To identify, analyse, and discuss actual case studies and/or strategic communication in field of online communication
To understand, recognize, and examine the phenomenon of communication research and its application in PR
To understand how critical theory developed and how what are its implications in different contexts;
To reflect on personal communication skills in: interpersonal, group, mediated, mass, online communication
To utilize major concepts and constructs in the analysis of communication practice

Course Contents

Introduction to the course
This lecture provides the context of the course, defines the key concepts to operate with and introduces students to the field of Communication Studies. Here we discuss what communication is and set up the place of the theory in communication research and practice. What is the typology of theories and how to distinguish good theory from the bad one. During this class students will also learn major approaches to communication theory through the Craig's typology.
Interpersonal Communication
Interpersonal communication is an underlying field of communication studies. In this lecture students will learn the main concepts to explain and predict how relationships are built, maintained and followed upon the dissolution in human communication.
Group communication
How group dynamics can be maintained and what are the main approaches to navigate effective group work? This lecture provides you with answers for these questions as well as it highlight the importance of leadership in group communication.
Public Rhetoric and Persuasion
The main focus of this lecture is to introduce student to the field of rhetoric. This class focuses at theoretical approaches to persuasion and the ways how to craft messages that influence the audience. Here we discuss approaches to the public speaking and online communication.
Mass Communication and Media Effects
In this lecture student will be provided with the brief history of media effects theories and further in-depth explanation of various traditions in media effects. Why some people are being more influenced, how do we select and process the information and what is the role of media in society? All these questions will be addressed in this class along with the case study in the end.
Theories for Social Media
Social media in general can be considered as a quite new phenomenon. In this lecture, we discuss the way how emergence of social media influences the society and the social order, go through the main characteristics of social media and distinguish what makes it popular among the larger audiences.
Theories of Public Relations
This lecture introduces students to the field of Public Relations, we discuss the main theories explaining and describing approaches to maintain relationships between organisations and strategic publics.
Critical theory in Communication
This class is devoted to the complex issues of critical theory considering culture, media, and the way norms and beliefs are reproduced in the existing society throughout communication patterns. Critical theory is all about the critique of existing social order and this lecture provides students with an in-depth understanding of how our society is functioning.
Theory Guided Communication
The final lecture revises all the chapters discussed so far and brings some insights on how theory can be applied to practice. Here we also introduce you to some aspects that haven't been covered.

Assessment Elements

Online course
Discussion with a HSE instructor

Interim Assessment

Interim assessment (3 module)
0.3 * Discussion with a HSE instructor + 0.7 * Online course

Bibliography

Recommended Core Bibliography

Communication Theory and Research, edited by Denis McQuail, et al., SAGE Publications, 2006. ProQuest Ebook Central, https://ebookcentral.proquest.com/lib/hselibrary-ebooks/detail.action?docID=334341.
Communication Theory and Research, edited by Denis McQuail, et al., SAGE Publications, 2006. ProQuest Ebook Central, https://ebookcentral.proquest.com/lib/hselibrary-ebooks/detail.action?docID=334341.
Rhetoric in European Culture and Beyond, Karolinum Press, 2015. ProQuest Ebook Central, https://ebookcentral.proquest.com/lib/hselibrary-ebooks/detail.action?docID=2057512.
Theories and Models of Communication, edited by Paul Cobley, and Peter J. Schulz, De Gruyter, Inc., 2013. ProQuest Ebook Central, https://ebookcentral.proquest.com/lib/hselibrary-ebooks/detail.action?docID=1108066.

Recommended Additional Bibliography

Communication and Organizational Knowledge : Contemporary Issues for Theory and Practice, edited by Heather E. Canary, and Robert D. McPhee, Routledge, 2010. ProQuest Ebook Central, https://ebookcentral.proquest.com/lib/hselibrary-ebooks/detail.action?docID=547335&query=Communication+and+Organizational+Knowledge+%3A+Contemporary+Issues+for+Theory+and+Practice
Mangion, Claude. Philosophical Approaches to Communication, Intellect Books Ltd, 2011. ProQuest Ebook Central, https://ebookcentral.proquest.com/lib/hselibrary-ebooks/detail.action?docID=685164.
Online Consumer Behavior : Theory and Research in Social Media, Advertising and E-Tail, edited by Scheinbaum, Angeline Close, Routledge, 2012. ProQuest Ebook Central, https://ebookcentral.proquest.com/lib/hselibrary-ebooks/detail.action?docID=957949&query=social+media+theory#
Solomon, Denise, and Jennifer Theiss. Interpersonal Communication : Putting Theory into Practice, Routledge, 2013. ProQuest Ebook Central, https://ebookcentral.proquest.com/lib/hselibrary-ebooks/detail.action?docID=1101332.
The Handbook of Media and Mass Communication Theory, edited by Robert S. Fortner, and P. Mark Fackler, John Wiley & Sons, Incorporated, 2014. ProQuest Ebook Central, https://ebookcentral.proquest.com/lib/hselibrary-ebooks/detail.action?docID=1650862.
Warren, T.L. Cross-Cultural Communication: Perspectives in Theory and Practice / Thomas L. Warren. – Oxon; New York: Routledge: Taylor & Francis Group, 2017. – (Baywood's Technical Communications Series / ser. ed.: Charles H. Sides). – Текст: электронный // DB ProQuest Ebook Central (ebrary) [сайт].

Course Syllabus