SPCH 1318 - Interpersonal Communication

SPCH 1318:

Description
Application of communication theory to interpersonal relationship development, maintenance, and termination in relationship contexts including friendships, romantic partners, families, and relationships with co-workers and supervisors.
Credits 3 Lecture Hours 3 Lab Hours 0
Extended Hours
0
Contact Hours
48
State Approval Code
09.0101.54 06
Alternate Operations During Campus Closure

In the event of an emergency or announced campus closure due to a natural disaster or pandemic, it may be necessary for Panola College to move to altered operations. During this time, Panola College may opt to continue delivery of instruction through methods that include, but are not limited to: online learning management system (CANVAS), online conferencing, email messaging, and/or an alternate schedule. It is the responsibility of the student to monitor Panola College's website (www.panola.edu) for instructions about continuing courses remotely, CANVAS for each class for course-specific communication, and Panola College email for important general information.

Class Attendance

Regular and punctual attendance of classes and laboratories is required of all students. When a student has been ill or absent from class for approved extracurricular activities, he or she should be allowed, as far as possible, to make up for the missed work. If a student has not actively participated by the census date, they will be dropped by the instructor for non-attendance. This policy applies to courses that are in-person, online, hybrid, and hyflex.

Attendance in online courses is determined by submission of an assignment or participation in an activity. According to federal guidelines, simply logging into a distance learning course without participating in an academic assignment does not constitute attendance. Distance learning is defined as when a majority (more than 50%) of instruction occurs when the instructor and students are in separate physical locations. Students must engage in an academic activity prior to the course census date. 

When an instructor feels that a student has been absent to such a degree as to invalidate the learning experience, the instructor may recommend to the Vice President of Instruction that the student be withdrawn from the course. Instructors may seek to withdraw students for non-attendance after they have accumulated the following number of absences: 

Fall or spring semesters: 

3 or more class meeting times per week - 5 absences

2 class meeting times per week - 3 absences

1 class meeting per week -  2 absences

The student is responsible for seeing that he or she has been officially withdrawn from a class. A student who stops attendance in a class without officially withdrawing from that class will be given a failing grade; consequently, the student must follow official withdrawal procedures in the Admissions/Records Office.

Please note: Health Science and Cosmetology courses may require more stringent attendance policies based on their accreditation agencies. Please see the addendum and/or program handbook for further information concerning attendance.  

Pregnant/Parenting Policy

Panola College welcomes pregnant and parenting students as a part of the student body. This institution is committed to providing support and adaptations for a successful educational experience for pregnant and parenting students. Students experiencing a need for accommodations related to pregnancy or parenting will find a Pregnancy and Parenting Accommodations Request form in the Student Handbook or may request the form from the course instructor.

Artificial Intelligence (AI) Course Policy

No use of Generative AI permitted.

This option assumes that all work submitted by students will be generated by the students themselves, whether they are working individually or in groups. Students should not have another person or entity do the writing of any portion of an assignment, which includes hiring a person or a company to write assignments and/or using artificial intelligence (AI) tools like ChatGPT. Use of any AI-generated content in this course qualifies as academic dishonesty and violates Panola College’s standards of academic integrity.

Student Learning Outcomes
Critical Thinking Skills – to include creative thinking, innovation, inquiry and analysis, evaluation and syntheses of information
CT1: Generate and communicate ideas by combining, changing, or reapplying existing information

Communication Skills – to include effective development, interpretation, and expression of ideas through written, oral, and visual communication
CS1: Develop, interpret, and express ideas through written communication

Teamwork – to include the ability to consider different points of view and to work effectively with others to support a shared purpose or goa
TW1: Integrate different viewpoints as a member of a team

TW2: Work with others to support and accomplish a shared goal

Personal Responsibility – to include the ability to connect choices, actions, and consequences to ethical decision-making
PR1: Evaluate choices and actions and relate consequences to decision-making
Instructional Goals and Purposes

The purpose of this course is for students to learn effective critical thinking skills by analysis and class evaluations of the process of interpersonal communication. The goal is for each student to become better interpersonal communicators.

Learning Outcomes

After studying all materials and resources presented in the course, the student will be able to:

  1. Exhibit understanding of interpersonal theories and principles.
  2. Demonstrate ability to analyze and critique verbal and nonverbal interactions in mediated and face-to-face context.
  3. Identify perceptual processes as they relate to self and others.
  4. Demonstrate critical thinking ability by effectively researching, evaluating, and applying communication theories in oral/or written assignments.
  5. Demonstrate understanding of the relevance of cross-cultural, co-cultural, gender and age influences on human communication.
  6. Demonstrate ability to identify, evaluate, and apply conflict styles and conflict management techniques in dyads and/or groups.
  7. Identify types of and barriers to effective listening.
Course Content

A general description of lecture/discussion topics included in this course are listed in the Learning Objectives section of this syllabus.

Students in all sections of this course will learn the following content:

  1. How to generate and communicate ideas by combining, changing or reapplying existing information.
  2. How to develop, interpret, and express ideas through written communication.
  3. How to establish different views, while working together as one group.
  4. How to work with others to support and accomplish a shared goal.
  5. How to evaluate choices and actions and relate consequences to decision-making.
Methods of Instruction/Course Format/Delivery

Methodologies, which are utilized in presenting course content include, but are not limited to, lectures, class discussions, student presentations, audiovisual presentations, role-play activities, and small-group scenarios.

Assignments

1. Chapter Assignments
2. Chapter Quizzes
3. Discussion Assignments
4. Semester Projects

Make-up / Late Work will ONLY be accepted with approval of Instructor. Any work submitted past due dates will NOT be accepted. Assignments will NOT be unlocked for late submissions for any reasoning.

Assessments

  1. Examinations will be given to test the student’s command of the material.
  2. The student will present speeches that will demonstrate to the satisfaction of the instructor the ability to perform the desired outcomes listed above.
  3. Class participation, and daily written assignments, and quizzes will be given to help evaluate the daily work portion of the grade.
Course Grade

The grading scale for this course is as follows:

  • Exams-40%
  • Homework/Assignments-25%
  • Semester Project- 35%%
Texts Materials, and Supplies
  • OER Textbook: Competent Communication 2 nd edition
Other
This course counts as part of the academic requirements of the Panola College Core Curriculum and an Associate of Arts or Associate of Science degree
Yes