Course Outline of Record

Item	Value
Eff Term	Fall 2026
Curriculum Committee Approval Date	10/29/2025
Top Code	150600 - Speech Communication
Units	3 Total Units
Hours	54 Total Hours (Lecture Hours 54)
Total Outside of Class Hours	108
Total Student Learning Hours	162
Course Credit Status	Credit: Degree Applicable (D)
Material Fee	No
Basic Skills	Not Basic Skills (N)
Repeatable	No
Open Entry/Open Exit	No
Grading Policy	Standard Letter (S)
Associate Arts Local General Education (GE)	Area 1B Communication and Analytical Thinking (OA2) Area 4 Social and Behavioral Sciences 4C Behavioral Science (OD3) Area 7 Life Skills, Lifelong Learning, and Self-Development 7A Theory/ Non-activity (OE1) Area 7 Life Skills, Lifelong Learning, and Self-Development 7B Activity (OE2)
Associate Science Local General Education (GE)	Area 1B Communication and Analytical Thinking (OAS2) Area 4 Social and Behavioral Sciences (OSD)
Intersegmental General Education Transfer Curriculum (IGETC)	IGETC 1C Oral Communications (1C)
California State University General Education Breadth (CSU GE-Breadth)	CSU A1 Oral Communications (A1) CSU E1 Lifelong Understanding (E1)

Course Description

Formerly: CMST A100. This course covers theory, research, and application of ethical one-to-one communication practices in various and diverse interpersonal relationships including in personal, professional, and social situations. Transfer Credit: CSU; UC. C-ID: COMM 130.C-ID: COMM 130.

Course Level Student Learning Outcome(s)

1. Identify and explain the importance of interpersonal relationships in influencing people's beliefs, attitudes, values, and behaviors and explain how culture, gender, media and other factors influence our interpersonal communication skills.
2. Demonstrate an understanding of effective communication skills in a variety of contexts including conflict management.

Course Objectives

• 1. Evaluate and apply research methods and theories of interpersonal communication.
• 2. Analyze the ways that communication can create, develop and shape perceptions of personal and social identities including variables such as but not limited to culture, gender, ethnicity, race, age, and orientation.
• 3. Evaluate the influences of culture, gender, ethnicity, race, age, accessibility, and orientation on the development, maintenance, and dissolution of interpersonal relationships.
• 4. Critically assess and utilize ethical communication practices within interpersonal relationships as part of interpersonal communication competency.
• 5. Critically assess sources of conflict in interpersonal relationships and implement appropriate conflict management strategies.

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Lecture Content

1. Foundational theories, models, and research in interpersonal communication.

2. Influences on identity development, and the impact of culture, race, ethnicity, gender, orientation, etc. on interpersonal communication.

3. The role of perception in interpersonal communication; including theories such as Attribution Theory and Uncertainty Reduction Theory.

4. Symbolic and linguistic attributes with respect to language in interpersonal communication.

5. The role of emotions in communicating effectively; may include physiological, cognitive, and neurological theories.

6. Nonverbal communication; may include principles and theories such as Expectancy Violation Theory.

7. Listening; processes, styles, types, challenges, and responses.

8. Interpersonal climate (social tone of relationships) such as confirming/disconfirming messages, self-disclosure, and relational trust.

9. Ethics in interpersonal communication; may include concepts such as navigating power, influence, bias, stereotyping, bullying, and the dark side of communication.

10. Interpersonal conflict theories; may include Face-Negotiation Theory and Accommodation Theory.

11. Development, maintenance, and dissolution of various types of relationships; may include Social Penetration Theory, Attachment Theory, and Knapp’s Relational Model.

Lecture/Course Content

10.00%The Role of Perception in Interpersonal Communication- Self-concept- Self-esteem- The role of the "generalized other" in self-concept- Confirming, rejecting, and disconfirming responses - Self-fulfilling prophecy

15.00%Language in Interpersonal Communication- Language acquisition- Language as social behavior - Language barriers

10.00%Complexities of Language and Perception in Interpersonal Communication- I.A. Richards 'Triangle of Meaning' - Semantic Barriers- "Gender-speak" and "Culture-speak"

10.00%Nonverbal Cues in Interpersonal Communication- Functions and characteristics- Types of nonverbal cues (e.g., kinesics, paralanguage, proxemics, etc.) - Masculine and feminine styles

5.00%Listening vs. Hearing in Interpersonal Communication- Differences between listening and hearing - Stages of listening- Types of listening- Nonlistening behaviors

10.00%Interpersonal Communication in the Development and Maintenance of Relationships- Types of relationships- Relational roles and functions- Interpersonal attraction- Relationship evolution- Relationship maintenance- Relationship repair: renegotiation or dissolution

10.00%Intimacy and Distance in Interpersonal Relationships- Self-disclosure and intimacy - Social penetration theory- Johari window

10.00%Resolving Conflict through Interpersonal Communication- Interpersonal control- Relational style: aggressive, assertive, non-assertive - Meaning of conflict- Sources of conflict- Resolution strategies

10.00% Creative Problem Solving through Interpersonal Communication - In the family setting- In the work setting- In the healthcare setting

10.00%The Role of Physiological Components in Interpersonal Communication- Age- Sex- Physiology of nervousness - Physiology of intimacy

Method(s) of Instruction

• Lecture (02)
• DE Live Online Lecture (02S)
• DE Online Lecture (02X)

Instructional Techniques

Lecture, synthesis of ideas and application of ideas; demonstration of various approaches to problem solving; discussion, collaborative learning, role playing; discussion boards, chat rooms

Reading Assignments

read about relevant subjects, including but not limited to:articles on the role of interpersonal communication in the workplace. journal articles on Social Penetration Theory. articles on the role of nonverbal cues in interpersonal communication.

Writing Assignments

keep a journal throughout the semester which chronicles their application of the principles learned in class in their everyday lives. write a paper analyzing the interpersonal communication strategies of two (2) characters in a play or movie of their choosing. write an analysis paper about themselves, incorporating theories and principles of self concept.

Out-of-class Assignments

Students will spend approximately 6 hours per week on out-of-class assignments, including: assertiveness project, journal for each chapter, film analysis, case study analysis, book analysis, reading and writing assignments.

Study Non-Contact Hours Recommended

108

Methods of Student Evaluation

• Midterm Exam
• Final Exam
• Short Quizzes
• Written Assignments
• Essay Examinations
• Objective Examinations
• Report
• Projects (Individual/Group)
• Problem Solving Exercises
• Oral Presentations
• Skills Demonstration

Demonstration of Critical Thinking

Objective or essay examinations; projects, writing assignments, class participation, problem-solving exercises, oral presentations, group presentations.

Required Writing, Problem Solving, Skills Demonstration

Substansive writing will be required, between 2000 and 5000 per semester. Projects that may include journaling, self-reflection, analysis of student's current behavior, application of theories, case studies Book reports, reviews of current research, chapter reviews, film analyses, journal projects

Resources Subscreen

• Open Education Resource: Department of Communication Studies, Austin Community College. . Communication to Connect: Interpersonal Communication for Today. (2021).
• Textbook: Adler, R., & Proctor II, R. Looking Out, Looking In. Wadsworth Publishing (2022).
• Open Education Resource: Leonard. Interpersonal Communication Textbook. (2019).
• Textbook: Wood, J. Interpersonal Communication: Everyday Encounters. 9th ed.. Wadsworth Publishing (2020).
• Textbook: Guerrero, Anderson & Afifi. Close Encounters: Communication in Relationships. 6th ed.. Sage Publications, Inc. (2020).
• Open Education Resource: Wrench, Punyanunt-Carter, & Thweatt. Interpersonal Communication: A Mindful Approach to Relationships. OER: State University of New York. (2023).

Eligible Discipline(s)

• Communication studies (speech communication): Master’s degree in speech, speech broadcasting, telecommunications, rhetoric, communication, communication studies, speech communication, or organizational communication OR bachelor’s degree in any of the above AND master’s degree in drama/ theater arts, mass communication, or English OR the equivalent. Master's degree required.