Sample Syllabus from Summer 2006

Purpose of the Course

This course provides students with an overview of theory and research pertaining to communication in personal and social dyadic relationships.  The course is oriented to increasing students' theoretical knowledge about dyadic communication processes, which in turn can increase student's communicative competence in their everyday communication episodes with others. It is assumed that students taking the course have the appropriate pre-requisites or instructor permission. COMM 412 is a writing-intensive class. This means that at least 50% of the course's final grade is based on written assignments and feedback on writing will be given throughout the course (with the goal of keeping the quality of your writing skills high). COMM 512 is a beginning-level graduate course that contains its own assignments.

Course Goals

·        Increase students' understanding of contemporary research and theorizing about dyadic communication in social and personal relationships by means of readings, lectures, discussions, exams.

·        Increase students' critical-analytical abilities with respect to reading dyadic communication research by means of vocabulary exam, case study papers, and a IPC topics paper.

·        Increase students' awareness of positive salient communication variables and processes operative in their everyday dyadic communication via case study papers and a journal.

·        Increase students' knowledge about dyadic communication research methodology by means of readings, lectures, and case study papers.