Independent University, Bangladesh

Department of Media and Communication

Course Outline
Course Title: Introduction to Communication
Course Code: CMN201
Section: 16
Summer 2018, Duration: 1:30 hrs
Course details:
Lecturer: Mushfeqa Islam

Office Room: 7012

Visiting Hours: 3:00pm to 4:00pm on Sundays and Tuesdays
02:00pm to 03:00pm on Mondays and Wednesdays
(or by appointment)
Email: mushfeqa.islam@yahoo.com
Course Rationale

To introduce students to the basic concepts of human communication that will enhance their
intrapersonal and interpersonal communication along with their team work and leadership skills.

Teach students to overcome perceptual errors and manage fear of the unknown and resolve conflicts to
become competent communicators.

Course Objectives

The course aims to introduce the basic concepts, principles and processes of communication. It is
designed for the students having little or no background in communication. It discusses the
foundations of human communication and preliminaries to interpersonal, small – group, public
and media communication from a cultural perspective.
It will highlight the different contexts of communication so the students are familiar with all
aspects and opportunities, which the subject offers. Also, the course will first explore the link
between communication and self.

Course Policy:
1. It is the student’s responsibility to gather information about the assignments and covered topics
during the lectures missed. Regular class attendance is mandatory. Points will be taken off for
missing classes. Without 70% of attendance, sitting for final exam is NOT allowed. According to IUB
system students must enter the classroom within the first 20 minutes to get the attendance
submitted.
2. The date and syllabus of quiz, midterm and final exam is already given here, however,
announcements will be given ahead of time. There is NO provision for make-up quizzes.
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 3. The reading materials for each class will be given prior to that class so that student may have a
cursory look into the materials.
4. Students should take tutorials with the instructor during the office hours. Prior appointment is
required.
5. Students must maintain the IUB code of conduct and ethical guidelines offered by the school of
liberal arts and sciences.
Required Text/References:
The course will be based mostly on the following books [some other books and journals may be referred
time to time]:

1. Devito, Joseph A. (2009). Human Communication: The Basic Course. 3rd Edition.
Pearson.

2. Pearson, Judy et al (2011) Human Communication, McGraw – Hill, New York.

Assessment and Marks Distribution:

Students will be assessed on the basis of their overall performance in all the exams, quizzes, and class
participation. Final numeric reward will be the compilation of:
 Quizzes worth 10%
 Midterm worth 30%
 Presentation worth 20%
 Final worth 30%
 Class attendance and performance worth 10%

[Class attendance is mandatory; failure to do so may deduct the final marks]

Grade Conversion Scheme:

The following chart will be followed for grading. This has been customized from the guideline
provided by the School of Liberal Arts and Social Sciences.

A A- B+ B B- C+ C C- D+ D F
87.5- 85- 77.5- 75- 67.5- 65-
90-100 80-84 70-74 50-64 0-49
89 87.4 79 77.4 69 67.4

Note:
Plagiarism – that is, the presentation of another person’s thoughts or words as though they were the
student’s own – must be strictly avoided. Cheating and plagiarism on exam and assignments are
unacceptable.

University Regulation and Code of Conduct:

Please see the Green Book for further information about academic regulation and policies, including
withdrawal and grading, appeals and penalties for plagiarism and academic misconduct.

Students with Disabilities:

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Students with disabilities are required to inform the Department of Law of any specific requirement for
classes or examination as soon as possible.
Incomplete (‘I’) Grade:
Awarding of Incomplete or ‘I’ grades should be strongly discouraged. ‘I’ will only be allowed for students
who have a valid reason (ascertained by the senior management). In situations where the student is
unable to complete the course due to unanticipated illness or family emergency and has not attended at
least 75% of the classes held, he / she will be asked to withdraw from that course and repeat it. In
unavoidable circumstances where students have completed 75% of the classes but are unable to
continue (due to illness or family emergency), incomplete grade of ‘I’ may be granted. Incomplete
course has to be completed by the end of the next semester, otherwise grade ‘I’ automatically becomes
grade ‘F’. The student is not required to register for the course in the next semester.

Withdrawal (‘W’):
A ‘W’ grade means withdrawal. A student may decide to withdraw from a course by the deadline.
Students must apply to the Program Office for withdrawal from a course with the permission of the
concerned course instructor, Academic Advisor, and the Dean. Withdrawal from only one course in a
semester is allowed but the students should provide valid reason along with documents while applying
for the withdrawal.

Changes of Grade:
Change of grade is strongly discouraged. However, an instructor may request a change of grade when a
computational or procedural error occurred in the original assignment of a grade. Instructor must
submit the ‘Grade Change Form’ to the respective program office within one month of submitting the
final grade rolls. A Grade change has to be requested within 1 month of the day of publishing the grades.

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 Class & Exam Schedule, Topics and Readings:
Teaching Assessment
Sessions Learning Outcomes Topics Readings
Strategy Strategy
 Ice-breaking Introduction and
Lecture
session Orientation
Session –
 Discussion on
1 Interactive
Course Structure session
and assessments
 Understand
Chapter 1:
Communication is
Introduction to
essential
Human
 Analyze the
Communication
different types of Pearson, Judy et al
communication (2011) Human
Midterm
Session – contexts Communication,
Lecture
2  Learn the purposes McGraw – Hill,
Quiz 1
of Human New York.
Communication,
 Learn the different
types of Human
Communication

Learn the following

communication principles:
 communication
begins with the self
 communication
involves others
 communication is Pearson, Judy et al
complicated (2011) Human
Chapter 1
Session –  increased (continued) Lecture
Midterm Communication,
3 communication Quiz 1 McGraw – Hill,
does not increase New York.
quality of
communication,
 communication is
inevitable,
irreversible and
unrepeatable

Session –  Understand the Chapter 2: Culture Lecture Midterm Devito, Joseph A.

4 importance of and (2009). Human
culture in Communication Quiz 1 Communication:
communication, The Basic Course.
 Learn about 3rd Edition. Pearson

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 cultural differences

 Understand the
nature and forms of
intercultural
communication,
 Learn about Devito, Joseph A.
Chapter 2: Culture
culture, co-culture (2009). Human
Session – and Midterm
and goals of co- Lecture Communication:
5 Communication Quiz 1
cultural The Basic Course.
communication, 3rd Edition. Pearson
 Learn to improve
intercultural
communication

 Learn about
differences in
Devito, Joseph A.
perception
(2009). Human
Session –  Understand the Chapter 3: Midterm
Lecture Communication:
6 stages of perception Perception Quiz 1
The Basic Course.
(selection, 3rd Edition. Pearson
organization and
interpretation)
 Understand and
learn to
differentiate
between perceptual
errors
 Know about the
Self in
Communication Devito, Joseph A.
 Understand Self- Chapter 3: (2009). Human
Session – Midterm
concept Perception and Lecture Communication:
7 Quiz 1
 Understand the Self The Basic Course.
Johari Window 3rd Edition. Pearson
 Learn about self-
esteem, Self
disclosure and the
rewards and
dangers of self-
disclosure

Session –  Understand the Chapter 5: Lecture Midterm Pearson, Judy et al

8 difference between Listening and Quiz 2 (2011) Human
hearing and Critical Thinking Quiz 1 will Communication,
listening take place McGraw – Hill,

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  Understand the New York.
listening process
 Understand the
importance of
listening,
Pearson, Judy et al
 Identify the types
(2011) Human
of listening, Chapter 5
Session – Midterm Communication,
 Learn about the (continued) Lecture
9 Quiz 2 McGraw – Hill,
barriers to listening, New York.
 Understand the
impact of critical
thinking in our
personal lives
Session – Lecture and
Revision for midterm
10 discussion
Session –
Midterm examination
11
 Understand the
rules of language
 Learn the Sapir
-Whorf hypothesis
 Understand that
language is Pearson, Judy et al
arbitrary (2011) Human
(denotative and Chapter 6: Verbal Final Communication,
Session –
connotative Communication Lecture Quiz 2 McGraw – Hill,
12
meaning) New York.
 Learn how
language can be an
enhancement or an
obstacle to
communication and
how language skills
can be improved.
Session –  Learn about Chapter 7: Non- Lecture Final Pearson, Judy et al
13 nonverbal verbal Quiz 2 (2011) Human
communication Communication Communication,
 Differentiate McGraw – Hill,
between verbal and New York.
nonverbal
communication
 Identify how they
are related,
 Understand why
nonverbal codes are

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 difficult to interpret

Pearson, Judy et al
(2011) Human
 Understand the Chapter 7: Non-
Final Communication,
Session – different types of verbal
Lecture Quiz 2 McGraw – Hill,
14 nonverbal codes Communication
New York.

 Learn different
types and functions
of small-group,
 Understand the role
of a leader, Pearson, Judy et al
leadership style and Lecture (2011) Human
Chapter 8: Small
Session – competencies Final Communication,
– group
15  Identify group Quiz 2 will Quiz 3 McGraw – Hill,
Communication
Cohesiveness take place New York.
 Learn about
problem solving
and decision
making.

Session – Group presentation on any

16 topic taught so far
Session – Group Presentation on any
17 topic taught so far
 Learn about the
Pearson, Judy et al
mass media
Chapter 10: (2011) Human
 Identify the effects
Session – Mediated Final Communication,
of mass media Lecture
18 Communication Quiz 3 McGraw – Hill,
 Understand New York.
computer-mediated
communication
 Understand
Importance of
Interpersonal Pearson, Judy et al
Communication, Chapter 9: (2011) Human
Session –  Identify types of Interpersonal Final Communication,
Lecture
19 Conflict Communication Quiz 3 McGraw – Hill,
 Reasons for & Conflict New York.
conflict issues
 Understand conflict
regarding gender
Session –  Identifying Win- Chapter 9: Lecture Final Pearson, Judy et al

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 Win Solutions
(2011) Human
 Learning ways to
Interpersonal Communication,
manage Conflicts
20 Communication Quiz 3 McGraw – Hill,
 Understand conflict & Conflict New York.
management
Strategies
Lecture
Session –
Revision for final exam
21 Quiz 3 will
take place
Session –
Final exam
22

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