Interpersonal Communication Syllabus for 2023-2024
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Instructor Information

Course Information

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If you find you are unable to access material in an accessible format please contact the Disability Services Office at (806) 345-5639 . This office will work in conjunction with other campus resources to address and accommodate your issue in a timely manner.

Statement for Mental Health and Advocacy & Resource Center:

As a student you may experience a range of issues that can cause barriers to learning, such as strained relationships, increased anxiety, alcohol/drug problems, feeling down, difficulty concentrating and/or lack of motivation. These mental health concerns or stressful events may lead to diminished academic performance or reduce a student's ability to participate in daily activities. Amarillo College offers services to assist you with addressing these and other concerns you may be experiencing. If you or someone you know are suffering from any of the aforementioned conditions, you can learn more about the broad range of confidential mental health services available on campus by calling the AC Counseling Center at 806-371-5900. The AC Counseling Center website is https://www.actx.edu/counseling/ . Also, if you are in need of social services (affordable housing, utilities, transportation, food, clothing, childcare, medical/dental/vision, legal), please call the AC Advocacy & Resource Center at 806-371-5439. The AC Advocacy & Resource Center website is https://www.actx.edu/arc

Amarillo College Tutoring for Success Policy:

Tutoring for Success applies to any student whose overall performance in the course falls below 75%. The instructor will create the task in the Student Engagement Portal (Watermark) to direct the student to the appropriate tutoring service, which may be faculty- or SI-led, discipline-specific, and/or general. The tutoring service assigned, the due date for when the tutoring must be completed, and the amount of tutoring required are at the discretion of the instructor. Additionally, the task will alert the student’s success team. Students who do not fulfill the assigned tutoring task may be subject to program- and course-specific penalties that could result in a grade reduction and/or in not being allowed to progress in the course until the tutoring requirement has been satisfied.

Administrative Drop Policy

Students who do not attend class on or prior to the census date will be administratively dropped. Effective Fall, 2016

Student Withdrawal Procedures

Students who wish to withdraw from a course must complete all steps indicated on the Academic Withdrawal Request form by the course withdrawal deadline.

NOTE: Students who are attending Texas institutions of higher education, for the first time fall 2007 and later, may not withdraw from more than six courses during their academic career. This withdrawal limitation does not include dual credit or developmental classes (Senate Bill 1231 Rule 4.10.) For more information on Drop and Withdrawal Policies, please visit the Registrar's Office Web site.

Privacy Statement

The Amarillo College Privacy Policy is found at https://www.actx.edu/-amarillo-college-privacy-notice , and applies to all Amarillo College students.  If you have questions about this privacy statement or you believe that your personal information has been released without your consent, send email to humanresources@actx.edu .

Course

SPCH-1318-017 Interpersonal Communication

Prerequisites

Course 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.

Student ResourcesStudent Resources Website

Department Expectations

Occupational License Disclaimer

Notice to Students enrolled in an educational program for preparation of issuance of certain occupational licenses:

Students enrolled in an educational program in preparation for obtaining certain occupational licenses are potentially ineligible for such license if the student has been convicted of an offense. For further information, please contact:

Melodie Graves
Justice Involved Advocate
Student Service Center 117
mgraves24@actx.edu
806-371-5995
Make appointment at https://melodiegraves.youcanbook.me

You can also contact the Legal Clinic, or the faculty member in charge of the educational program that you seek to enroll in. The further information you will receive will include notification to you of your right to request a criminal history evaluation letter from the licensing authority in order to clarify your particular situation.

Hours

(3 sem hrs; 3 lec)

Class Type

On Campus Course

Syllabus Information

Textbooks

Interpersonal Messages, 4th edition by Joseph Devito. You need the bundle package that includes Revel - this is the online book access code you will need to complete online readings and activities, worth 20% of your grade.

When you purchase the textbook code at the AC bookstore, the publisher will send a paper copy of the textbook to your home address if you request one.

Supplies

• Personal Computer with reliable internet access. Contact the AC bookstore for information on renting a laptop 371-5000; or visit the Underground on Washington Street Campus to use a campus computer 

• Recommended browsers - Firefox or Chrome

• Access to Microsoft Word or Google Docs to type and submit papers (you have access to Google docs through your Amarillo College email account)

Student Performance

Through reading the current literature, researching recent communication findings, and participating in group and individual oral assignments, the student will:

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 contexts.
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 and/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.

Students Rights and Responsibilities

Student Rights and Responsibilities

Log in using the AC Connect Portal

In order to receive your AC Connect Email, you must log in through AC Connect at https://acconnect.actx.edu .

If you are an active staff or faculty member according to Human Resources, use "Exchange". All other students, use "AC Connect (Google) Email".

Expected Student Behavior

Confidentiality
Many communication courses ask students to engage in a level of self-disclosure not usually characteristic of other courses. Different people will feel comfortable with varying levels of self-disclosure. While I would like you to draw from your personal experience, you may choose to talk about yourself or someone you know. If it is the latter, in the interest of confidentially they should remain nameless. Interpersonal Communication is an interactive course, meaning you will be learning from each other’s personal experiences and examples. For this reason it is encouraged for you to be open to sharing with the class. Additionally, because some individuals will be sharing personal stories, I expect there to be a level of confidentiality among the members of the class and respect for their classmates' privacy. 

Your attendance is crucial in an 8-week in-person course. Our course calendar is detailed and I need you to be responsible for your time so that we can make the most of our 8 weeks together! 

Grading Criteria

 

Assignments                Points Presentations 200 (20%) Papers 200 (20%) Love Lyrics Project 100 (10%) Participation 100 (10%) Final Paper 200 (20%) Revel Bookwork 200 (20%) Total Points                 1000(100%)

 

Participation Activities:
This class relies upon two major things: 1) your active participation in class exercises and discussions and 2) a close, meaningful analysis of your own communication tendencies with family, friends, co-workers and people you meet. If these things occur, along with attention to assignments and class readings, you will find tools to better understand your own communication skills, relate better with others, and succeed in this course.

Extra Credit Opportunities:
Anyone who seeks tutoring at either the Writer's Corner in Ordway Hall or the Tutoring Center in the Ware Student Commons building will receive 5 extra credit points on the assignment you get help with. Both the Writer's Corner and the Tutoring Center send time-stamped email verification of your appointments, so you have to actually seek help and stay and work on the assignment(s) to qualify for the extra credit points. If you do so well on the paper that you do not need extra credit points, I will add them to your lowest grade in the course. 

Additionally, if your average grade in the course falls below a 75, you will be required to seek tutoring assistance. What that requirement will look like will be based on what is most appropriate for your specific situation. 

Late Work Policy:
I do not accept late work. Assignment deadlines are set and you may view them below. It is your responsibility to manage your time and meet the deadlines. I do not make exceptions to the late work policy because of the 8-week format, it does not help you to be able to fall behind. Please let me know if you are dealing with extenuating circumstances and I will work with you, but as a general rule late work is not graded. 

Attendance

Regular attendance is essential for satisfactory achievement. However, I do NOT want you to come to campus if you are sick. If you contact me in advance of your absence and you are not excessively absent (more than 2 absences in a term is excessive), missing for sickness or true emergencies will not negatively impact your grade. If you do NOT contact me, that is an unexcused absence with a penalty to your grade of -5 points per unexcused absence. The same penalty will be applied to excessive absences. 

If you turn in all work on time all semester and you actively participate in the class when you are present, that should be an easy extra 100 points for you at the end of the semester!

I count off for participation only when a student is not engaging in the class by: spending class time on their phone, doing homework for other classes during lecture, distracting classmates from discussions, or derailing conversations consistently. You will be notified if I feel this applies to you and you will be notified of the deduction to your grade in the same communication.

Calendar

Additional Information

I look forward to a great semester with each of you!