SFB50414 Intercultural Communication (Spring 2016)

The course is connected to the following study programs

• Mandatory course in Bachelor's Programme in International Communication
• Specialisation course in Bachelor's Programme in Business Administration, specialisation: International Communication
• Optional course in
• Bachelor's Programme in Society, Language and Culture
• Bachelor's Programme in Information Systems

Lecture Semester

• Bachelor's Programme in International Communication: 2^nd semester (spring)
• Bachelor's Programme in Business Administration, specialisation: International Communication: 6^th semester (spring)
• Bachelor's Programme in Society, Language and Culture: 4^th or 6^th semester (spring)
• Bachelor's Programme in Information Systems: IT Management: 4^th or 6^th semester (spring)
• Bachelor's Programme in Information Systems: Web Development 4^th semester (spring)

The student's learning outcomes after completing the course

Knowledge
The students have gained knowledge of aspects of language and culture that may influence and hamper communication between people from different cultures (non-verbal communication, language functions, context, prejudice, stereotypes, world view, values, norms and ethics).

Skills
The students are familiar with methods and principles of how to compare their own culture with other cultures and identify potential causes of non-functioning communication.

General competence
The students have general intercultural competence.

Content

Elementary social anthropology

• Other relevant topics within the field of intercultural communication
• Theories of how to compare cultures
• Analysis of communication situations applying various theories

Forms of teaching and learning

Lectures and seminars in English.

Workload

The course will give the student approximately 280 hours of work.

Coursework requirements - conditions for taking the exam

• One oral presentation
• One written assignment

All coursework must be completed at given deadlines and approved before signing up for the final exam.

Examination

Oral indiviual examination of approx. 30 minutes.
No aids permitted. Assessment on the A-F grading scale.

Course evaluation

The course is evaluated by the students twice each semester. The result of the evaluation is reported to the faculty's committee for study quality.

Literature

• Samovar, L. A., Porter, R. E. & McDaniel, E. R. (2013). Communication between Cultures.  Australia: Wadsworth/Cengage Learning. 404 pages.
• Hofstede, Geert, Hofstede, Gert Jan & Minkov, Michael (2010). Cultures and Organizations: Software of the Mind: Intercultural Cooperation and its Importance for Survival. New York: McGraw-Hill. (Chapters 1, 3-7)
• Compendium, local print
• Course material handed out in class and/or posted on the learning platform