Communications (COMM) 243

Overview

Communication plays a central role in everyone's life. Most people value interpersonal relationships and find comfort in the bonds of friendship that they maintain with friends, family members, and colleagues. Whether they are aware of it or not, people engage in communication in practically every aspect of their lives.

COMM 243 introduces you to the challenges and rewards of interacting with others. After completing the course, you will be able to think as an astute observer of communication problems and to act as an effective communicator.

Outline

• Lesson 1: Introduction to Human Communication
• Lesson 2: Perception, Self, and Communication
• Lesson 3: Language and Meaning
• Lesson 4: Nonverbal Communication
• Lesson 5: Listening and Critical Thinking
• Lesson 6: Interpersonal Communication
• Lesson 7: Intercultural Communication
• Lesson 8: Workplace Communication
• Lesson 9: Topic Selection and Audience Analysis
• Lesson 10: Organizing a Presentation
• Lesson 11: Informative Presentations
• Lesson 12: Delivery and Visual Resources

Evaluation

To receive credit in COMM 243, you must complete three written assignments, achieve a minimum grade of D (50%) on the final examination, and achieve an overall grade of at least “D” (50 percent) in the entire course. The distribution of marks for the various credit activities is listed below:

To learn more about assignments and examinations, please refer to Athabasca University's online Calendar.

Course Materials

Textbook

Registration in this course includes an electronic textbook. For more information on electronic textbooks, please refer to our eText Initiative site.

You can acquire a print version of the textbook on your own if you wish.

Other Resources

All other learning resources will be available online.

Special Course Features

Students must have access to some form of presentation software (e.g., Microsoft PowerPoint) and voice recording hardware and software (built in to most PCs). All lessons and assignments are video-based.

Challenge for Credit Course Overview

The Challenge for Credit process allows students to demonstrate that they have acquired a command of the general subject matter, knowledge, intellectual and/or other skills that would normally be found in a university level course.

Full information for the Challenge for Credit can be found in the Undergraduate Calendar.

• Undergraduate Challenge for Credit Policy
• Undergraduate Challenge for Credit Procedures

Challenge Evaluation

To receive credit for the COMM 243 challenge registration, you must achieve a grade of at least “D” (50 percent) on the examination.

Online Exam (3 hours)

Undergraduate Challenge for Credit Course Registration Form

• Challenge for Credit Form