Course Description:

252  HUM Multicultural Communications 

The course is designed to study issues of diversity and the media by investigating the audience, content, and institutions of communications.  Cultural perceptions and values will be explored as they relate to an individual's identity, beliefs, and choices on diversity such as:  race, ethnicity, gender, sexual orientation, religion, age, class, and disability.  This examination will include the implication of these issues on society at large.  Research and field experiences will challenge students to analyze and formulate their own values and choices.

Objectives:  The student will be able to:

1.   Gain an understanding of how culture and diversity influences communication.

2.   Analyze multicultural communication issues facing the media.

3.   Conceptualize communication through an analysis of audience, content and institutions.

4.   Explore the issues/communications from the point of view of a different culture, including: race, ethnicity, gender, sexual orientation, religion, age, class and disability.

5.   Discuss the role of communication in multicultural adaptation.

Textbook (Required): Referred to in the Course Calendar as CONTEXTS

Martin, J.N. and Nakayama, T.K. (2004). Intercultural Communication in Contexts.  (Third Edition.) Boston:  McGraw Hill.

High Library Reserve Book:  (4 copies)

Referred to in the Course Calendar as RESERVE.  The Accommodating (Com 252 Multicultural Communication) Reader.

Resources (Items 1-4 are in Faculty HOMEDIRS:  MOORERC "Public File".)

1.     High Library Bibliography (Partial)

2.     Books and Resources in Dr. Moore's office

3.     Research Reports in Dr. Moore's office

4.     List of Advocacy Groups

5.     Computer searches of a variety of library databases--See reference librarian for questions.  Especially consider the use of a new database:  Communication & Mass Media Complete.  Please note that library resources are available from off-campus computers.  From the Library website, use your regular ID and password and click on "Off-Campus Etown Users."

6.     Class (computer-storage) Directories

Course Policies:

Academic Integrity  All students are to conform to the various provisions of the Academic Integrity Policy of Elizabethtown College.  All work submitted is expected to be that of the individual student and that all representations in it conform to proper guidelines of honesty.  Consult the guidelines in Academic Integrity at Elizabethtown College for both procedures and consequences.

Student Disabilities  If you have a documented disability and need reasonable accommodations to fully participate in course activities or meet course requirement, you must (1) contact the Director of Disability Services, Shirley Deichert, in the Center of Student Success, BSC 288, (717) 361-1227, deichesa@etown.edu, AND (2) meet with me, the instructor, within two weeks of receiving a copy of the accommodation letter from Disability Services to discuss your accommodation needs and their implementation.

Documentation Standards  APA Style is the only acceptable standard for citing references and quotations/sources.

Attendance  It is expected that all students attend every class and be on time.  Absences severely handicap the learning process because you are unable to acquire knowledge through firsthand discussions and demonstrations.  Being late for class interrupts the momentum of the class and distracts other students.  Class material will not be reviewed for those absent.

A student may miss two class sessions without penalty.  However, on each successive absence, a grade reduction will be made from the course final grade.  Work or tests missed as a result of an absence will only be made up by PRIOR arrangement with the instructor.  Unless allowed to be made up, a grade of 0 will be given.

Absences beyond two will be permitted only for students participating in intercollegiate athletics.  Tests/quizzes must be taken in advance of the absence.  No extension will be given for work due.  It is possible that on certain days (or regarding certain projects) an absence may not be acceptable.  Excessive absences for athletics may cause the instructor to not permit further absences.  In any case, once two absences have occurred, the only permissible absence, without penalty, is for athletics, severe illness with a doctor's excuse, or a death in the immediate family.

Miscellaneous

1.   ALL WORK MUST BE NEATLY TYPED.  Incorrect spelling, grammar, and typographical errors will detract from the grade.  You may not correct typos by scratching out the error or writing in the correction.

2.   ALL WORK MUST BE SUBMITTED ON TIME (defined as the beginning of the class period on the day due.) Late submission without prior knowledge and consent of the instructor will not be permitted and the project will earn an F.

3.   All oral presentations cited are to be formal presentations demonstrating excellent oral skills, presentation skills, and accompanying professional visuals and other materials.  No manuscripts are permitted for these presentations, only note cards.

Course Requirements

IMPORTANT:  This is a course about communication by and between different types of people.  All projects must use as a basis for discussion elements of the course, the textbook, and issues of communications.  While, as an example, discussing fixed incomes for the elderly may be a key issue related to that class of individuals, it does not address the relevance of communications regarding that issue.  So, in selecting topics for projects, remember that you must discuss them from the standpoint of communications relevant to class, the textbook, and to specific theories addressed.

1.   Interview Assignment:  Conduct a face-to-face interview with an OFF CAMPUS individual knowledgeable about key issues about ONE of the following variables (the variables chosen cannot be the same as that which would describe you): Gender, race, religion, ethnicity, class, age, ability (disability), and sexual orientation. It is expected that the interview will be a challenge. 

2.   Issue Assignment: Review at least 1 website and 1 journal source (not consumer magazines) for ONE COMMON KEY ISSUE related to one diversity category studied in this class.  The issue is to be ONE of importance and IMPACT on the lives of individuals being researched.  Submit a (1) bibliography, (2) a brief summary of the issue from each source reviewed, and (3) a concluding analysis of the importance/role of communications with regard to the issue. The category selected for this assignment may not be the same one used for the interview assignment and may not be one that could be used to describe you.

3.   The field project will be an experiential exploration of a multicultural/diversity category by the student which is not representative of them and was not used in any prior assignments. You will explore the content of at least two different types of sources for the particular group (websites, popular media, texts, journals.)  You will review information gleaned from this research and identify 1 key issue that is common between the sources.  You will then explore that issue in a field experience.  The research will provide a cognitive basis for the field experience such as: visiting an ethnic church; going to a meeting of an seniors group; visit a gay advocacy group, visit an old age home, welfare office, etc. and engage in conversations etc. about the issue and the relevant aspects of communications regarding the issue.  Each student will submit a written summary of the research, a journal of the visitation, and an analysis of the findings of both with regard to communication.

4.     The final project is a group project.  It will be a communications product (like a pamphlet, an event, a panel, newspaper/magazine/audio/video series, program, or other creative endeavor focusing on any multicultural category covered in this class.  The product, event, etc. must be targeted to the Elizabethtown College community and serve to provide information relevant to them.  The product, event, etc. must actually be produced, held, distributed, etc.  If it is an actual event, all members of the class must attend it—and, thus, requires advanced scheduling.  Other products must be distributed to the entire campus (at least electronically.)  Groups can affiliate with the Office of Multicultural Affairs or with individual campus groups like Allies, Hillel, Learning Center, etc. but the group must have full responsibility for the project. Each group must specifically delegate key responsibilities to each individual member of the group.  In the closing days of the semester, each group will present the project in an oral summary and evaluation of it.  A written report will be submitted outlining each group member’s responsibility and evaluate the extent to which each indicidual performed their duties.

5.     REQUIRED OUT OF CLASS EXPECTATIONS:  This 4 credit course meets 3 hours per week.  The fourth hour is made up through several out of class requirements that include the interview, field and final project, speakers, and/or film screenings.  It is expected that all students will fully participate in alternate class meetings.

1. Speakers/Presentations (report/critique related to an appropriate topic in communications is required of each):

Grading        All work will be graded on a numerical scale of 1-10

                  9.3  A+              9.0  A                8.7 A          8.3  B+              8.0  B                7.7  B-

                  7.3  C+              7.0  C                6.7  C-         6.3  D+              6.0  D                5.7  D-

                  Your final grade will be calculated as follows:

                        Interview Project             10%            Issue Project             15%

                        Field Project                   15%            Final Project             30%

                        Midterm Exam                10%            Final Exam              10%

                        Out of class reports          10%

COURSE CALENDAR

Final Exam:   Date, Time

The Instructor reserves the right to alter course content or adjust pace of assignment to accommodate class progress.