Course Syllabus
Intercultural/Interracial Communication
1131-COM3461PC1131_bbaol-10360
GENERAL INFORMATION
Professor Information
Professor's Photo
Instructor:
Prof. Kyle, Steinfatt
Phone:
(305) 348-1984
Office:
VH 212 (MMC)
Fax:
(305) 348-6272
Office Hours:
By appointment
Email:
Use Blackboard course mail
 
Course Description and Purpose

This class is about the unique relationship between communication and culture. More specifically, it is about what happens when people from different cultures come together to share ideas and information. Verbal and nonverbal communication patterns of different cultures will be compared to appreciate the differences and similarities.

Course Objectives

Upon completion of this course, you will be able to:

  • Understand how culture influences communication.
  • Explain cultural differences in communication.
  • Determine when cultural issues are influencing communication.
  • Understand the role of communication in intercultural adaptation.
  • Understand the communication patterns of different cultural groups living in the U.S.
IMPORTANT INFORMATION
Course Prerequisites

There are no prerequisites for this course.

For information about prerequisites, click here.

Textbook
Textbook cover

FIU Connect Access for COM 3461 (Required)

McGraw-Hill Higher Education

ISBN 13: 9780078032431

You need to purchase access to your instructor's Connect section, where your course material and special FIU edition ebook are located. You can purchase an access code from the FIU Bookstore OR direct access from the publisher, McGraw-Hill. Purchasing direct access from the publisher is cheaper.

FIU Bookstore price- Approximately $115
To access your instructor's Connect section after you purchase the code, follow these steps:

  1. Once you purchase the code, insert your instructor's Connect section URL into your browser. Click "Register Now." (You can find your Instructor's Connect section URL in the Welcome Message in the Course Content folder in Blackboard, as well as under "To Log into Connect for Access to Course Material" in the Connect folder in Blackboard.)
  2. The next page will prompt you to enter your email address.
  3. The following page will give you two options: register with a pre-purchased code or buy direct access online. Enter the code under "Registration Code."
  4. You will then be prompted to create an account, after you fill in the necessary information, proceed to your instructor's Connect section.

Publisher price- Approximately $80

To purchase access directly from the publisher:

  1. Please insert your instructor's Connect section URL into your browser. Click "Register Now." (You can find your Instructor's Connect section URL in the Welcome Message in the Course Content folder in Blackboard, as well as under "To Log into Connect for Access to Course Material" in the Connect folder in Blackboard.)
  2. The next page will prompt you to enter your email address.
  3. The following page will give you two options: register with a pre-purchased code or buy direct access online. Select "Buy Online."
  4. Complete the steps that follow to complete your purchase. Purchasing access directly from the publisher, will grant you direct access to the section URL you inserted in Step 1. Thus, you will not register for your instructor's section using a code, as you would if you purchased a code from the FIU Bookstore.
  5. After you have completed your purchase, enter you instructor's Connect section.

If you have any problems with this process, call McGraw-Hill at 877-833-5524.

Policy for Assigning an Incomplete "I" Grade

An incomplete grade is a temporary symbol given for work not completed because of serious interruption not caused by the student's own negligence. An incomplete must be made up as quickly as possible but no later than two consecutive semesters after the initial taking of the course or it will automatically default to an "F" or the grade that the student earned in the course. There is no extension of the two semester deadline. The student must not register again for the course to make up the incomplete. Students who have incomplete grades on their records must remove the incomplete by the end of the fourth week of the term in which they plan to graduate. Failure to do so will result in a cancellation of graduation.
Incompletes are awarded only if the student has completed most of the course work. If a student misses a significant portion of the course work, he/she should drop the course. If the drop period has ended, the student may petition for a withdrawal—this requires the student to un-enroll in all of their courses for that semester.
Incompletes are not to be used because a student took on too many credits and they cannot complete everything that is now required of them.

In such cases where the course instructor determines that it appropriate to award a student a grade of "I" (incomplete) the following steps must be followed.

Using an Official University Form the course instructor will report the following:

  • The grade earned by the student to date.
  • The missing work and the percentage of the final grade it represents (this requires the details of the specific missing assignment).
  • The date the instructor expects the missing work to be submitted or in the case of an examination made up.
  • The justification for awarding the grade of "I".
  • Have the student sign the form.
  • Submit this form to the Department Chair and Dean and maintain a copy for instructor records and provide a copy for the student.
  • Upon satisfying the requirements for a grade the instructor will sign off on the form and attach it to the change of grade form she or he will submit.
Expectations of this Course

This is an online course, meaning that most of the course work will be conducted online (It may require an on-campus midterm or final exam). Expectations for performance in an online courses are the same as for traditional courses; in fact, online courses require a degree of self-motivation, self-discipline, and technology skills that can make them more demanding for some students.

Online courses are not independent study courses. You will be expected to interact online with the professor and your fellow students; to do assignments; to meet deadlines; and in many classes, to work in virtual groups. In some online courses, you may be required to come to campus to take midterms and exams. 
In order to be successful in this fully online course, you will be expected to:

  • Purchase the textbook within the first week of class.
  • Follow instructions and ask questions when you are uncertain of the course material.
  • Create a calendar consisting of the assignments and their respective due dates.
  • Access the course daily to check for messages from your instructor.
COURSE DETAIL
All Assignment Deadlines

The departmental and course policies governing the acceptance of late assignments were adopted for the purpose of ensuring each student in the course is treated fairly and held to the same objective standards. The department, in adopting the late assignment policy, concluded that it was reasonable for students enrolled in an online class to be responsible for the following:

  • to understand and to respect an assignment's posted due date;
  • to read and to abide by the course policies posted within syllabus; and

As such, requests for extensions related to the mismanaging of one's time, unfamiliarity with course policies contained within the syllabus, and/or not following an assignment's posted submission instructions are not compelling reasons for an instructor to grant an extension and will, therefore, be denied.Extension requests accompanied with proper documentation for medical emergencies or technical problems directly attributable to FIU are reviewed by your instructor or the Department Chair on a case-by-case basis. Requests without documentation will be denied. The decision to grant an extension based on technical problems or medical/family emergencies will be determined based on the documentation provided along with the request.

  • All technical problems must be reported to FIU's Technical Support prior to an assignment's deadline. Once a student reports a technical problem, FIU Technical Support investigates and makes a recommendation to the instructor. Technical problems attributable to your own computer or your ISP --internet service provider-- are not sufficient grounds for granting extensions.
  • All documentation related to medical emergencies must be dated, signed by a licensed medical professional, and contain the licensed medical professional's contact number. It is expected that such documentation will be submitted no later than one week after the assignment's due date. Supporting medical documentation is always kept confidential. Once again, the departmental policies and procedures were adopted for the purpose of ensuring that all students in a class are treated fairly and are evaluated using the same objective standards. Your understanding and cooperation are both greatly appreciated.
Academic Misconduct

Florida International University is a community dedicated to generating and imparting knowledge through excellent teaching and research, the rigorous and respectful exchange of ideas, and community service. All students should respect the right of others to have an equitable opportunity to learn and honestly to demonstrate the quality of their learning. Therefore, all students are expected to adhere to a standard of academic conduct, which demonstrates respect for themselves, their fellow students, and the educational mission of the University. All students are deemed by the University to understand that if they are found responsible for academic misconduct, they will be subject to the Academic Misconduct procedures and sanctions, as outlined in the Student Handbook. This Code of Academic Integrity was adopted by the Student Government Association on November 28, 2001 and reflects the values articulated in the Student Code of Standards.

All students are deemed by the university to understand that if they are found responsible for academic misconduct, they will be subject to the Code of Academic Integrity's procedures and sanctions, as outlined in the FIU Student Handbook. Students have the right to due process in all disciplinary situations. For additional information concerning student rights and responsibilities, please contact FIU's Office of Student Conduct and Conflict Resolution.

Academic misconduct will not be tolerated in this class. Ignorance of the law is no excuse. Violations of academic integrity will be punished. These violations involve the use of any method or technique enabling you to misrepresent the quality or integrity of any of your university related work.

University Learning Center

The FIU University Learning Center is available on both campuses to support you. They provide personalized attention tailored to your needs in a user-friendly environment that includes online support. You can get help writing a paper, reading more efficiently and increasing textbook comprehension, or even creating an individualized learning plan. The center is located in PC 247 (305-348-2180) on the main campus and at ACI 160 (305-919-5927) on the Biscayne Bay campus. Find them online at https://ugrad.fiu.edu/cas/learning/index.html

Disability Clause

Students with disabilities, as defined by law, have the right to receive needed accommodations if their disabilities make it difficult to perform academic tasks in the usual way or in the allotted time frame. In order to receive accommodation, however, students with must register with Disability Resource Center: 
University Park Campus, GC 190
Voice: (305) 348-3532 
TTY: (305) 348-3852 
Fax: (305) 348-3850
Email: drcupgl@fiu.edu

Religious Holidays

The University's policy on religious holy days as stated in the University Catalog and Student Handbook will be followed in this class. Any student may request to be excused from an online class to observe a religious holy day of his or her faith.

Code of Student Conduct

A University is a learning community following a tradition more than 1,000 years old. Florida International University is such a community dedicated to generating and imparting knowledge through excellent teaching and research, the rigorous and respectful exchange of ideas, and community service. As a member of this community:

  • I will respect the tradition of academic inquiry, the University's rules of conduct, and its mission.
  • I will respect the opinions and differences of all members of the FIU community.
  • I will practice civility and demonstrate conduct that reflects the values of the institution.
  • I will be diligent and honest in my personal and academic endeavors.

The FIU Student Handbook outlines the Student Code of Conduct regarding students with disruptive behavior.

Course Content

Weekly Assignments: Upon completing the assigned reading you will submit the weekly assignments. Your assignments are graded using a 10 point scale (10 (A), 5 (C), or 0 (F)). Please review the FAQ Document for further explanation on how the assignments are graded. They will comprise 25% of your grade. No two individuals will have identical questions. You will be asked questions that define concepts in the reading and case studies as they relate to the reading . The weekly assignments open at 5:00 AM on the assigned day. You can enter the assignment as often as you wish during the availability period. These assignments are all due by 11:55 PM on the last day of availability.

Exams: There will be 3 exams throughout the semester. Each will be a combination of multiple choice and true/false. There will be 50 questions. Each exam will be timed and no two exams will be alike. Exams are to be completed by 11:55 PM on the specified dates. Each exam is worth 25% of your grade. You will have 120 minutes to complete the exam. You have one chance to take the exam, so make sure you are prepared.

Grading
COURSE REQUIREMENTS WEIGHTS
10 Weekly Assignments 25%
3 Exams - 25% each 75%
Total 100%

 

LETTER 
GRADE
RANGE LETTER
GRADE
RANGE LETTER
GRADE
RANGE
A 94-100 B- 83-80 D+ 69-67
A- 93-90 C+ 79-77 D 66-64
B+ 89-87 C 76-74 D- 63-60
B 86-84 C- 73-70 F <59
COURSE CALENDAR
Weekly Schedule
DUE DATES MODULES ASSIGNMENTS

Jan. 7 – Jan. 22

Online Intro

Entrance Quiz

Familiarize yourself with World Explorer: The Globe

Jan. 23 – Jan. 29

Cultural Differences (no textbook reading)

Weekly Assignment 1 Due

Jan. 30 – Feb. 5

What is Communication & Culture?

Weekly Assignment 2 Due

Feb. 6 – Feb. 12

Intercultural Competence

Weekly Assignment 3 Due

Feb. 13 – Feb. 19

Exam 1

Exam 1

Chapters: What is Communication & Culture, Intercultural Competence.

Supplemental Readings and Videos: My Name Is…, Deaf Culture, Samoa, Glimpse of the World, and World of Differences.

The exam is available from 5:00 am until 11:55 pm. The available dates are located on the column to the left. You will have a total of 120 minutes to complete the entire exam. There are 50 questions. Each question is worth 2 points.

If you have any technical questions or if you experience technical difficulties while taking the exam, please contact McGraw-Hill Tech Support at 1-800-331-5094 for assistance.

Feb. 20 – Feb. 26

Cultural Biases & Intercultural Contact

Weekly Assignment 4 Due

Feb. 27 – Mar. 5

Verbal Communication

Weekly Assignment 5 Due

Mar. 6 – Mar. 12

Non-Verbal Communication

Weekly Assignment 6 Due

Mar. 13 – Mar. 26


Exam 2 

Exam 2

Chapters: Cultural Biases & Intercultural Contact, Verbal Communication, and Non-verbal Communication.

Supplemental Readings and Videos: Australia, American Tongues, and World of Gestures.

The exam is available from 5:00 am until 11:55 pm. The available dates are located on the column to the left. You will have a total of 120 minutes to complete the entire exam. There are 50 questions. Each question is worth 2 points.

If you have any technical questions or if you experience technical difficulties while taking the exam, please contact McGraw-Hill Tech Support at 1-800-331-5094 for assistance.

Mar. 20 – Mar. 26

Persuasion & Theory

Weekly Assignment 7 Due

Mar. 27 – Apr. 2

Interpersonal Relationships

Weekly Assignment 8 Due

Apr. 3 – Apr. 9

Specific Contexts & Future Outlooks

Weekly Assignment 9 Due

Apr. 10 – Apr. 16

Tribes

Weekly Assignment 10 Due

Apr. 17 – Apr. 23

Exam 3

Exam 3

Persuasion & Theory, Interpersonal Relationships, and Specific Contexts & Future Outlooks.

Supplemental Readings and Videos: Tales from Thailand, Rwanda, South America, The Shower, Intercultural Business Video, Lost Boys of Sudan, and Tribes of New Guinea.

The exam is available from 5:00 am until 11:55 pm. The available dates are located on the column to the left. You will have a total of 120 minutes to complete the entire exam. There are 50 questions. Each question is worth 2 points.

If you have any technical questions or if you experience technical difficulties while taking the exam, please contact McGraw-Hill Tech Support at 1-800-331-5094 for assistance.