COM-230 Communication in a Diverse World

This course explores how communication intersects with diversity and encourages students to develop communication practices in order to help them be successful in our diverse world. This course will analyze the complexities of the sociocultural construction of identity, intersectionality and positionality. This course will further analyze the present and historical use of communication in various contexts such as but not limited to interpersonal, mass, public, social media, etc. used to oppress historically marginalized groups and communication practices that have been and can be used to demonstrate social justice.

Credits

3

Prerequisite

ENG-101

Lecture Contact Hours

3

Lab Contact Hours

0

Other Contact Hours

0

Department

  • Visual and Performing Arts

Grading Scheme

  • Letter

SUNY Gen Ed Credit

  • Yes
View Course Outline

COM 230: Communication in a Diverse World

Department

Visual and Performing Arts

Course Description

This course explores how communication intersects with diversity and encourages students to develop communication practices in order to help them be successful in our diverse world. This course will analyze the complexities of the sociocultural construction of identity, intersectionality and positionality. This course will further analyze the present and historical use of communication in various contexts such as but not limited to interpersonal, mass, public, social media, etc. used to oppress historically marginalized groups and communication practices that have been and can be used to demonstrate social justice.

Credit Hours

3

Contact Hours

Lecture3
Lab0
Other0

Grading Scheme

Letter

Prerequisites

ENG-101

SUNY General Education Course

  • Diversity Equity Inclusion and Social Justice

Capstone Course

Yes

Topic Outline

  1. Unit One
    1. Topics: Identity, Culture, Diversity, Intersectionality, Perception
      1. Identity can be characterized by demographics (age, race, ethnicity, sex, gender identity at birth, gender identity, etc.) Further, identity can be characterized by one’s attitudes, value systems, and belief systems. Intersectionality is the comprised collection of all aspects of our identity. In this unit students will identify influences that shape the development of individual and group identity. Students will also analyze how the intersectionality of identity informs and shapes world views. Influences on identity also inform our views and experiences related to privilege, oppression, social injustice, and social justice.
  2. Unit Two
    1. Topics: Types of Communication (interpersonal, social, public, intercultural, etc.), systems, power dynamics, privilege, oppression, marginalization, etc.,
      1. In this unit students will analyze forms of communication that create and/or perpetuate social injustices and the impacts that injustices have on individuals and groups of historically underrepresented and marginalized populations. A speech act is something expressed by and individual that not only presents information but performs an action as well. Social injustice can be demonstrated day-to-day interpersonal communication, it can be demonstrated through public speech, forms of written communication, mass communication messages, messages on social media, messages in art, music lyrics, etc.
  3. Unit Three
    1. Topics: Social Justice Communication and Social Justice Actions
      1. In this unit students will research and analyze speech acts in the forms of interpersonal, social, mass, public etc. communications etc., that demonstrate social justice, or advancement toward social justice through raising awareness of social injustice, and promoting fairness, equality, and equity regarding access to resources and opportunities.