Introduction to Communication
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This Introduction to Communication course introduces students to the theories and principles of speech communication from a wide range of perspectives. The evolution of communication theory is examined and foundational principles, such as the communication process, perception, verbal and nonverbal communication, and listening, are introduced. These principles are then applied to communication in interpersonal, small group, public, and organizational contexts. The dynamics of relationships, intercultural and gender communication issues, and conflict and negotiation are also explored, along with ethical issues inherent in the communication process. Discussions of current viewpoints related to interviewing, mass media, and new technologies present a contemporary view of the communication process.
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Fairly easy course. A lot of reading involved, speeches are the hardest part of the class.
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Fairly easy course. A lot of reading involved, speeches are the hardest part of the class.
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The hardest part for me was getting the videos to upload to youtube.
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The hardest part for me was getting the videos to upload to youtube.
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This course was straightforward but you do need the ebook as the course requires you to do alot of reading. I found the book online for free. The course is easy to pass as long as you study before each test.
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This course was straightforward but you do need the ebook as the course requires you to do alot of reading. I found the book online for free. The course is easy to pass as long as you study before each test.
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This class was very informative and practical. I learned a lot.
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This class was very informative and practical. I learned a lot.
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This was a great course- It was very informative and I learned a lot. You will definitely need to purchase the text in order to do well on the tests.
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This was a great course- It was very informative and I learned a lot. You will definitely need to purchase the text in order to do well on the tests.
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Good course. There was a lot of information within the book.
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Good course. There was a lot of information within the book.
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Easy
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Easy
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loved it, very interesting, finished in 3 days
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loved it, very interesting, finished in 3 days
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this course is straight to the point
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this course is straight to the point
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none
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none
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Good information, quick read.
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Good information, quick read.
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This was a general course in communications. It was not challenging although preparing the required presentations did take some time.
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This was a general course in communications. It was not challenging although preparing the required presentations did take some time.
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Great course, I really learned a lot. Open book tests. Be prepared to do a lot of reading.
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Very comprehensive coverage of the different forms of communication. Easy to navigate and simple uploading of required presentations.
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It was fine, the only problem that I had was the fact that I felt that some of the test questions where never covered in the material on the assignments and quizzes. It made it hard to get the best score possible when they asked questions that where never discussed.
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good course
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Course Objectives
After completing this Online Introduction to Communication course, you will be able to:
- Illustrate the elements and contexts of communication, and the outcomes of effective communication.
- Relate perception of self and others to communication, and recommend ways to improve perception and communication.
- Analyze words as social and cultural constructs, the effects of words on actions, and recommend ways to improve verbal communication.
- Illustrate various types of nonverbal communication and recommend ways to improve nonverbal communication.
- Compare and contrast various types of listening, and recommend strategies to improve listening skills.
- Apply principles of ethics to lies and misrepresentation, and to justifications for disclosure of confidential information.
- Analyze relationships between people and among family members in terms of elements of attraction, characteristics of relationships, and stages of relationships.
- Examine interpersonal relationships in terms of roles, role conflicts, self-awareness, intimacy and attachment, affiliation and commitment, and power and dominance.
- Explain how cultural differences and errors of perception can distort messages, and the use of effective intercultural communication in community building.
- Recommend strategies for interviewers and interviewees to successfully communicate using various types and techniques of interviews.
- Analyze the determinants of group performance and recommend strategies for group problem solving and decision making.
- Evaluate aspects of effective public communication such as source credibility, audience analysis, modes of delivery, patterns of organization, supporting material, language, and presenting arguments.
- Illustrate the functions of downward, upward, and horizontal communication in organization, the role of communication in change management, and the distortion of messages in rumors.
Topic | Topic Title | Subtopics | Objectives |
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1 | Process of Communication |
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2 | Perception and Communication |
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3 | Verbal Communication |
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4 | Nonverbal Communication |
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5 | Listening |
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6 | Dynamics of Relationships |
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7 | Interpersonal Communication |
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8 | Intercultural Communication |
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9 | Interviews |
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10 | Conflict Resolution |
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11 | Organizational Communication |
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12 | Small-Group Communication |
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13 | Public Communication |
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14 | Review Topic |
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There are no prerequisites to take Introduction to Communications.
The required eTextbook for this course is included with your course purchase at no additional cost. More information on StraighterLine eTextbooks
Prefer the hard copy? Simply purchase from your favorite textbook retailer; you will still get the eTextbook for free.

The fourth edition of Human Communication is an engaging reflection of the contemporary field of communication studies. The authors' writing mantra ("Make It Smart; Keep It Real") leads to a text that strikes a practical balance of definitive content and everyday application. To "make it smart," the authors read hundreds of articles from mainstream communication journals. To "keep it real," the authors synthesized their findings so that they resonate with the challenges and goals of today's typical basic course. Always the goal is to highlight the relevancy of communication to college students by engaging the readers. Every chapter features skill-building, critical thinking, innovative pedagogy, 21st century examples, and lively writing that is respectful of the student reader.
Pearson, Judy, Paul Nelson, Scott Titsworth, and Lynn Harter. Human Communication, 4th edition, McGraw-Hill, 2010. ISBN: 9780073406800
StraighterLine provides a percentage score and letter grade for each course. A passing percentage is 70% or higher.
If you have chosen a Partner College to award credit for this course, your final grade will be based upon that college's grading scale. Only passing scores will be considered by Partner Colleges for an award of credit.
There are a total of 1000 points in the course:
Topic | Assessment | Points Available |
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2 | Self-Introduction Video | 50 |
4 | Graded Exam #1 | 100 |
7 | Graded Exam #2 | 100 |
7 | Cumulative Graded Midterm Exam | 100 |
11 | Graded Exam #3 | 100 |
12 | Informative Presentation Video | 75 |
14 | Graded Exam #4 | 100 |
14 | Presuasive Presentation Video | 75 |
14 | Cumulative Graded Final Exam | 300 |
Total | 1000 |
Final Proctored Exam
Learn more about Proctored Exams
This Introduction to Communication course introduces students to the theories and principles of speech communication from a wide range of perspectives. The evolution of communication theory is examined and foundational principles, such as the communication process, perception, verbal and nonverbal communication, and listening, are introduced. These principles are then applied to communication in interpersonal, small group, public, and organizational contexts. The dynamics of relationships, intercultural and gender communication issues, and conflict and negotiation are also explored, along with ethical issues inherent in the communication process. Discussions of current viewpoints related to interviewing, mass media, and new technologies present a contemporary view of the communication process.