57223 Exploring Human Communication: Theories and Practice

Warning: The information on this page is indicative. The subject outline for a particular session, location and mode of offering is the authoritative source of all information about the subject for that offering. Required texts, recommended texts and references in particular are likely to change. Students will be provided with a subject outline once they enrol in the subject.

Subject handbook information prior to 2025 is available in the Archives.

Description

This subject explores key theories and contemporary concepts that inform human communication and strategic communication practices such as advertising, public relations, organisational communication, communication management and social media. It draws on significant interdisciplinary knowledges and traditions: rhetoric, systems theory, psychology, semiotics, interpretation (phenomenology), sociology, cultural studies, and critical theory. The subject introduces students to de-Westernised processes and practices to recognise the importance of cultural nuances in negotiating meaning. Students review communication models that inform their understanding of factors that either contribute to, or challenge, effective communication in diverse communication contexts and issues.

Subject learning objectives (SLOs)

Course intended learning outcomes (CILOs)

This subject engages with the following Course Intended Learning Outcomes (CILOs), which are tailored to the Graduate Attributes set for all graduates of the Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences:

• Plan, execute and utilise a substantial body of research for professional practice (2.1)
• Critically and creatively rethink and reflect on public relations, advertising and organisational change models and practices for the 21st century beyond dominant models and approaches and seek innovative approaches (2.2)
• Locate, gather, organise and synthesise information across diverse platforms to guide their mastery of contemporary communication issues and challenges (2.3)
• Recognise and negotiate cultural differences (3.1)
• Graduates have high-level knowledge and skills to engage with diverse audiences through both written and oral communication strategies, across a range of media formats, with consideration of others' needs and views (6.1)

Teaching and learning strategies

Students follow a combination of face-to-face and online teaching and learning model. Online self-paced activities encourage critical and analytical thinking about relevance of communication theory to practice. Collaborative activities in-person and in online platforms such as scenario building exercises, case study digests, online discussion forums, and video presentations help students apply theoretical concepts to practical contexts. Students use online and open education sources linked with UTS Library as resources for class activities. Students receive verbal formative feedback in class on students’ class standing prior to census date.

Online Language Screening Task:

An aim of this subject is to help you develop academic and professional language and communication skills in order to succeed at university and in the workplace. To determine your current academic language proficiency, you are required to complete an or a written diagnostic task]. If you receive a Basic grade for the written diagnostic task, you must attend additional Language Development Tutorials (weeks TBA)] in order to pass the subject. These tutorials are designed to support you to develop your language and communication skills. Students who do not complete the written diagnostic and/or do not attend 80% of the Language Development Tutorials will receive a Fail X grade.

Content (topics)

Recorded lectures, interactive video conferencing sessions and weekly online tutorial activities unpack key scholarly traditions that inform communication theory and practice such as rhetoric, cybernetics, semiotics, socio-psychology, critical and phenomenology (interpretation). It also tackles non-‘Westernised’ approaches to communication.

Assessment

Assessment task 1: Written Abstract of Theory-to-Practice Report

Assessment task 2: Critical Analysis

Assessment task 3: Team Presentation on Cross-Cultural Campaign Analysis

Minimum requirements

Submission of assessment tasks

In this subject assessment tasks are cumulative so that each task builds understanding and/or skills, informed by formative feedback. Consequently, all assessments must be submitted in order for students to receive feedback. Students who do not submit all assessments will not pass the subject.

This subject is based on a collaborative approach which involves workshopping and interchange of ideas with other students and the tutor.

It is a requirement of this subject that all students complete OPELA [or a written diagnostic task]. Students who received a Basic grade in the OPELA [or the written diagnostic task] are required to attend 80% of the Language Development Tutorials in order to pass the subject. Students who do not complete the OPELA and/or do not attend 80% of the Language Development Tutorials will receive a Fail X grade.

Attendance

Attendance at classes is essential in this subject. Classes are based on a collaborative approach that involves essential workshopping and interchange of ideas with other students and the tutor to build capacities towards meeting the subject learning objectives. A roll will be taken at each class (whether on campus or online). Students who have more than two absences from class will be refused marking of their final assessment.

Required texts

Any edition below (digital or print):

- Littlejohn, S., Foss, K. & Oetzel, J. (2017), Theories of Human Communication (11th Edition), Waveland Press, Illinois. (Print or digital)

- Littlejohn, S. & Foss, K.A. (2011), Theories of Human Communication (10th Edition), Thomson Wadsworth, Belmont, CA. (Print or digital)

- Littlejohn, S. & Foss, K.A. (2008), Theories of Human Communication (9th Edition), Thomson Wadsworth, Belmont, CA. (Print)

References

Alberts, J. Nakayama, T. & Martin, J. 2007, Human Communication in Society, Pearson/Prentice Hall, Upper Saddle River, NJ.

Anderson, J. 1996, Communication Theory: Epistemological Foundations, Guildford Press, New York.

Adler, R. & Rodman, G. 2003, Understanding Human Communication, Oxford University Press, New York. Carey, J. 2009, Communication as Culture, Routledge, New York (Original work published 1989)

Craig, R. 1999, ‘Communication theory as a field’, Communication Theory, 9, 119-61.

Craig, R. & Muller, H. (eds) 2007, Theorising Communication: Readings Across Traditions, Sage Publications, Thousand Oaks, CA.

Dance, F. (ed) 1982, Human Communication Theory: Comparative Essays, Harper & Row, New York.

Demers, D. (ed.) 2000, Mass Communication and Society – Special issue: Communication Theory in the 21st Century, Lawrence Erlbaum Associates, Mahwah, NJ.

Deetz, S. 2000, 'Conceptual Foundations', in F. Jablin & L. Putnam (eds), The New Handbook of Organizational Communication : Advances in Theory, Research, and Methods, Sage, Thousand Oaks, CA, pp. 3-46.

Griffin, E. 2009, A First Look at Communication Theory, 7th edn., McGraw Hill, New York.

Herrick. J. 2001, The History and Theory of Rhetoric: An Introduction, 2nd edn, Allyn and Bacon,Boston.

Hodge, R. & Kress, G. 1988, Social Semiotics, Polity Press, London.

Lustig, M. & Koester, J. 1992, Intercultural Competence: Interpersonal Communication Across Cultures, Harper Collins, New York.

Macnamara, J. 2014, The 21st Century Media Revolution: Emergent Communication Practices, 2nd edn, Peter Lang, New York.

Miller, K. 2005, Communication Theories: Perspectives, Processes and Contexts, 2nd edn, McGraw-Hill, Boston. Mohan, T. McGregor, H.

Saunders, S. & Archee, R. 2008, Communicating as Professionals, 2nd edn, Cengage Learning Australia, South Melbourne.

Seib, P. & Fitzpatrick, K. 1995, Public Relations Ethics, Harcourt Brace College, Forth Worth, TX.

Severin, W. & Tankard, J. 2000, Communication Theories: Origins. Methods and Uses in Mass Media, Addison-Wesley Longman, New York.

Smith, L. 2003, Effective Internal Communication, Kogan Page, London.