| CODE | MCS1021 | ||||||||
| TITLE | Human Communication | ||||||||
| UM LEVEL | 01 - Year 1 in Modular Undergraduate Course | ||||||||
| MQF LEVEL | 5 | ||||||||
| ECTS CREDITS | 4 | ||||||||
| DEPARTMENT | Media and Communications | ||||||||
| DESCRIPTION | The study-unit focuses on the knowledge and skills underlying basic communication processes among individuals, groups and organisations. It primarily deals with the psychology of communication in different scenarios. The importance of understanding how humans communicate among and with each other cannot be understated. It is essential for first year Communications students to delve into the multiple permutations that human communications can have. This includes intrapersonal (communication with oneself), interpersonal (communication between two or more persons), small group (communication with five to ten people), public (communications of speaker with audience), computer-mediated (communication between people via computers) and mass (communication addressed to a large audience, mediated by audio and/or visual means). Models of human communications will be explored. The study-unit is conducted in a classroom situation, where the student builds a framework for understanding different communication behaviours by individuals and organisations. In addition the student will be encouraged to reflect on the personal styles of communication and the effect this has on the self and others. Study-Unit Aims: - Acquaint students with the theories and practices of human communications; - Provide an opportunity for students to acquire the skills needed for a better personal communicative interaction; - Assist students in problem-solving within communicative relationships. Learning Outcomes: 1. Knowledge & Understanding: By the end of the study-unit the student will be able to: - Present both verbally and in writing the different aspects of communication both in terms of the media used and also in terms of the audiences; - Have a clearer understanding of his/her communication style and would have identified the areas of improvement required for enhancing personal communication skills; - Have created a basis in theory for the communication modules to follow, thus having a sound fundamental basis to build on in more specialized modules. 2. Skills: By the end of the study-unit the student will be able to: - Interact with others in enhanced form on an interpersonal and small group level; - Know the theories and practice of Public Speaking; - Create structures for organizational communication practice; - Know how to form and manage impressions. Main Text/s and any supplementary readings: Recommended texts: - Miller, K. (2003). Organisational communication: Approaches and processes. (3rd ed.). Belmont, CA: Wadsworth. - Myers, G. E., & Myers, M. T. (1992). The dynamics of human communication: A laboratory approach. (6th ed.). New York: McGraw Hill Inc. - DeVito, J. (2002). Human communication: The basic course. (9th ed.). Needham Heights, MA: Allyn & Bacon. - Turow, J. (1985). Learning to portray institutional power: The socialisation of creators in Mass Media Organisations. In R. D. McPhee & P. K. Tompkins (Eds.). (1985). Organizational communication: Traditional themes and new directions. Newbury Park, CA: Sage. pp. 211-234. Other texts: - Adler, R. B., Rosenfeld, L. B., & Towne, N. (1995) Interplay: The process of interpersonal communication. (6th ed.). Forth Worth, TX: Harcourt Brace College Publishers. (ISBN 0-15-501127-8). - Johnson, D. W. & Johnson, F. P. (1994). Joining together: Group theory and group skills. (5th ed.). Needham Heights, MA: Allyn and Bacon. |
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| STUDY-UNIT TYPE | Lecture and Independent Study | ||||||||
| METHOD OF ASSESSMENT |
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| LECTURER/S | Saviour Chircop Anna Maria Darmanin |
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The University makes every effort to ensure that the published Courses Plans, Programmes of Study and Study-Unit information are complete and up-to-date at the time of publication. The University reserves the right to make changes in case errors are detected after publication.
The availability of optional units may be subject to timetabling constraints. Units not attracting a sufficient number of registrations may be withdrawn without notice. It should be noted that all the information in the description above applies to study-units available during the academic year 2024/5. It may be subject to change in subsequent years. |
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