Course Overview

Course Title: International Communication and Culture Part A: Course Overview

Credit Points: 12

City Campus Postgraduate 335H Applied Communication Face-to-Face Sem 2 2009

Course Coordinator: Glen Donnar

Course Coordinator Phone: 9925 9970

Course Coordinator Email:glen.donnar@rmit.edu.au

Course Coordinator Location: 4.3.02C

Course Description

The course examines intercultural communication flows in relation to general theoretical arguments (regarding postcolonialism, globalisation, cultural imperialism, etc.). The course approaches these through a series of relevant case studies of contemporary cultural forms and issues.

The course poses a series of questions. For example, what happens when cultural forms migrate from one context to another? What contemporary phenomena are referred to by the term ’globalisation’, and how may these be understood historically? How may formations of power which characterise international relations be understood, and how have these impacted on particular social groups and contexts?

Objectives/Learning Outcomes/Capability Development

This course aims to provide you with: a critical familiarity with divergent approaches to the study of international culture and communication, with a focus on mediated communications between the ‘East’ and ‘West’ an understanding of the centrality of language, power and media in the examination of intercultural communication skills in applying developed theory to contemporary issues, experiences and events and the ability to relate those theories to their own communication practices the ability to engage in ongoing debates about the nature of intercultural communication and its contemporary forms the ability to pursue independent and collaborative research in the field of international communication and culture and to utilise reflective research practice as on ongoing professional activity

Overview of Learning Activities

Seminars will provide key concepts and theories, and apply these theoretical frameworks to substantial examples and case studies. Seminars will be a forum for student discussion and interaction, further development and clarification of the readings, and exploration of additional examples.

Dossier Readings are essential for the comprehension of key concepts and theories, participation in seminar discussions and the completion of assessment tasks. These constitute the minimum prescribed reading for the subject. Additional research will also be required for essays and projects.

Please take particular note: the set reading must be completed PRIOR to attending the seminar for which the reading has been prescribed.

Overview of Learning Resources

A combination of prescribed course readings online learning and research resources.

Overview of Assessment

Assessment tasks undertaken in this course will be based on a combination of individual and group work, reflection, self and peer assessment.