Course code KomZ3002

Credit points 3

Communication Theories

Total Hours in Course81

Number of hours for lectures24

Number of hours for seminars and practical classes8

Independent study hours49

Date of course confirmation19.04.2021

Responsible UnitInstitute of Social Sciences and Humanities

Course developer

author Sociālo un humanitāro zinātņu institūts

Juris Vuguls

Dr. phil.

Course abstract

Acquisition of the study course allows students to develop their social and communicative competence, gain an understanding of the important intercultural, organizational and mass communication field of 20th and 21st century communication theories, and develop the theoretical knowledge of the relationship with planning, building the image of the organization, communication with the formation of broader types of news, flexible solution of various psychological and ethical problem situations related to communication.

Learning outcomes and their assessment

Knowledge - students gain an understanding of the most important theories of communication of the 20th and 21st centuries, their basic knowledge of the essence, types and processes of communication.
Assessment - test.
Skills: students develop the ability to analyze and evaluate the organization's external communication, formulate the goals and directions of the organization's external communication, cooperate with the media, supervise the preparation of advertising materials, present the organization in their country and abroad. Students develop communication skills at the local and international level, develop the ability to flexibly solve communication-related conflicts and problems based on the knowledge of professional ethics and social psychology.
Assessment - work in seminars, attendance of lectures.
Competence - students develop social and communicative competence and can plan, coordinate and supervise the organization's external communication, based on the theoretical findings of modern communication science.
Assessment - independent work, exam.

Course Content(Calendar)

1. Sources and structure of communication science. (1 lecture)
2. The essence, types and functions of communication. (2 lectures)
3. Stages of the communication process. Communication models. (2 lectures, 1 seminar)
4. Communication codes, media, channels. (1 lecture, 1 seminar)
5. Media richness theory (R. L. Daft, R.H. Lengel). (1 lecture, 1 seminar)
6. Audience satisfaction theory (E. Katz). Audience needs classification (D. Makveil). (2 lectures)
7. Theoretical research of media-created reality. (1 lecture, 1 seminar)
8. The role of technology in communication. Ideas of technological determinism (M.McLuhan, W.Ong, H.Innis). (1 lecture, 1 seminar)
9. Levels of communication (R.T. Craig). (1 lecture)
10. Mass communication (V.Lippmann, H.D. Lasswell, Edward Bernays, J.Ellul propaganda theories). (2 lectures, 1 seminar)
11. Business communication (H. Simon). Internal and external communication of the organization. Effectiveness of business communication. (2 lectures, 1 seminar)
12. The role and functions of an external communication specialist. (1 lecture)
13. Business negotiations. The main principles of conversational art. (2 lectures)
14. Communication barriers, methods of overcoming them. (2 lectures)
15. Conflicts, their resolution in business communication. Conflict resolution styles (T.Kenneth and R.Kilmann). (2 lectures, 1 seminar)
16. Professional ethics. Codes of ethics. (2 lectures)

Requirements for awarding credit points

Accumulative assessment in 10 ball system:
Work in seminars – 10%, independent works (essays) – 30%, attendance of lectures 20%, test – 20%, exam – 20%.
Automatic assessment is possible when mark in all positions (till exam) not less than 7 (good).

Description of the organization and tasks of students’ independent work

During the studies the student develops and submits 3 works in printed form at the indicated time:
1. Analysis of the communication situation according to one of the communication models.
2. Presentation of an analysis of one communication theory of free choice.
3. Causes of conflicts and reflection on overcoming them.

Criteria for Evaluating Learning Outcomes

Independent work is assessed according to the quality requirements of compliance with the task.
Discussions are judged by engagement, ability to reasonably argue and discuss issues related to study topics.
Focus in assessment of independent and discussion tasks – development of individual critical thinking and elements of independent thinking in sphere of communication theory.

Compulsory reading

1. Encyclopedia of Communication Theory. Editors: S. W. Littlejohn, K. A. Foss. Sage, 2009. 1174 p. [tiešsaiste] [Skatīts 19.04.2021.] https://teddykw2.files.wordpress.com/2013/10/encyclopedia-of-communication-theory.pdf
2. Krauklis J., Ločmelis J. Komunikāciju leksikons. Rīga: Jumava, 2004. 208 lpp.
3. Herbsts D. Komunikācija uzņēmumā. Rīga: Zvaigzne ABC, 2007. 119 lpp.
4. Reņģe V. Mūsdienu organizāciju psiholoģija. Rīga: Zvaigzne ABC, 2007. 215 lpp.

Further reading

1. Milēviča I. Ievads komunikācijas teorijās. Lekciju konspekts [tiešsaiste] [skatīts 10.12.2021.]. Pieejams: https://www.alberta-koledza.lv/upload/old/downloads/Ievads_komunik_teorijas.pdf
2. Rozenvalde I. Preses lasītāja svešvārdu vārdnīca. Rīga: Nordik, 2004. 520 lpp.
3. Frīdmens T.L. Pasaule ir plakana: īsa 21. gadsimta vēsture. Rīga: Jumava, 2009. 566 lpp.

Periodicals and other sources

1. Psiholoģijas pasaule: PP. Rīga: Daro Cēsis. 2007.-2010. ISSN 1691-0435
2. International Journal of Marketing & Business Communication. ISSN: 2277-484X. Pieejams: http://manuscript.publishingindia.com/index.php/IJMBC
3. Journal of Business Communication. Published by Sage Publications. ISSN (printed) 0021-9436. ISSN (electronic) 1552-4582.

Notes

Part B or C study course for students of all bachelor's programs of LLU