Sheridan Course Outlines

Land Acknowledgement

Sheridan College resides on land that has been, and still is, the traditional territory of several Indigenous nations, including the Anishinaabe, the Haudenosaunee Confederacy, the Wendat, and the Mississaugas of the Credit First Nation. We recognize this territory is covered by the Dish with One Spoon treaty and the Two Row Wampum treaty, which emphasize the importance of joint stewardship, peace, and respectful relationships.

As an institution of higher learning Sheridan embraces the critical role that education must play in facilitating real transformational change. We continue our collective efforts to recognize Canada's colonial history and to take steps to meaningful Truth and Reconciliation.

Section I: Administrative Information

Total hours: 42.0
Credit Value: 3.0
Credit Value Notes: N/A
Effective: Spring/Summer 2023
Prerequisites: N/A
Corequisites: N/A
Equivalents: N/A
Pre/Co/Equiv Notes: N/A

Program(s): General Education
Program Coordinator(s): Alia Somani
Course Leader or Contact: Sara Cumming
Version: 20230508_00
Status: Approved (APPR)

Section I Notes: N/A

Section II: Course Details

Detailed Description
This course is designed to provide students with an introduction to interpersonal relationships. Healthy interpersonal relationships are central to our well being, familial and workplace success. Effective communication skills are critical in any relationships. This course helps students become more self-reflective and self-aware of their communication capabilities through topics such as the foundations of interpersonal communications, creating and responding to messages, the dynamics, and contexts of interpersonal relationships. Attention is given to verbal and nonverbal communication, listening skills, perceiving others, managing conflict and interpersonal relationship within family, work, groups, and teams.

Program Context

General Education

Program Coordinator(s): Alia Somani

This course is part of the General Education curriculum which is designed to contribute to the development of the students' consciousness of the diversity, complexity, and richness of the human experience; their ability to establish meaning through this consciousness; and, as a result, their ability to contribute thoughtfully, creatively, and positively to the society in which they live and work. General Education courses strengthen students' generic skills, such as critical analysis, problem solving, and communication, in the context of an exploration of topics with broad-based personal and/or societal importance. This is a required course for the General Arts & Science Program.

Course Critical Performance and Learning Outcomes

	Critical Performance:
	By the end of this course students will have demonstrated the ability to communicate effectively with others by incorporating the principles of interpersonal communication.

Learning Outcomes:

To achieve the critical performance, students will have demonstrated the ability to:

Demonstrate how the communication model applies to your interpersonal communication.
Identify the influence of other people, language, culture and self-fulfilling prophecies on the development of your self-concept.
Understand how the process of selection, organization, interpretation, and negotiation affects our perceptions of others.
Recognize the degree to which you express your emotions and the consequences of this level of expression.
Determine which listening styles you could use to respond effectively to another person.
Construct a message at the optimal level of either specificity or vagueness for any given situation.
Understand the distinguishing characteristics of non-verbal communication.
Acknowledge the relationship between the presenting self and defensiveness.
Identify the influence of fender and culture on interpersonal conflict.
Compare the different types of leadership in work groups and teams and the types of power individual groups members can possess.

Evaluation Plan
Students demonstrate their learning in the following ways:

Evaluation Plan: IN-CLASS

	Tests (3 x 20%)	60.0%
	In Class assignments (5 x 5%)	25.0%
	Group Assignment	15.0%
	Total	100.0%

Evaluation Notes and Academic Missed Work Procedure:

TEST AND ASSIGNMENT PROTOCOL

To encourage behaviours that will help students to be successful in the workplace and to ensure that students receive credit for their individual work, the following rules apply to every course offered within the Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences.

 Students are responsible for staying abreast of test dates and times, as well as due dates and any special instructions for submitting assignments and projects as supplied to the class by the professor.
 Students must write all tests at the specified times. Missed tests, in-class activities, assignments and presentations are awarded a mark of zero.  If an extension or make-up opportunity is approved by the professor as outlined below, the mark of zero may be revised by subsequent performance.  The penalty for late submission of written assignments is a loss of 10% per day for up to five business days (excluding weekends and statutory holidays), after which, a grade of zero is assigned. Business days include any day that the college is open for business, whether the student has scheduled classes that day or not.
 Students, who miss a test or in-class activity or assignment or fail to submit an assignment on time due to exceptional circumstances, are required to notify their professor in advance of the class whenever possible.  A make-up test may be supplied for students who provide an acceptable explanation of their absence and/or acceptable documentation explaining their absence (e.g., a medical certificate). All make-up tests are to be written at a time and place specified by the professor upon the student's return. Alternately, students may be given an opportunity to earn the associated marks by having a subsequent test count for the additional marks. Exceptional circumstances may result in a modification of due dates for assignments.
 Unless otherwise specified, assignments and projects must be submitted at the beginning of class.
 Students must complete every assignment as an individual effort unless, the professor specifies otherwise.
 Since there may be instances of grade appeal or questions regarding the timely completion of assignments and/or extent of individual effort, etc., students are strongly advised to keep, and make available to their professor, if requested, a copy of all assignments and working notes until the course grade has been finalized.
 There will be no resubmission of work unless this has been previously agreed to or suggested by the professor.
 Students must submit all assignments in courses with practical lab and field components in order to pass the course.

Provincial Context
The course meets the following Ministry of Colleges and Universities requirements:

Essential Employability Skills
Essential Employability Skills emphasized in the course:

Interpersonal Skills - Show respect for the diverse opinions, values, belief systems, and contributions of others.
Critical Thinking & Problem Solving - Apply a systematic approach to solve problems.
Critical Thinking & Problem Solving Skills - Use a variety of thinking skills to anticipate and solve problems.
Interpersonal Skills - Interact with others in groups or teams in ways that contribute to effective working relationships and the achievement of goals.
Personal Skills - Take responsibility for one's own actions, decisions, and consequences.
Personal Skills - Manage the use of time and other resources to complete projects.
Communication Skills - Respond to written, spoken, or visual messages in a manner that ensures effective communication.
Communication Skills - Communicate clearly, concisely and correctly in the written, spoken, visual form that fulfills the purpose and meets the needs of the audience.
Information Management - Locate, select, organize and document information using appropriate technology and information systems.

General Education
This General Education course relates to the following themes as specified by the Ministry of Colleges and Universities.

Personal Understanding

Prior Learning Assessment and Recognition
PLAR Contact (if course is PLAR-eligible) - Office of the Registrar
Students may apply to receive credit by demonstrating achievement of the course learning outcomes through previous relevant work/life experience, service, self-study and training on the job. This course is eligible for challenge through the following method(s):

Challenge Exam
Notes:

Section III: Topical Outline

Some details of this outline may change as a result of circumstances such as weather cancellations, College and student activities, and class timetabling.
Instruction Mode: In-Class
Professor: Sara Cumming
Resource(s):

	Type	Description
Required	Textbook	Interplay: The Process of Interpersonal Communication, Adler, R., Rosenfeld, L., Proctor, R. and Winder, C., Toronto: Oxford University Press, 5th Canadian Edition, ISBN 9780199033478

Applicable student group(s): General Education Electives, General Arts & Science
Course Details:

Class and Topic	Readings	DATE
Week 1 Introduction to Course Interpersonal Process- Why we communicate	Ch. 1
Week 2 Communication and the self-Presenting the Self	Ch. 2
Week 3 Perceiving Others-How do we perceive ourselves and others	Ch. 3
Week 4 Emotions-What influences our emotions?	Ch. 4
Week 5 Listening-What makes us good listeners?	Review Ch 1-4 Ch. 5	TEST DAY (20%)
Week 6 Listening Continued	Ch. 5	In Class listening exercise-group assignment 15%
Week 7: READING WEEK
Week 8 Language-verbal and nonverbal	Ch. 6 and 7
Week 9 Interpersonal Relationships	Ch. 8
Week 10 Communication Climate	Review Ch 5-8 Ch 9	TEST (20%)
Week 11 Managing Conflict	Ch. 10
Week 12 Communicating with Family	Ch. 11	Journal Assignment Due (25%)
Week 13 Work, Group and Team Communication	Ch. 12
Week 14	Review Ch. 9-12	TEST DAY (20%)

Sheridan Policies

It is recommended that students read the following policies in relation to course outlines:

Academic Integrity
Copyright
Intellectual Property
Respectful Behaviour
Accessible Learning

All Sheridan policies can be viewed on the Sheridan policy website.

Appropriate use of generative Artificial Intelligence tools: In alignment with Sheridan's Academic Integrity Policy, students should consult with their professors and/or refer to evaluation instructions regarding the appropriate use, or prohibition, of generative Artificial Intelligence (AI) tools for coursework. Turnitin AI detection software may be used by faculty members to screen assignment submissions or exams for unauthorized use of artificial intelligence.

Course Outline Changes: The information contained in this Course Outline including but not limited to faculty and program information and course description is subject to change without notice. Nothing in this Course Outline should be viewed as a representation, offer and/or warranty. Students are responsible for reading the Important Notice and Disclaimer which applies to Programs and Courses.

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