Communications (COMM) 329

Overview

COMM 329: Mediated Interpersonal Communication is a three-credit, senior-level undergraduate communication course.  It introduces you to interpersonal and business communication skills in Internet-mediated spaces by focusing your attention on Internet-based social sites and virtual communities. It also provides you with an in-depth understanding of online communication theory to help you examine Internet-based business and social sites from a variety of critical perspectives.

In COMM 329 you relate the concepts you have learned from your readings to the study of online social and business communities. You will examine how effectively users communicate and behave online, to what ends, and with what outcomes. You will also reflect on what you observe online by relating your observations to broader social and business issues. This course encourages you to pay attention to the interpersonal dynamics that lead people to “construct” and exchange social meaning as they interact in online social and business communities.

Outline

Unit 1: Redefining Interpersonal Communication

• Lesson 1: A Media Ecological Perspective on Social Media
• Lesson 2: The Challenge of Technology for Interpersonal Communication
• Lesson 3: Self as Source
• Lesson 4: Transformed Social Interaction in Mediated Interpersonal Communication
• Lesson 5: Emotions in Mediated Interpersonal Communications
• Lesson 6: Avatar-Mediated Communications
• Lesson 7: Parasocial Interaction

Unit 2: Enabling Relationships Through Social Media

• Lesson 8: Social Media for Business Communication
• Lesson 9: Antisocial Communication
• Lesson 10: Forming Impressions Online
• Lesson 11: Social Identification with Virtual Communities
• Lesson 12: Virtual Group Problems and Interventions
• Lesson 13: Social Support on the Internet
• Lesson 14: Flaming and Blaming in Online Discussions

Evaluation

To receive credit for COMM 329, you must complete both assignments, achieve a minimum grade of D (50 per cent) on the final examination, and achieve an overall grade of at least “D” (50 per cent) in the entire course. The distribution of marks for the various credit activities is listed below:

To learn more about assignments and examinations, please refer to Athabasca University's online Calendar.

Course Materials

Textbook

Other Materials

Students access all other course materials online at the course website.

Challenge for Credit Course Overview

The Challenge for Credit process allows students to demonstrate that they have acquired a command of the general subject matter, knowledge, intellectual and/or other skills that would normally be found in a university level course.

Full information for the Challenge for Credit can be found in the Undergraduate Calendar.

• Undergraduate Challenge for Credit Policy
• Undergraduate Challenge for Credit Procedures

Challenge Evaluation

To receive credit for the COMM 329 challenge registration, you must achieve a grade of at least “D” (50 percent) on the examination.

Online Exam (3 hours)

Undergraduate Challenge for Credit Course Registration Form

• Challenge for Credit Form