Course Code: DSW 140
Academic Year: 2024-2025
This course introduces students to the multiple ways that people communicate within personal and professional relationships. Students will learn to better understand how personal philosophies and social and cultural factors influence the way in which people communicate with one another. Concepts covered in the course include the differences between verbal and non-verbal communication, the effects of personal interpretation and perception on communication, how emotion influences communication, and how communication informs interpersonal relationships. Students will learn to understand the importance of what it is they are saying, how it is being delivered, and its potential interpretation to inform the development and maintenance of personal and professional relationships. Students will develop and have opportunities to practice strategies to deal with potential communication issues as they arise when working with people. Some discussion will also focus upon differential issues of power and social control within social services and the influence power has on the ways communication occur.