Pennsylvania State University 3 credits CAS
People learn the basic features of society, and social relationships, through interaction. Small groups are especially important because they are the smallest possible social unit in which bargaining, negotiation, and deliberation can occur. Every student has practical life experience in groups, and the course syllabus draws on those experiences to contextualize the material students learn. At the same time, without a formal study of group communication, students lack the necessary perspective and training to work most effectively and ethically in groups. This course addresses that knowledge and skill deficit by walking students through the major concepts, theories, underlying research methods, and ethical dilemmas faced in small groups. Students come to understand how groups fit into larger organizations and society-often making up the building blocks of both small and vast social units. Students come to appreciate the dynamic quality of groups, which often develop in relation to group members' needs and external social forces. The course teaches students the importance of group cohesion, conflict, bonding, and group culture, as well as the hazards those can face when groups wish to engage in effective group problem analysis and decision making. Throughout, students are learning the ethical principles of democratic deliberation and leadership in groups-a subject that was at the center of communication pedagogy in the early twentieth century and that has become particularly important once again early in this century. Finally, students learn practical abilities, such as group agenda setting, discussion management, and presentation skills.
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