Note:
Course content may be changed, term to term, without
notice. The information below is provided as a guide
for course selection and is not binding in any form,
and should not be used to purchase course materials.
COMS 524 Course Syllabus
COURSE SYLLABUS
COMS 524
SMALL GROUP AND TEAM COMMUNICATIONS
COURSE DESCRIPTION
An analysis of theories, research, and practice of small group communication in various contexts.
RATIONALE
The objective of this course is to teach effective small group communication and problem
solving. This course requires the student to study group communication processes and to practice
small group decision making as a team. The student will be taught theory and learn how to
participate in small groups in application of that theory. This is a required course in the graduate
program for an MA in Communication. It may also be used in some business curriculums that
give instruction on decision making using the group process.
Using Google Hangout, a group of 5–7 students will solve problems related to presented case
studies. Students will have a meeting time and interact together as a group. In the event that
students are unable to attend the group session (lasting from 1–4 hours over the course of 2
modules/weeks), they may use the Group Discussion Board option in Blackboard to
communicate with group members.
I.
PREREQUISITE
For information regarding prerequisites for this course, please refer to the Academic
Course Catalog.
II.
REQUIRED RESOURCE PURCHASE
Click on the following link to view the required resource(s) for the term in which you are
registered: http://bookstore.mbsdirect.net/liberty.htm
III.
IV.
ADDITIONAL MATERIALS FOR LEARNING
A.
Computer with basic audio/video output equipment
B.
Internet access (broadband recommended)
C.
Microsoft Office
MEASURABLE LEARNING OUTCOMES
Upon successful completion of this course, the student will be able to:
A.
Summarize small group and team communication theories.
B.
Demonstrate an understanding of the concepts and vocabulary associated with
specific theories.
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COMS 524 Course Syllabus
V.
C.
Analyze professional and popular literature relevant to small group and team
communication.
D.
Assume a variety of leadership and other roles in activities involving group
decision making and problem solving.
E.
Create and present professional papers and group projects.
F.
Evaluate the communication and overall contribution of self and fellow members’
contributions to groups.
COURSE REQUIREMENTS AND ASSIGNMENTS
A.
Textbook readings and lecture presentations
B.
Course Requirements Checklist
After reading the Course Syllabus and Student Expectations, the student will
complete the related checklist found in Module/Week 1.
C.
Article Reviews (4)
The student will review 4 articles. For each review, the student will find and read
a journal article from the university’s online library. The article must be reflective
of the topic of discussion for that module/week. The student will write a review of
at least 400 words that contains an abstract of the content of the article. The
review must reflect the student’s personal knowledge of small group theory.
D.
Journal Responses (8)
The student will write 8 responses in a journal format. These responses will be
submitted for assessment halfway through the course and at the end of the course.
Generally, the responses will be made up of short answers to questions assigned at
the end of the chapter(s) from the textbook.
E.
Group Project - Case Studies (2)
The student will be placed in a group in order to collaborate on the group’s
project and to use a prescriptive problem-solving strategy to solve the problem
presented in each case study. For each group project, the student will create a 5–8page outline that presents the contents of the group’s analysis and discussion,
utilizing the case study and the textbook for references.
F.
Case Study Peer Reviews (2)
The student will be given an opportunity to rate each of the members of his or her
group after each group project, noting the role each member had (supporting or
non-supporting), the level of contributions made, how committed to the goal each
member was, etc. Anything presented in discussion or in the textbook on group
performance may be referred to and evaluated. The instructor will award points
based on the comments of members in the student’s group about his or her
performance.
G.
Reflection Paper
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COMS 524 Course Syllabus
The student will compose a paper of no more than 1,000 words responding to
various prompts provided by the instructor. The goal of this paper is to identify
and evaluate the non-decision-making elements of the participants within the
small group the student will have participated in during this course.
H.
Exams (2)
Each exam will cover the Reading & Study material for the assigned
modules/weeks. Each exam will be open-book/open-notes, contain 100 multiplechoice and/or true/false questions, and have a time limit of 2 hours.
VI.
COURSE GRADING AND POLICIES
A.
Points
Course Requirements Checklist
Article Reviews (4 at 35 pts ea)
Journal Responses (8 at 25 pts ea)
Group Project - Case Studies (2 at 175 pts ea)
Case Study Peer Reviews (2 at 30 pts ea)
Reflection Paper
Exam 1
(Modules 1–4)
Exam 2
(Modules 5–8)
Total
B.
10
140
200
350
60
50
100
100
1010
Scale
A = 940–1010 A- = 920–939 B+ = 900–919 B = 860–899 B- = 840–859
C+ = 820–839 C = 780–819 C- = 760–779 D+ = 740–759 D = 700–739
D- = 680–699 F = 0–679
C.
Late Assignment Policy
If the student is unable to complete an assignment on time, then he or she must
contact the instructor immediately by email.
Assignments that are submitted after the due date without prior approval from the
instructor will receive the following deductions:
1.
Late assignments submitted within one week of the due date will
receive a 10% deduction.
2.
Assignments submitted more than one week late will receive a 20%
deduction.
3.
Assignments submitted two weeks late or after the final date of the
course will not be accepted.
4.
Late Discussion Board threads or replies will not be accepted.
Special circumstances (e.g. death in the family, personal health issues) will be
reviewed by the instructor on a case-by-case basis.
D.
Disability Assistance
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COMS 524 Course Syllabus
Students with a documented disability may contact Liberty University Online’s
Office of Disability Academic Support (ODAS) at LUOODAS@liberty.edu to
make arrangements for academic accommodations. Further information can be
found at www.liberty.edu/disabilitysupport.
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COMS 524 Course Schedule
COURSE SCHEDULE
COMS 524
Textbook: Beebe & Masterson, Communicating in Small Groups (2015).
MODULE/
WEEK
READING & STUDY
1
Beebe & Masterson: chs. 1–2
1 presentation
1 case study
2
3
ASSIGNMENTS
POINTS
Course Requirements Checklist
Class Introductions
Article Review 1
Journal Response 1
10
0
35
*
Beebe & Masterson: chs. 10–11
1 presentation
Article Review 2
Journal Response 2
35
*
Beebe & Masterson: chs. 3–4
1 presentation
Journal Response 3
*
4
Beebe & Masterson: chs. 5–6
1 presentation
Article Review 3
Group Project - Case Study 1
Case Study Peer Review 1
Journal Response 4
Exam 1
35
175
30
100
100
5
Beebe & Masterson: ch. 7
1 presentation
1 case study
Reflection Paper
Journal Response 5
50
*
6
Beebe & Masterson: ch. 8
1 presentation
Journal Response 6
*
7
Beebe & Masterson: ch. 9
1 presentation
Article Review 4
Journal Response 7
35
*
8
Beebe & Masterson: ch. 12,
Appendices A–B
1 presentation
Group Project - Case Study 2
Case Study Peer Review 2
Journal Response 8
Exam 2
175
30
100
100
TOTAL
1010
*Each Journal Response is worth 25 points, but Journal Responses 1–4 will be submitted and graded in
Module/Week 4, and Journal Responses 5–8 will be submitted and graded in Module/Week 8.
DB = Discussion Board
NOTE: Each course module/week begins on Monday morning at 12:00 a.m. (ET) and ends on
Sunday night at 11:59 p.m. (ET). The final module/week ends at 11:59 p.m. (ET) on
Friday.