HARFORD COMMUNITY COLLEGE
CMST 210 – Group Communication
Course Information
EFFECTIVE DATE
Fall 2013
DATE SUBMITTED
2-21-13
COURSE NUMBER
CMST 210
COURSE TITLE
Group Communication
PREREQUISITE(S)/CO-REQUISITES
Eligibility for ENG 101
DIVISION
Humanities
BUDGET ORG
NUMBER
1184
SUBJECT
CMST
INITIATOR
Linda Heil
DIVISION LEADER
Dr. Karry Hathaway
NUMBER OF CREDITS
3
TOTAL INSTRUCTIONAL HOURS
45
RECOMMENDED CLASS SIZE
24
START-UP COST
0
COURSE FEE
$2418.90
Course Description CMST 210 - Group Communication (3 credits)
This course examines issues of physical and virtual teamwork. The course challenges students'
understanding of their leadership competence and conflict resolution skills. Students explore the
relationships among members, the processes they use, and the purposes for which they are together.
Prerequisite: ENG 012, ENG 018, ENG 060 or a qualifying score on the writing assessment.
Student Learning Objectives Linked to Relevant Academic Outcomes
 Upon satisfactory completion of this course, the student will be able to:
 Examine theory and research in small group/team communication as it relates to the
enhancement of communication skills
(Academic outcomes supported by this learning objective: Communication, Interpersonal
Skills, Critical Thinking, Personal and Self –Management Skills)
 Explore the functions of communication in small group settings
(Academic outcomes supported by this learning objective: Communication, Interpersonal
Skills, Critical Thinking, Information Literacy, Personal and Self –Management Skills)
 Examine and assess participation in groups and teams, and experiment and improve upon those
behaviors
(Academic outcomes supported by this learning objective: Communication, Interpersonal
Skills, Critical Thinking, Information Literacy, Personal and Self –Management Skills)
 Apply techniques for managing conflict and reaching consensus in small groups.
(Academic outcomes supported by this learning objective: Communication, Interpersonal
Skills, Personal and Self –Management Skills)

Manage effective group leadership and participation
(Academic outcomes supported by this learning objective: Communication, Interpersonal
Skills, Critical Thinking, Personal and Self –Management Skills)
Course Outline
I.
FOUNDATIONS OF GROUP AND TEAM COMMUNICATION
A. Introducing Group and Team Principles and Practices
B. Small Group Communication Theory
C. Group Formation
II.
A.
B.
C.
D.
E.
MANAGING GROUP AND TEAM RELATIONSHIPS
Preparing to Collaborate
Relating to Others in Groups and Teams
Improving Group Climate
Enhancing Group and Team Communication Skills
Managing Conflict
A.
B.
C.
D.
MANAGING GROUP AND TEAM TASKS
Leadership
Making Decisions and Solving Problems
Using Problem-Solving Techniques
Enhancing Creativity in Groups and Teams
III.
Instructional Method(s)
To achieve student learning objectives, instruction includes: lectures, group discussions, group
projects, group progress reports, team/member assessments, collaborative learning activities, computermediated communication, and presentations. Course may be presented as face-to-face, hybrid, and/or
online.
Assessment Method(s) Final grades will be a compilation of grades from group projects, group
progress reports, team/member assessments, examinations and quizzes, computer-mediated
communication, attendance, and participation (online and in class).
Textual Material(s)
Title:
Author or Editor:
Publisher:
Date
Communicating in Small Groups: Principles and Practices
Steven A. Beebe and John Masterson
Pearson
2012
GENERAL EDUCATION JUSTIFICATION FORM
The initiator completes this section only if requesting general education status for this course. If
a modification is for an existing general education course, the initiator must also complete the
General Education Justification form. (See the Curriculum Manual for the guidelines and
worksheet (Appendices C and D)used by the Curriculum Work Group for evaluating general
education proposals.)
1. General Education Guidelines
To be considered for the general education distribution, each course must emphasize breadth rather
than depth and, in most cases, be an introductory course to a discipline. Explain in a few
sentences how the proposed course meets these guidelines.
Group communication provides students with an overview and foundation of a broad range of effective
group and communication principles, theories, and skills. It provides students with an awareness of
their own communication strengths and weaknesses with relating to others, leadership, and problem
solving. The course will focus on the foundation of group communication, how to manage group
relationships and tasks.
General Education courses shall reflect current scholarship in the discipline and provide reference
to theoretical frameworks and methods of inquiry appropriate to academic disciplines. (Courses that
are theoretical may include applications, but all applications courses shall include theoretical
components.) Explain in a few sentences how the proposed course meets these guidelines.
This communication course introduces students to the fundamental principles and theories of small
group and team communication. The theory building process of practical approaches to small group
communication and the theoretical perspectives of small group communication are explored. The
principles and theories are used as a basis to develop communication skills for increased critical
thinking and communication effectiveness. Students are provided with opportunities to apply to
theories and principles with skill and self-reflection exercises and research projects.
Public institutions of higher education should incorporate knowledge and skills involving the use of
quantitative data, effective writing, information retrieval, and information literacy where possible in
the General Education core. If appropriate, explain in a few sentences how the proposed course
meets these guidelines.
Students will work together to complete small group projects. A final small group course research
presentation is a requirement. The research presentation will consist of a specific issue, question, or
hypothesis, a definition of significant concepts and theories, a review of related research, along with
group member and team assessments.
A.
2. General Education Category
This course fits into the checked general education category:
(GB) Behavioral/Social Science
(GE) English Composition
(GH) Arts/Humanities
(GI) Interdisciplinary and Emerging Issues
(GL) Biological and Physical Laboratory Science
(GM) Mathematics
(GS) Biological and Physical Science
3. Relation Of Course To General Education Goals
As justified by the accompanying explanation on how the course fulfills the goal and the specific
related activity, this course satisfies the following General Education goals [identify relevant
goal(s) and provide Academic Outcomes(s) and specific activity(ies)/assessments]:
General Education Category: GH
General Education Goals
General Education Goals:
1
3
7
Course Name and Number:
CMST 210
List the Student Learning Objectives that align to each General Education Goal; the Academic
Outcomes and the Specific Activity(ies) /assessments:
1. Student Learning Objective:Examine theory and research in small
X
X
X
group/team communication as it relates to the enhancement of
communication skills.
Academic Outcome(s) Communication, Interpersonal Skills, Critical
Thinking, Personal and Self –Management Skills
Specific activity/assessment: group discussions, group projects, group
progress reports, team/member assessments, collaborative learning
activities, and computer-mediated communication.
2. Student Learning Objective: Explore the functions of communication
in small group settings
Academic Outcomes: Communication, Interpersonal Skills, Critical
Thinking, Information Literacy, Personal and Self –Management Skills
Specific activity/assessment: group discussions, group projects, group
progress reports, team/member assessments, collaborative learning
activities, and computer-mediated communication.
3. Student Learning Objective: Examine and assess participation in
groups and teams, and to experiment and improve upon those behaviors
Academic Outcomes: Communication, Interpersonal Skills, Critical
Thinking, Information Literacy, Personal and Self –Management Skills
Specific activity/assessment: group discussions, group projects, group
progress reports, team/member assessments, collaborative learning
activities, and computer-mediated communication.
4. Student Learning Objective: Apply techniques for managing conflict
and reaching consensus in small groups
Academic Outcomes: Communication, Interpersonal Skills, Personal
and Self –Management Skills
Specific activity/assessment: group projects, group progress reports,
team/member assessments, collaborative learning activities, and
computer-mediated communication.
5. Student Learning Objective: Manage effective group leadership and
participation
Academic Outcomes: Communication, Interpersonal Skills, Critical
Thinking, Personal and Self –Management Skills
Specific activity/assessment:group discussions, group projects, group
progress reports, team/member assessments, collaborative learning
activities, and computer-mediated communication.
6. Student Learning Objective:
Academic Outcomes:
Specific activity/assessment:
7. Student Learning Objective:
Academic Outcomes:
Specific activity/assessment:
8. Student Learning Objective:
Academic Outcomes:
Specific activity/assessment:
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X