This course examines theories from the field of social science that have been influential in the development of intercultural communication concepts, with an emphasis on the contributions of constructivism. It provides an overview of major paradigms in scientific thought that are mirrored in social scientific theories, and of where intercultural communication fits into the scheme. We will review classic sources in the field of intercultural communication and examine current writings that pertain to the future of the field. We will specifically explore the body of theory that underlies the planning of programs and conducting of communication research—interpersonal, small group, and intercultural. We will also generally consider ethical questions that arise in intercultural encounters, in teaching and training, and in the conduct of research, especially across cultures.

Course Objectives:

• Understand the historical and theoretical forces that characterize the discipline called intercultural communication and how it fits into the general field of social science
• Develop the ability to summarize and reflect on the primary meta-theoretical issues that currently engage the discipline
• Develop the ability to analyze critically a range of scholarship for how well its theory is integrated with practice, validity, and ethics
• Experience explaining and defending one’s own preferences and practices in intercultural work, using the vocabulary of intercultural theory