COMM 450 Syllabus

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Course Description

This course is designed to facilitate practical, theoretical, and critical analyses of conflict and negotiation. This will involve exploring a variety of approaches to conflict, negotiation, and third-party intervention in the relevant contexts within which conflict management occurs. This course covers three major areas of study: 1) Conflict theories, styles, and frameworks; 2) Managing conflict through negotiation; 3) Third-party intervention in conflict management.

Course Objectives

Upon successful completion of this course, students should be able to:

1. Understand the role of communication in conflict and conflict-management processes.
2. Examine theories and research on negotiation and conflict management.
3. Analyze the components of conflict that lead to constructive or destructive patterns.
4. Appreciate and put into practice the tactics of principled negotiation.
5. Appreciate the many variables to consider in the selection of strategies, methods, and responses that are appropriate to a given conflict situation.
6. Engage in a process of inquiry that leads to recommendations for designing effective conflict management processes.

Required texts

• Wilmot, W., & Hocker, J. (2013). Interpersonal Conflict, 9th Edition. New York: McGraw-Hill. ISBN-13: 978-0078036934. Listed as “WH” in the Schedule and course pages.
• • Another option for Wilmot, W., & Hocker, J. (2013). Interpersonal Conflict, 9th Edition. New York: McGraw-Hill. ISBN-13: 978-0078036934. Go to coursesmart.com.
  • You may also use the 7th or 8th edition of the “WH” book at your own risk. It is much cheaper and most of the content is similar, with older examples and the topics named and organized differently. However, the assignments and assessments in this course are based on the 9th edition, so you will find the references in the lessons refer to the 9th edition, and older editions of the textbook might have outdated material.
• The Arbinger Institute (2002). Leadership and Self-Deception: Getting Out of the Box Berrett-Koehler. Available (free) online. You must login with your BYUI credentials to access this book.
• Fisher, R., Ury, W., & Patton, B. (2011). Getting to Yes. New York: Penguin Books. ISBN-13: 9780143118756, e-text ISBN: 9781101539545. Listed as “Yes” in the schedule and course pages.

Compare prices for your textbooks through the University Store Price Comparison site. They will show you all of the options from the University Store plus several online options to help you find the best price.

Required Technology

You will submit all assignments in I-Learn.

Mozilla Firefox is the recommended I-Learn browser; you may need to update your browser plug-ins. Please verify your technical set-up Orientation to Online Learning at BYU-Idaho.

You will download templates and sample assignments formatted as .doc (Microsoft Office 2010 or 2013). You must submit assignments formatted as .doc or .docx. Contact the Help Desk to purchase a student version of Microsoft Office.

Student Honor

Student Honor is following the path of discipleship and learning to be more like Christ by learning to think, feel, and act more like Him.

Living a life of honor:

• Begins as we learn and live the baseline standards of the honor code, understand the purposes, and are true to the promises we have made
• Continues as we heed the promptings of the Spirit to raise our personal bar of righteousness and foster a spirit of integrity, sacrifice, consecration, love, service, and willing obedience as students and throughout our lives
• Prepares our hearts for devoted discipleship in the family, church, work, and community

Students are encouraged and expected to live by the principles and policies outlined by the student honor office. As we live the principles of honor at BYU-Idaho, we allow the Spirit into the classroom and into our lives.

Plagiarism (using another’s words or ideas without giving credit) of any kind will not be tolerated. Any form of plagiarism or cheating (any attempt to deceive) will result in a failing grade.

Learning Model Architecture

Comm 450 follows the BYUI learning model. This is not an independent study course; it is a collaborative, interactive course with weekly assignments and due dates. It is important that you follow the lesson flow and complete lesson activities sequentially. Going out of order may cause confusion or cause you to miss things.

• Prepare by reading, viewing, or listening to assigned reference materials.
• Teach one another by participating in class, group and/or partner discussions.
• Ponder & prove by completing captures, assignments, and exams.

Note

Each discussion board has two due dates (initial posts and replies); however you will only receive one dashboard prompt. Don’t rely solely on your dashboard prompts. Check the Course Schedule for accurate due dates.

Late Work

Late work is not accepted.

Grading scale

A = 90–100%

B = 80–89%

C = 70–79%

D = 60–69%

F = Below 60%

Graded Components

• Exams = 40% (2 Exams). Exams for this class will consist of multiple-choice questions, true and false questions, and short-answer questions as well as essay questions. Exams are rigorous and require your best effort to study the textbooks and take copious notes. Form study groups to prepare for the exams. Test questions come from the assigned readings, discussions, and assignments.
• Assignments and Captures = 40%
• • Students will “capture” chapters from the texts Interpersonal Conflict and Getting to Yes. Captures are written assignments entered into essay questions in an assessment. It is recommended that you save your captures on a separate document that you can keep for your own use and study for exams then copy the information into the assessment questions. You may also choose to revise your capture based on the discussions and lesson activities each week before submitting it by the posted due date.
  • All papers must be typed and double spaced.
  • There are 9 total captures in the course, covering 10 chapters of the WH textbook and Leadership and Self-Deception. For "Getting to Yes" In lessons 10 and 11 you will complete some guiding questions instead of captures. You are allowed to miss two capture assignments.
  • Cases: You apply your skills to a few cases throughout the semester. Each case involves some deep analysis and sometimes includes some group collaboration and brainstorm. Be sure to be involved in every portion of those case activities.
• Discussion Boards = 20%. Discussion boards are graded on content, quality, college-level writing, number of responses, and due dates.
• Quizzes = 0%. Optional reading quizzes are included in each lesson to help you prepare for the exams. Quiz scores are not graded.

Reading

This is an intensive reading course. You are expected to complete the reading assignments before the due date. The other learning activities are useless if you have not completed the reading assignments.

Reading assignments are based on a reading speed of 120 words per minute. Most college students read faster than this. If you cannot complete the reading assignments within the estimated time, you should contact the BYUI Reading Center. The Reading Center helps students who seek to increase their textbook and college reading skills.

Most reading assignments include a corresponding capture assignment. Carefully read Capture Description and Example.

Online Support Center

The Online Support Center (OSC) is designed to help any students taking online courses at BYU-Idaho. If you have questions about any online course or any feedback concerning online courses, instructors, or your online learning experience please contact the OSC.

OSC Contact Information

Phone: 208-496-1411

Text Messaging: 855-808-7102

Email: onlinelearning@byui.edu

Website: https://www.byui.edu/online/online-support-center

Hours: Monday–Friday, 7 AM–7 PM MST

Disability Statement

In compliance with applicable disability law, qualified students with a disability may be entitled to “reasonable accommodation.” It is the student’s responsibility to disclose to the teacher any special need she/he may have before the end of the first week of class. If you have any disability that may impair your ability to complete this course successfully, please contact the services for students with disabilities office at 208-496-1130.

Please contact your instructor immediately if you become chronically ill or have other problems that may impede your ability to successfully complete this course. When possible, students should contact the professor about these concerns prior to any assignments being due.