Communication

This course acquaints students with major theories, concepts, and research findings related to the study of organizational communication. As a field of study, organizational communication analyzes how, through interaction, we create, sustain, and change organizations. It also examines how we are shaped by our organizational interactions. This course focuses on the way we communicate within organizations and navigate the complexities of organizational life, including socialization, decision-making errors, supervisor-subordinate relationships, conflict, and diversity. While it is more of a theoretical course than a practical skills course, students are expected to apply the theories and concepts to real-life cases and their own experiences related to groups and organizations. Students will be able to demonstrate an understanding of multiple perspectives, theories, concepts, methods, and lenses through which we can explore and explain organizational communication; to identify how we communicate with one another within organizations and critically assess the role of communication in organizations; to gain a better understanding of communication pitfalls, decision-making biases, and problem-solving blind spots that may negatively affect our performance in organizations to communicate, innovate in teams, and make high-quality and ethical decisions; and to apply course material to a variety of situations, including organizational experiences, current events, and common issues. 

This course explores the contemporary host culture through the lenses of intercultural studies. Students learn about current cultural, societal and political themes in the host city, compare ethnic and racial identities in the host country and the U.S., and explore the experiences of diverse populations within the host country. The course examines the complexity of host culture values, beliefs, and practices and learn to identify the cultural differences and similarities between the host culture and U.S. American cultures. Students study key intercultural communication theories, frameworks and leadership practices in order to deepen their cultural self-awareness, acquire new perspectives and effectively communicate and interact with culturally different others.

This course examines how contemporary linguists address issues of language use. It explores topics such as the nature of human communication, the influence of social attitudes on language, first and second language acquisition and development, the historical development of languages, language universals and language typology, and regional and situational variation in language. 

CIEE supports qualified students who wish to pursue an academically rigorous independent research project while abroad. In order to enroll, students must submit a research proposal including a clearly defined research topic,
explanation of research plans, description of preparation in the planned area of study, list of resources, tentative outline of a final paper, and suggested schedule of progress. Students complete a total of 100-120 hours of
research and meet regularly with an advisor to complete an academically rigorous, ethically sound, and culturally appropriate research project and final research paper. Approval for participation in Directed Independent Research
must be obtained from CIEE and the student's home institution prior to arrival on the program.

This is an independent research course with research arranged between the student and faculty member. The specific research topics vary each term and are described on a special project form for each student. A substantial paper is required. The number of units varies with the student’s project, contact hours, and method of assessment, as defined on the student’s special study project form.

This course will see fundamental elements of theories on visual communication, from psychology, semiotics and design, and we will learn how to apply this theory to the analysis of messages and their operation, and then apply both knowledge and analysis in the creation of effective visual messages. At the end of the course, the student should acquire analysis tools that contribute to a more reflective and critical look at visual messages in our society, as well as develop skills in creating some types of visual messages such as posters and photographs.

This intensive, hands-on course teaches the use of audio as a medium to tell stories that explore the history, places, and people of Berlin. The course covers storytelling through sounds and interviews, with the goal of producing radio stories and podcasts. Students sharpen research and reporting skills, develop interview techniques, and learn or improve their editing and production abilities. Students engage with Berliners to uncover interesting pieces of the local society and tell captivating stories, learn about the role of radio storytelling in contemporary German society, and conduct on-location production experiences to improve audiocollecting skills. Opportunities are available to use equipment available on campus and acquire basic audio editing skills using dedicated software.

This course examines principles and best practices for effective communication within workplaces and organizations. It focuses on students’ skills in key areas including: professionalism in communication; listening skills; conflict resolution; and negotiation skills. Particular emphasis is given to the skills required for developing coherent and consistent communication strategies.

This course introduces and discusses historical developments and theoretical reflections of interactive media and looks at important authors, texts, and arguments. It explores various perspectives to analyze interactive media and uses these perspectives to illuminate selected cases. Topics include technological determinism; a Marxist base for digital superstructure; digital economy; history of the internet revisited; cyborgs and cybercommunities; cyberpower; digital texts, digital minds; artificial worlds, cyber bodies, and digital self; and alternatives to the West.

This course provides an overview of the theories and perspectives applicable to the study of communication and new media. Students apply various theories from both critical/cultural and social scientific approaches to analyze diverse digital phenomena and controversies. Students gain a foundational knowledge in how digital technologies affect interactions, how social media changes news consumption, how the conception of work changes in an era of crowdsourcing, and how media content can be made more persuasive.