Introduction To Communication Science

Mode of Delivery

Face to Face

Prerequisites and Co-Requisites

None

Recommended Optional Programme Components

None

Course Contents

The contents of this course include the explanation of various definitions of "communication" according to different approaches; the individualistic and social aspects of communication; the relationships betwen communication-language and culture; elements, types and processes of communication; levels of communication from intrapersonal to mass communication and general stages of development of main approaches in communication studies.

Weekly Schedule

1) General information on the course; defining the purposes and curriculum of the class.
2) Defining “communication”: explanation of various definitions of “communication”; clarifying how different sociological and methodological approaches varyingly define and inquire the communication processes.
3) Introduction to the basic concepts and approaches on process and elements of communication: explaining linear and circular models of communication; defining the main elements as source, channel, message, receiver and feedback.
4) Explaining the relationship between communication, language and culture; discussions on how different cultural contexts influence the process of communication and interpretation.
5) Explaining the relationship between language and communication: defining the “language”, summarizing the main debates on semiological triangle, introduction to semiology.
6) Introduction to basic concepts of semiology; encapsulating Saussurian and Peircean semiology; defining sign, paradigm, syntagm, code, denotation, connotation and myth.
7) Explaining the cultural aspect of communication; defining “culture” and explaining different approaches to culture, describing the main elements of culture and defining types of culture as folk culture, mass culture, popular culture and sub-culture.
8) Midterm examination/Assessment
9) Explaining the levels of communication and introducing basic concepts and processes of intrapersonal communication as the first level.
10) Introduction to interpersonal communication; defining the basic concepts, elements and processes of verbal and non-verbal communication on interpersonal level.
11) Introduction to group communication; defining “group”, explaining goals and functions of groups, group behavior, group-individual relations and main models of group communication.
12) Introduction to organizational communication; defining characteristics and functions of organizations, explaining main elements and directions of organizational communication.
13) Introduction to mass communication; defining “mass communication”, explaining main characteristics and elements of mass communication, discussing the relationship between mass media and society, summarizing the historical development of mass media.
14) An overview of mass communication researches: explaining predecessors and historical development of mass communication researches, summarizing the historical alternations of main models and different theoretical approaches to mass communication.
15) General review of the subjects treated during the term.
16) Final examination

Recommended or Required Reading

1- İrfan Erdoğan (2005), İletişimi Anlamak. Erk Yayınları. Ankara
2- Ünsal Oskay (2000), Kitle İletişiminin Kültürel işlevleri. Der Yayınları. İstanbul.
3- Ünsal Oskay (1997), İletişimin ABC’si. Simavi Yayınları. İstanbul.
4- Judith Lazar (2001), İletişim Bilimi, Vadi Yayınları.İstanbul.
5- John Fiske (1990), Introduction to Communication Studies. Routledge. London.

Planned Learning Activities and Teaching Methods

1) Lecture
2) Question-Answer
3) Discussion
4) Group Study
5) Problem Solving

Assessment Methods and Criteria

Contribution of Midterm Examination to Course Grade	40%
Contribution of Final Examination to Course Grade	60%
Total	100%

Language of Instruction

Turkish

Work Placement(s)

Not Required