Everyone always says communication is key in relationships, but no one really tells us what this exactly means.
At UCA, students have the opportunity to take a course that answers the questions of ‘What does successful communication with those close to us look like?,’ ‘ What do we know about ourselves as communicators?,’ and ‘How can we be better for others?’
Interpersonal Communication is an elective communication course that meets three times a week on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays. Any student who has successfully completed COMM 1300: Principles of Communication is eligible to take the course.
“In the most general sense, the course looks at how we interact with ourselves and others. It underscores — via scholarly research and theory — how strong interpersonal skills help us live and thrive with ourselves and others, whether at work, or home or as a member of a community group,” course instructor Nelle Bedner Runge said.
The course aims to study communication in not only a traditional, theory-based fashion, but also in a way that encourages collaboration and open conversations about potentially difficult topics.
“Responsiveness and reciprocity are important in our relationships, and if we want our relationships to be successful, it’s important to familiarize ourselves with best practices in relating to and with others … This course, and the content it covers, benefits all of us personally, professionally and society as a whole. The world can’t profit enough from having more responsive and thoughtful communicators,” Bedner said.
The class embraces diversity and differences among students and prioritizes learning from students’ experiences. Throughout the semester, students in the class have the opportunity to reflect on and improve their own interpersonal communication skills, and, as a group, get to collaborate on ideas and projects revolving around what care looks like for one’s self and for others.
Senior Alexis Welborn said she enjoys the class.
“Taking Interpersonal Communication is a great way to learn more about yourself and your relationships on a deeper level. The content is genuinely fun to learn about and applicable to your everyday life. I’d definitely recommend it.”
Students, whether in the School of Communication or not, can benefit from taking Interpersonal Communication at UCA as it truly does apply to any and everyone.
Bedner said, “I’ve also had aspiring dental hygienists take the course. In short, everyone is welcome.”
Although some students exclusively study communication, it is a skill that everyone possesses and has room for improvement. The course has a lasting effect on both the students and the instructor.
“Though I taught the course in graduate school at least twice, I first taught Interpersonal Communication at UCA in the fall of 2001. This is particularly memorable because the class met the day after the 9/11 terrorist attacks. As a collaborative entity we worked particularly hard that day on the concepts of responsiveness and reciprocity. ‘How should we respond or need to be responding to what happened? How do we reciprocate or respond in kind? How do we move forward?’ The learning was intense, and I became a better communication teacher-scholar because of it,” Bedner said.
Interpersonal Communication, or COMM 3307, is a course that aims to answer questions about how to effectively communicate within relationships and how to be a better, more caring person in all aspects of life.
