COURSE INFORMATION Course Title: COMMUNICATION SKILLS

Code	Course Type	Regular Semester	Theory	Practice	Lab	Credits	ECTS
BUS 114	C	2	3	0	0	3	5

Academic staff member responsible for the design of the course syllabus (name, surname, academic title/scientific degree, email address and signature)	NA
Main Course Lecturer (name, surname, academic title/scientific degree, email address and signature) and Office Hours:	M.Sc. Mikaela Süslü (Musta) msuslu@epoka.edu.al , Mon. 10:30-11:30, Tues. 12:30-13:30, Thurs. 13:45-15:45, Fri. 12:45-14:45
Second Course Lecturer(s) (name, surname, academic title/scientific degree, email address and signature) and Office Hours:	NA
Teaching Assistant(s) and Office Hours:	NA
Language:	English
Compulsory/Elective:	Compulsory
Study program: (the study for which this course is offered)	Bachelor in International Marketing and Logistics Management (3 years)
Classroom and Meeting Time:	E-B31, Thursdays, 8:45-9:30, 9:45-10:30, 10:45-11:30 AM (Punctuality is a must)
Code of Ethics:	Code of Ethics of EPOKA University Regulation of EPOKA University "On Student Discipline"
Attendance Requirement:	75% - Absences are not justifiable. No medical reports will be accepted. Students who are not punctual, cause disturbance in the class by communicating with other students, or engage in activities not related to the lecture, will be considered as absent even if physically present.
Course Description:	Communication Skills: This course aims to provide better understanding of purposes and processes of communication in business. Cases and projects improving students` skills in a collaborative communication are provided. With the help of exercises, including videotaping, students have opportunities to improve and evaluate their oral communication skills. This course aims to provide better understanding of purposes and processes of communication in business. Cases and projects improving students` skills in a collaborative communication are provided. With the help of exercises, including videotaping, students have opportunities to improve and evaluate their oral communication skills.
Course Objectives:	Develop career-enhancing skills in business communication. Learn the three-step writing process and apply it to craft messages for digital channels, and to write routine messages, positive messages, negative messages, and persuasive messages. Learn how to develop and deliver business presentations.

BASIC CONCEPTS OF THE COURSE

1	intercultural communication
2	professional communication
3	active listening
4	non-verbal communication
5	business etiquette
6	digital channels
7	routine / positive / negative / persuasive messages
8	presentations
9	resume
10	three-step process

COURSE OUTLINE

Week	Topics
1	Introduction & Orientation to the Course
2	CHAPTER 1 Professional communication in a digital, social, mobile world. Understanding why communication matters. Communicating as a professional. Exploring the communication process. Using technology to improve business communication. Committing to ethical and legal communication. (pg. 50-83)
3	CHAPTER 15 Building Careers and Writing Resumes. Finding the ideal opportunity in today's job market. Planning, writing, and completing your resume. (pg. 525-559)
4	CHAPTER 2 Collaboration, Interpersonal Communication, and Business Etiquette. Communicating effectively in teams. Collaborating on communication efforts. Making your meetings more productive. Using meeting technologies. Improving your listening skills. Improving your nonverbal communication skills. Developing your business etiquette. (pg. 84-115)
5	CHAPTER 3 Communication Challenges in a Diverse, Global Marketplace. Understanding the opportunities and challenges of communication in a diverse world. Developing cultural competency. Recognizing variations in a diverse world. Adapting to other business cultures. Improving intercultural communication. (pg. 116-144)
6	QUIZ (April 13) / CHAPTER 4 Planning Business Messages. Understanding the three-step writing process. Analyzing the situation. Gathering information. Selecting the best combination of media and channels. Organizing your information. (pg. 145-174)
7	CHAPTER 5 Writing Business Messages. Adapting to your audience: being sensitive to audience needs, building strong relationships, controlling your style and tone. Composing your message: choosing powerful words, creating effective sentences, crafting unified, coherent paragraphs. Writing messages for mobile devices. (pg. 175-205) CHAPTER 6 Completing Business Messages. Revising your message. Editing for clarity and conciseness. Producing your message. Proofreading your message. Distributing your message. (pg. 206-232)
8	MIDTERM WEEK (April 24-29)
9	CHAPTER 8-9-10 Strategy and common examples on (a) routine, (b) positive, (c) negative, (d) persuasive messages. (pg. 273-366)
10	CHAPTER 8-9-10 Practice
11	CHAPTER 7 Crafting Messages for Digital Channels. Digital channels for business communication. Social networks. Information and content sharing sites. Email. Instant messaging and text messaging. Blogging and microblogging. Podcasting. (pg. 233-272)
12	CHAPTER 14 Developing and Delivering Business Presentations. Planning and developing a presentation. Enhancing your presentation with effective visuals. Completing and delivering a presentation. (pg. 489-524)
13	Presentations Part I
14	Presentations Part II

Prerequisite(s):
Textbook(s):	Excellence In Business Communication, Global Edition, 13th edition, by John V. Thill and Courtland L. Bovee, Pearson (2021) https://www.pearson.com/en-gb/subject-catalog/p/excellence-in-business-communication-global-edition/P200000008910
Additional Literature:	Human Communication: The basic course, 14th edition, by Joseph A. DeVito, (2018) https://www.pearson.com/en-us/subject-catalog/p/human-communication-the-basic-course/P200000002791/9780137478378
Laboratory Work:	No
Computer Usage:	Yes
Others:	No

COURSE LEARNING OUTCOMES

1	Understand the importance of effective communication to a career and to the workplace. Describe the communication process model and the ways social media are changing the nature of business communication
2	Offer guidelines for collaborative communication, identify major collaboration technologies, and explain how to give constructive feedback. Identify three major modes of listening, describe the listening process, and explain the problem of selective listening
3	Explain the importance of nonverbal communication and identify six major categories of nonverbal expression
4	Explain the importance of business etiquette, and identify four key areas in which good etiquette is essential
5	Discuss the opportunities and challenges of intercultural communication. Explain the importance of recognizing cultural variations, and list eight categories of cultural differences. Identify seven steps you can take to improve your inter-cultural communication skills
6	Describe the three-step writing process. Learn how to plan, write, and complete a business message
7	Identify the major digital channels (social networks, content sharing sites, email, instant messaging, text messaging, blogging, microblogging, podcasting) used for brief business messages, and describe the nine compositional modes needed for digital media
8	Write routine, positive, negative, and persuasive messages
9	Write an effective resume
10	Successfully develop and deliver a business presentation

COURSE CONTRIBUTION TO... PROGRAM COMPETENCIES (Blank : no contribution, 1: least contribution ... 5: highest contribution)

No	Program Competencies	Cont.
Bachelor in International Marketing and Logistics Management (3 years) Program
1	Identify activities, tasks, and skills in management, marketing, accounting, finance, and economics.	4
2	Apply key theories to practical problems within the global business context.	5
3	Demonstrate ethical, social, and legal responsibilities in organizations.	5
4	Develop an open minded-attitude through continuous learning and team-work.	5
5	Use technology to enable business growth and sustainability.	5
6	Synthesize creativity needed for marketing notion with scientific method and numerical skills, for achieving business sustainability.	3
7	Apply the concepts and structures of modern marketing in global context at private and public sectors.	3
8	Integrate the management of logistics, supply chain and in total operations with corporate goals and strategies.	3

COURSE EVALUATION METHOD

Method	Quantity	Percentage
Homework	6	2.5
Midterm Exam(s)	1	20
Presentation	1	15
Quiz	1	10
Final Exam	1	40
Attendance		0
	Total Percent:	100%

ECTS (ALLOCATED BASED ON STUDENT WORKLOAD)

Activities	Quantity	Duration(Hours)	Total Workload(Hours)
Course Duration (Including the exam week: 16x Total course hours)	16	3	48
Hours for off-the-classroom study (Pre-study, practice)	16	3	48
Mid-terms	1	2	2
Assignments	6	4	24
Final examination	1	2	2
Other	1	1	1
Total Work Load:			125
Total Work Load/25(h):			5
ECTS Credit of the Course:			5

CONCLUDING REMARKS BY THE COURSE LECTURER

NA