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Course Description
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Course Name
A Sensorial Journey Towards Intercultural Competences
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Host University
Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore
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Location
Milan, Italy
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Area of Study
Communication Studies, Multicultural Studies
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Language Level
Taught In English
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ECTS Credits
6 -
Recommended U.S. Semester Credits3
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Recommended U.S. Quarter Units4
Hours & Credits
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Overview
COURSE DESCRIPTIONGlobalization shrinks the world, bringing a wider range of cultures into closer contact than ever before. Inevitably, cultural boundaries are shifting, therefore the pace of social transformations is increasing. As a result, cultural diversity and intercultural contact have become facts of modern life, so intercultural competences become a requisite response. The resulting socio-cultural fabric of our societies, combined
with global interconnectedness, necessitate specific attitudes, behaviors, knowledge, skills and abilities to cope with the new cultural, media and emotional landscape. The course goal is to provide students direct experiences of diverse cultures to identify challenges that arise from differences in intercultural interactions and to increase their ability to recognize and bridge the gaps when communicating across cultures.LEARNING OBJECTIVESLearning to know about cultural others provides the first step in gaining intercultural competences. Learning to do serves as the active step of interacting with cultural others. Learning to be relies upon the reflective step of thinking about one’s social self as having a place in the global world. The final list of skills and competences understood as the minimal requirements to attain intercultural competences includes:
- Respect
- Self-awareness/identity
- Seeing from other perspectives/world views
- Listening
- Adaptation
- Relationship building
- Cultural humility
COURSE CONTENTS
- What is culture, cultural universals, distinctive elements, references and values
- Cultural identity and identification
- Ethnocentrism, bias, culture shock, stereotypes, cultural relativism
- Language and communication
- Music and culture
- Non-verbal codes and cultural space
- Dimensions of femininity and of masculinity
- Food and culture
- The impact of culture in perception
- Contact between cultures. Cultures within cultures
- Media, culture and communication
- Cultural differences in communication. Social media and globalization
- Popular culture and intercultural relationships
- Ethical intercultural communication. Non-western forms of conflict resolution
- Managing cross-cultural conflict using communication strategies
Course Disclaimer
Courses and course hours of instruction are subject to change.
Eligibility for courses may be subject to a placement exam and/or pre-requisites.
Some courses may require additional fees.
ECTS (European Credit Transfer and Accumulation System) credits are converted to semester credits/quarter units differently among U.S. universities. Students should confirm the conversion scale used at their home university when determining credit transfer.
Availability of courses is based on enrollment numbers. All students should seek pre-approval for alternate courses in the event of last minute class cancellations
Please note that some courses with locals have recommended prerequisite courses. It is the student's responsibility to consult any recommended prerequisites prior to enrolling in their course.