MERU UNIVERSITY OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY
COURSE OUTLINE
UCU 3102: COMMUNICATION SKILLS
Consultation Hours: THURSDAYS: 8.00-11.00 AM ;
FRIDAYS: 8.00- 11.00 AM
AUTHOR: ROSE NDEGWA
CELL PHONE: O722508475
EMAIL:
Course purpose
The course is designed to provide the trainee with knowledge in communication skills
relevant to academic, social and work place perspectives.
, 3.3 Expected learning outcomes
At the end of the course, students should be able to apply relevant skills to:
1. Practice inter-personal, intra-personal and public communication skills.
2. Listen and take notes from a lecture
3. Use print and non-print sources in retrieving, storing and using information for a
purpose.
4. Recognize developments in communication technology
5. Read scientific, academic texts and use contextual clues to interpret technical terms and
features.
6. Write term papers and scientific reports
Learning Approaches
A combination of lectures, seminars, Projects, library search
Course Content
WEEKS DETAILED COURSE
CONTENT
Week 1 COMMUNICATION
THEORY
Week 2 COMMUNICATION
THEORY
Week 3 LISTENING SKILLS
Week 4 ORAL SKILLS-
PRESENTATION SKILLS
Week 5 CONTINOUS
ASSESSMENT TEST
ONE
Week 6 READING SKILLS
Week 7 WRITING SKILLS
Week 8 WRITING SKILLS
Week 9 CONTINOUS
ASSESSMENT TEST
TWO
Week 10 LIBRARY SKILLS
Week 11 LIBRARY SKILLS
Week 12 DOCUMENTATION
Week 13 STUDY SKILLS
1
,Week 14 EXAMS
Week 15 EXAMS
Course Assessment
Continuous assessment tests (CATS) 30
Final examination 70
Total 100
Core Reading Materials for the Course
a. Blundell, R. & Ippolito, K. (2008). “Effective Organizational Communication–
Perspective, Principles and Practices”. 3rd Edition. Pearson Financial Times/Prentice Hall
Edinburgh, Gate Hallow Essex UK.
b. Steinberg, S. (2007). An Introduction to Communication Studies. Cape Town: Juta.
Recommended Reference Materials
a. Gamble, T. K. & Gamble, M. (2002). Communication Works. Boston: McGraw-Hill.
b. Griffin, M. (2000). A first look at communication theory,4th Ed. Boston: McGraw Hill
c. Lesikar (2002). Basic Business Communication, Tata, McGraw Hill.
d. McGraith (2002). Basic Managerial Skills for all, 6th Edition. New Delhi, Prentice Hall.
e. Wang, J.X. (2008). “What Every Engineer Should Know About Business
Communication”. Boca Raton Florida, CRS Press..
f. Steinberg, S. (2007). An Introduction to Communication Studies. Juta, Cape Town.
2
, LECTURE ONE: COMMUNICATION THEORY
INTRODUCTION
In this lecture we are going to introduce you to the theory of communication. As a
human being you have to communicate. Communication is a key element in any human
activity. Communication is a learned skill. However, while most people are born with
the physical ability to talk, not all can communicate well unless they make special efforts
to develop and refine this communication skill. Very often, we take the ease with which
we communicate with each other for granted, so much so that we sometimes forget how
complex the communication process actually is. Communication takes place when we are
supposedly at the same level of understanding and comprehension as other interlocutors.
Common forms of communication include speaking, writing, gestures, touch, using
pictures and broadcasting. Communication is therefore not what is said whether verbally
or non-verbally, but what is understood.
EXPECTED LEARNING OUTCOMES
By the end of this lecture you should be able to:
1. Define communication
2. List and explain the elements of communication
3. Describe representative models of the communication process
4. Draw your own model of the communication process
5. List the functions of communication
3
COURSE OUTLINE
UCU 3102: COMMUNICATION SKILLS
Consultation Hours: THURSDAYS: 8.00-11.00 AM ;
FRIDAYS: 8.00- 11.00 AM
AUTHOR: ROSE NDEGWA
CELL PHONE: O722508475
EMAIL:
Course purpose
The course is designed to provide the trainee with knowledge in communication skills
relevant to academic, social and work place perspectives.
, 3.3 Expected learning outcomes
At the end of the course, students should be able to apply relevant skills to:
1. Practice inter-personal, intra-personal and public communication skills.
2. Listen and take notes from a lecture
3. Use print and non-print sources in retrieving, storing and using information for a
purpose.
4. Recognize developments in communication technology
5. Read scientific, academic texts and use contextual clues to interpret technical terms and
features.
6. Write term papers and scientific reports
Learning Approaches
A combination of lectures, seminars, Projects, library search
Course Content
WEEKS DETAILED COURSE
CONTENT
Week 1 COMMUNICATION
THEORY
Week 2 COMMUNICATION
THEORY
Week 3 LISTENING SKILLS
Week 4 ORAL SKILLS-
PRESENTATION SKILLS
Week 5 CONTINOUS
ASSESSMENT TEST
ONE
Week 6 READING SKILLS
Week 7 WRITING SKILLS
Week 8 WRITING SKILLS
Week 9 CONTINOUS
ASSESSMENT TEST
TWO
Week 10 LIBRARY SKILLS
Week 11 LIBRARY SKILLS
Week 12 DOCUMENTATION
Week 13 STUDY SKILLS
1
,Week 14 EXAMS
Week 15 EXAMS
Course Assessment
Continuous assessment tests (CATS) 30
Final examination 70
Total 100
Core Reading Materials for the Course
a. Blundell, R. & Ippolito, K. (2008). “Effective Organizational Communication–
Perspective, Principles and Practices”. 3rd Edition. Pearson Financial Times/Prentice Hall
Edinburgh, Gate Hallow Essex UK.
b. Steinberg, S. (2007). An Introduction to Communication Studies. Cape Town: Juta.
Recommended Reference Materials
a. Gamble, T. K. & Gamble, M. (2002). Communication Works. Boston: McGraw-Hill.
b. Griffin, M. (2000). A first look at communication theory,4th Ed. Boston: McGraw Hill
c. Lesikar (2002). Basic Business Communication, Tata, McGraw Hill.
d. McGraith (2002). Basic Managerial Skills for all, 6th Edition. New Delhi, Prentice Hall.
e. Wang, J.X. (2008). “What Every Engineer Should Know About Business
Communication”. Boca Raton Florida, CRS Press..
f. Steinberg, S. (2007). An Introduction to Communication Studies. Juta, Cape Town.
2
, LECTURE ONE: COMMUNICATION THEORY
INTRODUCTION
In this lecture we are going to introduce you to the theory of communication. As a
human being you have to communicate. Communication is a key element in any human
activity. Communication is a learned skill. However, while most people are born with
the physical ability to talk, not all can communicate well unless they make special efforts
to develop and refine this communication skill. Very often, we take the ease with which
we communicate with each other for granted, so much so that we sometimes forget how
complex the communication process actually is. Communication takes place when we are
supposedly at the same level of understanding and comprehension as other interlocutors.
Common forms of communication include speaking, writing, gestures, touch, using
pictures and broadcasting. Communication is therefore not what is said whether verbally
or non-verbally, but what is understood.
EXPECTED LEARNING OUTCOMES
By the end of this lecture you should be able to:
1. Define communication
2. List and explain the elements of communication
3. Describe representative models of the communication process
4. Draw your own model of the communication process
5. List the functions of communication
3
