Seeking Intercultural Communication Competence: The Effects of effective and ineffective ICC on Students Enrolled in United States Universities

Abstract

The ongoing research presented by scholars in the realm of communications and education, suggest a maintained interest in intercultural communication within daily life. This ongoing topic has continued to develop over the past several decades and can provide valuable insight to how far we have come, or in some cases how far we still must go when we attempt to communicate interculturally. Ongoing research has been successful in determining flaws in the American Education System, attempts to expand knowledge on these issues and address ignorance, and has continued to offer suggestions to fix the system that often only serves ineffective communication.

The literature included in this research paper aims to serve as a thematic approach to organizing the research collected on intercultural communication and its relation to the United States college experience. Greater interest in continuing post-secondary education, and students being introduced to larger and more diverse groups of people(s) creates an environment to educate students and faculty on aspects of intercultural communication competence that they can carry over into their professional and social lives. This paper also focuses on intercultural communication and its relation to university administration, faculty, and students enrolled in universities within the United States. Key topics discussed are an introduction to culture and intercultural communication, exploring and determining differing student (domestic and international) motivations for attending their selected four-year universities, social and academic adaptation for students upon arrival to universities, and instructor involvement and adjustments required to aid the academic success and cognitive development students. Shortcomings are highlighted within spaces where intercultural communication is less than effective but recognizing these shortcomings provides areas for improvement and ample possibilities for possible solutions at the governmental, institutional, and ground levels.

Keywords: Intercultural communication; competence; racism; diversity; culture, student, and faculty adaptation

Year Manuscript Completed

Spring 2022

Senior Project Advisor

Scott M. Douglass, Ed. D

Degree Awarded

Bachelor of Integrated Studies Degree

Field of Study

Communications

Document Type

Thesis

This document is currently not available here.

  Contact Author

Share

COinS