Intercultural Communication (3 cr)

Objective

The students will be able to define the key concepts of intercultural communication and cultural dimensions. They will become acquainted with students from other cultures and gain an awareness of how culture impacts communication and behavior in a multicultural environment and teams. They will be able to describe the process of adapting to a new culture and will identify and prevent culture shock.

Content

Cultural concepts and dimensions
Intercultural communication in a multicultural environment and teams

Location and time

Autumn semester 2025.

Materials

All material is available in the KAMK learning platform Reppu.

Teaching methods

Contact teaching and independent study.

Exam schedules

There is no exam.

International connections

This course provides the opportunity to get to know your classmates and their cultural backgrounds within an international setting.

Completion alternatives

Online Reppu version available only for students unable to arrive in Kajaani before the 15.9.2025.
Please contact your course teacher for access to this implementation only if you are unable to arrive before the 15.9.2025.

Student workload

Approx. 36 hours of contact teaching and 44 hours of independent study.

Assessment criteria, approved/failed

Pass (on a scale of 5-0, pass is the equivalent of a grade 3): You must finish all the required tasks according to the given instructions.

Fail: The student will fail this course if they do not complete all of the tasks at the required level (grade 3).

Grade 3:

The students are able to discuss, explain and write in their own words about the basic principles, models and concepts of intercultural communication using the terminology of this discipline. You are able to create presentations that have a recognizable structure. To achieve a Pass (grade 3) the students must demonstrate their ability to speak and write in English using their own words. You should not read directly from notes/slides in your presentations nor copy-paste texts from source material in your written answers and presentation slides.

Content scheduling

Approx. 20 x 1.5 hours of contact teaching on campus.
One (1) Teams session for students studying the online version after 15.9.

Evaluation scale

Hylätty/Hyväksytty

Assessment criteria, approved/failed

Pass: The students complete discussions, assignments and a presentation on a chosen culture.

Fail: The students do not participate in discussions, do not complete the assignments and fail to deliver a presentation.

Please note that a Pass grade is the equivalent of a grade 3.

Assessment methods and criteria

Pass/Fail

Prerequisites

B2, Common European Framework of Reference for Languages

Objective

The students will be able to define the key concepts of intercultural communication and cultural dimensions. They will become acquainted with students from other cultures and gain an awareness of how culture impacts communication and behavior in a multicultural environment and teams. They will be able to describe the process of adapting to a new culture and will identify and prevent culture shock.

Execution methods

Contact teaching and independent study, assessment pass/fail
This course can be completed independently in Reppu Moodle, for further instructions please contact the course teacher.

Accomplishment methods

Contact teaching and independent study, assessment pass/fail
40 h contact teaching, 40 h independent study
This course can be completed independently in Reppu Moodle, for further instructions please contact the course teacher.

Content

Cultural concepts and dimensions
Intercultural communication in a multicultural environment and teams

Qualifications

B2, Common European Framework of Reference for Languages