Royal University of Phnom Penh

Department of International Studies

Course Syllabus
Course Title: Professional Communication
Course Code: IS205

Number of Credits: 3 (45 hours)

Semester: 2
Instructor(s): ..
Phone: ...
Email:

Course Description
In todays intertwined world, communication skills are one of the first and foremost stepping stones
to success, be it professionally, academically or personally. Therefore, this course is specially
designed to develop DIS students ability to communicate confidently, substantively and
persuasively in both spoken and written forms.
While this course will cover some concepts to enhance students understanding of effective
communication, greater amount of time will be spent focusing on the applied skills. Students will
develop a foundation for designing effective messages from concept to delivery, write professional
cover letters and curricula vitae, and be confident during interviews. This class will also cover the
basic understanding of public relations and news release writings.

Expected Learning Outcomes

Knowledge:
By the end of the course, learners will be able to:
1. Identify the elements of effective communications strategies
2. Recognize the criteria of a successful employment application and interview
3. Comprehend the basic practices of public relations (business letter writing)

Skills:
By the end of the course, learners will be able to:
4. Design and deliver presentations that both inform and convince the audience,
5. Produce a professional employment package, including a cover letter and a CV, for their
prospective job
6. Conduct different types of interviews and perform professionally during employment
interviews
7. Write business letters/messages persuasively and professionally
8. Create a standard news release for the press and the public

Attitudes:
By the end of the course, learners will be able to:
9. Display a positive communication attitude for effective and better communication in a team
or other various settings
10. Appreciate team work and a sense of cooperation among themselves

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 DIS Program Learning Outcomes (PLOs) SLOs
DIS graduates will:
A. Knowledge:
A1. Demonstrate core knowledge of the economic, historical, political and 1
cultural factors, facts, concepts, generalizations that inform cross-border
relations among nation-states and between nation-states and other actors
on the international stage;
A2. Analyse international issues and draw appropriate inferences using
qualitative and/or quantitative analysis;
A3. Use a deep knowledge of diverse worldviews, experiences, power
structures, different effects of human organization and actions on the global
system to develop for informed action to address significant global/local
problems.
B. Skills:
B1. Balance knowledge, transferable skills, and analytical reasoning skills to
implement sophisticated, appropriate, and workable solutions to address
complex global/local problems at multiple levels;
B2. Demonstrate an ability to communicate in English at an advanced level
of fluency and accuracy;
B3. Locate and evaluate the perspective, quality and accuracy of information
resources with particular reference to international affairs, economics,
politics, and international law.
C. Attitudes:
C1. Demonstrate an understanding of philosophical and social contexts, and
respect of ethics and ethical standards of the discipline.
C2. Create tools to take informed and responsible action to address ethical,
social, political, economic, and environmental challenges in global systems
and evaluates the local and broader consequences of individual and
collective interventions;
C3. Develop a sense of appreciation and respect of national interests, culture
and cultural diversity.

Textbooks or Reading Materials

Brantley, C. P. & Miller, M. G. (2008). Effective communication for colleges (11th ed). Canada:
Thomson South-Western

Supplementary Materials
Wilcox, D.L. & Reber, B.H. (2016). Public Relations Writing and Media Techniques (8th ed).

Strunk, W. & White, E.B. (1999). The Elements of Style (4th ed).

Additional readings will be distributed in the class.

Course Outline

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 Required Reading/ Instructional
Week SLOs PLOs
Topic/Lesson/Activity Assignment Methods
Week 1 Orientation Read: ECC, Chapter I - Lecture 1, 3, 9 A1
Chapter I: Partners for ASSIGNED: - Discussion
Effective Communication Conversation with a
Professional
ASSIGNED: Job package
Week 2 Chapter II: The Six Cs of Read: ECC, Chapter II - Lecture 1, 3, 9
Effective Messages - Discussion

Week 3 Chapter III: Read: ECC, Chapter III - Lecture 1, 3, 9

Communication-by- - Discussion
Objective Approach
Week 4 Chapter VII: Persuasive Read: ECC, Chapter VII - Lecture 3, 7
Messages ASSIGNED: Three - Discussion
possible persuasive - Problem
presentation topics solving
- Case study

Week 5 Chapter X: Visuals and Read: ECC, Chapter X 4

Presentations Due: Finalize
presentation topics
Week 6 Practices and case studies Read: EoS, Chapter 5 (1- - Discussion 1, 3, 4, 7, 9,
10) - Case study 10
Due: Presentation
Outline
Week 7 Group Proposal - student 1, 3, 4, 9,10
Presentation presentation
Week 8 Chapter VIII: Resumes and Read: ECC, Chapter VIII - Lecture 2, 5
Cover Letters - Discussion
- Case study
- Problem
solving
Week 9 Chapter IX: Applications, Read: ECC, Chapter IX 2, 3, 5, 6
Interviews and Follow-up Due: Drafted Job
Messages Package
Week Practices and case studies 1, 2, 3, 4, 5,
10 6, 7, 9, 10
Week Chapter I: Getting Read: PRW, Chapter 1 8
11 Organized for Writing

Week Chapter V: Writing the Read: PRW, Chapter V 8

12 News Release Due: Final Job Package
Assigned: News Release
Week Practices 1, 2, 3, 4, 5,
13 6, 7, 8, 9,
10

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Week Professional Interview Due: News Release 2, 5, 6, 9,
14 Due: Conversations 10
with a Professional
Report
Week Career Path: Conversation 2, 5, 6, 9,
15 with a Professional Report 10

Methods of Assessment
Assessment Task Weighting (%) SLOs PLOs
Quizzes 05% 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8 A1
Homework and class 05% 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8
participation
Group persuasive 10% 1, 4, 7, 9, 10
presentation
Employment package 15% 1, 2, 5, 9
Group news release 10% 3, 7, 8, 9, 10
Professional interview 10% 2, 5, 6, 9, 10
Conversation with a 15% 1, 6, 9
professional
Final Exam 30% 1, 2, 3

Teaching Methods
This course will be as action-packed as you should expect your professional life to be. It will be
conducted by a means of lectures, discussion, interviews, student presentations and various in-class
activities. Extra reading materials will also be assigned by respective course instructors.

Student Responsibilities
Students are required to attend class and actively participate in the classroom activities individually
and in groups. This includes the individual reading assignments, in-class discussions, and other
tasks assigned by individual lecturers.

Plagiarism and Cheating Policy

If a student deviates from DISs policies on academic honesty, including cheating and plagiarism, he
or she may receive a failing grade for a particular work.

Attendance Policy

NUMBER OF ABSENCES ALLOWED

Year 1, 2, 3, & 4

Courses No. of sessions No. of sessions Attendance

absent with leave absent without percentage
granted leave granted

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 All DIS courses at all
year levels 4
4 (7.5% deducted from each 70%
(both scholarship and leave without permission)
fee-paying students)

Three 15 minute late attendances without permitted leaves are equal to one absence.
If you fail the attendance of any subject in any semester, you will fail both the subject and its
attendance. You will not be allowed to take its supplementary exam and you will repeat the
subject.
Absence from a test/exam without a permitted leave will incur a zero (0) in that test/exam.
Only students absent from a test with a permitted leave will receive the lowest score in that test,
or only under rare circumstances will he or she be allowed to take a make-up.
Lecturers do not bear any responsibility for reminding students about their attendance records.
Students should take notes of their own records.

For more infomation, please read the student booklet.

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