Southern Utah University

Course Syllabus

Southern Utah University
Southern Utah University
Fall Semester 2025

Conflict Management (Face-to-Face)

COMM 4501-01

Course: COMM 4501-01
Credits: 3
Term: Fall Semester 2025
Department: COMM
CRN: 32094

Course Description

Designed to familiarize students with the many factors that contribute to interpersonal conflicts and the communication skills for productive conflict management or resolution. (Fall) [Graded (Standard Letter)]

Required Texts

Interpersonal Conflict
ISBN: 9781264164288
By Hocker, Joyce L., Berry, Keith, and Wilmot, William W.
Published by McGraw-Hill Education

Leadership and Self-Deception : Getting Out of the Box
ISBN: 9781523097807
By The Arbinger Institute The, Arbinger Institute Staff, and The Arbinger Institute
Published by Berrett-Koehler Publishers, Incorporated

Learning Outcomes

  1. Recognize the role of communication in conflict and conflict management processes. 
  2. Analyze the components of conflict that lead to constructive or destructive patterns. 
  3. Formulate approaches to conflict management that demonstrate emotional intelligence. 
  4. Engage in a process of inquiry that leads to recommendations for designing effective conflict management processes.

Course Requirements

Writing Assignments = 40%
Application Assessments = 20%
Quizzes = 10%
Exams = 30%

Writing Assignments: You will have 1-2 writing assignments per week. Each will explore the concepts learned throughout the Modules.
Application Assessments:
These will be completed in class on a weekly basis. They will vary from oral presentations, group & individual challenges, negotiations, and scenarios to demonstrate actionable understanding of the material. 
Quizzes: You will have quizzes in about half the weeks of the course. Most will consist of 10 multiple choice questions that will come from your textbook. You will have 50 minutes and 1 attempt to complete each quiz. You may use your textbook and notes when completing the quizzes.
Exams: You will have a midterm and a final exam in the course. Both will be comprehensive. The concepts we cover each week will build upon previous knowledge and it is important to be able to connect the material all together by the end of the semester. 

Course Outline

Week 1: Introduction to Conflict Management
Week 2: Leadership & Self-Deception
Week 3: Nature of Conflict
Week 4: Perspectives on Conflict
Week 5: Interests & Goals, Active Listening
Week 6: Power & The Structure of Conflict, Dating Safety
Week 7: Midterm Review & Exam
Week 8: Conflict Styles
Week 9: Emotions in Conflict
Week 10: Analyzing Conflicts
Week 11: Negotiation
Week 12: Third Party Intervention
Week 13: Forgiveness & Reconciliation
Week 14: Connecting the Pieces
Week 15: Final Exam

Instructor's policies on late assignments and/or makeup work

Late work is accepted up to a week late with a 10% penalty for each day it is late. All other exceptions need to be approved through the Disability Resource Center.

Attendance Policy

Attendance: I expect students to come to class. The fun part of the learning is discussing and being able to apply what you have read. The good news is that I love being in class. My job fulfillment comes from being able to answer questions and help you with specific conflict scenarios you are struggling with so come join us! A portion of your grade is designated to the application assessments we will do in class. 

ADA Statement

Students with medical, psychological, learning, or other disabilities desiring academic adjustments, accommodations, or auxiliary aids will need to contact the Disability Resource Center, located in Room 206F of the Sharwan Smith Center or by phone at (435) 865-8042. The Disability Resource Center determines eligibility for and authorizes the provision of services.

If your instructor requires attendance, you may need to seek an ADA accommodation to request an exception to this attendance policy. Please contact the Disability Resource Center to determine what, if any, ADA accommodations are reasonable and appropriate.

Academic Credit

According to the federal definition of a Carnegie credit hour: A credit hour of work is the equivalent of approximately 60 minutes of class time or independent study work. A minimum of 45 hours of work by each student is required for each unit of credit. Credit is earned only when course requirements are met. One (1) credit hour is equivalent to 15 contact hours of lecture, discussion, testing, evaluation, or seminar, as well as 30 hours of student homework. An equivalent amount of work is expected for laboratory work, internships, practica, studio, and other academic work leading to the awarding of credit hours. Credit granted for individual courses, labs, or studio classes ranges from 0.5 to 15 credit hours per semester.

Academic Freedom

SUU is operated for the common good of the greater community it serves. The common good depends upon the free search for truth and its free exposition. Academic Freedom is the right of faculty to study, discuss, investigate, teach, and publish. Academic Freedom is essential to these purposes and applies to both teaching and research.

Academic Freedom in the realm of teaching is fundamental for the protection of the rights of the faculty member and of you, the student, with respect to the free pursuit of learning and discovery. Faculty members possess the right to full freedom in the classroom in discussing their subjects. They may present any controversial material relevant to their courses and their intended learning outcomes, but they shall take care not to introduce into their teaching controversial materials which have no relation to the subject being taught or the intended learning outcomes for the course.

As such, students enrolled in any course at SUU may encounter topics, perspectives, and ideas that are unfamiliar or controversial, with the educational intent of providing a meaningful learning environment that fosters your growth and development. These parameters related to Academic Freedom are included in SUU Policy 6.6.

Academic Misconduct

Scholastic honesty is expected of all students. Dishonesty will not be tolerated and will be prosecuted to the fullest extent (see SUU Policy 6.33). You are expected to have read and understood the current SUU student conduct code (SUU Policy 11.2) regarding student responsibilities and rights, the intellectual property policy (SUU Policy 5.52), information about procedures, and what constitutes acceptable behavior.

Please Note: The use of websites or services that sell essays is a violation of these policies; likewise, the use of websites or services that provide answers to assignments, quizzes, or tests is also a violation of these policies. Regarding the use of Generative Artificial Intelligence (AI), you should check with your individual course instructor.

Emergency Management Statement

In case of an emergency, the University's Emergency Notification System (ENS) will be activated. Students are encouraged to maintain updated contact information using the link on the homepage of the mySUU portal. In addition, students are encouraged to familiarize themselves with the Emergency Response Protocols posted in each classroom. Detailed information about the University's emergency management plan can be found at https://www.suu.edu/emergency.

HEOA Compliance Statement

For a full set of Higher Education Opportunity Act (HEOA) compliance statements, please visit https://www.suu.edu/heoa. The sharing of copyrighted material through peer-to-peer (P2P) file sharing, except as provided under U.S. copyright law, is prohibited by law; additional information can be found at https://my.suu.edu/help/article/1096/heoa-compliance-plan.

You are also expected to comply with policies regarding intellectual property (SUU Policy 5.52) and copyright (SUU Policy 5.54).

Mandatory Reporting

University policy (SUU Policy 5.60) requires instructors to report disclosures received from students that indicate they have been subjected to sexual misconduct/harassment. The University defines sexual harassment consistent with Federal Regulations (34 C.F.R. Part 106, Subpart D) to include quid pro quo, hostile environment harassment, sexual assault, dating violence, domestic violence, and stalking. When students communicate this information to an instructor in-person, by email, or within writing assignments, the instructor will report that to the Title IX Coordinator to ensure students receive support from the Title IX Office. A reporting form is available at https://cm.maxient.com/reportingform.php?SouthernUtahUniv

Non-Discrimination Statement

SUU is committed to fostering an inclusive community of lifelong learners and believes our university's encompassing of different views, beliefs, and identities makes us stronger, more innovative, and better prepared for the global society.

SUU does not discriminate on the basis of race, religion, color, national origin, citizenship, sex (including sex discrimination and sexual harassment), sexual orientation, gender identity, age, ancestry, disability status, pregnancy, pregnancy-related conditions, genetic information, military status, veteran status, or other bases protected by applicable law in employment, treatment, admission, access to educational programs and activities, or other University benefits or services.

SUU strives to cultivate a campus environment that encourages freedom of expression from diverse viewpoints. We encourage all to dialogue within a spirit of respect, civility, and decency.

For additional information on non-discrimination, please see SUU Policy 5.27 and/or visit https://www.suu.edu/nondiscrimination.

Pregnancy

Students who are or become pregnant during this course may receive reasonable modifications to facilitate continued access and participation in the course. Pregnancy and related conditions are broadly defined to include pregnancy, childbirth, termination of pregnancy, lactation, related medical conditions, and recovery. To obtain reasonable modifications, please make a request to title9@suu.edu. To learn more visit: https://www.suu.edu/titleix/pregnancy.html.

Disclaimer Statement

Information contained in this syllabus, other than the grading, late assignments, makeup work, and attendance policies, may be subject to change with advance notice, as deemed appropriate by the instructor.