241A-COMM-114-LEC-1 Understanding Relationships
Course Description
Class schedule: Summer Summer A, asynchronous
We have changed the class to an asynchronous format, so students do not have to attend or be available at any specific time.
This class seeks to explain and help students understand the types of communication that occur in close, especially romantic, relationships. Nothing is more important to us than our intimate relationships.
Week 1 - Week 2
There are different types of romantic relationships and also misconceptions about relationships. By exploring the questions in this class, we are going to find out,
- What attracts us to other people and how important are first impressions?
- What are the building blocks of successful relationships?
- What do we expect from our relationships and how can we get what we desire?
Week 3
Week 3 discusses the differences between males and females in approaching a relationship, and we are going to discuss the following questions,
- How and why do men and women approach relationships differently?
- How important is sex in relationships?
Week 4 - Week 6
We are going to discuss the maintenance of relationships, conflict in relationships, and strategies of disengagement, and address the questions below,
- What types of communication are dysfunctional in relationships and how can we avoid them?
- How can inevitable relationship conflict be effectively managed?
- How can you effectively maintain good relationships, repair troubled ones, and successfully move on from those that end?
Learn all this, and much more! After having studied the modern science of close relationships, you should be better equipped to understand, create, and maintain happy, rewarding relationships that last.
Student Testimonials
Hear what our students say about their experience with Comm 114.
"Even though I took this class during the summer, the hardest time to focus, I was always interested and excited to go to class. The concepts that Suman teaches in CS 114 can be applied to your everyday life. Understanding relationships and how the female and male minds differ was eye-opening. Though it seems like a foreign concept to talk about personal relationships in a college course, it was incredibly helpful to my life, and interesting as well. The reading assigned in this class was very easy to get through since it was so relatable. I actually kept this book and refer back to it from time to time. Suman requires you to know the material from lecture and in the book very well, but this made me remember it today and use it to understand differences in my own relationships. Whether you are a communications major or not, I would highly recommend this class for the sake of your future relationships."
~Julia Katsev
"Communication Studies 114 is one of my favorite classes at UCLA. People always say, "What do you want to do with a Communication Studies major? Do you want to be a journalist or a news reporter?" But honestly, there are classes in the Comm department unlike any you'll ever take, and CS 114 is one of them. CS114 is about Intimate Relationships - one of only two such courses on this campus. The readings are fantastic - interesting, applicable, and well written. And Professor Suman is a great lecturer, well-read and very knowledgeable. The topics covered in class are incredibly insightful and useful for everyday relationships as well as intimate ones. Even if you have never been in an intimate relationship (as was my case), the class is quite helpful for understanding the workings of relationships and how to be successful in them. You learn everything from common pitfalls in relationships (like trying to mind read) to how to remedy and mediate conflict with your partner. This class has had an incredible influence on how I communicate with my friends and co-workers, and all for the better! I've used things I've learned in CS114 in countless situations (and as recently as last week!). So, what can I do with a Communication Studies degree? Anything I want! Because I've learned how to effectively discuss feelings and desires with people in a vast array of settings, intimate or otherwise. Do not miss out on this class! It is a fantastic opportunity to learn about something that everyone wishes he/she understood better."
~Lauren Uba