Study Culture and Communication at the University of Nevada Las Vegas: How COM 133 Develops Intercultural Communication Skills in the USA

In a city as diverse as Las Vegas, communicating effectively across cultural lines is a practical necessity rather than an abstract ideal. The University of Nevada Las Vegas (UNLV) addresses this reality directly through Culture and Communication (COM 133), an undergraduate course offered by the Department of Communication Studies within the Greenspun College of Urban Affairs. Launched in 2024, the class examines how identity and culture shape the way people speak, listen, and interpret one another — and teaches students how to find common ground when those interpretations collide.

The course is taught by Tzu-Chiao Chen, an associate professor in communication studies whose academic and personal life has spanned Taiwan, Kuwait, and Alaska. His central message to students is clear: intercultural competence is not about memorizing a checklist of rules for other cultures. “Intercultural competence does not mean memorizing a list of cultural rules; it means developing curiosity, adaptability, empathy, and the ability to tolerate uncertainty,” Chen explains. “Those qualities allow us to communicate with people as individuals while still being aware of the cultural experiences that may shape them.”

For students evaluating communication programs in the USA, explore the Department of Communication Studies at UNLV to learn how courses like COM 133 fit into a complete undergraduate education.

Why Intercultural Communication Matters in Everyday Life

Many students assume that cultural differences only matter when traveling abroad or working with international clients. Chen argues the opposite: cultural differences are part of everyday life, and they influence workplaces, friendships, families, classrooms, media, and communities. On a campus as varied as UNLV — and in a city like Las Vegas that draws residents and visitors from around the world — the question is not whether students will encounter cultural differences, but whether they can respond to them constructively.

Chen points out that many conflicts arise because the same behavior can be interpreted in more than one way. A colleague’s silence during a meeting, a neighbor’s reluctance to make small talk, or a classmate’s indirect way of declining an invitation can all be read as rudeness when they may actually signal respect, caution, or consideration within a different cultural framework. Learning to pause before judging — and to ask what a behavior might mean within its own context — is the foundation of the entire course.

The Global Experience Behind the Classroom

What distinguishes Culture and Communication is the perspective of the person teaching it. Chen was born in Taiwan, where indirect communication is common and maintaining harmony often matters more than saying “no” outright. Care in his home culture was expressed through actions rather than words — such as exchanging food — rather than through direct verbal statements. Later, while teaching in Kuwait, he observed that Kuwaitis place a high value on getting to know a person before any business dealings move forward; gaining trust is paramount in that task-oriented culture. And in Alaska, he encountered communities with a strong sense of self-reliance, where an inclination toward privacy and personal space was never meant to be read as unfriendliness.

These experiences shaped a principle he now passes on to students. “Something that appears rude, inefficient, passive, or unusual from one cultural perspective may express respect, hospitality, independence, or consideration in another,” Chen said. “Living in different places taught me to pause before judging someone’s behavior. I try to ask, ‘What might this behavior mean within their cultural context?’”

Lessons Students Can Apply Immediately

The value of these lessons extends well beyond a single semester. Students who learn to interpret behavior in context carry that habit into internships, part-time jobs, and group projects. Instead of reacting to a difference in communication style as a personal slight, they learn to consider alternative explanations — a skill that reduces conflict and builds stronger working relationships in any industry.

What Students Learn in Culture and Communication (COM 133)

The curriculum addresses both the “why” and the “how” of intercultural communication. Students learn why it is important to appreciate and respect differences, and how identity and culture influence communication styles in measurable ways. Just as important, they develop an awareness of their own personal and cultural biases and how those biases affect the way they view and treat others.

The range of topics is deliberately broad. Readings and discussions cover sexual orientation, intersectionality, socioeconomic status, race, gender, disability, religion, politics, and ethnicity. Rather than treating these categories as isolated subjects, the course examines how they overlap and interact in real people’s lives — an approach that mirrors the complexity students will encounter in any workplace or community.

Chen’s teaching philosophy centers on empathy and common ground. Through interactive activities and structured discussions, students are encouraged to recognize the many experiences that shape the individuals around them, and to practice responding to those differences with respect rather than assumption.

A Classroom Built on Discussion and Practice

Culture and Communication is built on in-class discussions, readings, group projects, and presentations. Recent class sessions have tackled political messaging, workplace tensions, cultural stereotypes, and racism — subjects that require students to listen carefully and articulate their views clearly. Participation is a deliberate and important element of the course, because, as Chen notes, talking with people who are different from yourself is a skill that requires practice.

The final assignment is a group project in which students analyze a film, identify the various identities they recognize in the characters, and examine how those identities shape the characters’ experiences. The exercise asks students to apply course concepts to a concrete narrative, sharpening their analytical skills while reinforcing the link between identity and communication.

Equally important is the environment Chen works to build. “I’m trying to create an environment where students can feel comfortable in sharing their ideas and their thoughts,” he said. “They will not be judged or criticized because of those differences.” That sense of psychological safety is what allows honest conversations about difficult topics to happen at all.

Who Can Enroll: Open to All Majors

One of the most practical aspects of COM 133 is its accessibility. The course satisfies UNLV’s multicultural general education requirement, meaning students from every college and major can count it toward their degree. There are no prerequisites, so first-year students can enroll alongside upperclassmen. This design reflects the university’s position that intercultural communication is not a niche competency reserved for a single field — it is a baseline capability for every graduate.

If you are building your schedule and want to confirm how the course applies to your degree plan, contact the Greenspun College of Urban Affairs for guidance on requirements and enrollment.

How the Course Connects to Career Success

Employers across industries consistently rank communication among the most valuable skills a new graduate can offer. In a diverse labor market like the USA — and in a hospitality-driven economy like Las Vegas — the ability to work effectively with colleagues and customers from different backgrounds has direct professional consequences. Nurses coordinate care for patients from many cultures. Hotel managers serve guests from dozens of countries each week. Engineers, teachers, marketers, and public servants all navigate differences in expectations, norms, and communication styles.

Chen frames the payoff in broader terms as well. “Ultimately, the class helps students become more thoughtful communicators, coworkers, community members, and citizens,” he said. That framing matters: intercultural competence is not just a line on a resume but a habit of mind that shapes how graduates handle conflict, build trust, and lead teams for decades after graduation.

To see where these skills can take you, review UNLV’s full list of undergraduate degree programs and identify the majors that pair well with a communication studies foundation.

Practical Takeaways for Any Reader

Even for those not enrolled at UNLV, the course’s core principles translate into daily habits:

• Pause before judging. When a behavior seems rude, passive, or unusual, consider what it might mean within the other person’s cultural context before reacting.
• Prioritize curiosity over assumptions. Asking questions about someone’s preferences and expectations is more reliable than relying on generalizations about their culture.
• Build tolerance for uncertainty. Cross-cultural interaction rarely follows a script; accepting ambiguity is part of communicating well.
• Look for common ground. Shared goals and values often exist beneath surface-level differences in style, and naming them early makes cooperation easier.

Studying Communication in a City Built on Difference

Location matters when studying culture and communication, and Las Vegas offers an unusually rich setting. The city’s hospitality and entertainment industries bring together workers and visitors from virtually every region of the world, giving students daily opportunities to observe and practice the concepts introduced in class. UNLV itself is recognized as one of the most diverse campuses in the country, which means the intercultural skills developed in COM 133 can be tested and refined among classmates long before students enter the workforce.

Take the Next Step Toward Studying Culture and Communication

Culture and Communication (COM 133) demonstrates what a well-designed general education course can accomplish: it gives students from every major a framework for understanding difference, a set of communication tools they can apply immediately, and a classroom environment where honest discussion is expected and respected. For students considering where to study communication in the USA, the University of Nevada Las Vegas pairs that curriculum with one of the most diverse urban environments in the country.

Submit your application to UNLV to begin planning a degree that includes courses like COM 133, or read the original announcement for additional details about the course. Have you taken a class in intercultural communication, or navigated a cultural misunderstanding at work or school? Share your experiences in the comments below — your perspective may help another reader prepare for their own next conversation across cultures.