Political Communication: Leadership, Politics, and Social Advocacy, B.S.

The faculty of the undergraduate degree program in Political Communication is committed to the following learning objectives.

Students will:

1. Understand political theory and systems and how they affect diverse members of society at the local, national, and global levels.
2. Acquire advanced advocacy, critical thinking, crisis management, and negotiation skills.
3. Achieve practical mastery of public opinion research methods.
4. Acquire practical and immersive knowledge of models of political advocacy, electoral politics, public diplomacy, and civic engagement.

The major in Political Communication prepares students for careers as a candidate, communication advisor/consultant, press secretary, campaign manager, speechwriter, public diplomat, fundraiser, community organizer, public affairs advocate, social media strategist, crisis manager, social media and online content manager, and as a leader in strategic communication in the public, private, and nonprofit sectors.

Students in the Political Communication: Leadership, Politics, and Social Advocacy major complete 44 credits, including a core curriculum balanced in theory and the practice for leadership in a changing and complex mediated environment. There are three tracks in the Political Communication major: Electoral Politics, Diplomacy, and Issue Advocacy.

The core curriculum is taught by faculty members with national and international experience in politics, polling, crisis management, public relations, public diplomacy, conflict resolution, negotiation, and leadership, within a classical and contemporary rhetorical backdrop. In the study of strategies and techniques of effective campaigns, students learn how to conduct, interpret, and communicate public opinion research as well as plan and execute campaigns on the local and global stage utilizing the most appropriate media to reach a targeted public with a strategic message.

Political Communication alumni include elected officials for public office at the local, state, and global levels; career diplomats; public diplomacy activists; public relations/public affairs CEOs; campaign consultants; pollsters; campaign managers; speechwriters; social media advocates; crisis managers; political advertising consultants; fundraisers; and leaders in advocacy work in the local grassroots and global community spheres.