political communication phd programs

• Doctorate in Communication
• Joint Degrees and Certificates

Joint Degree with Political Science

Earn a Ph.D. in both Communication and Political Science from world-class faculty with a single dissertation. 

The University of Pennsylvania’s Annenberg School for Communication and Political Science Department of the School of Arts and Sciences offer a joint doctoral degree in Communication and Political Science. This six-year program for students interested in political communication combines the academic resources of Penn’s two well-respected schools, and provides an opportunity for advanced study by students who are interested in both fields. The degree can be satisfied with a single dissertation by the student.

Why Consider a Joint Degree?

A joint degree in Communication and Political Science…

• opens doors to be competitive in two academic job markets, as well as multiple non-academic roles.
• will provide you with unique interdisciplinary expertise on political communication .
• allows you to draw on the resources of two internationally respected graduate programs at a world-renowned university.

Individualized Program of Study

Students can tailor their area of study within political communication based on their interests. For example, some students might want to combine the study of American politics and public opinion with the study of media effects. Others might want to combine an emphasis on new media and information technologies with the study of comparative politics or international relations. The joint doctoral degree program is designed to accommodate the interests of students who approach the study of political communication from broad, interdisciplinary perspectives.

Complementary Components

• The  Annenberg School for Communication offers students a firm grounding in a wide range of approaches to the study of communication and its methods, drawn from both the humanities and the social sciences. Its mission is to produce and disseminate cutting-edge scholarly research designed to advance the field’s theoretical and empirical understanding of the role of communication (from face-to-face conversations to mass media), in public and private life. Students pursue coursework and research at individual, institutional, and cultural levels.
• The Department of Political Science is currently experiencing a renaissance. Over the past decade, the faculty has grown by 50 percent, an increase in quantity that has been matched by gains in quality. The department maintains strengths in all four major subfields (American Politics, Comparative Politics, International Relations, and Political Theory) and is being built with an eye to excellence, embracing a variety of approaches and methodologies. Graduate students in political science are actively involved in its many programs, centers, and workshops, including the Christopher H. Browne Center for International Politics and the Penn Program on Democracy, Citizenship, and Constitutionalism.
• The Annenberg Public Policy Center provides many graduate students with opportunities for observational and experimental studies of communication and politics.

How It Works

Academic program.

While each students program is individually tailored, some of the coursework counts toward both degrees. Student must perform well on two sets of exams: one exam in their primary field in Political Science, and one exam in the Annenberg School, which serves as an exam in “Political Communication” for the purpose of the Political Science Department‘s qualifying exam requirement.

A single dissertation fulfills the requirements of both doctoral degree programs. Students will be advised by one member of the Annenberg faculty and one member of the Political Science faculty. (In cases where faculty members hold joint appointments in both, one faculty member may fulfill both roles.)

Students in the joint Ph.D. program will complete research and teaching fellowships at the Annenberg School, as is required of all Annenberg Ph.D. students, as well as completing the required teaching assistantships in Political Science.

While most students apply to and enter both programs simultaneously, current doctoral degree students in either program also may apply to the other program for admission.

Financial Support

Students receive the same tuition waiver and stipend as other doctoral degree students in these programs, however they will receive an additional year of funding, for a total of six years. Students split their research and teaching fellowship assignments equally between both programs.

How to Apply

All candidates for the joint Ph.D. must apply and be accepted into both& programs. Applications available at the following links: Political Science Application and Annenberg Application. Apply to Annenberg by December 1 and Political Science by December 15 because the joint system will not allow you to have both applications open at the same time.

You can't have two applications open at the same time, so you will need to apply first to Annenberg and then to Political Science. To facilitate this, the Annenberg School deadline is December 1 and the Department of Political Science deadline is December 15. You can use the same statement for both programs, or you can send a different one to each. Either way, please indicate that you are applying to both programs in your statement. For more information, please contact Joanne Murray at [email protected]  or 215-573-6349.

Experience and Knowledge

“To me, the strength of the joint-degree program comes from the quality of the faculty associated with Annenberg and Political Science who have conducted an impressively broad range of research. No matter what project or idea I’m considering, there’s always at least one faculty member who has the experience and knowledge to advise me.” —  Tyler Leigh

Featured Faculty

Get to know some of the faculty in political communication.

Joseph N. Cappella, Ph.D.

Michael X. Delli Carpini, Ph.D.

Sandra González-Bailón, Ph.D.

Daniel J. Hopkins, Ph.D.

Kathleen Hall Jamieson, Ph.D.

Yphtach Lelkes, Ph.D.

Matthew Levendusky, Ph.D.

Diana C. Mutz, Ph.D.

Learn more about the close-knit community of students currently enrolled in the joint doctoral degree program in Communication and Political Science.

Nicholas Dias

Tyler Leigh

Lizzie Martin

Alex Tolkin

Recommendations of APPC Working Group May Be Implemented in 2024 Presidential Debates

If current plans are carried out, three of the Annenberg Public Policy Center's Debate Reform Working Group recommendations to increase the value and viewership of presidential debates will be implemented in 2024.

Abortion, Not Inflation, Directly Affected Congressional Voting in 2022

Annenberg Public Policy Center Celebrates 30 Years of Research and Engagement That Matter

The Majority of Americans Do Not Support Anti-Democratic Behavior, Even When Elected Officials Do

‘Politicians in Robes’: How a Sharp Right Turn Imperiled Trust in the Supreme Court

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Communication (PhD)

You will acquire the leading-edge theory and research methodologies you need to shape a more ethical and just world. 

Whether you seek a career in academia, the industry, or governmental and non-governmental organizations, you will become a critical educator and researcher of communication through rigorous coursework, independent and collaborative research projects, and teaching opportunities.

You will work side by side with your peers and our distinguished faculty to advance knowledge in the field while creating interdisciplinary solutions to complex societal and organizational problems. At the same time, you will build a professional network of worldwide and lifelong connections with fellow scholars and practitioners.

USC Annenberg’s location at the heart of a top-tier research university and in the dynamic city of Los Angeles provides you with the ideal setting to explore ways to inventively fuse your scholarship and expertise in communication studies with disciplines such as political science, international relations, sociology and information sciences as well as gender, media and popular culture studies.

Program Information

• Learning Objectives
• Research and Teaching
• Areas of Study
• Current Doctoral Students
• Class Profile

By the numbers

Student and faculty work.

Changing the world through better communication

Former U.S. Navy Blue Angels team member Amber Lynn Scott became interested in studying high-reliability organizations for her dissertation to make a positive impact for military and first responders.

Requiem for a meme

Alexandria Arrieta researches how the intersection of memes and music are having a profound impact on people’s communication and connection across social media.

Making social media a better tool for political activism

With his lifelong interest in politics, Alfonso Hedge realized Annenberg’s doctoral program would be the perfect place to study how grassroots political organizations use social media.

From music to AI

Event promoter and DJ Stephen Yang examines the on-the-ground practices of technologists and media professionals as they reshape the culture of production.

Jermaine Anthony Richards named 2023 Paul & Daisy Soros Fellow

The merit-based program provides funding for Richards to explore his research on how transmedia storytelling animates human security politics, security cultures, and political movements.

Exploring identity through social media

Samah Sadig shares her passion for identity, expression and education — and how it all brought her to USC Annenberg.

Work on groundbreaking research with expert faculty

As innovations in information and communication technologies continue at a rapid pace, USC Annenberg remains at the forefront of efforts to explore these social, cultural, rhetorical and organizational processes. You will work and collaborate with fellow doctoral students, our world-class faculty, and industry and public/private sector professionals to advance research and insights across a wide range of interdisciplinary areas of study. You will also have the opportunity to lead research endeavors that impact scholarship and practice across the contemporary communications landscape.

Explore the research of USC Annenberg faculty and students. View the areas of study available to our PhD students.

Get to know your fellow students

The communication doctorate program enrolls students from diverse backgrounds, nationalities and educational experiences. Connect with fellow students by viewing their profiles and get to know USC Annenberg through their eyes.

Communication (PhD) faculty

University of Missouri

College of arts and science, communication, political communication.

The Political Communication area features nationally and internationally known faculty, whose study of politics and communication encompasses the communicative activity of citizens, individual political figures, governmental institutions, the media, political campaigns, advocacy groups, and social movements. The Political Communication area features the Political Communication Institute ( pci.missouri.edu ).

The Faculty

The Department's political communication faculty and graduate students pursue research that addresses political communication topics in all contexts and levels of analysis, employing a variety of methodologies.

Graduate Program

Graduate Coursework

Political communication coursework is designed to help students understand theory, research, and current and historical political issues. Students work both with their instructors and independently to create research in their areas of interest.

Selected Graduate Course List

You will work with your committee to develop a program of study that is unique to your interests. More courses are available in the course catalog.

• 8000 Communication Pro-Sem
• 8120 Introduction to Communication Research Methods
• 9280 Seminar in Communication Theory
• 8001 Topics in Political Communication – Polarization
• 8610 Survey of Political Communication
• 9610 Seminar in Disaster, Crisis, and Risk
• 9620 Political Campaign Debates
• 9630 Political Advertising
• 9170 Research Practicum
• 8510 Seminar in Mediated Communication
•  9510 Seminar in New Technologies
• 9520 Seminar in Media Processing and Effects
• 9530 Topics in Mediated Communication

Political Science

• 9050 Introduction to Formal Political Theory
• 9100 American Political Behavior
• 9120 Voting and Elections
• 9140 American Political Institutions
• 9150 Political Parties
• 8026 Philosophy of Journalism
• 8038 Seminar in Communications Law
• 8044 Strategic Conflict Management
• 9018 Media and Politics
• 8110 Cognitive Psychology
• 9310 Theories of Social Psychology
• 8120 Seminar in Quantitative Methods in Communication
• 8130 Seminar in Qualitative Methods in Communication (Topics vary and course can be repeated)
• A-Narrative theory and Grounded Theory
• B-Ethnography and Phenomenology
• 8140 Content Analysis
• 8170 Seminar in Quantitative Methods in Communication II
• 8180 Advanced Topics in Quantitative Methods
• 8160 Rhetorical Criticism
• JOURN 8010 Advanced Qualitative Methods in Journalism
• ESC_PS 8610 Quantitative Methods in Educational Research I
• ESC_PS 8620 Quantitative Methods in Educational Research II
• ESC_PS 8630 Qualitative Research in Education I
• ESC_PS 9650 Application of Multivariate Analysis in Educational Research
• ESC_PS 9710 Structural Equation Modeling
• ESC_PS 9720 Hierarchical Linear Modeling
• PSYCH 9320 Social Psychology Methodology
• PSYCH 9715 Multilevel Modeling
• SOC 8187 Seminar on Interview Theory and Techniques

Political Communication Faculty

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PhD in Communication

In the Ph.D. program in Communication at The Ohio State University, students work closely with world-renowned faculty on current research.  In coursework, the emphasis is on understanding the body of knowledge in communication and on learning how to use what is known to generate new knowledge through research.  In addition to gaining a solid grounding in the communication literature, through our Ph.D. program students learn the skills necessary to develop solid academic careers through teaching, attending professional conferences and publishing their own research.

We offer funding to all doctoral students admitted to our program.

Doctoral students work closely with distinguished scholars as mentors in developing individualized programs focusing on the topics that intersect the interests of the faculty and the student. Over the course of their program, students are encouraged to co-author papers and journal articles with faculty members.

Through generous travel awards, the School of Communication, as well as the Graduate School at OSU, enable students to participate in national and international communication conferences. At these conferences our students become acquainted with faculty and graduate students from other universities around the world, establishing lasting friendships and professional relationships.

Through the combination of training, mentoring and socialization, our students are among the most sought-after for the top positions in the field.

Most of our Ph.D. students enter academic careers following graduation, although some enter various communication industries and use their research skills in marketing, polling, media or other industries.

For more information, contact the Graduate Program Coordinator by email at [email protected] or call (614) 292-6503.

You can read more about our graduate program requirements and our admissions procedures on the following documents:

Some links on this page are to Adobe .pdf files requiring the use of Adobe Reader. If you need these files in a more accessible format, please contact [email protected] .

Offered jointly by the  School of Public Affairs    and the  School of Communication   , the Political Communication (MA) offers students a unique opportunity to prepare for professional careers in government, politics, political advocacy, public affairs, public policy, and communication through the study of political and communication theory, research, and practice. This interdisciplinary MA program allows students to take courses in both the School of Public Affairs    (SPA) and the School of Communication    (SOC) that emphasize thorough grounding in political science, strategic communication, research, and media. In addition, students take hands-on courses designed to teach applied politics and communication skills over a broad range of media and production classes that introduce them to news writing, persuasive writing, public opinion research, online advocacy, and campaign management. The program gives students a strong background in research skills, a broad knowledge of political issues, and a deep understanding of how the political process and media work. Students will gain the knowledge, skills, and ethical grounding to be successful as political communication professionals, policy makers, political advocates, and campaign executives.

Admission to the Program

Applicants must hold an accredited bachelor’s degree with a cumulative grade point average of at least 3.0 on a 4.0 scale. International students whose first language is not English are required to submit results of the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL). A strong TOEFL score is necessary to ensure that students may benefit fully from the coursework. The preferred minimum TOEFL score is 600 on the paper-based test (PBT), 100 on the Internet-based test (iBT); or a 7 on the IELTS. All applicants must submit two letters of reference. Applicants who received their bachelor’s degrees five or fewer years before the date of application should submit at least one letter that evaluates their undergraduate academic performance and suitability for graduate study in political science and communication.

Students apply to either SPA or SOC. Applications will be reviewed jointly by SPA and SOC, with both schools agreeing on student admission.

Degree Requirements

• Requests for the transfer of a maximum of 6 graduate credit hours will be considered in exceptional cases
• Capstone Experience: COMM-629 Capstone in Political Communication (3)   / GOVT-629 Capstone in Political Communication (3)    

Course Requirements

Core (24 credit hours).

• COMM-628 Proseminar in Political Communication (1)

 / GOVT-628 Proseminar in Political Communication (1)  

• COMM-639 Political Communication (3)
• COMM-640 Principles of Strategic Communication (3)
• COMM-735 Communication Theory (3)
• COMM-738 Research for Strategic Communication (3)
• GOVT-620 Applied Politics and American Public Policy (3)
• GOVT-643 Applied Political Writing (3)

Complete 5 credit hours from the following:

• GOVT-520 Campaign Management Institute (4)
• GOVT-521 Topics in Campaign Management (1)
• GOVT-523 The Art and Craft of Lobbying (3-4)
• GOVT-524 Topics in Public Affairs and Advocacy (1)

Capstone (3 credit hours)

Complete 3 credit hours, according to home school, from the following:

• COMM-629 Capstone in Political Communication (3)

 / GOVT-629 Capstone in Political Communication (3)  

Electives (9 credit hours)

Complete 9 credit hours from the following, or other courses approved by program directors:

• COMM-509 Politics and the Media (3)
• COMM-521 Opinion Writing (3)
• COMM-533 Ethics in Strategic Communication (3)
• COMM-540 Social Marketing for Social Impact (3)
• COMM-542 Media Relations (3)
• COMM-543 Speechwriting (3)
• COMM-551 Grassroots Digital Advocacy (3)
• COMM-567 Communication and Social Change (3)
• COMM-579 Political Advertising (3)
• COMM-596 Selected Topics: Non-Recurring (1-6)
• COMM-608 Social Media Strategies and Tactics (3)
• COMM-641 Crisis Communication (3)
• COMM-642 Strategic Communication Leadership and Management (3)
• COMM-643 Foreign Policy and the Press (3)
• COMM-644 Writing for Strategic Communication (3)
• COMM-649 International Strategic Communication (3)
• GOVT-523 The Art and Craft of Lobbying (3-4) : European Public Affairs and Advocacy Institute (3)
• GOVT-644 Political Speechwriting (3)
• GOVT-651 The Legislative Process (3)
• GOVT-652 The Presidency and the Executive Branch (3)
• GOVT-656 Voting Behavior, Elections, and Campaigns (3)
• GOVT-682 Women and Politics (3)
• GOVT-683 Women, Politics, and Public Policy (3)
• GOVT-684 Women and Political Leadership (3)
• GOVT-685 Topics in Women and Politics (1-4)

Combined Bachelor’s and Political Communication (MA)

American University offers students the opportunity to earn both undergraduate and graduate degrees through its combined bachelor’s/master’s programs. See Admission to a Combined Bachelor’s / Master’s Program    and  Combined Bachelor’s and Master’s Degrees    for more information.

In addition to meeting the minimum university requirements for combined bachelor’s/master’s programs:

• A minimum 3.50 cumulative GPA, a completed application form, two written faculty recommendations, an essay on the student’s interests and abilities in political science and communication, and an interview with the Department of Government graduate advisor if the student is entering through the School of Public Affairs, or the advisor for the Division of Public Communication if the student is entering through the School of Communication. Students must apply for admission to the graduate program no later than junior year, after completion of 75-90 credits. The Graduate Record Examination (GRE) is not required for admission to the BA/MA program
• Students must finish the master’s degree requirements within three years from the date of first enrollment in the master’s program

Communication Studies

Political communication.

In political communication, we are broadly interested in the relationship between politics and citizens and the communication modes that connect these groups to each other. We examine how these forces interact with each other and affect one another. Scholars in this area use many different methods, from quantitative to rhetorical approaches.

Courses | Publications by faculty members | Dissertations | Faculty and courses in other departments

CMS 390N Campaign Communication

CMS 390R Media & Public Opinion

CMS 390N Media, Politics, and Society

CMS 390N Media, Politics, and the Individual

CMS 390P Rhetoric and the Public Sphere

CMS 390P Rhetoric and Social Style

CMS 390R Rhetoric of Social Movements

Publications by faculty members

Brummett, Barry. A Rhetoric of Style.  Carbondale, IL:   Southern Illinois University Press, 2008.

Brummett, Barry. Contemporary Apocalyptic Rhetoric. Westport, CT: Praeger, 1991.

Brummett, Barry. Sporting Rhetoric: Performance, Games, and Politics.  New York:  Peter Lang, in press, expected winter 2009-10.

Brummett, Barry. Uncovering Hidden Rhetorics:  Social Issues in Disguise.  Thousand Oaks, CA:  Sage, 2007.

Brummett, Barry. "Rhetorical Homologies in Walter Benjamin, The Ring, and Capital." Rhetoric Society Quarterly 36 (2006):  449-469.

Brummett, Barry. "Communities, Identities, and Politics:  What Rhetoric is Becoming in the Twenty-First Century."  New Approaches to Rhetoric.  Ed. Patricia A. Sullivan and Steven R. Goldzwig.  Thousand Oaks, CA:  Sage, 2004:  293-308.

Brummett, Barry. "A Counter-Statement to Depoliticization:  Mediation and Simulational Politics." Nordicom 26 (2004):  111-120.

Cherwitz, Richard and Zagacki, Kenneth. "Consummatory Versus Justificatory Crisis Rhetoric." Western Journal of Speech Communication, 50 (1986), 307-24.

Cherwitz, Richard. "Charles Morris' Conception of Semiotic: Implications for Rhetorical Criticism." Communication Quarterly, 29 (1981), 218-227.

Cherwitz, Richard. "The Contributory Effect of Rhetorical Discourse: A Study of Language in Use." Quarterly Journal of Speech, 66 (1980), 33-50.

Cherwitz, Richard. "Masking Inconsistency: The Gulf of Tonkin Crisis." Communication Quarterly, 28 (1980), 27-38.

Cherwitz, Richard. "Lyndon Johnson and the ‘Crisis' of Tonkin Gulf: A President's Justification of War," Western Journal of Speech Communication, 42 (1979), 93-05.

Bass, Jefferson and Richard Cherwitz. "Imperial Mission and Manifest Destiny: A Case Study of Political Myth in Rhetorical Discourse." Southern Speech Communication Journal, 43 (1978), 213-232.

Hart, Roderick P. & John Lester Pauley, The Political Pulpit Revisited, (Lafayette, IN: Purdue University Press, 2005).

Hart, Roderick P., Sharon Jarvis, William P. Jennings, & Debora Smith-Howell, Political Keywords: Using Language that Uses Us, (Oxford University Press, 2005).

Hart, Roderick P. & Bartholomew H. Sparrow, (Eds.), Politics, Discourse, and American Society: New Agendas, (Boulder: Rowman and Littlefield, 2001).

Hart, Roderick P. & Daron R. Shaw, (Eds.), Communication in U.S. Elections: New Agendas, (Boulder: Rowman and Littlefield, 2001).

Hart, Roderick P. Campaign Talk: Why Elections Are Good for Us (Princeton: Princeton University Press, 2000).

Hart, Roderick P. Seducing America: How Television Charms the Modern Voter (New York: Oxford University Press; Sage Publications, 1994, 1999).

Jarvis, Sharon E., Natalie J. Stroud, & Austin A. Gilliland. (2009). College students, news use and trust. Communication Research Reports, 26(1), 30-39.

Jarvis, Sharon E., & Soo-Hye Han. (2008). Political communication. In. W. Eadie (Ed.). 21st Century Communication. Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage.

Jarvis, Sharon E. (2005). The talk of the party: Political labels, symbolic capital & American life. Lanham, MD: Rowman & Littlefield.

Jarvis, Sharon E., & Stacey Connaughton, S. L. (2005). Audiences implicadas e ignoradas in English and Spanish language questions in the 2002 Texas gubernatorial debates. Howard Journal of Communications, 16 (2), 1-18.

Jarvis, Sharon E. (2004). Partisan patterns in presidential campaign speeches, 1948-2000. Communication Quarterly, 52 (4), 403-419.

Connaughton, Stacey L., & Sharon E. Jarvis. (2004). Invitations for partisan identification: Attempts to court Latino voters through televised Latino-oriented political advertisements, 1984-2000. Journal of Communication, 54(1), 38-55.

Stroud, Natalie J. (2008). Media use and political predispositions: Revisiting the concept of selective exposure. Political Behavior, 30(3). 341-366.

Stroud, Natalie J. (2007). Media effects, selective exposure, & Fahrenheit 9/11. Political Communication, 24(4). 415-432.

Stroud, Natalie J., & Kate Kenski. (2007). From agenda setting to refusal setting: Survey nonresponse as a function of media coverage across the 2004 election cycle. Public Opinion Quarterly, 71(4). 539-559.

Price, Vincent, & Natalie J. Stroud. (2006). Public attitudes toward polls: Evidence from the 2000 US Presidential election. International Journal of Public Opinion Research, 18(4). 393-421.

Kenski, Kate, & Natalie J. Stroud. (2006). Connections between Internet use and political efficacy, knowledge, and participation. Journal of Broadcasting & Electronic Media, 50(2). 173-192.

Dissertations

Amanda J. Davis (Ph.D., 2008), assistant professor, University of Texas at Tyler, "Unveiling the Rhetoric of Torture: Abu Ghraib and American National Identity."

Soo-Hye Han (Ph.D., 2008), "The Untold Story: Portrayals of Electoral Participation in Print News Coverage of American Presidential Campaigns, 1948-2004."

Johanna Hartelius, (Ph.D., 2008), "Expertise as Rhetorical Strategy."

Jennifer J. Asenas (Ph.D., 2007), assistant professor, California State University, Long Beach, "Keeping Our Eyes on the Prize: Recalling the Black Freedom Struggle in Hurricane Katrina¹s Wake."

Jonah Feldman (Ph.D., 2007), "The Story of the Israeli/Palestinian Peace Talks: Applying Conflict Narrative Analysis to Political Dilemmas."

Erika Allen (Ph.D., 2006) "Crisis Communication: Training Intervention Effects on Attorney-Spokespeople"

Jay Childers (Ph.D., 2006) "Cowboy Citizenship: The Rhetoric of Civic Identity among Young Americans, 1965-2005"

Carlnita Peterson Greene (Ph.D., 2006), "Beyond the Binaries to Self-Fashioning: Identity as the Rhetoric of Social Style."

Lisa Renee Foster (Ph.D., 2006), assistant professor, University of Oklahoma, "Music, Publics, Protest, and the Cultivation of Democratic Nationalism After 9/11."

Dan Mangis, JD (Ph.D., 2005), "Distinguishing Between the Law and the Legal: A Rhetorical Analysis of Judicial Argument and Media Coverage of the U.S. Supreme Court's Deliberations in the University of Michigan Affirmative Action Cases."

J. Kanan Sawyer (Ph.D., 2005) "The Emotional Vote: The Role of Feelings in Political Mobilization Messages"

Tim Steffensmeier (Ph.D., 2005), "Rhetorical Invention and the Project of Becoming Local in Rural Community Rejuvenation."

William Jennings (Ph.D., 2003) "Models of Citizenship: Rhetoric, Americans, and their Civic Institutions."

Stefanie Sanford (Ph.D., 2003), "Changing Notions of Citizenship in Cyber Democracy."

Stacey Connaughton (Ph.D. 2002), "Invitations for Identification: An Organizational Communication Analysis of the Democratic and Republican Parties' Attempts to Court Latino Voters ."

Courtney Dillard (Ph.D., 2002), formerly assistant professor, Willamette University (now working in Oregon politics and social movements). "The Rhetorical Dimensions of Radical Flank Effects: Investigations into the Influence of Emerging Radical Voices on the Rhetoric of Long-standing Moderate Organizations in Two Social Movements."

Mary Dixson (Ph.D., 2002), "Consent vs. Controversy: Communication, Conflict, and the Teaching of Citizenship."

John Bosma (Ph.D., 2000), "The Rhetorical Uses of Political Consultancy."

Hannah Gourgey (Ph.D., 2000), "Symbolic Matters: Rhetoric, Marginality, and Identity."

Juandalynn Taylor (Ph.D., 2000), formerly assistant professor, University of North Texas (currently pursuing legal career). "Beyond Door Number One, Two, or Three: A Rhetorical Analysis of Cuban and Haitian Citizenship Status."

Faculty and courses in other departments

Affiliated faculty.

Jennifer Brundidge, Radio-TV-Film

Renita Coleman, Journalism

Homero Gil De Zuniga, Journalism

Nick Lasorsa, Journalism

Maxwell McCombs, Journalism

Tasha Philpot, Government

Steve Reese, Journalism

Daron Shaw, Government

Paul Stekler, Radio-TV-Film & LBJ

J 382 Agenda Setting

J 395 Framing Public Issues

J 395 Internet & Democracy

J 395 Political Communication

J 363 Theories of Mass Communication

RTF 393P Internet and Politics

RTF 384C Modern American Political Campaigns

Graduate Political Communication (MA)

Advance the future of politics in our MA program

GRE requirements

Advanced standing credits available for those with professional experience

Credit hours

About the Graduate Political Communication Program

Now more than ever, strategic communication professionals are essential for addressing the challenges of governmental, nonprofit, political, and advocacy organizations locally and globally. Emerson College’s on-campus Political Communication MA program immerses you in politics starting on day one and teaches you how to create and execute impactful political, social advocacy, and public diplomacy campaigns.

Housed in the School of Communication in the Department of Communication Studies, our program’s faculty are speechwriters, content creators, crisis and event managers who have worked in local races, as well as US presidential and global advocacy campaigns. Given our rich tradition as the first Department of Communication in the US, our students are passionate about politics and social justice and embrace the power, art, and ethics of communication as being the essential trait of effecting change in politics and public opinion.

Program Highlights

• Gain hands-on experience working with Emerson Polling, one of the nation’s most respected polling organizations and recognized by Bloomberg and 538 as one of the most accurate and trusted sources in the United States
• Opportunity for an immersive experience in electoral and advocacy campaigns as well as local/global public diplomacy projects in Rosarito, Baja California, Mexico, and Barcelona, among others
• Earn up to 8 Advanced Standing credits for your professional work experience, allowing you to expedite your degree completion by applying your working knowledge toward your degree
• No GRE requirements to apply
• Full-time and part-time options available
• Courses are offered in the evenings to fit your schedule

Request More Information

Program details.

• Curriculum Requirements
• Emerson Advantage
• Tuition & Financial Aid

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4+1 bachelor’s to master’s program.

Our Political Communication (MA) is available to current Emerson undergraduate students who are interested in pursuing a master’s degree in just one additional year. For more information, visit our 4+1 MA in Political Communication page.

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Modern Political Communications

“I have yet to see a piece of writing, political or nonpolitical, that does not have a slant. All writing slants the way a writer leans, and no man is born perpendicular.” -- E.B. White

Public policy does not pass and implement itself. It is born out of the social and political environment surrounding it and often is shaped by strategic messaging from candidates, elected officials, and political organizations. Politicians and policy-makers cultivate specific narratives around public policy to create and control public perception through messaging campaigns. This course will teach students a theoretical framework for understanding political communications and examining historical and modern examples of messaging across politics, government, and issue-based organizations. This course places a strong emphasis on critically examining how race, class, gender impact and are impacted by public policy. Through their regular coursework, students will expand their understanding of political communication and the ways in which it is related to public policy.

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MA Political Communication

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MA Political Communication (On-Campus)

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Shaping Political Thought

Whether you want to be a communications director on a political campaign, a media consultant devising national grassroots outreach, or a leading public affairs strategist guiding your client through a crisis, our master's in Political Communication is for you.

Navigate a Fast-Changing Landscape

The Master of Arts in Political Communication is a joint degree program between the  School of Public Affairs and the School of Communication . It combines expertise and scholarship to develop a thorough grounding in political science, strategic communication, research, and media. The interdisciplinary degree prepares you to navigate the fast-changing landscape of politics and communication-our students gain the knowledge, skills, and ethical grounding to be successful as political advocates, policy-makers, communication professionals, and campaign executives.

Hone Your Skills

Taught by today's leading political communication scholars and practitioners, you'll take hands-on courses in applied politics and communication skills over a broad range of media and production topics that will introduce you to news writing, persuasive writing, public opinion research, online advocacy, and campaign management. For this 36-credit degree students can choose courses from a variety of areas including speechwriting, social media strategy and tactics, research for communication, and political advertising, as well as classes in AU's Women and Politics Institute , Campaign Management Institute , and Public Affairs and Advocacy Institute .

Build Knowledge and Expertise

If you're seeking to build a strong background in research skills, a broad knowledge of political issues, a deep understanding of how the political process and media work, and the expertise necessary to create, shape, and manage political communication, you'll find what you're looking for in SPA and SOC's joint degree in Political Communication.

The MA degree in Political Communication requires 36 credit hours of approved graduate work for students entering the program with a bachelor's degree. A grade point average of 3.5 in all coursework is recommended to remain in good standing and to earn the degree. Full-time status is considered to be nine credit hours per semester. Students are expected to complete the degree within two years.

The program includes the Capstone in Political Communication GOVT-629/COMM-629 . This is a demonstration of your critical thinking, research, and writing skills through a substantial research paper or practicum.

More information about course requirements can be found here.

For more information, please contact the SPA Graduate Admissions Office at 202-885-6230 or [email protected] .

Our Political Communication master's program can be undertaken part-time or full-time, and admission is open for both the fall and spring semesters. Apply through the School of Public Affairs .

The School of Public Affairs operates on a rolling admissions basis for our graduate programs. This means that applications are reviewed on an ongoing basis until programs reach capacity for either Spring or Fall entry. While previous academic or professional work in the career field is not required, your application file should demonstrate a serious commitment to a career in this field. Please consult the following web resources to learn more about building an application file for the program:

Deadlines Application Requirements FAQ(s) International Student Application and Admission

For more information, please contact the SPA Office of Graduate Admissions at 202-885-6230 or  [email protected] .

Please consult SPA’s  Tuition and Funding page  to gain an understanding of the cost of tuition, student fees, and associated discretionary costs.

All admitted students—domestic and international--who meet the priority deadlines for Spring and Fall entry (November 1 and February 15, respectively) are considered for merit aid as part of a separate review process. An admitted student’s application file is the basis of review. There is no separate application required for consideration. Merit aid options consist of partial tuition remission, graduate assistantships, and a limited number of named scholarships. All inquiries about SPA merit aid should be directed to  [email protected] .

All  domestic  students are encouraged to   submit a Free Application for Federal Student Aid ( FAFSA ) if they wish to apply for Federal student Loans. American University's FAFSA code is 001434. The  Office of Financial Aid  (OFA) at American University will review this information and will notify you of your eligibility. Questions may be directed to  [email protected] .

We Know Success Facts

93 percent of Political Communication graduates are employed or in graduate school, or both, within six months of graduation.

Political Communication Alumni Speak the Language of Politics and Government

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Certificate code CTPOLC

Scripps College of Communication     School of Communication Studies      Schoonover Center Athens, OH 45701 Phone: 740.593.4828 www.ohio.edu/scripps-college/comm-studies/undergraduate/poco

Jerry Miller, Ph.D., contact person [email protected]

Program Overview

The Colleges of Communication and Arts and Sciences jointly sponsor a certificate in political communication (POCO) for students who wish to supplement their undergraduate majors with an inquiry into the arena of the role of communication in politics. Political communication encompasses the interactions of political figures, political interests, the press, and the public in their efforts to persuade and influence political outcomes. The program is open to any undergraduate student in the University.

Admissions Information

Freshman/first-year admission.

No requirements beyond University admission requirements.

Change of Program Policy

No selective or limited admission requirements.

External Transfer Admission

Opportunities upon graduation.

Students interested in political, legal, and/or media professions will find the political communication certificate program beneficial in opening up career opportunities. The research requirements/opportunities make POCO a logical step for students planning to attend graduate work in law, political science, communication, etc.

Requirements

Certificate hours requirement.

The political communication certificate program requires a minimum of 21 hours.

POCO Core Requirements

Complete the following courses:

• POCO 2010 - Introduction to Political Communication Credit Hours: 3
• POCO 4010 - Seminar in Political Communication Credit Hours: 3

POCO Specialization Requirements

Complete at least 15 hours with no more than two courses from the same department.

• COMS 2020 - Communication and Persuasion Credit Hours: 3
• COMS 3420 - Qualitative Inquiry in Communication Credit Hours: 3
• COMS 3602 - Political Rhetoric Credit Hours: 3
• COMS 4530 - Communication and the Campaign Credit Hours: 3
• COMS 4604 - Responsibilities and Freedom of Speech in Communication Credit Hours: 3
• ECON 3120 - Economics of Poverty Credit Hours: 3
• ECON 3130 - Economics of the Environment Credit Hours: 3
• ECON 3140 - Natural Resource Economics Credit Hours: 3
• ECON 3150 - Economics of Health Care Credit Hours: 3
• ECON 3200 - Labor Economics Credit Hours: 3
• ECON 3350 - Economics of Energy Credit Hours: 3
• ECON 3370 - Economics of Regulation Credit Hours: 3
• ECON 3400 - International Trade Credit Hours: 3
• ECON 3410 - International Monetary Systems Credit Hours: 3
• HIST 3050 - The United States and the Vietnam War Credit Hours: 3
• HIST 3100 - Emergence of the Modern United States: Progressive Era and Roaring Twenties Credit Hours: 3
• HIST 3146 - American Ideas, 20th- Century Credit Hours: 3
• HIST 3148 - Cultural Rebels in the Modern U.S. Credit Hours: 3
• HIST 3213 - War, Violence, Modernity Credit Hours: 3
• HIST 3220 - 1960s in U.S.: Decade of Controversy Credit Hours: 3
• HIST 3231 - Latin American History: From Independence to the Present Credit Hours: 3
• HIST 3232 - History of Brazil Credit Hours: 3
• HIST 3233 - The History of Modern Mexico Credit Hours: 3
• HIST 3330 - Oil, the Persian Gulf, and World Power Credit Hours: 3
• HIST 3420 - History of South Africa Credit Hours: 3
• HIST 3682 - Nazi Germany Credit Hours: 3
• HIST 3822 - Soviet Union Credit Hours: 3
• JOUR 3310 - Reporting Public Issues Credit Hours: 3
• JOUR 3700 - Advertising and Public Relations Writing Credit Hours: 3
• JOUR 4710 - Public Relations Planning Credit Hours: 3
• LING 2800 - Language in America Credit Hours: 3
• LING 3900 - Language and Gender Credit Hours: 3
• MDIA 2010 - Media Analysis and Criticism Credit Hours: 3
• MDIA 2012 - Media, Communication and Social Change Credit Hours: 3
• POLS 2500 - International Relations Credit Hours: 3
• POLS 3040 - State Politics Credit Hours: 3
• POLS 4050 - American Political Parties Credit Hours: 3
• POLS 4060 - Elections and Campaigns Credit Hours: 3
• POLS 4067 - Women and Politics Credit Hours: 3
• POLS 4100 - Public Policy Analysis Credit Hours: 3
• POLS 4150 - The American Presidency Credit Hours: 3
• POLS 4160 - Legislative Processes Credit Hours: 3
• POLS 4180 - Interest Groups in American Politics Credit Hours: 3
• POLS 4240 - American Federalism and Public Policy Credit Hours: 3
• POLS 4560 - International Organization Credit Hours: 3
• POLS 4570 - National Security in the Contemporary Era Credit Hours: 3
• PSY 2120 - Research Methods in Psychology Credit Hours: 4
• PSY 2510 - Social Psychology Credit Hours: 3
• SOC 2100 - Introduction to Social Psychology Credit Hours: 3
• SOC 3500 - Elementary Research Techniques Credit Hours: 3
• SOC 4140 - Contemporary Social Movements Credit Hours: 3
• SOC 4320 - Political Sociology Credit Hours: 3
• SOC 4650 - Social Change Credit Hours: 3

School of Planning and Public Affairs

What is public affairs.

The interdisciplinary public affairs degree will prepare students to pursue careers in government service, as well as the rapidly growing nonprofit sector.

The degree also helps the university fulfill its pledge to, “Create a university ecosystem that enables UI to be an international leader in confronting the grand challenges of the 21 st century.” That includes addressing how society responds to key problems facing communities, the nation, and the world.

Students admitted to the 42-hour degree began their studies in Fall 2020. Expected enrollment in the program includes individuals already employed and classes will mostly be offered on campus.

The Master of Public Affairs program is administered by the School of Planning and Public Affairs in the Graduate College. The Political Science Department is partnering with School of Planning and Public Affairs to manage the new program. Other partners include, but are not limited to, degree programs in strategic communications, management and organization, civil and environmental engineering, and health policy.

Doctoral Students — Political Communication

Main navigation, catherine chen.

[email protected] CV catherinechenty.com

Chen's research interests revolve around understanding the antecedents, structure, and consequences of political attitudes among Americans. Specifically, her work focuses on examining people’s attitudes toward science, climate change, and vaccines. Chen is currently on the academic job market, seeking an assistant professor position set to commence in the fall of 2024.

Matthew DeButts

[email protected]

Matt is interested in how institutions get people to believe things, especially in China and the United States (media, politics, beliefs).

Young Jee Kim

[email protected]  ( CV )

Kim studies democratic processes for risk prevention in society through deliberative practices.

Natalie Neufeld

[email protected]  ( CV)

Neufeld is interested in political polarization, party loyalty, and persuasion techniques that lead to lasting attitude change.

MA in Public Relations Help Shape the Future of Policies, Goals, and Objectives Within a Communication Setting

Credit Hours

View Courses

100% online, 8-week courses

Transfer in up to 50% of the degree total

Become a Competent Communicator for Your Organization with Our Master’s in Public Relations Online

Do you seek to help shape the future of your organization? Liberty’s Master of Arts (MA) in Public Relations can help equip you with the essential concepts, skills, and expertise to help organizations build mutually beneficial relationships with diverse audiences. Through comprehensive coursework and practical exercises, you can learn to navigate the dynamic field of public relations, mastering the art of strategic communication and relationship management. This public relations major emphasizes the importance of advocacy, honesty, loyalty, and objectivity. We aim to prepare graduates to be effective communicators who positively impact organizations and their stakeholders.

Public relations majors are trained to deliver ethical and impactful messages across various platforms and contexts. Whether you’re working with businesses, nonprofits, or government agencies, you can focus on developing the ability to craft and disseminate messages that resonate locally and globally. Our goal for this public relations degree program is to help you prepare for a variety of roles in academic, corporate, or church-affiliated settings.

Ranked in the Top 10% of Niche.com’s Best Online Schools in America

• What Sets Us Apart?
• Private Nonprofit University
• 600+ Online Degrees
• No Standardized Testing for Admission
• Transfer in up to 75% of an Undergrad Degree
• Transfer in up to 50% of a Grad/Doctoral Degree

Why Choose Liberty’s Public Relations Degree Online?

Liberty University’s online public relations master’s is tailored to help you achieve your career goals by focusing on essential skills in the communications sector. The public relations curriculum is based on modern scholarship and can help prepare you to be crisis-ready in nearly every professional environment. The idea that communication is constant will shape the way you plan and work in the marketplace.

Businesses, nonprofits, and agencies across all industries need skilled professionals capable of resonating with and persuading audiences. Our master’s in public relations can enhance your current skills while offering the convenience of 100% online courses, providing the flexibility you need.

What Will You Study in Our Public Relations Program ?

The MA in Public Relations program at Liberty University is designed to help equip you with communication and leadership skills applicable to various settings. The curriculum includes online courses that focus on developing your ability to write, communicate, plan, and strategize. You will study basic communication strategies, such as effective storytelling that connects with consumer emotions and creates brand identity. In addition, you can explore advertising and public relations tactics for successful mass communication.

The core studies in our public relations master’s degree program encompass a variety of critical topics designed to develop your skills and expertise in the field. In Public Relations Writing, you can experience the intricacies of crafting messages for diverse audiences and media, from press releases to press conferences. This course can challenge even skilled communicators to consider the nuances of audience, message, and media in every project. Additionally, Public Relations Planning examines the process of setting goals and establishing measurable outcomes using various communication tools. You will be tasked with creating campaigns and initiatives that elevate your public relations expertise and push you to think strategically and creatively.

Crisis Communication and Strategy delves into the crisis lifecycle, focusing on the crisis and post-crisis stages. Through practical exercises, you can learn how to navigate organizational crises and develop real-world outcomes applicable in professional settings. Finally, Analytics in Crisis Communication uses a case study approach to evaluate and analyze historical crises within the marketplace. This course emphasizes the importance of measurable post-crisis analytics to inspire the prevention of future corporate crises, ensuring you understand the value of data-driven strategies in managing and mitigating crises.

Potential Career Opportunities

• Advertising/public relations executive
• Director of communications
• Public information officer
• Research manager
• University administrator
• University professor (adjunct)
• Vice president of communication

Featured Courses

• COPR 510 – Public Relations Writing
• COPR 515 – Public Relations Planning
• COPR 545 – Crisis Communication and Strategy
• COPR 640 – Analytics in Crisis Communication

Course guides coming soon

Degree Information

• This program falls under the School of Communication and the Arts .
• View the Graduate Communication and the Arts Course Guides (login required).

Degree Completion Plan (PDF)

Not sure what to choose?

Speak to one of our admissions specialists to help you choose the program that best fits your needs.

• Tuition & Aid

Your success is our success, which is why we are committed to providing quality academics at an affordable tuition rate. While other colleges are increasing their tuition, we have frozen tuition rates for the majority of our undergraduate, graduate, and doctoral programs for the past 9 years – and counting.

All Tuition & Fees

Financial Aid & Scholarships

Financial Aid Forms & Eligibility

Scholarship Opportunities

Admission Information for the Online MA in Public Relations Degree

Admission requirements.

• A non-refundable, non-transferable $50 application fee will be posted on the current application upon enrollment (waived for qualifying service members, veterans, and military spouses – documentation verifying military status is required) .
• Unofficial transcripts can be used for acceptance purposes with the submission of a Transcript Request Form .
• Applicants whose native language is other than English must submit official scores for the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) or an approved alternative assessment. For information on alternative assessments or TOEFL waivers, please call Admissions or view the official International Admissions policy .

Preliminary Acceptance

If you are sending in a preliminary transcript for acceptance, you must:

• Be in your final term and planning to start your master’s degree after the last day of class for your bachelor’s degree.
• Complete a Bachelor’s Self-Certification Form confirming your completion date. You may download the form from the Forms and Downloads page or contact an admissions counselor to submit the form on your behalf.
• Submit an official/unofficial transcript to confirm that you are in your final term. The preliminary transcript must show a minimum of 105 completed credit hours.
• If you are a current Liberty University student completing your undergraduate degree, you will need to submit a Degree/Certificate Completion Application .
• Send in an additional, final official transcript with a conferral date on it by the end of your first semester of enrollment in the new master’s degree.

Dual Enrollment

Please see the Online Dual Enrollment page for information about starting graduate courses while finishing your bachelor’s degree.

Transcript Policies

Unofficial college transcript policy.

Unofficial transcripts combined with a Transcript Request Form can be used for admission. Official transcripts are required within 60 days of the admissions decision or before non-attendance drops for the first set of matriculated classes, whichever comes first, and will prevent enrollment into future terms until all official transcripts have been received.

Before sending unofficial college transcripts, please make sure they include the following:

• Your previous school’s name or logo printed on the document
• Cumulative GPA
• A list of completed courses and earned credit broken down by semester
• Degree and date conferred (if applicable)

Official College Transcript Policy

An acceptable official college transcript is one that has been issued directly from the institution and is in a sealed envelope. If you have one in your possession, it must meet the same requirements. If your previous institution offers electronic official transcript processing, they can send the document directly to [email protected] .

If the student uses unofficial transcripts with a Transcript Request Form to gain acceptance, all official transcripts must be received within 60 days of the admissions decision or before non-attendance drops for the first set of matriculated classes, whichever comes first. Failure to send all official transcripts within the 60-day period will prevent enrollment into future terms until all official transcripts have been received.

Admissions Office Contact Information

(800) 424-9596

(888) 301-3577

Email for Questions

[email protected]

Email for Documents

[email protected]

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Lynchburg, VA 24515

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Liberty University is dedicated to providing world-class educational experiences to military students across the globe.

Who May Qualify?

• Active Duty
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• Spouses of Service Members and Veterans/Retirees
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Available Benefits:

• Tuition discounts – $275 per credit hour for graduate courses
• Additional discount for veterans who service in a civilian capacity as a First Responder (less than $625 per course) *
• 8-week courses, 8 different start dates each year, and no set login times (may exclude certain courses such as practicums, internships, or field experiences)

*Not applicable to certificates.

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Undergraduate Courses

Current political science courses .

Please click here to view which courses are being offered each term. 

Catalog of Political Science Courses 

• American Politics

Comparative Politics

International relations.

• Political Theory
• Political Methodology
• Variable Courses

Honors Courses

American politics .

POLITSC 1100 - Introduction to American Politics

Introduction to American politics, the institutions and processes which create public policy, the strengths and weaknesses of the American political systems.

POLITSC 1165 - Introduction to Politics

Introduction to politics and political science: power, democracy and authoritarianism, political participation, the state, political institutions, subfields of the discipline, and political research methodology. 

POLITSC 2110 - American Government Culture and Behavior

Focuses on political elites, theories of American Democracy, development of institutions, and importance of mass political behavior and organized interests. GE theme citizenship for div and just wrld course.

POLITSC 2120 - Follow the Science: The Politics of Health

In the 20th Century, chronic conditions became the leading killers of Americans and the federal government came to play a much more expansive role in health, including the approval of treatments, regulation of harmful substances, promotion of healthy habits, and funding healthcare. Students will survey these developments and apply the resulting insights to contemporary health policy debates. GE theme citizenship for div and just wrld and health and well-being course.

POLITSC 2145 - Native American Politics

Overview of the politics and governance of Native Americans. Topics include diversity of political structures designed by Indigenous peoples in North America, their dynamic relationships with the US federal government, the major historical events relevant to Native politics, and salient contemporary issues in Native American politics. GE theme citizenship for div and just wrld course.

POLITSC 2150 - Voters and Elections

Students will engage in an in-depth study of the mechanics of democracy. Students will take a close look at various forms of voting and representation around the world and examine the motivation and tactics of elite actors (candidates, reporters, interest groups, political parties, media personalities, etc.) and the voting public. GE soc sci indivs and groups course. GE theme citizenship for div and just wrld course.

POLITSC 3115 - Introduction to the Policy Process

Introduction to the workings of policy-making processes within governments, and the use of social science reasoning to evaluate and improve the content of policies. 

POLITSC 3147 - Intersectionality and Identity Politics

This course addresses American racial and gender politics based on relevant research. In particular, it focuses on research and theories centered on different facets of race, gender, and intersectionality in the United States.GE foundation race, ethnicity and gender div course.

POLITSC 3160 - Political Polarization & the Culture War

Course examines causes and implications of political polarization in the United States.

POLITSC 3170 - Political Psychology

Introduces students to political psychology, its development from parent disciplines, its topics and problems, its research results and methods, and their applications to current affairs.

POLITSC 4110 - The American Presidency

An examination of the American presidency, emphasizing the contemporary role of the president, the institutionalized presidency, and theories of presidential behavior. 

POLITSC 4115 - Bureaucracy and Public Policy

An examination of bureaucracies as political institutions, and a consideration of their role in several areas of public policy implementation.  POLITSC 4120 - U.S. Congress

Analysis of legislatures and legislators, with a focus on the U.S. Congress and some attention to state legislatures and representative assemblies in other countries.  

POLITSC 4123 - Political Crisis and Reform

A survey of previous episodes of major reform in American politics, focusing on strategies used by reformers, evaluating the policy and political impact of their reforms, and applying lessons from these cases to contemporary political problems.

POLITSC 4125 - American State Politics

Comparative analysis of politics in the American states.

POLITSC 4126 - Ohio Politics

Examination of state politics with special reference to Ohio. 

POLITSC 4127 - Governing Urban America

This course will examine the major problems facing urban communities in the 21st Century; the economic, social, and political forces that have historically shaped - and continue to influence - their development; the role of government in addressing urban problems; and the major participants and stakeholders in city politics.

POLITSC 4130 - Law and Politics

Analysis of the roles of judges and lawyers as participants in the American political process; analysis of courts as political institutions. 

POLITSC 4131 - American Supreme Court

This course focuses on the U.S. Supreme Court as an institution and emphasizes the ways in which its formal and informal norms and structures shape the nature and content of the law the Court makes.

POLITSC 4135 - American Constitutional Law

Assessment of the contemporary realities of U.S. governmental authority as interpreted by the judiciary; emphasis on judicial review, case and controversy requirements, and legislative and executive power. 

POLITSC 4136 - Civil Liberties

An examination of civil liberties decisions by American courts, their legal and political bases, and their effects on government and society. 

POLITSC 4137 - The Politics of Legal Decision Making

An examination of the literature relating social-science theories and research to the law, focusing on the criminal justice system.  

POLITSC 4138 - Women and the Law

An examination of the legal status of women and the ways in which law affects the situation of women in American society. 

POLITSC 4139 - Gun Politics

Examination of the arguments and issues surrounding gun control in the United States.

POLITSC 4140 - Black Politics

Economic, political, and social constraints on the development of black political power; the efforts made by black people in recent times to organize for effective political action.

POLITSC 4143 - Race, Ethnicity, and American Politics

The goal of this course is to explore, discuss, and better understand the relationship between perceptions of racial identity, attributions of racial difference, and politics, broadly defined

POLITSC 4150 - American Political Parties

Theories of political parties, party organization, individual voting behavior, nomination and electoral politics, the party in government. 

POLITSC 4152 - Campaign Politics

The organization and strategy of American political campaigns; practical politics seen in the light of knowledge about political behavior and public opinion. 

POLITSC 4160 - Public Opinion

Origins and nature of political attitudes; the content of public opinion; the public's influence on policy-making. 

POLITSC 4164 - Political Participation and Voting Behavior

A study of political participation and its correlates, determinants of the vote decision, and analysis of recent American elections. 

POLITSC 4165 - Media and American Politics

This course presents the modern study of the media and it role in the American political system, including supply and demand pressures and how they affect media content, its effects on citizens, and the emerging role of social media in politics.

POLITSC 4170 - Gender and Politics

An examination of women's participation in political activity, including changes over time in women's political roles and comparison with the roles of men. 

POLITSC 4175 - Women, Government, and Public Policy

An examination of policymaking on gender-related issues and the impact of women in government.

POLITSC 1200 - Introduction to Comparative Politics

Introduction to modern nation-states outside the United States: problems of state- and nation-building, representation, conflict, and making of government policy in selected countries.

POLITSC 3220 - Politics of the Developing World

A general introduction to the theoretical and substantive literature dealing with the historical development and contemporary characteristics of the new states of Asia and Africa.

POLITSC 3225 - Post-Conflict Reconstruction

Examines why some countries recover quickly from war while other countries remain poor and undeveloped. Examines current explanations of post-conflict development; provides background knowledge and tools to evaluated explanations. GE soc sci human, nat, and econ resources and diversity global studies course. GE foundation social and behavioral sci course.

POLITSC 3240 - Political Violence

This course will expose students to major theoretical debates and broad empirical patterns of intrastate conflict during the post-World War II era.

POLITSC 3245 - Radicalization, Deradicalization, Countering Violent Extremism

Students will gain in-depth knowledge about the multifaceted processes of radicalization and deradicalization and the various approaches to both that have been developed in countering violent extremism policies.

POLITSC 3260 - Global Politics of Health and Disease

Introduces students to the global politics of health and disease by examining the conceptual history, organizational actors, practice, and issues of global health politics through interdisciplinary texts in international relations, global health, and health policy.

POLITSC 3280 - Politics of Markets

Introduction to the interaction between politics and markets, in theory and in practice. We study how markets are embedded in political and social institutions, and how political systems and markets are organized across time and space. 

POLITSC 3290 - Comparative Public Policy

This course serves as an introduction to public policy in comparative perspective; its focus is on wealthy democracies. The first part of the course explores broad theories about how and why public policy differs so dramatically across countries. The second part of the course focuses on cross-national differences across specific policy domains.

POLITSC 4200 - Politics of Modern Democracies

A survey of the basic institutions and politics of modern democracies, with emphasis on representativeness and democratic stability.

POLITSC 4210 - Politics of European Integration

A survey of the politics of European integration since the Second World War; topics include theories of political integration, institutions of the EU, its policies and decision making, common currency, and internal and external relations.

POLITSC 4218 - Russian Politics

Survey of the politics of Russia and the former soviet states with emphasis on democratization, economic reform, institutional development, elites, mass behavior, and ideology.

POLITSC 4240 - Latin American Politics

A study of political processes, institutions, and groups in Latin America, with emphasis on constitutional, geographical, social, and economic environments in which they operate.

POLITSC 4242 - Incomplete Democracies

Explores various forms of violence including electoral violence and political assassination, organized crime, police brutality, and other human rights abuses in Latin America.

POLITSC 4245H - Democratic Erosion

How do democracies become less democratic? This course will explore the causes and consequences of democratic breakdown in countries around the world and over time.

POLITSC 4249 - Domestic Politics of International Conflict

Examination of war and the impact of domestic politics on the war-making decision; influence of domestic institutions and public opinion on leaders' ability/willingness to wage war.

POLITSC 4250 - African Politics

An introductory survey of Sub-Saharan African politics from the pre-colonial period to the contemporary era. It will examine the common themes, issues, and trends that shape politics and development across forty-nine countries. Students will gain an understanding of how context shapes political behavior and how historical and political forces have influenced African politics.

POLITSC 4270 - The Canadian Political System

The Canadian political system, including institutional, behavioral, socio-economic, cultural, and ideological components, often in comparison with the United States' political system.

POLITSC 4282 - The Politics of Income Inequality

Introduces fundamental politics of income inequality and redistribution, including social policy development, redistributional policy differences between countries, and popularity of differing welfare programs.

POLITSC 4285 - The Comparative Politics of the Welfare State

Analyzes different kinds of welfare capitalism including social, economic, and political considerations shaping welfare policy; and contemporary welfare reform as an exercise in reallocation, reorganization, and budget-cutting.

POLITSC 1300 - Global Politics

Cooperation and conflict in world politics. Covers basic theories of international relations and key issues, including security, political economy, international organizations, and the environment. 

POLITSC 2300 - American Foreign Policy

The role of the United States in world politics since the Second World War, emphasizing structural change in economic and political-military relations. 

POLITSC 2367 - Contemporary Issues in American Politics

Discussion of and critical writing about controversies in contemporary American politics; aimed at fostering analytical abilities in reading comprehension, oral, and written expression.

POLITSC 3310 - Defense Policy and National Security

This course addresses some of the basic issues surrounding national security policy. The primary focus is on policy issues related to the use of force between and within countries. The goal of the course is to provide the analytical tools and factual knowledge that are necessary to identify and assess current and future threats to national security.

POLITSC 3380 - Political Analysis of International Economic Relations

Examines the relationship between political and economic events in the international system; topics include global interdependence, inequality, scarce resources, and periphery nation strategies. 

POLITSC 4300 - Theories of International Relations

Various theories of world politics, such as realism, liberalism, long cycles, domestic and bureaucratic politics, and decision-making level theory.

POLITSC 4305 - International Theory

POLITSC 4310 - Security Policy

National security and military policy issues and trends since 1945; covers containment, deterrence, Vietnam, nuclear weapons, terrorism, and globalization.

POLITSC 4315 - International Security and the Causes of War

Examines various issues regarding international conflict and cooperation, including theories of strategic interaction and the causes of war.

POLITSC 4318 - The Politics of International Terrorism

Examines international terrorism's concepts and actors, the motivations and causes of terrorism, the experience of the United States, and tensions between freedoms and security.

POLITSC 4320 - Strategies for War and Peace

Examination of how political leaders make decisions, emphasizing such issues as leaders' reasoning processes and the impact of public opinion and foreign policy bureaucracies.

POLITSC 4326 - Russian Foreign Policy

Basic concepts about, and choices in, Russian foreign policy; development and presentation of patterns of relations with key nations; major problems in future relationships.

POLITSC 4327 - Politics in the Middle East

Politics of Arab-Israeli relations, Persian Gulf, Islamic fundamentalism, and oil; processes of change and their effects on governments and international relations.

POLITSC 4330 - Global Governance

Examination of emergence and form of global governance, including questions of legitimation, democratization, and enforcement; as well as collective security, humanitarian intervention, and proliferation.

POLITSC 4331 - The United Nations System

Activities and potential of the United Nations system in promoting economic well-being, environmental management, resource sharing, social justice, and control of violence.

POLITSC 4332 - Politics of Globalization

Examines globalization's origins, impacts on human welfare, and political conflicts that arise from it, including actions of governments, multinational corporations, and the anti-globalization movement.

POLITSC 4335 - International Environmental Politics

Theories and debates over sustainable development, environment, and security, and effectiveness of international regimes with a focus on international fisheries management and global climate change.

POLITSC 4381 - Comparative International Political Economy

A survey of foreign economic policies followed by European and other advanced industrial economies since the Napoleonic Wars, with a special emphasis on Britain, France, Germany, the United States, and Japan.

POLITSC 4385 - Quantitative Studies of International Conflict

Acquaints students with the quantitative literature on conflict and war.

Political Theory 

POLITSC 2400 - Introduction to Political Theory

An introduction to the field of political theory through classic and contemporary texts and selected case studies.

POLITSC 3420 - Political Theories of Democracy

An examination of theories of democracy, focusing on normative and descriptive dilemmas such as participation versus liberty in democratic societies. 

POLITSC 3430 - Political Theories of Freedom

Provides an overview of the various ways in which the value of human freedom has been understood and pursued in political life. 

POLITSC 3440 - Political Theories of Justice

Focuses on debates among political theorists about the meaning of justice; "What is justice?" and "How might we order our world justly?" 

POLITSC 3450 - Ethics and Public Policy

Contemporary approaches to public policy evaluation and their ethical foundations, including efficiency, security, rights, welfare, and equity. 

POLITSC 3460 - Global Justice

Examines the idea of justice between states and among the people of the world. What would a just world look like? How should we live in our unjust world? Current debates about war, the environment, diversity and poverty will be considered.

POLITSC 4420H - Debating Democracy

Intensive examination of theories of democracy, focusing on normative and descriptive dilemmas such as participation versus liberty in democratic societies.

POLITSC 4455 - Human Rights

Examines human rights, including the United Nations Declaration on Human Rights; coercive enforcement of rights; as well as hunger, violence, persecution, and economic rights.

POLITSC 4465 - Feminist Political Theory

Examines concepts in feminist political theory including the articulation of feminism, the subjects of feminist theory, the relation of race, class and sexuality to gender experience, and the use of feminist theory to transform conceptions of justice.

POLITSC 5411 - Justice, Sin, and Virtue: Ancient & Medieval Political Thought

This course focuses on foundational texts in western political thought: from ancient Athens, republican and imperial Rome, the Christian middle ages, and the Italian Renaissance. These works deal with themes that remain central in modern political life, including social justice, political action and religious faith, and the struggle between civic virtue and self-interest.

POLITSC 5412 - Life, Liberty, and Property: Early Modern Political Thought

Why do we have government? What are the proper limits of its authority? What should we do when its demands conflict with our moral or religious beliefs? These questions lie at the center of early modern political thought, and gave rise to the idea of the social contract.

POLITSC 5413 - Democracy, Equality & Revolution: 19th Century Political Thought

This course examines some of the earliest and most influential attempts to wrestle with the practical implications of living in a world where people were not only considered equal in theory, but were becoming equal in fact. Topics of discussion will include the relationship between liberty and equality, individualism and conformity, alienation and exploitation, and morality and power.

POLITSC 5414 - Liberalism, Totalitarianism, and Empire: 20th Century Political Thought

The 20th century was a time of unprecedented transformations: world wars, genocide, the collapse of colonialism and the spread of capitalism. This course examines the political theories that contributed to these developments as well as efforts to understand these changes.

Political Methodology 

POLITSC 3500 - Political Games: Rational Choice Theory and the Study of Politics

Are political outcomes and institutions the result of decision-making by rational, self-interested political actors? This course explores how the assumption of individual rationality has shaped the field of political science.

POLITSC 3549 - Survey Research in Political Science

The conducting of public opinion polls.

POLITSC 3596 - Nationalism and Ethnicity

Explores socio-political identities, especially ethnicity and nationality, from a comparative perspective. Drawing upon theories from political science, psychology, anthropology, sociology, and economics, we will study the origins and characteristics of these identities, as well as their consequences for democracy, economic development, and violent conflict. GE soc sci indivs and groups and cross-disciplinary seminar course. GE foundation social and behavioral sci course.

POLITSC 4553 - Game Theory for Political Scientists

Provides entry-level understanding of the basic concepts of game theory and how these concepts are applied to the study of political phenomena.

POLITSC 4597.02 - Political Problems of the Contemporary World

Critical political problems of industrialized and developing societies, including governmental legitimacy, conflict and violence, social welfare, equality, and economic development.

POLITSC 4597.03 - Gender and Democracy in the Contemporary World

Highlighting perspectives from various contexts across the globe, this course explores issues of gender and democracy in the contemporary world.

Variable Courses 

POLITSC 1910 - Introduction to the Politics of Identity

This course is designed to introduce students to the continued significance of race, gender, and ethnicity in American society with a focus on identity. Examines how various identities and combinations of identities (namely race, ethnicity, and gender) are associated with sociopolitical experiences and attitudes. GE foundation race, ethnicity and gender div course.

POLITSC 3001 - Economy, Polity, and Community

Examines how different ways of thinking about human nature shape our understanding of philosophy, politics, and economics. 

POLITSC 3002 - Tradition, Progress, and Utopia

Examines how different ways of thinking about social and political change shape our understanding of philosophy, politics, and economics.

POLITSC 3780 - Data Literacy and Data Visualization

Introduction to the tools of data analysis in political science, with an emphasis on data visualization. GE data anly course. GE foundation math and quant reasoning or data anyl course.

POLITSC 3780H - Data Literacy and Data Visualization

Most social science debates can be addressed with data, and sources of data are growing exponentially. This course introduces students to tools of data analysis and principles behind their use in the context of social-science applications. GE data anly course. GE foundation math and quant reasoning or data anyl course.

POLITSC 3785 - Data Science for the Social and Behavioral Sciences

Introduction to new issues in data science, including big data, machine learning, network interdependencies, and automated extraction of meaning from widely varied sources of data.

POLITSC 3798 - Field Research Methods for Politics & Development in Africa: Education Abroad in Malawi

This education abroad course focuses on research methodologies used to understand political and economic outcomes in Africa. The course will be especially useful for undergraduate students who plan to conduct research or design programs and interventions in the developing world.

POLITSC 3905 - Political Manipulation

Examines how political actors manipulate the rules and the salience and availability of information to shift political outcomes in their favor. 

POLITSC 3910 - Identity Politics

Explores who controls the meaning of identity in society; examining identity from the perspective of liberal, sociological, and social psychological, structuralist, and institutionalist theories. 

POLITSC 3912 - Political Leadership

Establishment of a working definition of political leadership, investigation of recruitment of leaders, analysis of major functions political leaders perform, and assessment of consequences of political leadership. 

POLITSC 3950 - Careers in Political Science

Designed to help students explore different career paths related to Political Science, engage with professionals working within a range of careers, and build a portfolio in preparation for entering the job market.

POLITSC 4781 - Data Analysis in Political Science I

Covers basic techniques for analyzing data in political science.

POLITSC 4782 - Data Analysis in Political Science II

Covers advanced techniques for analyzing data in political science.

POLITSC 4784 - Complexity Science and the Study of Politics

Familiarize students with agent-based models and complexity science to better understand political behavior.

POLITSC 4920 - Politics in Film and Television

Political films and TV shows often convey an understanding of the political world. How films portray the political process may influence society's attitudes toward politicians and government. Students will compare the portrayal of politics in films and TV to the reality as understood through political science. This is not part of the Film Studies major and does not count toward requirements.

POLITSC 4940 - The Politics of Immigration

Provides overview of international migration phenomenon: patterns of international migration, reasons for immigration, acceptance of immigrants by governments and public, dynamics of anti-immigrant sentiment.

POLITSC 5000 - Quantum Mind and Social Science

Examines the growing, if still speculative, possibility that consciousness and therefore society are macroscopic quantum mechanical phenomena. If that's right, today's social sciences are based upon a fundamental mistake since they assume that human beings are classical machines. Replacing classical assumptions in social science with quantum ones would be a revolution in thought.

POLITSC 1100H - Introduction to American Politics

Introduction to American politics, the institutions and processes which create public policy, and the strengths and weaknesses of the American political systems.

POLITSC 2400H - Introduction to Political Theory

POLITSC 3310H - Honors Defense Policy and National Security

This course addresses some of the basic issues surrounding national security policy. The primary focus is on policy issues related to the use of force between and within countries. The goal of the course is to provide the student with the analytical tools and factual knowledge that they will need to identify and assess current and future threats to national security.

Most social science debates can be addressed with data, and sources of data are growing exponentially. This course introduces students to tools of data analysis and principles behind their use in the context of social-science applications.

POLITSC 4127H - Governing Urban America

This course will examine the major problems facing urban communities in the 21st century; the economic, social, and political forces that have historically shaped--and continue to influence--their development; the role of government in addressing urban problems; and the major participants and stakeholders in city politics.

POLITSC 4132H - Supreme Court Decision Making

Study of explanations for Supreme Court decisions; use of those explanations and independent research to predict justices' positions in current cases. 

POLITSC 4135E - American Constitutional Law

POLITSC 4139E - Gun Politics

POLITSC 4385E - Quantitative Studies of International Conflict

POLITSC 4553H - Game Theory for Political Scientists

POLITSC 4597.02H - Political Problems of the Contemporary World

POLITSC 4784E - Complexity Science and the Study of Politics

POLITSC 4893H - Honors Seminar in International Politics

Intensive study of selected political science topics and issues in a seminar format; topics vary.

POLITSC 4894H - Honors Seminar in Political Theory

POLITSC 4920H - Politics in Film and Television

Political films and TV shows often convey an understanding of the political world. How films portray the political process may influence society's attitudes toward politicians and government institutions. Students will compare the portrayal of politics in films and TV to the reality as understood through political science. This is not part of the FilmStd major and does not count toward requirements.

POLITSC 4999H - Honors Thesis Research

Honors thesis research with thesis adviser. Minimum of two semesters required of candidates for BA with distinction in political science.