Our globally acclaimed Political Communication major prepares students for leadership in careers as candidates, pollsters, speechwriters, diplomats, ad and PR consultants, campaign managers, communication advisors, press secretaries, governmental relations officers, nonprofit leaders, cultural/public affairs advocates, and political strategists, among other emerging professions impacted by local, national, and global politics. Emerson Polling, recognized by Bloomberg, 538, and others as one of the most accurate and trusted sources, provides Political Communication students with an unparalleled foundation as they study firsthand the ever-changing political mosaic.
Political Communication graduates have run and won political offices; created and implemented creative issue/advocacy traditional and social media campaigns and polling worldwide; drafted legislation; and established bridges between cultures through public diplomacy, NGOs, and business and governmental agencies, including the United Nations, European Union, and U.S. Congress.
Taught by acclaimed academics and proven professionals who have run presidential, state, and local political as well as advocacy campaigns, Political Communication students are immersed in the art of politics on their first day of class. Through experiential learning classes like the Presidential and Mid Term Election projects, students dialogue with voters and candidates throughout the United States in short trips led by our professors and Political Communication alumni who provide them with ground zero political perspectives.
Students engage in award-winning public diplomacy civic engagement projects globally and locally, including the Rosarito Mexico Immigration and Border Workshop, the Emerson Carlton (Canada) Civic Engagement Program, the France Culture and Language Program, and Sydney Global PR and Politics Program, among others.
Political Communication majors with an interest in international relations and European politics can study for a term at our sister college in Barcelona: Blanquerna School of Communication and International Relations, the first school of communication recognized by the European Union. Students are encouraged to experience a semester in Washington, D.C.
Program Requirements
Required Courses
| Number | Course | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| CC 220 | Public Discourse in U.S. | 4 |
| CC 263 | Argument and Advocacy | 4 |
| CC 266 | Conflict and Negotiation | 4 |
| CC 303 | Survey Research Methods | 4 |
| CC 304 or CC 360 |
Strategic Digital Communication Social Media and Politics |
4 4 |
| CC 356 | Crisis Communication | 4 |
| CC 357 | Leadership | 4 |
|
CC 499 |
Internship in Communication Any that doesn't overlap with a track |
4 4 |
Tracks
Students choose one of the following tracks and complete 8 credits in the track:
Issue Advocacy
| Number | Course | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| CC 214 | Mental Health, Media and Public Policy | 4 |
| CC 315 | Introduction to Nonprofit Communication Management | 4 |
| CC 316 | Nonprofit Fundraising | 4 |
| CC 330 | Management and Communication | 4 |
| CC 344 | Rhetoric of Social Movements | 4 |
| CC 345 | Public Affairs Matrix: Media, Politics, and Advocacy | 4 |
| CC 371 | Topics in Politics, Leadership, and Social Advocacy | 4 |
| CC 471 | Advanced Topics in Leadership, Politics, and Social Advocacy | 4 |
Electoral Politics
| Number | Course | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| CC 310 | Campaign Management | 4 |
| CC 351 | Road to the White House: Nominating Phases | 4 |
| CC 371 | Topics in Politics, Leadership, and Social Advocacy | 4 |
| CC 405 | Pre-Election Polling | 4 |
| CC 451 | Road to the White House: Presidential Politics | 4 |
| CC 471 | Advanced Topics in Leadership, Politics, and Social Advocacy | 4 |
Public Diplomacy
| Number | Course | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| CC 290 | Global Communication and French Language | 4 |
| CC 318 | International PR and Global Communication Management | 4 |
| CC 361 | Public Diplomacy and Grass Roots Activism | 4 |
| CC 371 | Topics in Politics, Leadership, and Social Advocacy | 4 |
| CC 471 | Advanced Topics in Leadership, Politics, and Social Advocacy | 4 |
| CC 480 | Rosarito Public Diplomacy Workshop | 4 |
Choose Two Electives
| Number | Course | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| CC 203 | Intercultural Communication | 4 |
| CC 214 | Mental Health, Media and Public Policy | 4 |
| CC 220 | Public Discourse in the United States | 4 |
| CC 304 | Strategic Digital Communication | 4 |
| CC 310 | Campaign Management | 4 |
| CC 330 | Management and Communication | 4 |
| CC 344 | Rhetoric of Social Movements | 4 |
| CC 351 | Road to the White House: Nominating Phases | 4 |
| CC 360 | Social Media and Politics | 4 |
| CC 361 | Public Diplomacy and Grass Roots Activism | 4 |
| CC 371 | Topics in Leadership, Politics, and Social Advocacy | 4 |
| CC 405 | Pre-Election | 4 |
| CC 415 | Mediation, Facilitation, and Dialogue | 4 |
| CC 451 | Road to the White House: Presidential Politics | 4 |
| CC 498 | Directed Study in Communication | 4 |
| CC 499 | Internship in Communication | 4 |
