Emerson College’s 36-credit Political Communication graduate program is incredibly versatile—complete it part-time or full-time, in one to three years. Housed in the School of Communication, the program offers courses primarily in the evening, allowing working professionals to attend and leaving time for students to participate in internship and networking opportunities.
Courses
Core Requirements (24 credits)
| Number | Course | Modality | Credits |
|---|---|---|---|
| CC 608 | Public Affairs | In-Person | 4 |
| CC 609 | Political Communication | In-Person | 4 |
| CC 645 | Research Methods & Practice | In-Person | 4 |
| CC 651 | Speech Writing, Persuasion, & Propaganda | In-Person | 4 |
| CC 652 | Emerging Communication Technology | Available Online in Fall Semester Only | 4 |
CC 692 or CC 699 | Capstone or Thesis* | In-Person | 4 |
*CC 699 Thesis Option requires 8 credits; total of core is increased to 20 credits.
Elective Courses (12 credits)
| Number | Course | Modality | Credits |
|---|---|---|---|
| CC 623 | Public Diplomacy | Available Online in Fall Semester Only | 4 |
| CC 624 | Campaign Management | Available Online in Fall Semester Only | 4 |
| CC 626 | Crisis Communication | In-Person | 4 |
| CC 636 | Negotiation and Group Process | In-Person | 4 |
| CC 643 | Global Communication | In-Person | 4 |
| CC 604 | Strategic Planning and the Managerial Process | In-Person | 4 |
| CC 621 | Content Development & Strategy | In-Person | 4 |
| CC 628 | Entrepreneurship and Creative Problem Solving | In-Person | 4 |
| CC 632 | Sports as Soft Power | In-Person | 4 |
| CC 633 | Sports, Culture and Society | In-Person | 4 |
| CC 640 | User Experience Design | Available Online in Summer Semester Only | 4 |
| CC 655 | Project Management and Communication | In-Person | 4 |
| CC 690 | Internship in PR | In-Person | 4 |
| CC 695 | Seminar in PR | In-Person | 4 |
| CC 697 | Directed Study | In-Person | 4 |
Sample Curriculum Map
Our Political Communication MA program can be completed full-time in two years or part-time in two-and-a-half to three years. This sample curriculum map is designed to give you an idea of your course load as a full-time student over two years. For full course information, review our course catalog.
Full-time Sample Curriculum Map (September-May)
Fall Semester 1 (8 credits)
- Core Course: CC 608 Public Affairs
- Core Course: CC 609 Political Communication
Spring Semester 1 (12 credits)
- Core Course: CC 645 Research Methods & Practice
- Core Course: CC 651 Speech Writing, Persuasion, & Propaganda
- Elective Course: CC 623 Public Diplomacy
Fall Semester 2 (8 credits)
- Core Course: CC 652 Emerging Communication Technology
- Elective Course: CC 624 Campaign Management
Spring Semester 2 (8 credits)
- Core Course: CC 692 Capstone
- Elective Course: CC 626 Crisis Communication