Minor in Political Communication (CHSS)

Catalog Year: 2023-2024

Banner Code: LA-MINOR-COMM-PCOM

This interdisciplinary minor is offered jointly by the Schar School of Policy and Government and the Department of Communication.

Political communication explores the interaction among members of the public, the media, advocacy groups, and politicians in a democratic society. This minor uses a diverse approach to questions of how mass and interpersonal communication influence democratic functioning, including:

  1. how political actors use strategic messaging to persuade and mobilize the public;
  2. how citizens make sense of these messages and their impact on engagement, deliberation, efficacy, knowledge, and participation;
  3. the role of the mass media in facilitating or hindering this relationship.

Political communication includes explicitly political activities like voting and political campaigns. It also encompasses any issue of public debate or deliberation, including culture and social movements.

The University Catalog is the authoritative source for information on program requirements and courses. The Schedule of Classes is the authoritative source for information on classes scheduled for this semester. See the Schedule for the most up-to-date information and see Patriot web to register for classes. Requirements may be different for earlier catalog years. See the University Catalog archives.

Minor Requirements

Total credits: 18

Students should be aware of the specific policies associated with this program, located on the Admissions & Policies tab.

Coursework

COMM 327 Political Communication 3
COMM 412 Politics and the Mass Media 3
or GOVT 412 Politics and the Mass Media
Total Credits 6

Communication and Political Process

Select one course from the following: 1 3
COMM 326
 Rhetoric of Social Movements and Political Controversy (Mason Core)
COMM 374
 Political Journalism
COMM 431
 New Media and Democracy
COMM 454
 Free Speech and Ethics (Mason Core)
CONF 329
 Community Engagement and Collaborative Problem Solving
GOVT 311
 Public Opinion and Electoral Behavior
Total Credits 3

Persuasion Theory

Select one course from the following: 1 3
COMM 230
 Case Studies in Persuasion
COMM 261
 Theories of Argumentation
COMM 362
 Argument and Public Policy (Mason Core)
COMM 430
 Persuasion
GOVT 313
 Political Psychology
GOVT 342
 Diplomacy
Total Credits 3

Political Process

Select one course from the following: 1 3
GOVT 308
 The American Presidency
GOVT 312
 Political Parties and Campaigns
GOVT 318
 Interest Groups, Lobbying, and the Political Process
GOVT 364
 Public Policy Making
GOVT 430
 Comparative Political Leadership
GOVT 445
 Human Rights
GOVT 447
 Revolution and International Politics
Total Credits 3

Cultural Politics

Select one course from the following: 1 3
COMM 380
 Media Criticism
COMM 433
 Environmental Communication
COMM 465
 Topics in Communication and Gender
GOVT 361
 Introduction to Environmental Policy
GOVT 414
 Politics of Race and Gender
GOVT 427
 Feminist Political Thought
GOVT 460
 Surveillance and Privacy in Contemporary Society
Total Credits 3
1

COMM 386 Special Topics in Political Communication may be substituted for any other COMM course with the permission of the minor director, depending on the specific topic.

GOVT 319 Issues in Government and Politics may be substituted for any other GOVT course with the permission of the minor director, depending on the specific topic. Courses from the Schar School of Policy and Government may be substituted in the cultural politics, persuasion theory, or political process categories, with the permission of the minor director.