"All I Need is One Mic!": Political Advocacy and Public Opinion in a Digital Age
This course is for the bold and the brave, for the student who wants to examine effective communication methods that influence public opinion and public policy in today's political environment and experientially test those methods. Students will leave this class smarter on how Congress works in a digital age and on theories of political representation, advocacy, legislative behavior, and the American voter. Additionally, students will learn strategies and tips from guest speakers and experts on Capitol Hill as well as those attempting to influence Capitol Hill; the applied component of the course will inevitably build public speaking and leadership skills aimed at influencing public policy.
Topics
- To broaden and deepen students understanding of public policy and political representation vis-a-vis the political environment and the ways advances in technology and social media have transformed the political landscape. To develop the theoretical, analytical, and methodological skills to help students think critically and strategically about communications, media framing, technology and its influence on public opinion and political advocacy from both elected officials and the citizenry. To engage and apply the theories and analytical skills to real world policy problems and solutions through experiential learning. In addition to perfecting the art of analytical writing and translating research and data into compelling policy recommendations, students will also be trained on public speaking and leadership skills, and be exposed to public speaking opportunities throughout the semester. Furthermore, students will be provided with opportunities to engage with guest speakers on Capitol Hill and in the advocacy and lobbying world to maximize their internships and educational experience. Finally, the publication opportunity with the Congressional Black Caucus Foundation will offer the opportunity to analyze or collect quantitative or qualitative data to be shared and disseminated to the broader communities of interest across the country.
Official catalogue course objectives and student learning outcomes
Sources
- Course catalogue ↗2026-2027