PUBLIC UNDERSTANDING OF POLITICIZED SCIENCE
Focuses on the intersections of science, politics, and communication, and their implications for public opinion and public understanding of science, particularly in the context of controversial science and technology issues. A solid understanding of public opinion and communication dynamics surrounding today's controversial science issues requires deep knowledge of core concepts and theories of political polarization, attitudes, and information processing, especially in the context of contemporary digital media environments. Focus on how these concepts and theories are applied in contemporary research on public opinion about science and science-related issues. Consider how such applications may potentially offer new and unique opportunities for deeper understanding of broader dynamics of contemporary communication.
Prerequisites & course information
Requisites: Graduate/professional standing Course Designation: Grad 50% - Counts toward 50% graduate coursework requirement Repeatable for Credit: No Last Taught: Fall 2025 Learning Outcomes: 1. Describe key theoretical and conceptual models for understanding and explaining public understanding of science issues that intersect with politics and political communication. Audience: Graduate 2. Assess how social scientific research addresses the relationship between communication and the public’s understanding of controversial science issues. Audience: Graduate 3. Identify opportunities for original scholarly work related to improving understanding about, or interventions to improve, public understanding of science. Audience: Graduate Learning Outcomes: 1. Describe key theoretical and conceptual models for understanding and explaining public understanding of science issues that intersect with politics and political communication. Audience: Graduate 2. Assess how social scientific research addresses the relationship between communication and the public’s understanding of controversial science issues. Audience: Graduate 3. Identify opportunities for original scholarly work related to improving understanding about, or interventions to improve, public understanding of science. Audience: Graduate
Sources
- Course catalogue ↗2026-2027