Political Communication

If you spend your free time watching CNN or Fox News, have a passion for political discourse and a proclivity for public relations, this is the perfect major for you. With political communication, students will learn valuable communication skills so they can make a difference and change the world. More specifically, they learn journalistic skills, media production skills, research techniques, and how to speak and debate effectively in a public forum. They must be knowledgeable about history, sociology and psychology. Classes may include campaign reporting, television in politics, principles of public relations, public affairs, strategic political communication, campaign communication and political oratory. Many programs also require hands-on experience gained through an internship for a politician, organization or agency. Political communication is also excellent for pre-law majors because the skills acquired can be used by everyone with a career in law.

Political Communication prepares students for a wide variety of positions related to politics, advocacy and government. They can run for office, run campaigns, work in press relations for politicians or agencies, work in think tanks, join lobbying firms, and cover politics as a journalist – and most of these jobs are growing. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, employment for advocacy and civic organizations is expected to grow by 14 percent through 2018. Public relations-related jobs are expected to grow by 24 percent through 2018. And of course, as the government grows, even more opportunities will arise for political communication majors.