Applied Political Communication, Certificate
Certificate in Applied Political Communication (Graduate)
Applied political communication encompasses the interaction of political figures, political interests, governmental institutions, media, and the public in their efforts to persuade and influence political power and public policy outcomes. This certificate’s interdisciplinary nature applies the fundamentals of public communication and political science to meet the specific needs and goals of political campaigns and advocacy organizations. Topics covered include campaign leadership strategies, audience analysis pertaining to specific publics, crisis communication, effective strategic messaging campaigns targeting publics through traditional communication channels, digital communication assets, and social media platforms. The certificate is designed for students seeking preparation for careers as legislative aides, political consultants, campaign managers, social media or digital strategists, political journalists, government press secretaries, lobbyists, or aides in public affairs organizations.
Admission Requirements
This certificate program is open to all students who have been admitted to graduate study at the University of Akron.
Program Contact (Political Science)
Dr. David Cohen
Professor, Political Science
330-972-6045
dbcohen@uakron.edu
Program Contact (Communication)
Dr. Julia Spiker
Professor, Communication
330-972-7198
jspiker@uakron.edu
Required Core Courses - 6 credits
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| POLIT 570 | Fundamentals of Political Strategy | 3 |
| COMM 575 | Political Communication | 3 |
Required Internship - 3 credits
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| POLIT 695 | Internship in Government & Politics | 1-6 |
| or COMM 680 | Graduate Communication Internship | |
Elective Courses - 9 credits
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Political Science Courses (Minimum of 3 credits) | ||
| POLIT 502 | Politics and the Media | 3 |
| POLIT 527 | Campaign Battleground | 3 |
| POLIT 540 | Survey Research Methods | 3 |
| POLIT 571 | Fundamentals of Electoral Messaging | 3 |
| POLIT 572 | Campaign Finance, Fundraising, and Budgeting | 3 |
| POLIT 573 | Voter Contact & Elections | 3 |
| POLIT 574 | Political Opinion, Behavior & Electorial Politics | 3 |
| POLIT 575 | American Interest Groups | 3 |
| POLIT 576 | American Political Parties | 3 |
| POLIT 577 | Government Relations and Lobbying | 3 |
| POLIT 578 | Fundamentals of the Digital Campaign | 3 |
| POLIT 695 | Internship in Government & Politics 1 | 3-6 |
| Communication Courses (Minimum of 3 credits) | ||
| COMM 506 | Contemporary Public Relations | 3 |
| COMM 510 | Crisis Communication | 3 |
| COMM 516 | Social Media Content Creation | 3 |
| COMM 517 | Social Media Platforms | 3 |
| COMM 531 | Risk Communication | 3 |
| COMM 631 | Analyzing Organizational Communication | 3 |
| COMM 540 | Strategic Social Media | 3 |
| COMM 542 | Social Media Metrics and Analytics | 3 |
| COMM 557 | Public Speaking in America | 3 |
| COMM 559 | Leadership and Communication | 3 |
| COMM 571 | Theories of Rhetoric | 3 |
| COMM 680 | Graduate Communication Internship 1 | 1-6 |
- 1
If taken instead of POLIT 695 or for additional credit beyond the three credits needed to fulfill the Required Internship.