James Madison University
Department of Political Science

Political Communication Minor

Dr. Valerie A. Sulfaro, Coordinator
Office: 2123 Miller Hall
Phone: (540) 568-3997
E-mail: sulfarva@jmu.edu

The program in political communication is designed for those students wishing to supplement their major programs with an emphasis on communication skills, knowledge and abilities specifically relevant to participation in political environments.

Students must complete a core set of courses, an internship or practicum in the field of political communication, and a set of electives. Students are expected to meet the prerequisite requirements prior to enrolling for a course. All speech communication majors with a minor in PCOM are required to take a three-credit hour internship in the School of Communication Studies. POSC majors minoring in PCOM must complete POSC 495 to meet the internship requirement. Non-POSC and non-SCOM majors may satisfy their internship requirement by completing a three hour practicum in communication studies (SCOM 318) or the political science internship (POSC 495). Before pursuing an internship, students should consult with the PCOM coordinator to ensure that the internship is suitable for the minor. For political science majors, all political science courses taken for PCOM credit may also be counted toward the political science major. For majors in communication studies or media arts and design who minor in PCOM, a maximum double counting of six credit hours of course work between the minor and the home academic unit or major is permitted. All PCOM students must complete 25-26 credit hours of coursework in the minor.

REQUIRED COURSES

GPOSC 225. U.S. Government (4 credits)

SCOM 240. Process of Human Communication (4 credits)

POSC/SCOM/SMAD 472. Media and Politics (4 credits)

  • Note: SMAD 472L, SCOM 472L, and POSC 472L will not fulfill this requirement

    • Choose one of the following internship options (2-4 credits):

  • Non-POSC and Non-SCOM majors: POSC 495. Internship (4 credits) or SCOM 318. Practicum in Communication Studies (3 credits)
  • POSC majors: POSC 495. Internship (4 credits)
  • SCOM majors: SCOM 495. Internship (3 credits)

  • Choose one of the following:

  • POSC 365. American Political Campaigning (3 credits)
  • POSC 369. Parties and Elections (3 credits)
  • Note: if both courses are taken, one may be counted toward elective requirements

    • Choose one of the following:

  • SCOM 353. American Political Culture and Communication (3 credits)
  • SCOM 453. Political Campaign Communication (3 credits)
  • Note: if both courses are taken, one may be counted toward elective requirements

    • Choose two of the following electives:

  • POSC 351. Congressional Elections (special topic) (3 credits)
  • POSC 351. The Religious Right in American Politics (special topic) (3 credits)
  • POSC 362. Political Behavior (3 credits)
  • POSC 368. Interest Groups and Public Policy (3 credits)
  • POSC 383. Women and Politics (3 credits)
  • POSC 385. The U.S. Congress (3 credits)
  • SCOM 341. Persuasion (3 credits) This elective is restricted to SCOM majors only
  • SCOM 342. Argumentation and Advocacy (3 credits)
  • SCOM 346. Free Speech in America (3 credits)
  • SCOM 352. Communication and Social Movements (3 credits)
  • SCOM 354. Communication, Environment and Environmentalism (3 credits)
  • SCOM 431. Legal Communication (3 credits)
  • Note: Some electives may not yet be listed in the JMU catalog in association with this minor. These items will be accepted in the form of course substitutions on your graduation application. The London Semester version of 472 does not count as an elective for this program.

    • 25-26 total credit hours

    For additional information, contact the coordinator of the minor in Political Communication, the head of the Department of Political Science, or the director of the School of Communication Studies.

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