Clone of Course Listings - backup

6401 Fundamentals of Political Management (3 credits; offered fall and spring)

Main concepts, arenas, developments, roles, and practices in the field of political management.  Assess rhetorical situations, write strategy memos, create and critique campaign messages, and engage citizens, professional colleagues and decision-makers.  Taken in first semester of program.
Syllabus - Prof. Michael Cornfield

6402 Applied Political Communications (3 credits; offered fall, spring, and summer) 

Models and methods by which professionals plan, produce, and adjust strategic communication messages in democratic politics. Use a variety of communication forms and media, such as, fact sheets, blog posts, video releases, and public addresses, under typical constraints of time, money, information, reputation, talent, audience attentiveness, and institutional procedure.  Students to enroll by their sixth course in the program.   
Syllabus - Profs. Fiona Conroy and Megan Whittemore 
Syllabus - Prof. Evan Tracey

6403 Political Data and Analytics (3 credits; offered fall, spring, and summer) 

Introduction to the uses of quantitative data and statistics in politics. Learn to evaluate research designs, statistical associations, causal reasoning, methods for hypothesis testing, multivariate regression analyses, and data analytics. Consume and critique data and statistics for strategic purposes. Students to enroll by their sixth course in the program. Syllabus 

6404  Principled Political Leadership (3 credits; offered fall and spring) 

Formulation of political communications strategies as foundation from which to design and develop political advocacy communications. Strategic elements necessary to create, introduce and maintain an effective political profile in issue advocacy campaigns, candidate elections, and legislative advocacy campaigns. Application of important principles in research, advertising and marketing to the political landscape. 
Syllabus - Prof. Matt Dallek 
 

6495  Political Power and Practice (3 credits; offered spring and summer)   

Capstone seminar that develops and integrates knowledge of political strategies, tactics, and situational considerations, and applies that knowledge to advanced political problems. Topics include: gaining and wielding power, the complexity associated with making democracy work, conflict resolution, negotiation and bargaining skills, grappling with the consequences of winning and losing. Students to enroll during their last or penultimate term. Syllabus

ADVOCACY POLITICS CLUSTER

6410 Grassroots Engagement (3 credits; offered fall)             

Strategies and techniques to build advocacy support among and across general civic populations.  Identification of potential supporters through database targeting and individual outreach.  Motivation and training of interested supporters for grassroots action in campaigns, at public forums, and before decision-makers.  Coalition and protest options; analytics of ongoing efforts. Syllabus

6412 Issues Management (3 credits; offered summer)             

Track, influence, and alter politically significant issue-related discourses and policy developments.  Legislative, executive, and judicial venues and processes for policymaking; state referendum, initiative, and recall ballot opportunities; organizational structures, including digital procedures, for issue management. (Profs. Gabe Rozsa, Chris Bender) Syllabus

6414  Lobbying (3 credits; offered spring)     

Survey of and training for lobbying in the U.S. federal system. Students design a detailed lobbying plan for implementation and practice a variety of influence techniques, including those associated with digital media and communications technologies. Legal compliance, organizational and public accountability, professional standards and practices. (Prof. Julius Hobson) Syllabus

6416  International Lobbying (3 credits; offered summer)

Survey of international lobbying practices, analysis of strategic models and best practices in a variety of different countries and political systems (e.g., EU, China, Brazil, and Turkey). Trends and innovations in lobbying techniques and communications technologies. Investigation and application of appropriate research to improve practice. (Prof. Steven Billet) Syllabus

6418  Budget Politics (3 credits; offered summer every other year)         

Politics of the budget process, including formal and informal mechanisms of appropriating U.S. federal funds. Lobbying strategies and tactics employed by private and public organizations seeking to influence budgetary agenda-setting in the White House; decision-making in Congress; and funding negotiations within and between executive agencies. Syllabus

6420  Corporate Public Affairs (3 credits; offered fall)

Exploration of major functional areas in corporate public affairs, with a focus on the political and policy dynamics operating in the United States and other democracies abroad. Development and deployment of appropriate strategy, research, and tactics for corporations managing the complexities related to a global economy and shifting political alliances. Syllabus

6422  State and Intergovernmental Politics (3 credits; offered spring)

Examination of the electoral pressures on state and local legislators. Methods and techniques for advocacy in various state capitals. The governing responsibilities of constitutionally-delegated to states and the ever-changing historical relationship between states and the federal government. Syllabus

6424  Comparative Political Management Environments (3 credits; offered fall)

Examination of the political management environments and  workings of political institutions in a variety of countries, highlighting comparative advantages and disadvantages via readings, written assignments, oral presentations, and participation in debates and negotiations. Syllabus

ELECTORAL POLITICS CLUSTER

6430  Campaign Strategy (3 credits; offered fall)

Orientation to the basic systems and technologies that must be created and managed to produce electoral victory. The campaign plan and campaign budget as the foundation for management of campaigns. Focus on development of a campaign plan. (Prof. Mark Meissner) Syllabus

6432  Managing Campaigns (3 credits; offered every other spring, beginning 2016; prerequisite: PMGT 6430)  

Understanding the role of a campaign manager in staffing and running a campaign, while executing the campaign plan. Candidate handling, fundraising, website and technology, geographic and demographic targeting, field organization, canvassing, get-out-the-vote, press operations, budget control, and liaison with the party and interest groups. (Prof. Terry Sullivan) Syllabus

6434  Running for Office (3 credits; offered summer)Syllabus

Electoral politics from the perspective of the candidate, strategic and personal factors involved in the decision to run and the consequences of victory or defeat. (Prof. Dan Maffei)    Syllabus

6436  National Campaign Dynamics (3 credits)

Examination of the historical and systematic patterns in national elections. Differences between presidential and midterm elections; House and Senate contests; party nomination races and general elections; primaries and caucuses; Democratic and Republican party delegate selection rules; causes for “wave” elections; effect of the economy on election outcomes; and standard vice presidential selection models. The political and partisan structural conditions that exist before any of the candidates or the campaigns get involved. Syllabus

6438  State and Local Campaigns (3 credits)

Application of campaign strategy and management principles to electoral races at the state and local levels. Staffing, budgeting, and strategic challenges for what are typically lower-visibility contests that involve state and local candidates. Coordinated campaigns and the impact of the national party's reputation on these down-ballot races. Syllabus

6440  Targeting and Voter Contact (3 credits; offered spring; prerequisite: PMGT 6403)       

How to find voters for electoral and advocacy campaigns and tailor communications to them.  Database analytics, list management, questionnaire design, target weighting, predictive modeling.  Review of randomized and natural experiments in light of theoretic principles and findings from public opinion research.  Skill development in use of spreadsheets and basic statistical packages. Syllabus

6442  Campaigns Around the World (3 credits, offered every other fall, beginning 2016)

Comparative examination of national-level campaigns in democratic countries outside of the United States. Strategies, techniques, and practices used in multi-party and/or parliamentary systems. Professional conduct, consulting rules and norms. (Prof. Gary Nordlinger) Syllabus

APPLIED PROFICIENCIES CLUSTER     

6450  Rules, Laws, and Strategy (3 credits; offered every other summer, beginning 2016) Syllabus

U.S. federal and state laws and regulations governing recognition of political parties and political organizations, campaign finance, political broadcasting and cablecasting, lobbying registration. Ballot access and voter registration. Ethical and strategic considerations (opportunities and constraints; benefits and drawbacks) related to rule construction. Syllabus

6452 Digital Strategy (3 credits; offered fall)

Development of an integrated digital strategy for use in advocacy and electoral campaigns. Introduction to the theoretical concepts, distinctive technologies, applied skills, and managerial challenges associated with digital campaigning. Search engine optimization, GPS, online payment systems, customizing back- and front-end systems to meet strategic goals and budget parameters, working with IT vendors and distance volunteers, legal and cultural considerations in US and other regimes, site rollout and scaling, security and privacy.  NOTE: This is a pre-requisite for all PMGT Digital courses. (Prof. Sue Zoldak)  Syllabus

6454  Fundraising and Budgeting (3 credits; offered fall)

Raising and spending money in political campaigns, referenda contests, issue advocacy, and lobbying efforts. Budgeting process, standard controls to check expenditures, accounting procedures, and general strategies for use in effective fundraising.  Syllabus

6456  Speechcraft (3 credits; offered fall)

Analysis and techniques used in speechwriting and presentations for public officials and candidates. Managing the political optics and understanding a speech's visual context  and non-verbal communication capabilities (Rose Garden, Oval Office, campaign stump speech, ceremonial occasion, congressional testimony). Modulating speaker style, tone, and pacing, and staging the speech for effect. (Prof. Daniel McGroarty)    Syllabus

6458  Crisis Management (3 credits; offered spring)

Management of crisis situations and defining moments in electoral, legislative, and public policy campaigns. Exploration of the causes and consequences of political scandals. Professional responsibilities and ethical considerations of crisis management and rapid response decisions. (Prof. Michael Edwards) Syllabus

6460  Audience Research (3 credits; offered spring; prerequisite: PMGT 6403)

Processes by which citizens acquire political information and make decisions in politics. Survey research uses in electoral campaigns and issue advocacy. Designing and drawing samples, constructing and pretesting questionnaires, modes of interviewing, financial implications, practical problems in selecting and monitoring polling organizations, and interpretation of data. Focus groups and small-sample interviews; relationship between qualitative and quantitative research; reliability and validity. 

6462  Opposition Research (3 credits; offered summer)

Practices and techniques associated with investigative opposition research. Public document and website searches, candidate tracking, and methods for information dissemination. Changes in practice as a result of technological innovations and a changing media environment. Professional responsibilities and ethics expected from opposition researchers. (Prof. Brett DiResta) Syllabus

6464  Influencing the Media (3 credits; offered fall)   

Organization, practices, and norms of the major media; media coverage of public officials, political campaigns, legislative battles, interest groups, and issues of public policy. Formulation of strategies for getting favorable news coverage for the issue or candidate and for ending a media crisis. Course has an additional studio fee.  Syllabus

6466  Political Advertising (3 credits; offered spring)

Strategies and techniques for using the various media (print, radio, television, cable, Internet) in political and advocacy campaigns, with emphasis on the use of television. Impact and uses of paid advertising; development of campaign messages; production, timing, and placement of television advertising; explanation of media markets. Students design print ads and brochures and produce a 30-second television spot. Syllabus

6468  Digital Advertising and Action (3 credits; offered spring; prerequisite: PMGT 6452)

Strategies and techniques for developing and leveraging digital advertising for mobilization. Manage an effective online ad campaign from initial concept to creative and from targeting tomeasuring the results. Prepare, design and launch a variety of online ad types including search, social, display and video. Analyze success or failure based on analytics and benchmarking. Pre-requisite: PMGT 6452. (Prof. Zac Moffatt)    Syllabus

6470  Digital Content Creation (3 credits; offered summer; prerequisite: PMGT 6452)

Developing and creating effective digital content that promotes campaign narratives and furthers strategic messages. Construct portfolios of original and aggregated digital media content. Skill development in infographics, video, GPS, photo collage, page and site architecture, and texts from 140 characters to blog posts and file attachments. Versioning for different communities, functionalities, and channels including mobile applications. Pre-requisite: PMGT 6452. (Prof. Jonathan Halls) Syllabus

6472  Maximizing Social Media (3 credits; offered spring; prerequisite: PMGT 6452)

Creating and integrating owned digital platforms and social media assets for political persuasion and action. Cultivation of online political communities, moderating and curating outside-generated content, integration and alignment with campaign message; event, reputation and crisis management.  Review of constraints and potentials intrinsic to specific social media sites (e.g. Facebook, Google, LinkedIn, Twitter). Pre-requisite: PMGT 6452. (Prof. Alan Rosenblatt)    Syllabus

6474  Stereotypes and Political Strategy (3 credits; offered summer)

Accounting for psychological constructs, social stereotypes, media framing, and the impression formation process in developing a political strategy. Review of empirical research; investigation of effective techniques or postures for overcoming biases; self-assessment of perceptual assumptions. Syllabus

6476  Political Consulting (3 credits; offered summer)           

Management principles, technical procedures, and legal requirements for starting and running a political consulting business. Effective practices for gaining a positive reputation, sustaining profitability across the variable political environment, and engaging on the international front. Start-up funding, mergers and acquisitions, exit strategies.  Syllabus 

Additional Special Course Offerings

6480  Washington Residency (3 credits; an online only course; offered fall, spring, summer)

Capstone experience equivalent (6495: Political Power and Practice) for online Political Management students. Exposure and interaction with political consultants, advocacy specialists, elected officials, and applied researchers in Washington, DC. Integration of program curriculum towards an understanding of the federal political ecosystem and developing a robust political network. Taken in last or penultimate term in program. Program fee. (Prof. Matt Dallek)

6482  Applied Research Project (3 credits; an online only course; offered fall, spring, summer)

Thesis I and II research equivalent for online Political Management students. Enhance capacity to conceive and execute a campaign-relevant research report and related communications on behalf of a mock political client. Describe a status quo of a political situation, analyze the factors and actors sustaining that status quo, identify what and who is potentially moveable in the direction your client seeks to go, and spell out practical first steps a campaign can take in that direction. 

6490  Special Topics (3 credits)          

Interpreting and Strategizing with Polls 
Using Humor Strategically Syllabus 
Strategic Government Consulting Syllabus 
Women, Democracy, and Global Politics Syllabus 
 

6496  Independent Study (3 credits)       

6497  Graduate Internship in Political Management (0 credits)

6201 Politics and Public Policy

Examination of political processes that influence policy formulation, policy implementation, and the uses of policy analysis. Syllabus

6202 Legislative Politics 

Theory, structure, and process of the U.S. Congress, with emphasis on member-constituency relations, individual and collective decision making, party and committee activities, executive-legislative relations, and interest-group activities. 
Syllabus - Prof. Steve Billet 
Syllabus - Hon. Martin Frost
Syllabus - Hon. Dan Maffei

6203 Executive-Legislative Relations 

Political and institutional relationships between executive and legislative branches of the federal government. Syllabus 
 

6204 Research Methods 

Alternative approaches to political analysis, construction of research designs, and problems of measurement. 
  
Syllabus

 

6217 Budgetary Politics

Examines major economics, budget, and tax issues in American politics.

6218 Judicial Politics 

Role of the judiciary in policy formulation; emphasis on the U.S. Supreme Court, judicial nominations, and civil liberties issues. 

6219 The American Presidency 

Personalized and institutionalized aspects of the presidency, with emphasis on the politics of contemporary policymaking.

6222 American Political Parties and Elections 

Nature and function of American political parties; organizational status, nominating and electoral politics, and role in governing. Syllabus

6224 Interest Group Politics 

Theory, structure, and activities of interest groups in American politics. Syllabus

6228 Media and Politics 

Role of the media in American politics, with emphasis on television news coverage, political debates, political advertising, and their impact on the electorate.

6231 Lobbying

How lobbying and organized advocacy fit into the American political process. Development and implementation of advocacy strategies. Lobbying by business, labor, public interest groups, and other nonprofit organizations. Lobbying within and among various branches of government.

6234 PACs and Congress 

Selected problems of PAC management and their interaction with Members of Congress. Special emphasis on the laws governing PAC participation in political and policy debates.

6240 Special Topics in American Politics 

Congress and Trade Policy Syllabus 
Running and Representing: A Member's Perspective Syllabus 
Legislative Writing and Research Syllabus 
Advanced Legislative Procedure  Syllabus 
Congressional Committees Syllabus 
Ethics in Congress Syllabus 
Legislative Drafting  
Politics of Non-Profits  
Congress and National Intelligence Policy Syllabus 
Congress and Security Policy Syllabus 
Religion and Politics Syllabus 
Managing a Congressional Office Syllabus

6246 Congress and U.S. Foreign Policy 

The role of Congress in setting foreign policy. Syllabus 

6249 National Security Policy 

The role of Congress in setting defense policy.

6251 Budgetary Policy

Analysis of U.S. monetary and fiscal policy.

6260 Special Topics in Domestic Policy 

Recent special topics have included: 
Budgetary Politics Syllabus 
U.S. Health Care Policy  
Congress and Telecom Policy 

6270 Special Topics in Foreign Policy 

Recent special topics have included: 
Congress and Defense Policy Syllabus 
Domestic Energy Policy Syllabus Syllabus 
Congress and Homeland Security Policy Syllabus
Congress and Cybersecurity Syllabus 
 

6290 Readings in Legislative Affairs 

6299 Thesis Research I

6300 Thesis Research II

PSPR 6201 – Strategic Public Relations Principles & Practices 

The Theoretical Foundations of PR Strategy & Tactics 
This course examines public relations history, theory, trends, tools and tactics, and provides an in-depth analysis of major theory and practices. Special attention is given to the influence of new media on the credibility and delivery of public relations and public affairs programs.  Students analyze real-world case studies as context for an applied understanding of how and why to plan, execute and evaluate these programs, and they prepare a detailed professional communications plan that addresses an important management issue affecting a public relations or public affairs challenge. They also look at the growing role and value of public relations as a management function in business, government and not-for-profit institutions, and the attendant role of public affairs in addressing public policy and political issues. Syllabus 
 

PSPR 6202 - Advanced Writing for Communications Professionals

From Context to Composition and Beyond 
This course examines the essentials of effective public relations and public affairs writing, emphasizing strategic thinking and compositional precision as the source of their efficacy and power. Students learn to write time-tested professional communications for the media and other target audiences such as legislators or voters, creating and editing their classmates’ as well as their own backgrounders, press releases, media alerts, issue primers, stump speeches, pitch letters, plans and proposals.  They also study the views of reporters and editors regarding what’s right and wrong with today’s public relations and public affairs writing.  Lastly, they learn about writing for blogs, Web sites and other online media, and compose a press kit of their completed assignments in both draft and edited form. Syllabus 
 

PSPR 6203 – Research Methods

Measuring & Evaluating PR and PA Program Success 
This course examines proven pre- and post-program methods for measuring and evaluating effective public relations and public affairs campaigns and initiatives. Students learn basic and advanced tools and techniques, including statistical analysis, and analyze the panoply of research concepts and technology, including the use of the online and social media surveys, that affect consumer and/or political action. Conducting their own projects, students learn how research can be used to create, sell, manage and strengthen public relations and public affairs programs. Syllabus 
 

PSPR 6204 – Media Relations in a Digital World

New Tools, New Challenges, New Thinking 
This course deconstructs the art and theory of media relations from the public relations and public affairs perspective.  Students analyze the state of contemporary media – online and off – and its impact on commerce, politics and the human contract, examining key factors influencing reportorial and editorial coverage of business, government and not-for-profit interests. Special emphasis is on the advent of the Internet, the rise of citizen journalism, and the impact of blogs and other social media.  Students develop a strategic media relations campaign aimed at publicizing a product, service, idea or issue of their employers or other organizations, and that uses a variety of traditional and non-traditional publicity tools and techniques guided by sound messages and directed to sensible outcomes. Syllabus 
 

PSPR 6205 – Fundamentals of Business and Finance for PR/PA Professionals

How PR Firms and Departments Operate for Profit & Success 
This course will explore the fundamentals of business that can be applied to small, mid-size and large organizations, public relations agencies, and start-up consultancies.  Students will learn how to effectively integrate communications/PR skills with a financial “lens” to real-world business situations.  The course will include the disciplines of leadership, human resource management, marketing, economics, and finance and accounting, with an emphasis on financial planning and budgeting.   The combination of the textbook, relevant articles, in-class discussion, guest speakers and practical assignments will give students a strong understanding of the challenges facing today’s business leaders. Syllabus 
 

PSPR 6206 – Ethical Standards in Public Relations & Public Affairs

The Framework of Professional Credibility & Accountability 
This course explores the growing role and importance of ethics in public relations and public affairs. Students analyze personal and professional ethical assumptions and norms in American society, and consider standards, guidelines and codes of conduct that should guide relations with clients, the media, public officials, legislators, voters, employees, and others. Students learn how to identify and respond to ethical challenges, and they prepare papers as well as a research project that addresses ethical conduct in a public relations or public affairs setting.Syllabus

PSPR 6207 – Sustainability Communications

The Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) movement is a worldwide phenomenon and corporations, trade associations and non-profits are being asked to step up and be accountable. Public relations and communications professionals need to develop the skills to prepare strategic communications plans that reflect their organization's commitment to CSR and enhance their employer's reputation in the global marketplace.

This course will examine the global CSR movement, explore the unique communications challenges it presents and offer practical suggestions and tactics to respond to this trend. The class will feature in-class activities, current research and guest speakers from NGOs, communications firms and major corporations with practical advice on meeting this challenge in the global marketplace. We will utilize case studies, professional journals and original research to explore the topic and develop a comprehensive CSR communications strategy as the capstone project for the class. Syllabus 
 

PSPR 6208 – Integrated Marketing Communications

A New Paradigm for Extending the Reach & Impact of Public Relations & Public Affairs 
This course examines the evolution of integrated marketing communications (IMC) as a new paradigm for extending the reach and influence of public relations and public affairs through the use of both traditional and non-traditional communications approaches and technologies. Included in the mix are advertising, direct marketing, customer service, branding, blogs, podcasts, and cause marketing. Students learn about the theoretical and tactical advantages and disadvantages of integrated strategies in for-profit and not-for-profit enterprises, and they design an integrated marketing communications program, making use of both traditional and new media tools and techniques. (Prof. Mark Phillips) 
Syllabus

PSPR 6210 - Nonprofit and Association Communications Strategies

This course is designed to help communicators currently working in or hoping to work in trade associations, nonprofit organizations and labor unions become more effective in the planning and execution of their programs.  By its very nature, this course will be practical and reality-based, with guest speakers dawn from many organizations and communications backgrounds.

So, what does “more effective” mean?  To us, it means understanding the goals, environments, structures, constraints, opportunities and challenges facing organizations, and developing and implementing plans to achieve those goals.  Effective also means working within the limitations communicators often face such as (but by no means limited to): dwindling budgets, divided membership, fragmented boards and hesitant leadership, the decline of traditional news media, the rise of blogs and the surge of social media. Syllabus 

PSPR 6210 - Internal Communications and Change Management

This course examines the continuing and growing importance of internal communications and its impact on the organization. We will explore how to extend the reach and influence of internal communications through engagement with employees. We will also examine the concept of change management and the role of internal communications in managing organizational change. 

PSPR 6222 - Multicultural Marketing and Engagement

As multicultural communities increase in size and reach and as diverse institutions gain national prominence, the need for engagement is clear. Today, the general market is necessarily multicultural. The course prepares students for effective and ethical public engagement on behalf of contemporary organizations communicating issues and commitments to diverse audiences and multicultural messages to the general market. From a base of cultural understanding, students will study effective engagement strategies and techniques. Syllabus

PSPR 6223 - Public Opinion, Political Socialization and Public Relations 

Through analytical research, first-hand accounts and theoretical constructs, this course explores key questions related to the formation of public opinion and political socialization. More specifically, this course looks at the process by which people view their engagement in public debates and politics and how they acquire and maintain their attitudes, biases, beliefs - in short, their opinions and the decisions they make as a result. Discussion centers on the forces that influence public opinion and political socialization, including the power of the press and its impact on our major institutions. Course goals include developing awareness and critical thinking regarding the role, formation and use of public opinion in contemporary public affairs and public relations; understanding the socialization processes that shape opinion, political and marketplace behavior; and analyzing how communications activities are used in the real world to influence opinion, attitudes and behavior. 

PSPR 6224 Global Public Relations and Public Affairs: Strategy and Practice

This course will build on students’ prior academic and/or on-the-job experience to develop a global understanding and practical tools for using public relations and public affairs to promote and defend companies, government entities, non-profit organizations, and individual candidates on the world stage. Global Public Relations & Public Affairs – Strategy and Practice will survey how global public relations and public affairs strategies are developed and implemented, emphasizing successful case studies and failures. Students will examine communications theories and practice, and from that study, gain insights into beliefs and behaviors that cross continents, as well as the unique challenges arising from differences in language, culture, politics, and economics worldwide. An approach that may succeed in Europe, for example, may fail in Asian countries. The course will study global media and social networks, and examine how digital and social media are revolutionizing the way public relations executives work with global and local stakeholders who have gained tremendous power once limited to those who had the capital to own communications enterprises. After completing this course, students will: understand the role of public relations and public affairs worldwide; assess, develop, and implement a comprehensive global public relations/public affairs strategy with culturally- and country-appropriate messaging and channels; and strengthen their creative problem-solving, writing, and presentation skills relevant to public relations roles. (Professor M. Lerch). Syllabus

PSPR 6230 - Crisis and Issues Management 

The practice of Issues Management involves the intersection of a number of communications and policy disciplines, including environmental scanning, public policy analysis, public policy advocacy, strategic communications, media relations, grassroots mobilization, coalition management and corporate reputation management. This course will explore all of the approaches in detail and examine ways in which they work together to further the broad strategic goals of organizations.

The course will be conducted as a seminar and will require robust classroom discussion. The goal of the course is to provide students with an in-depth knowledge of the various elements of Issues Management and to equip them with the practical skills needed to shape public opinion and public policy in order to advance organizational goals. 
Syllabus

CPS 6300 – Public Relations & Public Affairs Capstone Research Project

Applying PR & PA Skills and Knowledge to Independent Research 
Students apply the knowledge and lessons gained in their courses in a major independent research project on a topic of immediate interest to their current employer or another organization that has a bearing on their professional aspirations. They design the project with the approval of faculty and in cooperation with the staff and management of the organization in question, conducting primary and secondary research, and preparing a publishable quality research paper, incisively elucidating their views and opinions with the goal of building greater understanding about and insight into the project topic. 
Syllabus  

PMGT 6420  Corporate Public Affairs (3 credits; offered spring every other year, beginning 2015)

Exploration of major functional areas in corporate public affairs, with a focus on the political and policy dynamics operating in the United States and other democracies abroad. Development and deployment of appropriate strategy, research, and tactics for corporations managing the complexities related to a global economy and shifting political alliances. 

PMGT 6452  Digital Strategy (3 credits; offered fall)

Development of an integrated digital strategy for use in advocacy and electoral campaigns. Introduction to the theoretical concepts, distinctive technologies, applied skills, and managerial challenges associated with digital campaigning. Search engine optimization, GPS, online payment systems, customizing back- and front-end systems to meet strategic goals and budget parameters, working with IT vendors and distance volunteers, legal and cultural considerations in US and other regimes, site rollout and scaling, security and privacy.  NOTE: This is a pre-requisite for all PMGT Digital courses. (Professors I. Koski and S. Zurn)

PMGT 6456  Speechcraft (3 credits; offered fall)

Analysis and techniques used in speechwriting and presentations for public officials and candidates. Managing the political optics and understanding a speech's visual context  and non-verbal communication capabilities (Rose Garden, Oval Office, campaign stump speech, ceremonial occasion, congressional testimony). Modulating speaker style, tone, and pacing, and staging the speech for effect. (Professor D. McGroarty)

6200-Global Perspective Residencies

Global Perspective courses vary by time and location. Courses include Advocating in Europe (Brussels, Belgium), Advocating in Latin America (Sao Paulo and Brazilia, Brazil) and Advocating in Washington, DC, Advocating in China (Beijing and Hong Kong), Advocating in the United Kingdom (London), Advocating in South Africa (Johannesburg, Cape Town, and Praetoria), and Advocating in Germany (Berlin). Students will participate in online preparatory classes through Blackboard prior to arriving for an intensive weeklong program from dusk until dawn, meeting with business executives, public affairs experts, political leaders, NGO executives, media representatives, and professors at GW’s partner schools. For more information, visit the Short-Term Study Abroad page.

Tuition rates for on campus courses may differ from those offered at the Alexandria Graduate Education Center.