Political Communication Certificate Program

Certificate code CTPOLC

Scripps College of Communication
School of Communication Studies
Schoonover Center
Athens, OH 45701
Phone: 740.593.4828
www.ohio.edu/scripps-college/comm-studies/undergraduate/poco

Jerry Miller, Ph.D., contact person
millerj5@ohio.edu

Program Overview

Housed in the School of Communication Studies and Scripps College of Communication and in partnership with the College of Arts and Sciences, the POCO certificate enables undergraduates to supplement their major with a focused inquiry into the role of communication in politics. Political communication encompasses the interactions of political figures, political interests, the press, and the public in their efforts to persuade and influence political outcomes.

Admissions Information

Freshman/First-Year Admission

No requirements beyond University admission requirements.

Change of Program Policy

No selective or limited admission requirements.

External Transfer Admission

No requirements beyond University admission requirements.

Opportunities Upon Graduation

Students interested in political, legal, and/or media professions will find the political communication certificate program beneficial in opening up career opportunities. The research requirements/opportunities make POCO a logical step for students planning to attend graduate work in law, political science, communication, etc.

Requirements

Certificate Hours Requirement

The political communication certificate program requires a minimum of 20 credit hours. No more than 6 credit hours from a student’s major program and no more than 6 credit hours at the 1000- or 2000-level may be counted toward completion of the program.

POCO Core Requirements

Complete two (2) courses, one from each of the following sets:

COMS 3604 - Communication and Advocacy in Legal and Political Contexts Credit Hours: 3
or
COMS 4530 - Communication and the Campaign Credit Hours: 3
POLS 2000 - American Politics, Policy, and Administration: American Civic Literacy Credit Hours: 3
or
POLS 2300 - Democracies and Dictatorships Around the World Credit Hours: 3

Research Methods

Complete one (1) course from the following:

COMS 3420 - Qualitative Inquiry in Communication Credit Hours: 3
COMS 3520 - Quantitative Inquiry in Communication Credit Hours: 3
COMS 3620 - Rhetorical Inquiry and Criticism Credit Hours: 3
POLS 3800 - Introduction to Data Analysis in Political Science Credit Hours: 3
SOC 3500 - Social Research Methods Credit Hours: 3

POCO Engagement

Complete at least one (1) credit hour in each of the following courses for a minimum of two (2) total credit hours:

POCO 2900 - Special Topics in Political Communication Credit Hours: 1 to 15
POCO 4900 - Special Topics in Political Communication Credit Hours: 1 to 15

POCO Specialization Requirements

Complete at least nine (9) credit hours outside of major with at least six (6) CR at the 3000- or 4000-level. Courses should be selected from the following subject areas/prefixes: COMS, ECON, HIST, JOUR, MDIA, POLS, SOC, VICO.

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