Spirit-filled students pursuing a career in political science and communication have a new option at Evangel University.
The Pentecostal university’s Department of Communication, in cooperation with the Department of Social Sciences, has developed a timely new major in political communication. Courses will begin in the fall 2012 semester.
“Media and politics have been intertwined since the invention of the printing press,” says Cameron Pace, chair of the Department of Communication. “Evangel’s new political communication program is designed for students interested in careers such as campaign management, government or municipal public relations, political speech writing and political journalism.”
Hands-on experience will be a key feature of the new major. Students will participate in political reporting and analysis through the student media at Evangel—radio, TV, newspaper and the Web.
“Internships with local officials and campaigns will be available and encouraged,” says Dr. Bryan Sanders, chair of the social sciences department. “These students will also have the opportunity to spend time in Washington, D.C., through our annual Washington Studies program.”
Political Communication students will take 31 hours in communication and 12 hours in government and political science. The range of courses required include political communication, mass media law, the political process, American government, public relations, Web design and public speaking.
“We are excited to be offering a major where students will not only learn how to analyze political messages and use their communication skills for political purposes,” Pace says, “but hopefully become future leaders who inject the Christian worldview into political discourse.”
