Advocacy Minor

Summary

The advocacy minor is designed to guide students toward using their speaking and writing skills to advocate for issues and causes. A primary commitment of the minor is creating, evaluating, and engaging in communication to shape perspectives, change opinions, and compel persons to action. The minor provides a cohesive approach to writing, speaking, and digital communication in order to advance an advocate’s agenda. The minor is a strong fit with many majors across the university.

Catalog Year

2021-2022

Degree

Minor

Total Credits

20

Locations

Mankato

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Program Requirements

Core

General Education: Writing

Students in this course approach writing as a subject of study by investigating how writing works across a variety of contexts.

Prerequisites: none

Goal Areas: GE-1A

Nature, functions, responsibilities and effects of the media in contemporary society.

Prerequisites: none

Goal Areas: GE-09

Diverse Cultures: Purple

General Education: Speaking - Choose 3 Credit(s).

A course designed to improve students' understanding in communication, including the areas of interpersonal, nonverbal, listening, small group and public speaking.

Prerequisites: none

Goal Areas: GE-1B

A course in communication principles to develop skills in the analysis and presentation of speeches.

Prerequisites: none

Goal Areas: GE-1B

Advocacy Foundation

Introduction to advocacy through communication and mass media, including principles, theories, practices, and ethics.

Prerequisites: none

Basic techniques of gathering information and writing readable and accurate media stories.

Prerequisites: ENG 101, MASS 110

Restricted Electives

Mass Media - Choose 4 Credit(s). Internship or Individual Study must have an advocacy focus. Consult with your advisor.

Survey of current practices and problems in the field of public relations. Emphasizes successful case histories and planning techniques.

Prerequisites: none

Creation of photo, audio, video, and written content for multi-platform distribution. Includes critical consideration and application of content creation tools, social media management tools, and legal and ethical issues.

Prerequisites: MASS 221W

Practical skill in the development of public relations writing including news releases, brochures, public service announcements, pitch letters, annual reports.

Prerequisites: MASS 233 

Hands-on development, implementation, analysis, and evaluation of a digital advocacy campaign. Special focus on brandraising, network analysis, and social media analytics toward creating messages and determining campaign effectiveness.

Prerequisites: MASS 221W

Discussion and hands-on experience involving mass media activities. Topic varies.

Prerequisites: MASS 221W

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Prerequisites: MASS 221W, MASS 312, and MASS 411, plus two additional 300/400 level MASS courses, one of which must be MASS 325, MASS 330, MASS 334, MASS 431, MASS 434 or MASS 436

Directed research on a mass media topic chosen by the student.

Prerequisites: MASS 221W

Communication Studies - Choose 8 Credit(s). Internship or Individual Study must have an advocacy focus. Consult with your advisor.

Students examine everyday communication practices (rituals, stories, symbols) analyzing what discursive practices turn individuals into a community. Students explore the meaning of community through experiential learning by experiencing and reflecting upon the way communication creates, maintains, transforms, and repairs community.

Prerequisites: none

The course focuses on theoretical and applied aspects of persuasion. The aim is to apply theories and research findings in the area of persuasion to the development of social and political campaigns.

Prerequisites: none

This course is an overview of key performance studies concepts, including cultural performance, performance of everyday life, theories of play, social influence, and identity performance. Students will develop and present performances as a means to understand theoretical concepts.

Prerequisites: none

Special interest courses devoted to specific topics within relationship communication. Topics vary, and course may be retaken for credit under different topic headings.

Prerequisites: none

Special interest courses devoted to specific topics within the intersecting fields of rhetoric and culture. Topics vary, and course may be retaken for credit under different topic headings.

Prerequisites: none

A critical analysis of contemporary social movement discourse and the means for advocacy by a movement. We examine communication theories, issues, trends, social movement processes, advocacy strategies, and how it all ties back into the field of contemporary communication studies.

Prerequisites: none

Grassroots campaigning is a proven strategy of civic discourse, engagement, and advocacy. Grassroots organizing works from the bottom up and is uniquely suited to engage historically marginalized constituencies and to amplify the voiced of traditionally excluded populations. This course emphasizes a practical, skills-based approach grassroots advocacy using communication strategies and tactics.

Prerequisites: none

A course designed for students who have a general interest in communication studies. Content of each special topics course will be different. May be retaken for credit.

Prerequisites: none

Provides first-hand experience in applying communication theories in the workplace under the direction of an on-site supervisor.

Prerequisites: none

Independent study under the supervision of an instructor.

Prerequisites: none