Communicating Public Policy

Course Description

Communication is an essential element of public policymaking. This course builds upon what students already know about academic writing and speaking, particularly their skills in researching and analyzing issues, and adds the technical skills needed to effectively communicate to influence public policy. The communication skills vital to this process include: developing essential and persuasive content, synthesizing complex ideas, targeting diverse audiences with varying levels of expertise and roles, ensuring clarity, controlling tone, organizing information, and designing a document for readability. Students will read and critique existing policy documents created by both non-governmental and governmental actors involved in the public policy process and use their roles as citizens to influence public policy makers. Students will also perform as actors in the policy-making process by defining policy problems, using policy histories to influence policy proposals, analyzing research, and writing memos about public policy issues they find interesting. This course challenges students to convey critical thinking by anticipating readers' and listeners' needs and the perspectives of stakeholders when writing to shape public policy.

Code

PSC 461

Credits

3

Subject

PSC