2024 Academic Courses

This section of PR Campaigns will focus on strategic planning to boost student engagement for the presidential debate.

Faculty: Debra Price, Assistant Professor of Practice (Strategic Planning)

This section of PR Campaigns will focus on special events to boost student engagement for the presidential debate.

Faculty: Jennifer Scharlach,  Assistant Professor of Practice (Special Events)

Delve into media relations for the debate and gain exposure to media who will be coming to campus from across the country.

• Meeting time: MW 2-3:20 p.m.
• In person course (Face-to-Face)
• Prerequisite: Either MC 3313 or MC 1313 with a grade of C or better 

Faculty: Jennifer Scharlach, Assistant Professor of Practice

Get hands-on experience implementing events and activities surrounding the debate in September.

• Meeting time: M 9:30 – 10:50 a.m.
• In person course (Face-to-Face)
• Prerequisite: MC 3343 and MC 3314 with a grade of C or better 

Faculty: Debra Price, Assistant Professor of Practice 

This course delves into the transformative power of 360 video and VR technologies, exploring how these new storytelling platforms affect political engagement. Students will gain both hands-on experience, as well as theoretical perspectives around VR that they can apply in practical labs and research products.

• Meeting time: Th 7:30 – 8:50 p.m.
• In person course (Face-to-Face)
• Prerequisite: MC 5302 or MC 5303

Faculty: Dr. Nicole K. Stewart, Assistant Professor and Jon Zmikly, Regents' Teacher

A survey of the principles of political science, of the American system of government, and of the origins and development of the constitutions of the United States and Texas. Satisfies the legislative requirements for teacher certification. 

This course is a study of functions performed in the American system of government, both national and state, within the framework of the U.S. and Texas Constitutions.

This course examines the dynamics of American political campaigns and elections at the federal and state level. The analysis and discussion will include theoretical evaluations of voting, campaigns, and elections as well as technical and practical information about campaign strategies.  

• Corequisite: PS 3300 or PS 3301 either with a grade of "D" or better.

This course examines the American political party system, including its history and organization, suffrage, nominations, elections, campaigns, and the related areas of public opinion and pressure group activities. 

This course examines, in depth, both the presidency of the United States and the individuals who have held it. 

This course examines how the media influences public opinion and voting behavior. Specific topics include media functions in campaigns and elections, media bias, new media, and media effects on political attitudes and behaviors.

• Corequisite: PS 3300 or PS 3301 either with a grade of "D" or better. 

This course blends law, philosophy, history and political science in examining the role of free expression in the digital age. It will begin with an overview of various theories supporting the right of free expression and the historical development of free speech from the English common law to current struggles over free speech and what constraints on its practice are acceptable. The course will then consider modern challenges to free expression and democratic discourse posed by technology and the private companies that control much of the modern public square. Global threats to freedom of expression will also be examined.