Graduate Studies
Master’s Programs
Master’s of Mass Communication:
Political Communication/Campaigning Specialization
The Political Communication specialization at the master’s level is designed to provide students with the basic skills, insights and experience that are critical for success in the ever-changing profession of politics, political consulting and political communications.
The M.A.M.C. program in the College of Journalism and Communications combines an awareness of the academic literature on how mass media communication, especially television, print, and Web news coverage about campaigns, political advertising, and public relations techniques affect the democratic process. Students are required to take a series of courses in the broader area of mass communication, including research methods, theory and mass communication and society. Additional courses may also be taken in the Department of Political Science. Students work closely with faculty members who have a broad range of intellectual interests related to voting behavior, media campaign coverage, public opinion and political communication. At the same time, the practical side is represented by adjunct faculty and guest speakers who are actively engaged in political communication. The specialization normally requires two years for completion. Students in Political Communication may choose to participate in a professional internship. Completion of the degree requires students to write a thesis focusing on an aspect of political communication or to submit a final project-in-lieu-of-thesis that demonstrates the student’s ability to analyze and apply political communication principles to political campaigns, organizations, events, or issues (30 semester credit hours).
For more information, please contact Dr. Lynda Lee Kaid.
The Campaign for the University of Florida