Communication Studies
Public communication & advocacy emphasis
About Public Communication and Advocacy
This emphasis area focuses on the use of communication as a tool for civic engagement, participation, leadership, and public life. Many of our students who work in Public Communication & Advocacy are interested in careers centered in civic life, law, government, politics, or the non-profit sector – because they want to be opinion leaders who make the world a better place for all of us. This emphasis area will involve students in multiple opportunities to build their writing, speaking, and problem-solving abilities. Through their coursework, students engage with contemporary public issues and the debates that shape them.
While at UWL – our students frequently have internships in a variety of non-profit, government, and private organizations. After graduation, they have careers in government, pharmaceutical sales, hospital systems, marketing and publicity, the legal field, nonprofit organizations, even NASA!
Student Learning Outcomes: Public Communication & Advocacy
Students in the Public Communication & Advocacy emphasis will achieve the following learning outcomes after completing the major:
- Public Message Construction: Create ethical and effective persuasive messages appropriate to the audience, purpose, and or/context
- Public Communication Perspectives: Employ theories, perspectives, principles, and concepts to analyze public communication and advocacy artifacts.
- Diverse Messages: Use public communication and advocacy theories to analyze and construct messages that engage with diverse audiences
Major Requirements
Total: 39 credits (All colleges, excluding Teacher Certification programs)
| Category | Requirements |
| CST Core Requirements | CST 190 → 301 → 498 → 499 |
| PCA 200 Level | CST 211, 213 (Choose 1) |
| PCA 300 Level | CST 310, 312, 315, 319, 322 (Choose 1) |
| PCA 400 Level | CST 410, 412, 413, 415 (Choose 1) |
| PCA Elective | One additional PCA‡ course (See list below) |
| Other Emphasis Areas | 3 credits from Interpersonal Communication (IPC#) 3 credits from Org. & Prof. Communication (OPC*). 3 credits from Media Studies (MS†). |
| Additional CST credits | At least six credits of electives from any CST course (Exclusing CST 110) |
‡PCA Courses: CST 210, 211, 213, 310, 312, 315, 319, 322, 410, 412, 413, 415
#IPC Courses: CST 230, 330, 331, 332, 333, 334, 336, 337, 339
*OPC Courses: CST 260, 351, 350, 353, 354, 355, 358, 360, 365, 380, 452, 460
†MS Courses: CST 271, 338, 371, 373, 377, 378, 379, 387, 388, 419, 471, 489
Minor Requirements
Total: 18 credits (All colleges, excluding Teacher Certification programs)
| Category | Requirements |
| CST Core Requirements | CST 190 |
| PCA 200 Level | CST 211, 213 (Choose 1) |
| PCA 300 Level | CST 310, 312, 315, 319, 322 (Choose 1) |
| PCA 400 Level | CST 410, 412, 413, 415 (Choose 1) |
| Other Emphasis Areas | Select six credits from two different areas below: Interpersonal Communication#, Org & Professional Communication*, Media Studies†. |
#IPC Courses: CST 230, 330, 331, 332, 333, 334, 336, 337, 339
*OPC Courses: CST 260, 351, 350, 353, 354, 355, 358, 360, 365, 380, 452, 460
†MS Courses: CST 271, 338, 371, 373, 377, 378, 379, 387, 388, 419, 471, 489