Strategic Political Communication web page
The information on this page pertains to program requirements for students who matriculated in the 2024-2025 academic year. View requirements for previous catalog years here.
Strategic Political Communication majors gain the skills to communicate effectively within and through a complex media environment, enabling them to pursue a career in advocacy, political campaigns, government relations and related fields.
Accredited by the Accrediting Council on Education in Journalism and Mass Communication, Drake is among 115 accredited programs worldwide. To earn accreditation, schools meet 9 standards, which address such issues as class size, diversity, student services and curriculum. Accreditation reviews occur every 6 years. Drake’s program has been continuously accredited, most recently in 2016.
Students should work with their advisers to ensure selection of courses best-suited to their educational and career objectives. Please see Graduation Requirements and Regulations sections of the catalog for additional information.
Required courses for the Strategic Political Communication major are as follows:
| Course | Credits |
| School of Journalism and Mass Communication Core Courses | |
| JMC 030 - Mass Media in a Global Society | 3 |
| JMC 031 - Multimedia Lab | 1 |
| JMC 040 - Pre-Professional Workshop | 1 |
| JMC 041 - Financial Fundamentals for Communication Professionals | 1 |
| JMC 054 - Reporting and Writing Principles | 3 |
| JMC 055 - Digital Media Strategies | 3 |
| JMC 104 - Communication Law and Ethics | 3 |
| Area of Concentration - All SJMC majors must complete a 21-credit block of courses not offered within the SJMC. This block must be approved by the student's adviser and dean. At least 12 of these credits must be in courses numbered 100 or higher. Courses taken to satisfy requirements in other areas may also count toward this requirement. | 21 |
| Strategic Political Communication Major Courses | |
| JMC 058 - Foundations of Visual Communication | 3 |
| JMC 085 - Public Relations Principles | 3 |
| JMC 088 - Introduction to Strategic Political Communication | 3 |
| JMC 123 - Public Relations Writing | 3 |
| JMC 138 - Organizational Public Affairs | 3 |
| JMC 131 - Political Campaign Management | 3 |
| JMC 147 - SPC Capstone | 3 |
| POLS 116 - Media and Modern Politics | 3 |
| POS 1XX - Any 100 Level POLS course (advisor approval required) | 3 |
|
POLS 095 - Methods in Politics, or STAT 071 - Statistics I |
3 3 |
|
SCSR 128 - Argumentation and Advocacy, or PHIL 090 - Ethics, or PHIL 091 - Contemporary Ethical Problems |
3 3 3 |
| JMC Electives, for 9 credit hours | 9 |
| JMC Total Credit hours | 44 |
| TOTAL | 120 |
The information in this catalog does not constitute a contract between the university and the student. The university reserves the right to make changes in curricula, admission policies and processes, tuition and financial aid, academic standards and guidelines, student services and any other regulations or policies set forth in this catalog without giving prior notice.