A-to-Z Index

Advocacy studies

This concentration prepares students to understand, critically evaluate and engage the communication theories, processes, media institutions and communication technologies that citizens, political leaders, government officials, public administrators, interest groups and community service organizations use to campaign, deliberate, adjudicate, govern and advocate for social change. Skilled advocates adopt, develop and implement diverse sets of communication strategies that help clients articulate interests and goals, determine social systems and audiences most likely to achieve goals, identify effective media and appropriate goal oriented messages, and develop plans for implementing change.

In addition to the 12 hours of required communication studies courses, students studying advocacy must complete the following 18 hours from among the depth requirements. The school also recommends that students enroll in an internship during their junior or senior year.

SCOM 342. Argument and Advocacy


SCOM 352. Communication and Social Movements


SCOM 353. American Political Culture and Communication


SCOM 381. Communication Criticism


Choose two of the following:


SCOM 331. Conflict and Communication


SCOM/WRTC 343. Contemporary Rhetorical Theory and Practice


SCOM 346. Free Speech in America


SCOM 347. Communication, Diversity and Popular Culture


SCOM 354./WRTC 326 Environmental Communication and Advocacy


SCOM/SMAD 357. Youth, Communication and Culture


SCOM/SMAD/WRTC 420. Feminist Rhetorics


SCOM 431. Legal Communication


SCOM 453. Political Campaign Communication


SCOM 470. Health Communication Campaigns


SCOM/SMAD/POSC 472. Media and Politics


SCOM 495. Internship in Advocacy Studies






To learn more about advocacy, please visit the following site: http://www.jmu.edu/icad/engage.shtml