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POL 312 Advocacy for Policy Change

Democratic governments are assumed to be more legitimate than and preferable to other forms of government due to their openness and responsiveness to citizen influence. Yet many citizens and residents in the United States express feelings of powerlessness when it comes to influencing legislators and engaging in politics. In this course, students will learn about the state legislative process in Minnesota and develop a wide range of democratic skills necessary for becoming citizen advocates and influencing elected officials. Over the course of the semester, students will identify an issue area they want to work in; choose legislation related to that issue area to advocate for; identify and build relationships with community organizations working in the issue area; work in coalition with at least one community organization; develop a range of political communication materials for influencing legislators; and meet with state legislators to advocate for their preferred policies. The skills students will develop in this class will be applicable to participating in democracy at the local, state, and national level.

Special information

First day attendance is mandatory.
Note: First day attendance required except by instructor permission.
4 Undergraduate credits

Effective December 15, 2025 to present

Meets graduation requirements for

Learning outcomes

General

  • Understand the structure and functions of the Minnesota State Legislature.
  • Know how to access Minnesota State Legislature resources to identify relevant bills, track progress on those bills, and identify key decision-makers and committees related to those bills.
  • Know how to identify community partners for coalitional work and build relationships for effective advocacy.
  • Be able to demonstrate proficiency in developing political communications materials, including policy briefs, informational handouts, persuasive videos, and letters to the editor.
  • Be able to demonstrate proficiency in speaking publicly on behalf of a bill when meeting with state legislators and others.

Minnesota Transfer Curriculum

Goal 5: History and the Social and Behavioral Sciences

  • Employ the methods and data that historians and social and behavioral scientists use to investigate the human condition.
  • Examine social institutions and processes across a range of historical periods and cultures.
  • Use and critique alternative explanatory systems or theories.
  • Develop and communicate alternative explanations or solutions for contemporary social issues.

Goal 9: Ethical and Civic Responsibility

  • Examine, articulate, and apply their own ethical views.
  • Understand and apply core concepts (e.g. politics, rights and obligations, justice, liberty) to specific issues.
  • Analyze and reflect on the ethical dimensions of legal, social, and scientific issues.
  • Recognize the diversity of political motivations and interests of others.
  • Identify ways to exercise the rights and responsibilities of citizenship.