Skip to main content

Fall 2025 Registration window now open. | Undergraduate Final Deadline is July 28 for fall term

Advocacy and Political Leadership BA

College of Liberal Arts / Social Science
Undergraduate major / Bachelor of Arts

About The Program

Why Advocacy and Political Leadership?

The Advocacy and Political Leadership BA is an ideal course of study for students interested in:

  • Advancing social justice: Creating a more equitable and just world
  • Building community power: Working in communities to bring people together to solve problems that impact their lives
  • Developing leadership capacity: Cultivating the knowledge, skills, and attitudes necessary for effective and equitable leadership within our communities

What will I do in the major?

The Advocacy and Political Leadership BA program prepares students for careers in political and social change work. The coursework in the major is organized around the kinds of work people do in politics—whether they work in electoral politics, movement organizations, or advocacy organizations. Students develop a holistic understanding of politics as an ecosystem of cooperating and competing organizations, impacting the policy environment that shapes our lives. Students in the major take courses in:

  • Campaign Management
  • Campaign Finance and Fundraising
  • Political Communications
  • Research and Policy Development
  • Advocacy for Policy Change

Students can choose to take electives focusing on community organizing, community development, political and social theory, or an internship course on careers in politics. Students in their final semester complete an Advocacy and Political Leadership Portfolio, to demonstrate the career skills they have developed in each of the core course domains.

Students also have the option of completing a 4+1 program, to graduate with the APL major and the Master’s in Advocacy and Political Leadership with one additional year of coursework.

What can I do with the degree?

The Advocacy and Political Leadership BA prepares students for careers in:

  • Political campaigns and elections
  • Nonprofit and non-governmental organizations
  • Advocacy organizations
  • Community organizations
  • Union organizing and labor organizations

The Advocacy and Political Leadership major also prepares undergraduates for application to the Master's in Advocacy and Political Leadership program at Metro State University.

Student outcomes

Graduates will be able to:

  • Effectively plan and manage campaigns—whether electoral or issue-focused.
  • Develop and execute fundraising plans.
  • Develop and execute communications strategies for electoral or issue-based campaigns.
  • Evaluate policy proposals and prepare policy briefs on important public issues.
  • Run effective advocacy meetings with legislators and other policy makers on bills before the Minnesota Legislature.

Related programs

How to enroll

Current students: Declare this program

Once you’re admitted as an undergraduate student and have met any further admission requirements your chosen program may have, you may declare a major or declare an optional minor.

Future students: Apply now

Apply to Metropolitan State: Start the journey toward your Advocacy and Political Leadership BA now. Learn about the steps to enroll or, if you have questions about what Metropolitan State can offer you, request information, visit campus or chat with an admissions counselor.

Get started on your Advocacy and Political Leadership BA

Courses and Requirements

SKIP TO COURSE REQUIREMENTS

Summary (40 credits)

At least half of the credits required for the major must be completed at Metropolitan State University. Students must earn a grade of C- or above in all major courses. Student should select lower division electives and upper division electives in consultation with a faculty advisor. Transfer courses may be applicable to major requirements. Students should consult with their advisor as soon as they begin the program to see which credits may transfer. The university's degree audit will specify transfer courses that are directly equivalent to major requirements. Other transfer courses must be approved by a faculty advisor in the department.

+ Lower Division Electives (up to 10 credits)

Students may count up to 10 lower division credits in Advocacy and Political Leadership related courses. See a faculty advisor in the department to discuss transfer credits.

+ Survey Course (4 credits)

Political and Issue campaigns are an essential aspect of politics, wherein advocates of a particular candidate or issue build support and attempt to win either an election, or a policy debate. Developing the skills to manage such campaigns is extremely valuable to finding employment in politics. This course teaches students the foundational elements of campaign management, leading students to be well-prepared to be hired in electoral or issue campaigns. The course provides a thorough overview of the main components of successful campaign management, including but not limited to: managing relationships with the principal (often a Political and Issue campaigns are an essential aspect of politics, wherein advocates of a particular candidate or issue build support and attempt to win either an election, or a policy debate. Developing the skills to manage such campaigns is extremely valuable to finding employment in politics. This course teaches students the foundational elements of…

Full course description for Approaches to Campaign Management

+ Core Courses (16 credits)

One of the most important areas in any electoral or issue campaign is finance and fundraising. In order to raise and spend the money needed to build and execute a successful campaign, campaign staff must learn the specific fundraising and financial management skills and develop a deep understanding of campaign fundraising and spending laws. This course provides students with a combination of fundraising and financial management skill building and the capacity to understand the legal landscape for raising and spending money in a successful campaign. Through a study of finance operations for current and past electoral and issue campaigns, students will develop an understanding of the types of fundraising operations, the diverse finance structures that campaigns create, and the financial and fundraising laws that govern those campaigns ¿ whether the campaign is an electoral committee, and 527 organization, a 501(c)3 or (c)4, or (c)5 or other campaign operation.

Full course description for Campaign Finance and Fundraising

Political communications work is fundamental for political campaigns¿whether they are electoral or issue-based. Political campaigns build support for their candidates and/or issues by communicating with the public. They seek to inform, persuade, and mobilize people to take action. In this course, students will learn about the role of political communications on campaign teams. Topics include political messaging and political mobilization, components of a political communications strategy, and effective strategies for engaging with traditional media and new media on political campaigns. Students will learn to use web-based technology commonly used on political campaigns.

Full course description for Political Communications

In politics, we use policy to build a world that reflects our vision and values. In this class, students learn how political actors develop policies to advance their goals. Students consider how political actors use social science research to inform policy positions and make policy recommendations. In addition, students learn about the research and policy development process as it relates to electoral campaigns, advocacy organizations, political parties, and local and state government.

Full course description for Research for Policy Change

+ Advocacy and Political Leadership Portfolio (1 credit)

Students will complete a one-credit portfolio in their final semester. The portfolio will include assignments from the survey course and each of the core courses, in addition to reflective essays. Students will work with a faculty member in their major to complete the portfolio as a one-credit SDIS.

Student-designed independent studies give Metropolitan State students the opportunity to plan their own study. This type of independent learning strategy can be useful because it allows students: to study a subject in more depth, at a more advanced level; to pursue a unique project that requires specialized study; to draw together several knowledge areas or interests into a specialized study; to test independent learning capabilities and skills; or to use special learning resources in the community, taking advantage of community education opportunities which, in themselves, would not yield a full college competence. Students should contact their academic advisor for more information.

Full course description for Advocacy and Political Leadership Student Designed Independent Studies

+ Upper Division Electives (to reach 40 credits)

Students may select any of the following electives. Students completing the MAPL 4+1 program may take up to 8 credits in MAPL elective courses listed below. ANSO 343 and POL 343 are cross-listed sections of the same course. Students may take one section, but not both.

This class will examine theories and models of community development, and introduce students to the realities of community development work. The course explores the history of the community development field from its origins in the late 19th-century urbanization through present innovations fueled by grassroots, foundations and public policy initiatives. The lens of movement and industry approaches will be a key analytical tool. Three traditions in the field community building, community organizing, and community development will be critically examined and compared, including exploring the dynamic relationship between these three traditions. Special attention will be given to community development challenges facing traditionally disenfranchised communities, including factors of race, class and gender. The class will emphasize both a theoretical understanding of community dynamics, ad an introduction to practical skills used by people working in the community development field.

Full course description for Perspectives on Community Development

This course examines the theories, current trends and practical dimensions of how people with common goals and grievances organize themselves to effect change. Topics include the nature of community organizing, organizing models from a variety of cultural and historic traditions, practical approaches to identifying issues, bringing constituencies together and nurturing grass roots leadership, and choosing and implementing effective strategies and tactics. Case studies include organizing projects in communities of race and ethnicity, social class and gender.

Full course description for Community Organizing and Social Action

This class will examine theories and models of community development, and introduce students to the realities of community development work. The course explores the history of the community development field from its origins in the late 19th-century urbanization through present innovations fueled by grassroots, foundations and public policy initiatives. The lens of movement and industry approaches will be a key analytical tool. Three traditions in the field community building, community organizing, and community development will be critically examined and compared, including exploring the dynamic relationship between these three traditions. Special attention will be given to community development challenges facing traditionally disenfranchised communities, including factors of race, class and gender. The class will emphasize both a theoretical understanding of community dynamics, ad an introduction to practical skills used by people working in the community development field.

Full course description for Perspectives on Community Development

This hybrid course is for students who want to work in politics to make Minnesota better for the people and communities they love. Prior to the semester beginning, each student meets with the instructor to secure an internship with a campaign or an advocacy organization based on the student¿s interests and values. Once the student has an internship lined up, they can register for the course. Over the summer, students will intern with the campaign or advocacy organization and earn experience working in politics. In addition, students will attend six class meetings. At the class meetings, students will learn about different types of political jobs, reflect on which types of jobs interest them most, and identify the skills they need to develop to advance on that career path. Each student will complete a weekly campaign journal throughout the semester. At the end of the semester, each student will also produce a political resume and draft cover letter for applying for future jobs in…

Full course description for Working in Politics

Social scientists study the world so that we may take informed action to solve social problems. In this class, students explore how theory contributes to solving social problems. Students will learn how theorists identify and analyze social problems, as well as offer potential solutions. Special emphasis will be placed on some of the most contested and controversial social problems of our time, such as neoliberalism and its role in deepening economic inequality, climate collapse, and the erosion of democracy globally. Students will also explore issues such as identity politics and oppression based on identity categories, which may include race, gender, sexuality, ability, and nationality. Students will consider how theory helps us to envision and pursue a more just, humane, and sustainable world.

Full course description for Theory and Social Problems

MAPL 610 is the first required core course in the Master of Advocacy and Political Leadership (MAPL) Program. Its aim is to help student advocates understand the history of policy development in the United States and particularly in the states of Minnesota and Wisconsin. The course examines the classic study of policy development and implementation on a national basis, then looks closely at the more ideological take on policy formulation and implementation used in the 2000s. More locally, students examine the political cultures of Minnesota and Wisconsin and hear from leaders from those states involved in policy development and implementation. Each student prepares and presents a policy change project, some action they think desirable and in the public interest.

Full course description for Political Process and Public Policy

MAPL 611 is a required core course in the Master of Advocacy and Political Leadership (MAPL) Program. The course provides the knowledge and skills needed to help advocates strengthen their abilities to lead wisely, ethically and effectively in political and community settings. It provides an interdisciplinary framework to explore the principles of power and leadership, and features effective leaders from Minnesota and other states discussing their principles of leadership.

Full course description for Political and Advocacy Leadership