Advocacy and Political Leadership BA

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

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

Full course description for Advocacy for Policy Change

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

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 uses the current campaign as the basis for studying voter behavior, polling, the impact and role of the media, political parties, and general election strategy on behavior. Special emphasis is placed on the role of race, class and gender in shaping political participation. Campaign involvement is encouraged.

Full course description for Elections and Political Parties

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