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2024-2025 Undergraduate Bulletin
Rhetoric and Public Advocacy, BA Major in
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Want to change the world? Maybe your cause is sustainable energy. Healthcare reform. Affordable housing. Whatever it is, our program in Rhetoric and Public Advocacy offers knowledge, skills, and practical experience you need to analyze, inform, and shape discourse and policy in public, corporate, and government sectors.
Public advocacy is about the practicalities of exercising power in a diverse world. To be an effective advocate requires competence in speaking and writing, familiarity with various types of information, research skills, the ability to tell powerful stories and make strong arguments, and the capacity to engage community groups and institutions in a variety of contexts. Our program was developed by faculty with expertise in these areas. We are internationally recognized scholars and teachers with experience in political, health, labor, and civil rights campaigns.
Students in the program will complete a rigorous course of study that integrates communication and performance theory and practice with opportunities for real-world advocacy experience. Successful graduates will have completed a culminating senior research project and will amass a portfolio of work demonstrating knowledge and skill in areas of oral, written, and social media formats for graduate schools or professional careers.
Candidates for graduation from Hofstra College of Liberal Arts and Sciences with the degree of Bachelor of Arts must fulfill the BA requirements as listed under Hofstra College of Liberal Arts and Sciences. In addition, students majoring in Rhetoric and Public Advocacy may choose a political communication concentration.
Note: The Rhetoric and Public Advocacy degree is recommended for students wishing to double major in Rhetoric and Public Advocacy and another major. Students in other concentrations who wish to double major should consult with a department adviser as soon as they choose a major, in order to complete the major requirements on time.
Incoming freshmen and transfer students may declare a major in Rhetoric and Public Advocacy.
The requirements for each concentration are listed below the Complete BA Requirements.
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Rhetoric and Public Advocacy
Program Requirements: - Total Semester Hours: 30
A. Core Courses - Semester Hours: 12
B. Communication in Macro Contexts - Semester Hours: 3
Chosen from among the following:
C. Communication in Micro Contexts - Semester Hours: 3
D. Language and Culture - Semester Hours: 3
Chosen from among the following:
E. Electives - Semester Hours: 6
Courses must be chosen from different elective areas.
Health Communication Electives
Political Communication Electives
Social Movements Electives
F. Senior Experience - Semester Hours: 3
Requirements may be satisfied with Senior Seminar or an internship.
Additionally:
Designated sections of RHET 147, RHET 150 / 151, 170 / 171, RHET 180 to 189 A-Z, 197, 198, and 199 may also fulfill Rhetoric and Public Advocacy requirements.
Notes
Students with a concentration in Political Communication or Health Communication are also required to take 6 s.h. chosen from comparative literature, linguistics, literature in translation, drama, English, economics, history, philosophy, political science, psychology, sociology, and anthropology. NOTE: Majors in Rhetoric and Public Advocacy who are also elementary education majors are required to take 6 s.h. in mathematics and/or science to satisfy this requirement. NOTE: Students who are interested in majoring in combined disciplines should inquire in the Writing Studies and Rhetoric Department 124A Mason Hall. Concentration in Political Communication
Law, government, issue advocacy, and social activism all rely on effective communication. Leaders in all of these fields are required to both craft and respond to arguments as they persuade others, mobilize public opinion, forge consensus, and share information. This concentration offers students both a theoretical foundation necessary for understanding the role of communication in a diverse society, and intensive practice in creating and presenting messages to a variety of audiences. Through courses in the history and theory of rhetoric, social protest, persuasion, and mass media and politics, students learn about the importance of communication in political and social processes. Through courses in public speaking, argumentation and debate, and speechwriting, students learn to prepare, present, and respond critically to messages aimed at a variety of publics. By combining communication courses with supporting course work in political science, history, sociology, economics, and other areas, students develop a rich understanding of politics and society. The political communication concentration is intended for students who are interested in positions of leadership in civic life, whether in government, public service, educational or cultural institutions, or non-governmental organizations or social advocacy groups. It is also an excellent program of study for students preparing for law school or for graduate school in communication or public affairs. Program Requirements - Total Semester Hours: 30
A. Political Communication Core Courses - Semester Hours: 9
Choose from:
B. Political Science Courses - Semester Hours: 9
C. Political Communication Competencies - Semester Hours: 9
Students are to select from various skills or competencies valuable to people engaged in political communication. In consultation with faculty, students may also request approval of alternative skill or competency courses.
Choose from:
D. Senior Experience - Semester Hours: 3
The requirement may be satisfied with a Senior Seminar or an internship.
Note:
Courses in areas B and C may be substituted following discussion with and approval of the adviser.
Concentration in Health Communication
Health communication students learn how people understand health and illness, both individually and collectively. Students will develop the communication competencies needed to inform and influence individual and community decisions for improving individual and public health. Through courses across various health communication domains, communication research methods, activist writing, and community engagement, narrative medicine, and performance and healing, students learn how to prepare, present, disseminate, analyze and respond critically to health messages about disease awareness and prevention. This combination of coursework with the possibility for supporting study in health professions, sociology, history, philosophy, and anthropology will enable students to develop a rich understanding of domestic and global health issues. The health communication concentration is intended for students who are interested in positions in health communication & education, health literacy, public relations, patient advocacy, hospital and health administration, non-profit organizations, professional writing or editing in healthcare settings and a host of other fields. The concentration is also compatible with double-majoring. The health communication concentration is also an excellent program of study for students preparing for further education in medicine, healthcare administration, public health, health communication, rhetoric, writing studies, or health education. Program Requirements - Total Semester Hours: 30
A. Health Communication Core - Semester Hours: 6
B. Departmental Core - Semester Hours: 6
C. Health Communication Electives - Semester Hours: 12
Choose from among the following: Students may elect to replace three of the 12 semester hours above with one of the following or a comparable course (after consultation with faculty):
D. Departmental Electives - Semester Hours: 6
Choose 2 of the following courses:
Recommended Program Sequence - Total Hours: 124
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