GOVT 3171 - [Campaigns and Elections]

(crosslisted) AMST 3171
(SBA-AS)

Summer. Next offered 2018-2019. 4 credits. Student option grading.

I. Waismel-Manor.

This course aims to teach you the nuts-n-bolts of political campaigning. How do campaign consultants organize a campaign, draft a strategy, come up with a theme, target voters, raise money, write and produce ads and get voters to the ballot? Drawing upon academic writings in the fields of political science and communication, articles by campaign consultants, TV ads, and documentaries, you will learn all about how elections are won and lost. You will master, and yet learn to be critical of, current electoral politics with their emphasis on money, polls, and sound bites. Finally, you will harness this new knowledge to do some good, by promoting a worthy cause.