Courses

Conversations About Ethics: Philosophical, Professional and Personal

The MPS program aims to educate the whole person and believes that this process starts with the study of ethics. Looking at ethics through a professional lens, this course asks students to explore their own values and challenges them to codify and commit to their own code of ethics in relationship to professional codes of conduct and best practices. Students will gain a solid foundation in ethics and relate what they learn to their own professional situation through class discussions, case studies, and guest lectures conducted by Georgetown University ethicists as well as communications professionals. This course is required for all MPS students and must be completed by the second semester in the program.

Faculty: TBA

Creating Public Media Campaigns

An intensive, hands-on production course designed to research, develop and produce a public media campaign in partnership with a major public broadcasting series. All media tools will be explored and utilized (to the best of the student’s abilities) in order to communicate and interact with the the client and target groups. Teams will be formed to develop video, digital media, traditional and new public engagement and communications strategies. The course will depend on the student’s skills, passion, professionalism and experience. The course will require some work outside of the classroom.

Faculty: Jeff Bieber

Grassroots Communications

The 2008 Obama campaign proved that grassroots communication leads to political success. Advocacy organizations have known this for years, but now businesses leaders are using the same tactics to market their products and services. We will examine the history and theory of grassroots communications, examine the Obama campaign and other case studies, and learn to develop objectives, strategies and tactics that can result in the mass mobilization of voters, advocates and consumers.

Faculty: TBA

Social Media for Social Causes

During this course, students will examine how dynamic social media environments affect individuals, organizations and corporations seeking to make societal impact. Students will learn how the new media landscape and the social web can help organize communities to drive social change. Students will dissect current media trends, analyze social concepts such as crowd-sourcing, and evaluate recent social impact campaigns. Students will gain a thorough knowledge of this evolving communications environment and a fundamental understanding of the tools and strategies used to navigate social media for social gain.

Faculty: Colin Moffett

Communication for International Development

This overview course will provide students with an understanding of international development and the power of communications to address some of the worlds most pressing issues. Students will learn how to use media, technology, social marketing, and partnerships as a way to further international development goals. Case studies and guest lectures from experts in the field along with real world applications of a development communications challenge will prepare students to lead communication efforts for NGO's, government agencies, multilateral organizations and even corporate CSR efforts.

Faculty: Tamara Babiuk

Environmental Communications

This course is designed to equip the communications professional with the knowledge and skills needed to provide PR counsel on environmental issues, campaigns, green products and other sustainability-related topics. In this class, the student will gain a better understanding of how to identify and engage stakeholders such as environmental media, nongovernmental organizations, sustainability influencers and policymakers. Together, we will research, study and discuss a range of sustainability scenarios to determine effective communication strategies and tactics using traditional and social media, coalition building and partnership development. Class assignments and discussions will help students learn the following:

• How to position and promote a corporate sustainability report;
• How to develop a sustainability thought leadership program;
• How to develop messaging for controversial topics such as nuclear
  power, global warming and biofuels;
• How to plan a strategic environmental communications campaign.

Students will complete the course with an enhanced understanding of how best to communicate about a range of sustainability topics, whether working for a corporation, nonprofit, educational institution or government organization.

Faculty: Frank Walter

Cause Consulting: Nonprofit Clients (Fall)

Cause Consulting is a signature course in the Masters of Professional Studies in Public Relations and Corporate Communications. It offers a cohort of students an applied learning experience working in small consulting teams to develop and implement communications plans for nonprofit clients. It also is an opportunity to explore students’ leadership potential to create positive social and economic impact throughout their careers. The primary goal of the course is for students to gain the knowledge and skills that are necessary to work as a consultant for clients, while garnering a deeper understanding of the challenges and opportunities working in and with the nonprofit sector. As students develop and implement key portions of their strategic communications plans for their clients, they will focus on teamwork, analytical and strategic thinking skills, managing client relationships, and tracking and evaluating success toward achieving the original goals of the plans. The semester culminates with the students providing their clients with sustainable communications systems, tools and recommendations for using them for full effect. Students who complete the course are recognized with the designation of Cause Consultants, which allows them to participate in exclusive pro bono consulting and training opportunities through the Center for Social Impact Communication (CSIC).

Faculty: Julie Dixon & Denise Keyes

Cause Consulting: For-Profit Clients (Spring)

Cause Consulting is a signature course in the Master of Professional Studies in Public Relations and Corporate Communications program. It offers a cohort of students an applied learning experience working in small consulting teams to develop and implement communications plans for small and medium-sized business clients that share their social and/or environmental impacts. It also is an opportunity to explore students’ leadership potential to create positive social and economic impact throughout their own careers. The primary goal of the course is for students to gain the knowledge and skills that are necessary to work as a consultant for clients, while garnering a deeper understanding of the challenges and opportunities inherent in authentically communicating a company’s social and environmental impacts to its stakeholders. As students develop and implement key portions of their strategic communications plans for their clients, they will focus on teamwork, analytical and strategic thinking skills, managing client relationships, and tracking and evaluating success toward achieving the original goals of the plans. The semester culminates with the students providing their clients with a strategic communications plan that will allow them to clearly articulate their values. Students who complete the course are recognized with the designation of Cause Consultants, which allows them to participate in exclusive pro bono consulting and training opportunities through the Center for Social Impact
Communication (CSIC).

Faculty: Julie Dixon & Denise Keyes