Propaganda, Persuasion and Public Opinion

Catalog description

Critically explores persuasion, propaganda and their impact on public opinion through philosophical, historical and communicative perspectives. Students engage both foundational theories and contemporary case studies to understand how propaganda differs from persuasion in purpose, ethics and institutional use. Topics include the role of language, imagery, sound and technology in shaping opinion across politics, science, business and culture. Emphasizing applied learning, assignments require students to analyze propaganda, evaluate its effects and design persuasive counter-messages that address real-world communication challenges.