Students in the Master of Public Diplomacy degree program may decide to emphasize public diplomacy training most appropriate for a career in public service, the corporate world or in a nongovernmental organization (NGO) working in the ever expanding global civil society. Detailed descriptions of all the new graduate-level courses in public diplomacy follow.
PUBD 500—Introduction to the Advanced Study of Public Diplomacy
Introduction to the advanced academic study of public diplomacy from multidisciplinary perspectives: including media and communication, international relations and history.
PUBD 502—Historical and Comparative Approaches to Public Diplomacy
This course examines historical and comparative approaches to public diplomacy, a term used interchangeably with propaganda, mass persuasion, and international public relations. Students will learn how public diplomacy operates in both public and private settings, by individuals and institutions, and will review traditional, critical, war, and peace perspectives on the subject. While much of the course will address U.S. public diplomacy in historical perspective, many readings will compare public diplomacy across cultural and continental divides in order to gain a better understanding of approaches and operating assumptions. This course is required of all students pursuing the Master of Public Diplomacy degree.
PUBD 504—Global Issues and Public Diplomacy
This course looks at public diplomacy in the context of contemporary world issues. It examines the evolving definition of the term in the post-9/11 world and its varying practical applications in different parts of the world. Students will learn how public diplomacy can be employed in widely differing circumstances, from both U.S. and international perspectives. This course is required of all students pursuing the Master of Public Diplomacy degree.
PUBD 508—The Rhetoric of War and Peace
The purpose of this course is to explore the rhetoric of war and peace from a 21st century perspective. The first portion of the course is devoted to researching and thinking about President Bush's "new war" on terrorism. The class is a special exercise in "Think Tank" procedure, stemming from the premise that advanced study requires the generation of knew knowledge through research, discovery, analysis, editorial selection, criticism and creative integration of oral, discursive and graphic representations.
PUBD 509—Advocacy in Public Diplomacy: Argumentation and Debate
Skills and theory based approach to the criticism and development of public diplomacy campaigns. Emphasizes the instruction of advocacy skills to assess the utility of specific campaigns.
PUBD 510—Technologies and Public Diplomacy
The goal of this course is to better understand the relationship between public diplomacy and technological change. To do so, it draws from a wide range of literatures, schools of thought, and approaches to carefully examine that relationship. Particular emphasis will be given to the question of how new media may force us to rethink traditional frameworks of public diplomacy.
PUBD 512—Cultural Diplomacy
This course develops a nuanced understanding of how cultural diplomacy takes place today, not only through highbrow cultural exchange programs but through the more callous exchange of commercial culture. While this course will provide an overview of formal cultural diplomacy programs, it will concentrate on the ways in which nongovernmental entities communicate across international boundaries and the effects of those interchanges. In a world of converging media and accelerated intercultural exchange – where citizens may have a hard time distinguishing between "foreign" and "local" cultural content – how do we harness the power of culture for diplomatic ends?
PUBD 516—International Broadcasting
This course is designed to provide extensive background in the history and practice of broadcasting across national borders, whether to influence public opinion and politics or for commerical return and financial gain. First, the historical, political and technological contexts of international broadcasting are covered, with special attention to U.S. government-supported entites like the Voice of America, and to the major global broadcasters in Britain, France and elsewhere. The course then covers the emergence of viable commerical international broadcasters, and the increasing involvement in the 1990s of former niche players. Finally, the course examinses the development in the early 21st century of such regional satellite services as Al Jazeera and the SABC Africa service, along with satellite TV services started recently by the US government.
PUBD 518—International Exchanges and Public Diplomacy
Examination of educational and cultural exchanges; variety and experience of participants, flagship exchange programs, economic and social implications of the programs, and measurement of outcomes.
PUBD 519—News Media and the Foreign Policy Process
Analysis of news media's role in contemporary diplomacy; historical context; consideration of the professional practices of journalists and those who devise and implement foreign policy.
PUBD 520—Regional Studies in Public Diplomacy
In-depth examination of historical, political, economic, cultural factors that influence public diplomacy efforts within specific geographic regions.
PUBD 522—Hard Power, Soft Power and Smart Power
Institutional and cultural perspectives on instruments of state power: military, intelligence, trade, and traditional diplomacy; strategic analyses for determining proper use; desirablity of combining resources.
PUBD 590—Directed Research
Research leading to the master's degree. Maximum units which may be applied to the degree to be determined by the school. Graded CR/NC.
PUBD 596—Practicum in Public Diplomacy Research
The goal of this course is to provide students completing their Master of Public Diplomacy with an opportunity to apply the knowledge they have learned in the curriculum by designing, executing and reporting on a final project. The student may produce a substantive paper (e.g., traditional research project) or final project (videotapes, web sites, etc.) that utilizes new technologies. Possible audiences for the research include policy makers, foreign ministries, international NGOs, multinational corporations, etc. Students will work closely with their advisor to complete this course.
Beyond the new classes listed above, courses in the Annenberg School of Communication and School of International Relations will also be part of the curriculum. Classes are currently open to all graduate students enrolled at USC.