By: Cae Rolle

One word. Four syllables. Advocacy. This is the word that comes to mind when I consider human rights, environmental and wildlife protection, world peace, public awareness campaigns, measures to combat poverty, homelessness, or even hopelessness, and other social-change initiatives. What would the world be like if not for our nonprofits? The tale of many people who require assistance, affection, or just a simple voice advocating on their behalf is told through public advocacy. Public advocates use communication to make the world a better place.

The Communication and Public Relations department introduced a new major/minor in public advocacy in August.  Architect of the program, Dr. Jimmy Davis said in a recent interview, “Public advocacy is first and foremost a thing that appears and happens in human society.” He noted that an essential component of a functioning democracy is the idea of amplifying a specific point of view, policy, or course of action on behalf of individuals, things, or institutions that are unable to speak for themselves.

“We recognized that we didn’t have a specific academic program at Belmont that address that thing,” Davis said. “There are programs like that, but they are not really focusing on public advocacy in the way we need.” Davis went on to say that the emphasis in this program is to create a platform for those who need their voices heard — to serve those in need and help make a difference. The public advocacy program was created to connect a knowledge and skillset for students that will set them on a path for doing this kind of work.

The program is interdisciplinary and strives to create relationships with other departments. Students in communication, PR, history, public health, political science, global leadership studies, sociology, creative entertainment industries, legal studies, Christian ethics, social work, and many other majors can benefit from adding public advocacy as second major or minor, or simply take a few classes that pique their interest in it.

Three new courses will be part of this major.

• Yesterday’s Times is a 1-credit course designed to deepen students’ understanding of the political and cultural contexts of contemporary public communication by identifying, researching, and discussing current news topics. Public Advocacy majors must take this 1-credit course three times in different semesters.
• Public Advocacy: As an introduction to practices of public advocacy, this course improves students’ understanding of the connections between public audiences and message content. As an ethical public communicator you will improve your appreciation of the responsibilities inherent in attempts to impact public perception and understanding.
• Public Advocacy Practicum: This external practicum in public advocacy provides significant experience with an organization engaged in advocacy for the public good. This practical experience enhances your vocational objectives and is normally taken in your final year of college.

Here is a complete listing of major requirements and here are the minor requirements.

“It’s really important to me that students who study public advocacy do it because it’s a good fit for them” Davis explained. He went on to say that this major is not for students who have a fleeting interest in this kind of work. “Students need to examine their own heart first and ask themselves what are my skill sets and what skill do I need and pattern of thoughts do I need to develop in myself further.” If those things align with the growing vision of the public advocacy program, then students should consider taking a class!