410.672.49
Organizing for Public Health with the Six Steps to Effective Advocacy: Turning Public Will into Public Policy

Location
Internet
Term
Summer Institute
Department
Health, Behavior and Society
Credit(s)
3
Academic Year
2025 - 2026
Instruction Method
Synchronous Online
Class Time(s)
M, Tu, W, Th, F, 1:00 - 4:00pm
Auditors Allowed
No
Available to Undergraduate
No
Grading Restriction
Letter Grade or Pass/Fail
Course Instructor(s)
Vincent DeMarco
Contact Name
Vincent DeMarco
Frequency Schedule
Every Year
Prerequisite
Description
Legislative advocacy is a critical tool for advancing public health. A policy proposal may be well researched and desired by the public, but stall when opposed by highly financed special interest groups. Tired of beating your head against the wall trying to make people well in a broken system? Take this course and learn how to change the system.
Provides students with the tools needed to establish a state advocacy campaign that can help translate research and public health knowledge into public programs and policies. Learns the basics of public health organizing and advocacy, as well as develop the communication skills needed to inform policymaking and directly participate in the legislative process. Follows the framework of the Six Steps to Effective Advocacy, enabling students to make meaningful change in state legislatures and effectively engage in public health advocacy.
Learning Objectives
Upon successfully completing this course, students will be able to:
  1. Identify the purpose and use of policy in the field of public health
  2. Identify the Six Steps to Effective Advocacy and know how to apply them to public health campaigns
  3. Utilize existing knowledge in research and public health to inform and advance relevant policy
  4. Utilize advocacy strategies, such as coalition building, engaging the media, and elevating public health issues in elections
  5. Apply skills to directly engage in effective public health policy, including: an understanding of the legislative process; how to interact with legislators, the media, and stakeholders; and how to write and deliver testimony
  6. Appraise the political landscape that surrounds issues, both in public opinion and in state legislatures
Methods of Assessment
This course is evaluated as follows:
  • 30% Participation
  • 35% Assignments
  • 25% Final Project
  • 10% Peer-feedback
Instructor Consent
No consent required
Special Comments

Offered as hybrid course with both an onsite section and synchronous online section. Please choose the course format you need (either in-person or online) when registering in SIS.