This course examines foundational and current approaches to the study of political communication effects on attitudes and behaviors. As one course cannot fully cover an area of study as wide-ranging as political communication, we will focus on the influence of mass media and, to a lesser extent, interpersonal discussion in the U.S. context. The lessons to be drawn are quite general, however, so by the end of the course you should have a strong understanding of ongoing debates, theorizing, methods, and results in the field of political communication.