Abstract. Due to the variety of interpretations of the term “discourse”, the authors of the paper analyse this term using the philosophical, linguistic and pedagogical approaches. The article identifies related characteristics of discourse in various sciences, as well as the distinctive features of the concept. A definition of discourse is proposed, the parameters of public foreign language discourse are formulated from the position of linguodidactics as a planned result of training students in the field of State and Municipal Administration. Keywords: discourse, foreign language discourse, public discourse, public foreign language discourse, “State and Municipal Administration” study field, non-linguistic university