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Communication and Advocacy - Graduate Certificate

The Communication and Advocacy graduate certificate meets the growing opportunity to tackle emerging advocacy needs. Students learn to communicate with diverse allies across digital and physical platforms; engage and motivate audiences by clearly, consistently and creatively telling stories worth sharing; and approach advocacy challenges from health, organizational, intercultural, intergroup, global, mediated and persuasion contexts.

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Graduate Certificate in Communication and Advocacy

Â鶹ÊÓƵ’s Graduate Certificate in Communication and Advocacy equips students with advanced skills in persuasive communication, public relations, and advocacy strategies. The program focuses on developing expertise in creating and delivering effective messages across various platforms to influence public opinion, engage audiences, and drive social change. Students gain practical knowledge in areas such as campaign management, media relations, and digital communication, making this certificate an excellent complement to graduate degrees in communication or related fields.

Program Information for Communication and Advocacy - Graduate Certificate

Program Description

Full Description

The Communication and Advocacy graduate certificate provides communication professionals and recent graduates the skills and understanding to tackle emerging advocacy needs. Students learn to communicate with diverse allies across digital and physical platforms; engage and motivate audiences by clearly, consistently and creatively telling stories worth sharing; and approach advocacy challenges from health, organizational, intercultural, intergroup, global, mediated and persuasion contexts.

Certificate graduates will have the practical skills to respond to the dynamism that defines contemporary society. Based on current employment statistics and forecasts, the Communication the Advocacy certificate will position graduates for career advancement in multiple employment sectors.

Admissions for Communication and Advocacy - Graduate Certificate

For more information about graduate admissions, visit the graduate admission website. For more information on international admissions, visit the international admission website.

Admission Requirements

  • Bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university
  • Minimum 2.750 undergraduate GPA on a 4.000-point scale
  • Official transcript(s)
  • Goal statement
  • Sample of scholarly writing
  • Three letters of recommendation
  • English language proficiency - all international students must provide proof of English language proficiency (unless they meet specific exceptions to waive) by earning one of the following:1
    • Minimum 94 TOEFL iBT score
    • Minimum 7.0 IELTS score
    • Minimum 65 PTE score
    • Minimum 110 DET score
1

International applicants who do not meet the above test scores may be considered for conditional admission.

Application Deadline

  • Fall Semester
    • Application deadline: April 15
  • Spring Semester
    • Application deadline: November 15

Applications submitted after these deadlines will be considered on a space-available basis.

Learning Outcomes

Program Learning Outcomes

Graduates of this program will be able to:

  1. Incorporate theories from the field of communication to address advocacy challenges.
  2. Identify advocacy intervention strategies for a variety of target audiences.
  3. Assess communication needs and evaluate advocacy intervention efficacy.
Coursework

Program Requirements

Certificate Requirements

Certificate Requirements
COMM 65000FOUNDATIONS OF COMMUNICATION AND ADVOCACY 3
Certificate Electives, choose from the following:9
COMM 65070
SOCIAL INFLUENCE
COMM 65662
MEDIA EFFECTS
COMM 65686
GLOBAL CULTURES, INTERGROUP COMMUNICATION AND IDENTITIES
COMM 65851
ORGANIZATIONAL COMMUNICATION
COMM 66501
HEALTH COMMUNICATION
Minimum Total Credit Hours:12

Graduation Requirements

Minimum Certificate GPA Minimum Overall GPA
3.000 3.000
Program Delivery
  • Delivery:
    • In person
  • Location:
    • Kent Campus

Examples of Possible Careers and Salaries for Communication and Advocacy - Graduate Certificate

Graduates of Â鶹ÊÓƵ’s Graduate Certificate in Communication and Advocacy can pursue careers in public relations, nonprofit organizations, corporate communications, and government. They may work as communications managers, advocacy coordinators, public affairs specialists, or campaign directors, applying their skills to promote causes, influence policy, or manage public perception. This certificate is also valuable for professionals looking to enhance their ability to lead communication efforts within organizations or pursue specialized roles in media, marketing, or advocacy work.

Social and community service managers

17.0%

much faster than the average

175,500

number of jobs

$69,600

potential earnings

Public relations and fundraising managers

9.2%

much faster than the average

88,000

number of jobs

$118,430

potential earnings

Advertising and promotions managers

-1.1%

decline

28,600

number of jobs

$133,460

potential earnings

Notice: Career Information Source
* Source of occupation titles and labor data comes from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics' . Data comprises projected percent change in employment over the next 10 years; nation-wide employment numbers; and the yearly median wage at which half of the workers in the occupation earned more than that amount and half earned less.