Professional Communication

Program Description

Emerson College's Professional Communication Certificate Program is designed for the individual who would like to develop professional-level communication skills in writing or speaking, and learn to apply such skills to professional or personal tasks.

Who Should Enroll

The Professional Communication Program is designed with professionals of all fields in mind. The non-credit program is particularly well suited for individuals with degrees in such fields as business, education, integrated marketing, media, government, healthcare, publishing, and manufacturing.

The Department of Professional Studies and Special Programs understands the need for academic flexibility based on different professional goals, obligations, and backgrounds. Participants may enroll in the individual modules of the certificate program. However, the Professional Communication Certificate will be awarded only to participants who successfully complete all of the modules comprising either the speech or the writing concentration of the Professional Communication Certificate Program.

Note: Participants must hold a minimum of a high school diploma or GED to enroll in courses and programs offered by the Department of Professional Studies and Special Programs.

Modules begin in the fall and spring semesters.

Writing Concentration Modules

Candidates for the Professional Communication Certificate with a focus in writing must successfully complete the following nine writing modules.

CE0204 Audience Analysis for Writing Professional Communication
One session module, offered fall and spring semesters, $79.00
Learn to identify different types of audiences, including secondary audiences, and build audience profiles. Begin to develop a sense for document life cycle and learn key differences between academic and business writing.

CE0205 Grammar and Mechanics for Writing for Professional Communications
Two-session module, offered fall and spring semesters, $159.00
Develop the ability to write persuasive or informative professional communications. In Grammar and Mechanics, you will work to improve your grasp of such tools as the active and passive voice, dangling modifiers, parallelism, parts of speech, subject/verb agreement, and verb tenses. This module is designed for the participant who wants to write clearly and make an impact through his or her communications.

CE0206 Writing News Releases and Media Advisories
Two-session module, offered fall and spring semesters, $159.00
Study the anatomy and purpose of news releases and find out why companies and individuals value these time-proven communications to connect with the public. In this module, learn to write news releases and media advisories, and find out how to create a media list.

CE0207 Writing Copy for Brochures
Two-session module, offered fall and spring semesters, $159.00
The brochure continues to survive and evolve as a versatile communication tool for companies, institutions, and individuals, across industries and disciplines. However, not all brochures are well written or read by their intended audiences. In this module, learn the key to creating easy-to-read, objective-driven, professional brochure copy that will represent your ideas and gain your audience's respect and attention.

CE0208 Web Writing and Social Media
Two-session module, fall and spring semesters, $159.00
Today’s communicators must prepare themselves to create copy for traditional media and print documents, as well as the Internet. Broaden your skills by learning essential writing techniques for web audiences. In this module, discuss web page content, style, and organization; blogs, banners, and buttons; and corporate social network profiles.

CE0209 Writing Copy for Print and Radio Advertisements, Posters
Two-session module, offered fall and spring semesters, $159.00
Learn to write brief and long copy for print and radio advertisements. Discuss the importance of appropriate language, format, and style while you learn to write headlines and body copy. See how graphics and images support print ad copy and how such elements as sound support radio copy. Learn to translate advertising copy to such other forms of media as posters.

CE0210 Writing for Newsletters and Blogs
Two-session module, fall and spring semesters, $159.00
Report news to your community in well-written, attention-grabbing stories that will keep your audience coming back for more. In Writing for Newsletters and Blogs, learn to create concepts, write articles, and involve your audience.

CE0211 Writing Speeches and White Papers
Two-session module, offered fall and spring semesters, $159.00
Learn to convert ideas into written words that will be delivered to an audience by you or someone else. Practice the writing techniques of a speech writer, capture ideas, and leave the audience with a powerful message. In Writing Speeches and White Papers, learn to write for the ear, and compare speeches to such written communication as the white paper.

CE0212 Letter and Email Writing and Texting
Two-session module, fall and spring semesters, $159.00
Compose effective letters by using tested formats along with clearly organized thoughts. Learn to write good news or neutral letters, bad news correspondence, and sales letters. Also adapt your writing skills to email writing and texting.

Speech Concentration Modules

Candidates for the Professional Communication Certificate with a focus in speaking must successfully complete the following seven speech modules.

CE0110 Speech I
Two-session module, fall semester, $195.00
Gain an understanding of speech making for business, political, educational, and entertainment events. Learn the speech-making process, and the steps involved in creating informative and ceremonial speeches. Discuss audience analysis and critical listening skills to help you inform or teach your topic. Begin building appropriate body language and visual aids into your speeches. Learn methods to interact with your audience. In Speech I, practice speech making and analysis in class.

CE0120 Speech II
Two-session module, fall semester, $195.00
(Open to all. However, we recommend completion of CE0110 prior to taking this module.)
Learn how to prepare and perform persuasive speeches to support your professional or personal objectives. Take a detailed look at the persuasive speech creation process and develop techniques to change minds through persuasive speaking, appropriate body language, and visual aids. You also will build an understanding of motivational speech techniques. Examine methods to analyze persuasive and motivational speech audiences. Discover techniques to help you manage your public-speaking anxiety and nervousness. Practice speech delivery in class.

CE0130 Advanced Professional Speaking Techniques
Two-session module, spring semester, $195.00
(Open to all. However, we recommend completion of CE0110 and CE0120 prior to taking this module)
Explore extemporaneous speaking and continue polishing your public speaking skills to a professional level. In Advanced Professional Speaking Techniques, you’ll build on methods you learned in Speech I and II, and work with the mask to add additional excitement and credibility to your speeches through “genuine” facial expressions. Develop dynamism for your presentations. Explore, create, and deliver extemporaneous speeches and “remarks” in this module.

CE0140 Voice and Delivery
Two-session module, spring semester, $195.00
Learn to use your voice effectively. Find your “public-speaking voice,” and pick up tips for using volume, rate, emphasis, pitch, tempo, and inflection to engage your audience. Practice articulation and practice to reduce your accent or regionalism for clarity in message delivery. Examine the importance and psychology of your personal appearance and how appearance applies to your success in public speaking situations. Participants will practice techniques and deliver speeches in class. This module is appropriate for students who have native fluency in English.

CE0150 Sound Bites, Micro-Speeches, and Audio Podcasts
Three-session module, fall semester, $259.00
(Open to all. However, we recommend completion of CE0110 and CE0120 prior to taking this module.)
Discover how to deliver sound bites, audio micro-speeches, and podcasts with passion and integrity. In this module, learn to use your core public speaking skills for audio presentations on your website, or adapt your speaking skills for presentations for such Internet sites as YouTube and iTunes. Rise above the chatter of the thousands of Internet audio presentations by leveraging your public speaking skills. This module focuses on helping participants tune their speaking skills for new media. Production and technical aspects of creating media will not be covered.

CE0160 Videos and Video Podcasts
Two-session module, spring semester, $195.00
(Open to all. However, we recommend completion of CE0110 and CE0120 prior to taking this module.)
Find out how to transfer your core public speaking skills to new media that features public speaking along with visuals for training, advertising, and social media. Learn techniques to modify your speaking skills for an effective recording, to communicate your message, and to maintain credibility. Work on “body language” for on-camera situations. Discuss how to manage visual aids. This module focuses on helping participants tune their speaking skills for new media. Production and technical aspects of creating media will not be covered.

CE0170 Webinars and Webcasts
Two-session module, summer semester, $195.00
(Open to all. However, we recommend completion of CE0110 and CE0120 prior to taking this module.)
Learn to lead webinars and webcasts effectively by using your core public speaking skills. In this module, you’ll explore the medium from the perspective of presenter and participant. You’ll learn how to use your core public speaking skills to deliver dynamic, audience-friendly presentations. This module focuses on helping participants tune their speaking skills for new media. Production and technical aspects of creating media will not be covered.

Certificate Program Completion Requirements

Professional Studies participants may choose to work toward a Professional Communication Certificate. The following guidelines apply to all non-credit, non-degree certificate individuals at Emerson College:

• Individuals must satisfy the certificate program requirements published for the term in which they register for the first course toward the certificate.
• All individuals must complete coursework for a certificate program within a period of three years from their initial date of registration.
• Only learning activities offered by Emerson College's Department of Professional Studies and Special Programs may be applied to fulfill the requirements of a certificate program.
• Enrollment in non-credit, non-degree certificate programs is open to all individuals who have a high school diploma or GED. Prerequisite requirements apply in some instances. To receive a certificate, individuals must submit a Request for Certificate Form to the Department of Professional Studies and Special Programs within one year of program completion. Request for Certificate (PDF)

How to Register

Head to our Registration and Payment page to learn more about registration and payment.

Participating in the Professional Communication Certificate Program

Tuition is due upon registration for all Professional Communication Program courses or modules offered through the Department of Professional Studies and Special Programs. Tuition is calculated per course and individuals must pay tuition in full prior to participating in the courses of their choice.

Participants may incur additional course-related expenses. Such additional expenses are separate from tuition costs and payments.

At the present time, Emerson College is not authorized to issue I-20s for study in its Professional Studies and Special Programs (“PSSP”) courses. Depending on an international student’s immigration status and personal circumstances, enrollment in a PSSP course may be permissible or may result in an immigration status violation. Maintaining valid immigration status while in the United States is the responsibility of the individual, not Emerson College. PSSP staff cannot advise individuals about their immigration status. If you have any questions about the requirements for maintenance of your specific immigration status, please contact the U.S. Consulate in your home country prior to enrolling in a PSSP program.

Emerson College reserves the right to change any provision of its programs and courses at any time. The College specifically reserves the right to change its tuition rates and any other financial charges. The College also reserves the right to rearrange its courses and class hours, to drop courses for which registration falls below the minimum enrollment, and to change instructor assignments.