PROFESSIONAL COMMUNICATION CERTIFICATE PROGRAM
Updated July 17, 2009
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 the professional 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, health care, 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
One-session module, offered fall and spring semesters $79.00
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
Two-session module, offered 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, 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 communications as the white paper.
CE0212 Letter Writing
Two-session module, offered 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.
Professional Communication Course Schedule (PDF)
SPEECH CONCENTRATION MODULES
Candidates for the Professional Communication Certificate with a focus in speaking must successfully complete the following seven speech modules.
CE0110 Foundations and Fundamentals of Professional Presentation
Two-session module, offered fall and spring semesters $175.00
Participants will gain an understanding of the process of communication, speech making in contemporary culture, types and styles of public speaking, speakers' responsibilities, and ethics in public presentation. Demonstrations and in-class practice will clarify these topics.
CE0120 Managing Speech Anxiety
One-session module, offered fall and spring semesters $89.00
In this course, participants will discuss the types of speech anxiety and identify what happens before, during and after speaking. Participants will practice breathing techniques as well as physical and vocal exercises to help diminish and control anxiety. Participants will present short speeches for practice during this session.
CE0130 Audience Analysis and Strategies for Effective Listening
One-session module, offered fall spring semesters $89.00
Participants will learn to identify and adapt to the demographics of each audience. Participants will discuss and identify the role of an effective/ethical listener and practice techniques for critical listening. They also will learn to listen to, and offer, critical feedback.
CE0140 Developing Your Speech
Three-session module, offered fall and spring semesters $259.00
Participants will engage in a step-by-step process of identifying the purpose of a speech, selecting a topic, writing a thesis statement and statement of purpose, brainstorming and organizing ideas, creating an outline, designing and refining dynamic introductions and conclusions, crafting memorable work structures and vivid language, and utilizing supporting materials.
CE0150 Effective Techniques for Delivering Your Speech
Three-session module, offered fall and spring semesters $259.00
In this module, participants will incorporate verbal and nonverbal techniques in order to breathe life into their speech outlines. Participants will learn to effectively use such vocal techniques as volume, rate, emphasis, pitch, tempo, inflection, pause, and emotion to enhance their message. They also will practice the art of articulation and accent/regionalism reduction in speech for the clarity of each message. Participants will examine the importance and psychology of personal appearance in public presentation as well as the concepts of good posture, facial expressions, gestures, movement, and eye contact and verbal components of communication.
CE0160 Effective Use of Visual and Presentational Aids
One-session module, offered fall and spring semesters $89.00
Learn to use dynamic speech and discover the methods and the advantages of using visuals effectively. In this module, become familiar with various types of visual aids and share tips for their use before, during and after the speech. Powerpoint techniques will be discussed.
CE0170 From Page to Stage or Podium
Two-session module, offered fall and spring semesters $175.00
This is it ... putting it all together. Discussions will focus on using notes while speaking, presenting a speech while using a manuscript, a lectern and a microphone. Participants will learn about ceremonial speeches for the workplace, share speeches in class, and respond with feedback to one another.
Professional Communication Course Schedule (PDF)
CERTIFICATE PROGRAM COMPLETION REQUIREMENTS
Professional Studies participants may choose to work towards 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 his or her 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)
PROFESSIONAL COMMUNICATION CERTIFICATE PROGRAM TUITION & PAYMENTS
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.
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.
