Organizational Communication Graduate Certificate Programs

Updated: Dec 6, 2023

Organizations need customers and service users. To attract them, they need a good message and a strategy for successful outreach. Organizational Communication is about the tools and the message. It is also about good internal communications.

An online Organizational Communication Graduate Certificate will provide a communications graduate with the tools they need for both internal and external messaging. You will look at hard data, learn to research and present, and develop high-level communication skills.

What Are the Online Organizational Communication Graduate Certificate Requirements?

Schools that offer online organizational communication graduate certificates will expect all applicants to meet a comprehensive list of criteria to be eligible for admission. While this will naturally vary by school, most requirements include:

Minimum GPA of 3.0
An accredited master's degree in a subject relevant to organizational communications. This includes anything related to media & communication, as well as some business qualifications
Official transcripts from all colleges previously attended
If your first language is not English, you will need to prove proficiency through formal means. Accepted certificates include TOEFL, IELTS, and PTEA. Some accept ELS 112, but this is not standard
Multiple letters of recommendation, usually 2 or 3. For mature students with work experience in this business qualification, employer references are sometimes accepted
Application fee – usually non-refundable
A personal statement explaining why you wish to enter the program at this college and your career expectations
Professional resume or CV
You may be expected to provide evidence of proficiency in communication software like PowerPoint

What Type of Classes are Included in the Online Organizational Communication Graduate Certificate Curriculum?

Online organizational communication grad certificate programs can usually be completed in around one year. The curriculum will cover core topics alongside some electives. Common course titles include:

Introduction to Organizational Communication
Communication Theory and Practices
Communication and Conflict Resolution
Strategic Communication Management
Communication Ethics
Personal Branding
Negotiation, Mediation, and Facilitation in Communications
Intercultural and Cross-cultural Communication
Organizational Culture
Communication Networks and Information Management
Understanding Group Dynamics
Understanding Social Media
Global Perspectives in Communication
Public Relations Theories and Principles
Employee Relations
A final Communications Assessment / Capstone Project

What Type of Careers Can I Pursue with an Online Organizational Communication Graduate Certificate?

Organizational Communications is required for both internal and external communications. This means you have a wide range of career options:

Political Communications Specialist: Want to work in communicating political messages to your audience, fundraisers, voters, and other interested parties? This career may be of interest.
Lobbyist: Lobbyists communicate messages from industries or causes to individual politicians, political parties, or departments.
Internal Communications Manager: Employees need to be kept up-to-date about what is going on within a business – mergers, changes of management, and anything else.
Communications Specialist: A comms specialist has no specific industry. They understand the importance of messages and how to communicate to an audience.