Communication Studies

The IU Online Graduate Certificate in Communication Studies provides graduate-level instruction in communication strategies, practices and techniques. It teaches practical communication skills needed in professional, academic and personal contexts, such as presenting information, arguing a position, promoting a cause, presenting information via social media, designing targeted messages, and managing relations and conflicts.

Students in the program develop innovative strategies for teaching communication, employ effective and ethical communication practices, and apply critical perspectives to production and consumption of media messages.

The program is taught by IUPUI, IU East, IU Kokomo, IU Northwest, IU South Bend, and IU Southeast.

Of Special Interest for Dual-Credit and Community College Instructors

In addition to providing a program of study in communication studies at the graduate level, the IU Online Graduate Certificate in Communication Studies meets the Higher Learning Commission’s (HLC’s) instructor qualification standards, which require instructors to hold a master’s degree in their area of instruction or a master’s degree in another discipline, plus a minimum of 18 credit hours of discipline-specific graduate coursework.

This stand-alone certificate provides the HLCs requisite number of discipline-specific graduate credits for those who already hold a master’s degree.

Your IU Online Graduate Certificate in Communication Studies prepares you for such careers as:

  • Communication dual-credit teacher (high school)
  • Communication instructor (community college)
  • Communication professional in an organization or institution

To earn the Graduate Certificate in Communication Studies, you must complete 18 credit hours.

Requirements are broken down as follows:

  • Communication pedagogy course (3 credit hours)
  • Communication in context courses (9 credit hours)
  • Communication in media course (3 credit hours)
  • Communication elective course (3 credit hours)

All core courses are listed below. Students select from among these courses to fulfill certificate requirements.

Core Courses
DEPT./COURSETITLECREDIT HOURS
CMCL-C 502Introduction to Communication Theory3
Or
SPCH-S 500Introduction to Communication Theory3
CMCL-C 545Communication Pedagogy3
CMCL-C 594Communication and Conflict Management in Organizations3
CMCL-C 606Media Criticism3
CMCL-C 610Identity and Difference3
COMM-C 510Health Provider-Consumer Communication3
COMM-C 528Group Communication and Organizations3
COMM-C 544Advanced Relational Communication3
COMM-C 582Advanced Intercultural Communication3
COMM-C 592Advanced Health Communication3
Or
CMCL-C 592Advanced Health Communication3
COMM-C 593Family Communication3
SPCH-S 500Introduction to Graduate Studies and Research3
SPCH-S 627Studies in Cross-Cultural Communication3
SPCH-S 633Studies in Interpersonal Communication3
SPCH-S 640Studies in Organizational Communication3

Interested in learning more or are you ready to apply?