Communication
Graduate Certificate
Overview
From business to engineering and from education to health care, clear communication is essential to the success of every industry.
Whether you're looking to boost your credentials or make an immediate impact in your workplace or job prospects, studying communication at the graduate level can increase your skillset, productivity and confidence.
Program
The graduate certificate in communication equips students from diverse academic backgrounds to become smart, empathetic leaders in their jobs, churches and homes.
By bridging communication theory with practical applications in your field, you’ll be better prepared for your career, a career change or further academic studies.
This 15-credit residential certificate can be completed in as little as one year or adjusted to accommodate your busy schedule. Tailor your coursework to your interests, with options like crisis communication, leadership, and even study abroad opportunities to support your long-term career goals.
The graduate certificate offers the flexibility to seamlessly transition into the full communication studies master’s degree. This pathway equips you with essential skills in communication research methods and applied communication consulting, significantly expanding your future job opportunities.
Faculty
At BJU you’ll study under our highly qualified faculty. Their doctoral degrees are from universities such as Purdue University and Regent University.
Their areas of expertise include leadership, media, culture, health communication, communication theory, as well as organizational and applied communication.
Faculty also have years of academic experience and currently serve as business consultants and trainers.
Learning Experience
Communication Associations
Throughout your time as a graduate student, you’ll have the opportunity to attend a number of conferences sponsored by the National Communication Association (NCA), the Southern States Communication Association (SSCA), and the Carolinas Communication Association (CCA). Many of our graduate students have presented their research at CCA and SSCA, often winning awards for their graduate writing and original research projects.
Career Support
BJU offers students a variety of ways to network with employers and organizations. A multitude of job opportunities are posted each year on Career Central, our online job board. In addition, more than 60 businesses and 150 Christian schools/mission boards/Christian organizations come on campus to recruit students through on-campus interviews and job/ministry fairs.
Career Services also helps students by holding seminars on resume preparation and interview techniques.
Marketable Skills
Students work under the mentorship of faculty to conduct comprehensive communication research and strategic planning for real-world clients. Through this hands-on experience, they tackle communication challenges, focusing on message development, communication plan execution, and project evaluation, gaining practical skills and insights along the way.
Students also can choose courses to develop certain personal or professional skills such as increasing their competence in intercultural communication, developing messages for crises, or improving their strategic storytelling for marketing or public relations campaigns.
Bela Fleck, ’22
After completing the program, I took on leadership roles unusual for a young engineer, like presenting to municipalities and maintaining client relationships. The training prepared me to engage diverse audiences, manage expectations, and strengthen professional connections.
Courses/Objectives
The following courses are required:
9 credits of coursework must be selected from the following:
Program Objectives
Each student will:
- Critique multiple theoretical perspectives of human communication.
- Evaluate communication practices in organizational contexts.
What’s my next step?
Graduate Assistantships allow you to gain work experience and financial support. See what’s available.