Corporate/Community Relations Certificate

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The Certificate in Corporate and Community Relations is an interdisciplinary course of study that helps students to develop the skills they need to effectively communicate a business or organization’s mission and achievements to the outside community. It also teaches them how to effectively communicate organizational news and policies internally to fellow employees. Students learn to develop messages and communications strategies that engage the community and promote an organization’s image in a positive way.

The certificate is available as a stand-alone option or can be pursued as part of a degree.

Who should enroll:

• Individuals charged with communicating company and organizational news, policies, benefits, and messages to fellow employees 
• Individuals charged with communicating and disseminating company and organizational news to an external audience, thereby improving public perception of the organization
• Individuals interested in advancing the causes of community, civic, or volunteer organizations
• Recent graduates or current students who wish to pursue a career incorporate or community communications

Upon completion of this program, students will be able to:

• apply a theoretical understanding of mass media process, history, and ethics to communications-related careers in broadcasting, journalism, legal professions, government, nonprofits, and other fields;
• identify and analyze audience traits, perspectives, and motivators and develop messages appropriate to each audience;
• manage and navigate professional relationships with a wide rangeof constituents;
• develop and write clear messages that support specific organizational goals and enhance the image of a professional organization in the public’s mind; and
• create professional and effective communication strategies as well as persuasive written materials, customized to the needs of a specific profession, such as business proposals, speeches, marketing plans, and news stories.

This certificate is applicable to such fields as corporate communications, nonprofit management, advocacy, public relations, broadcasting, sales, communication training, promotions, advertising, lobbying and politics, human resources and relations, and training and development.

Admission Requirements

Students must meet requirements for admission to the College of General Studies. A certificate application must be completed and returned to the College of General Studies.

Obtaining the Certificate

To receive the certificate, you must fill out an online graduation application through the Pitt Portal prior to completing your last term in the program. Visit Graduation / Diplomas on the Registrar’s website for the instructions and check the  Graduating with a CGS degree/ certificate website for the submission deadline.  Contact a CGS advisor to confirm that all requirements for the certificate have been met. To avoid a late fee, you should complete this process when registering for the term.