Public relations is a management function that establishes and maintains mutually beneficial relationships between an organization and the publics on whom its success or failure depends. Virtually every kind of institution—for-profit and not-for-profit alike—recognizes the need for dialogue with the groups of people who can and will influence its future. The graduate certificate in public relations is designed to provide students with the principles and theories that guide the work of public relations practitioners in a variety of contexts including private industry, government and nonprofit settings.

The graduate certificate in public relations is for working professionals who already have earned bachelor’s degrees but who would like to enhance or upgrade their skills in the area of public relations. These individuals complete the certificate as nondegree students; those who decide to enroll in the MA program in communication following completion of the certificate may transfer 9 hours of credit earned for the certificate to the master’s degree. For students already enrolled in a master’s program in communication, the certificate can be completed as part of or in addition to the course work required for the master’s degree. Students who have completed the undergraduate certificate in public relations are not eligible to complete this certificate.