Graduate Certificate in Public Relations - Corporate Communications

Graduate into an exciting career in PR

Communications professionals play a critical role in the verbal, visual and digital voices of institutions, businesses, and corporations. Fanshawe's Public Relations – Corporate Communications program trains highly skilled strategic communicators who graduate ready to hit the ground running.

You'll hone your writing and presentation skills, learn the latest publishing and web design techniques and become adept in handling public relations, communications and ethics issues that organizations face every day. Throughout the program, you'll make business contacts through professional associations and complete coursework with a community focus. You'll also gain invaluable experience through a field placement in the second term.

When you graduate, you'll be ready to put your specialized skills to work in virtually any industry, with a world of career opportunities in areas such as corporate communications, public relations, special events or corporate training, in the private or public sectors, and much more.

Other Information

• Advanced writing skills are required.
• Experience using the Internet for information-gathering and research.
• Applicants must have the ability to work independently in a self-directed learning environment.
• There is a mandatory field placement in the second level of the Public Relations - Corporate Communications program.

Learning Outcomes

1. Coordinate and contribute to the planning of public relations activities, including the development of clear, measurable communication objectives and project or tactical budgets and selection of strategies, tactics, tools, and resources to manage a range of stakeholder* relationships and issues and achieve organizational objectives.
2. Coordinate, contribute to and adapt the implementation of strategies and tactics and the management of budgets and resources to achieve communication objectives and meet activity guidelines and requirements.
3. Write and edit clear, accurate, targeted copy aligned to organizational objectives, appropriate for the chosen channel(s)* and to a specified deadline.
4. Produce effective, accessible, and timely print, digital and multimedia communications, independently and collaboratively, to manage specific stakeholder* relations and/or issues and achieve organizational objectives.
5. Use research results and analytical skills to guide the development of communication objectives and public relations activities, evaluate their impact, and support organizational objectives and stakeholder* relationships.
6. Engage stakeholders* by adapting language, tone and presentation style to the public relations purpose, situation, audience and channel(s)*.
7. Comply with and support others to work in accordance with a relevant professional association and industry codes of ethics, public relations professional standards and practices, and legal obligations, protocols, and policies.
8. Monitor emerging social and economic trends, and local, national and global issues to guide the planning and implementation of public relations strategies and tactics and support organizational effectiveness, stakeholder* relationships, and ongoing personal professional development.
9. Assess the selection and implications of current and emerging technologies on the quality and delivery of public relations activities and on organizational effectiveness.
10. Select strategies and tools to build and manage stakeholder* relationships to support public relations activities, organizational objectives, and career development.

Courses

Level 1

Take all of the following Mandatory Courses:

• COMP-6041 Design Principles in Digital Media 1
• COMP-6048 Digital Marketing & Web Design
• CORP-6006 Trends & Technologies in PR
• CORP-6009 Professional Presentation Skills
• PBRL-6014 Professional Practice & Ethics
• PBRL-6016 Strategic Public Relations
• COMM-6038 Visual Communication & Design

Level 1 Additional Requirements

Take the following Mandatory Course (Minimum Grade of C):

• PBRL-6003 Writing for Public Relations

Level 2

Take all of the following Mandatory Courses:

• COMP-6043 Design Principles in Digital Media 2
• PBRL-6017 Integrated Marketing & Communications
• PBRL-6013 Specializations in PR
• PBRL-6018 Media Relations & Crisis Communications
• FLDP-6010 Field Placement

Level 2 Additional Requirements

Take the following Mandatory Course (Minimum Grade of C):

• PBRL-6019 Writing for Public Relations 2

Program Residency

Students must complete a minimum of 12 credits in this program at Fanshawe College to meet the program residency requirement and graduate from this program.

Smartworks Coworking / Unsplash

Admission Requirements

• A Two- or Three-Year College Diploma, or a Degree
  (Note: minimum 'C+' average or cumulative 2.5 GPA)

or

• Professional background and experience as judged by the College to be equivalent to the above

and

• Successful Completion of a Supplemental Evaluation (Note: a minimum grade of 60% is required in addition to one of the above)

English Language Requirements

Applicants whose first language is not English will be required to demonstrate proficiency in English by one of the following methods:

• A Grade 12 College Stream or University Stream English credit from an Ontario Secondary School, or equivalent, depending on the program's Admission Requirements
• Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) test with a minimum score of 88 for the Internet-based test (iBT), with test results within the last two years
• International English Language Testing System (IELTS) Academic test with an overall score of 6.5 with no score less than 6.0 in any of the four bands, with test results within the last two years
• Canadian Academic English Language (CAEL) test with an overall score of 70 with no score less than 60 in any of the four bands, with test results within the last two years
• Pearson Test of English Academic (PTE) with a minimum score of 59, with test results within the last two years
• A Cambridge English Test (FCE/CAE/CPE) with an overall score on the Cambridge English Scale of 176 with no language skill less than 169, with test results within the last two years
• An English Language Evaluation (ELE) at Fanshawe College with a minimum score of 75% in all sections of the test, with test results within the last two years
• Fanshawe College ESL4/GAP5 students: Minimum grade of 80% in ESL4/GAP5 Level 9 or 75% in ESL4/GAP5 Level 10

Applicant Selection Criteria

Where the number of eligible applicants exceeds the available spaces in the program, the Applicant Selection Criteria will be:

1. Preference for Permanent Residents of Ontario.
2. Receipt of Application by February 1st (After this date, Fanshawe College will consider applicants on a first-come, first-served basis until the program is full).
3. Achievement in the Admission Requirements.

Career Opportunities

Our graduates are well-prepared for the exciting world of communications and public relations. Graduates are working in healthcare, finance, education, the arts and entertainment, sports, manufacturing, government, and non-profit. Working as communications professionals, their roles may include writing, research, media relations, social media, government relations, crisis communication, event planning, fundraising, community relations, strategic communication planning, and marketing.