Corporate/Community Relations Certificate

With a plethora of media outlets and the 24/7 news cycle of today, organizations must communicate effectively with their stakeholders more than ever. Whether notifying employees of an internal policy update or releasing exciting news into the community, writing and distributing well-crafted messages is a valuable skill.

This 18-credit interdisciplinary certificate in corporate and community relations combines courses in communications, business, English, and public service to give you a solid foundation in effective messaging strategies.

Who Should Participate

• Individuals charged with communicating company and organizational news, policies, benefits, or 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 in corporate or community communications

Program Expectations

Graduates of this program will be able to:

• Apply a theoretical understanding of mass media process, history, and ethics to a communications-related career
• Identify and analyze audience traits, perspectives, and motivators
• Manage and navigate professional relationships with a wide range of constituents
• Develop and write clear messages that support organizational goals
• Create professional and effective communications strategies and persuasive written materials, including proposals, speeches, marketing plans, and news stories

Credit Requirements

• The corporate and community relations certificate requires 18 credits, including six credits of core classes, six elective credits, and six specialization credits.
• Students must achieve a minimum grade of C (2.0) or better for all courses required for the program.
• Credits earned at other accredited educational institutions may be eligible for transfer. However, a minimum of nine credits must be earned at the University of Pittsburgh. 

Required Courses: (6 credits)

Both of the following courses are required.

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Electives: (6 credits)

Choose two of the following courses.

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^{Note: New course number effective Spring 2023; formerly COMMRC 1732: Special Topics: Public and Media Relations (SEC 77XX)}

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Specialization: (6 credits)

Select two courses from the list of approved electives.

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^{Approved Topic: New Media Technologies}

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^{Format: F2F and Web}

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^{Format: F2F and Hybrid}

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Program Planning Checklist

Download our handy Corporate & Community Relations certificate checklist (PDF) to plan and track your progress in the program.

Important: Course Overlap Rules

As you plan your certificate coursework, please make sure to review the CGS Course Overlap policy for information on how many courses can be double-counted if a student elects to pursue a CGS certificate in combination with other CGS and non-CGS majors, minors, and certificates. If you have questions, please contact your CGS advisor or CGS Advising at CGSAdv@pitt.edu.

Note: Requirements are subject to change. Check with an academic advisor before registering.