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Certificate in Professional Communication

For this online e-learning program, you need not move to the Greenville area. However, those living in the area can participate in face-to-face activities.

To discuss this program, contact

Brent Henze    *    tpc@ecu.edu     *    252-328-6699

Communication professionals work in a rapidly changing environment that requires them to update their abilities throughout their working career. Both technological and conceptual issues underlie those changes. To help professional communicators remain competitive, East Carolina University offers a Certificate in Professional Communication designed primarily for

  • Professionals who need to improve their communication abilities
  • Professionals who need to learn about significant changes in the communication process
  • Teachers at all levels who find they must add professional communication to their curricula
  • Corporate trainers who must deliver similar training for their company

We can help you tailor this Certificate to your particular needs and interests. Although the courses have specific goals and objectives, they have enough flexibility to support both scholarly and pragmatic interests. In addition, if you are interested in arranging specific courses to meet your specific corporate educational needs, we can advise you on that process.

Below you will find a plan of study, summarizing the requirements for this certificate, and some discussion of the requirements. A copy of the plan of study can be accessed from  rtf file  or  doc file.

Very much recommended (3  s. h.)

  1. Engl 7701 (formerly 7730)

Technical & Professional Communication Courses (15 s.h.)      [Chosen from 6700, 6715, 6721, 7730 (Issues), 7705, 7710, 7712, 7716, 7745, 7746, 7750, 7765 (can repeat as long as topic changes), 7766 (can repeat 2 times w/ different topics), 7780, 7785, 7790. Students cannot count toward the Certificate 6725 and 6740/41, nor courses in another area in English or another discipline.]

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The Certificate requires 15 s.h. (5 courses) of courses in the area of technical & professional communication. Normally, we offer seven to eight online courses each semester and two to three during each of the two summer sessions. We very much recommend that you complete Engl 7701 (formerly offered as Engl 7730) as early as possible because even the courses that focus primarily on application include the research and theory underlying that application.

Internship (Engl 6740 & 6741) and directed reading (Engl 6725) courses cannot count toward the Certificate. No hours in another discipline can be counted. You are not required to complete a research skills requirement, comprehensive exam, or thesis. You must maintain a minimum B average in all Certificate course work. Only 3 s.h. of C will count toward this Certificate. [If you earn an F or a second C, you cannot continue in the program.] 

The entire Certificate program can be completed without coming to campus. This 15 s.h. online Certificate can be the path to an MA, Technical & Professional Communication concentration, available as online and campus programs, should that degree be of value to your career path.

Considering earning an MA in English, Technical & Professional Communication ...Three non-degree courses (9 s.h.) will automatically count toward the MA degree when you are admitted to that program. With minor paperwork, an additional 2 non-degree courses (6 s. h.) can count for a total of 5 courses (15 s. h.). However be sure to submit your MA application before you have completed 6 courses because the sixth course won't count.

Already have a master's degree ... For those already having a master's degree, you can often teach in many community colleges and 4-year colleges and universities if you have 6 courses (18 s. h.) in a discipline. Of course, you should check with the school where you would like to teach.