Professional Workplace Communication Certificate
The 4-course, 12 credit hour Professional Workplace Communication Certificate takes you beyond the numbers to understand what really makes organizations tick – the everyday communication practices we too often take for granted. Beyond emails, meetings and those informal hallway discussions, workplace communication is the hidden element within every organization that brings people and ideas together. It's the dimension of any workplace that explores the human side of organizations – and helps facilitate your career success. You’ll learn how to craft messages, share information and build relationships in ways that create greater understanding--both internally and externally. Skills taught apply to communicating with internal peers, teams, managers, and leaders – as well as external stakeholders such as customers, vendors, partners, regulators, and media.
These workplace communication competencies are at the core of effective decision-making, team-building, problem-solving, and crisis-resolution practices. The certificate program teaches how and when to ask the bigger-picture questions that improve communication within your organization – and help advance your career.
All courses for KU's Professional Workplace Communication Certificate are offered online through the KU Edwards Campus in Overland Park, Kansas. Visit the program web page to learn more.
Application process
Current KU graduate students and other non-KU students may apply for the graduate certificate. Please check the departmental website for the most updated certificate application requirements.
An applicant seeking to pursue graduate study may be admitted as either a degree-seeking or non-degree seeking student. Policies and procedures of Graduate Studies govern the process of Graduate admission. These may be found in the Graduate Studies section of the online catalog.
For more information on admission to a graduate certificate program at KU, see the policy on Admission to Graduate Study. Non-native speakers of English must meet English proficiency requirements as described here. Applications may be submitted at http://graduate.ku.edu/ku-graduate-application.
For additional questions regarding the program requirements or application process, please visit our website or contact your academic success coach.
Certificate Requirements
The Professional Workplace Communication graduate certificate requires completion of 12 credit hours, including 2 required courses and 2 elective options.
Course List | Code | Title | Hours |
| PFS 730 | Writing and Speaking for Decision Makers (If both PFS 730 and PFS 801 are completed, one will count towards electives.) | 3 |
| or PFS 801 | Interpersonal and Persuasive Communication Skills for Managers |
| PFS 810 | Organizational Communication Strategies | 3 |
Students will then choose 2 of the following electives or other departmentally-approved courses to complete their certificate.
Course List | Code | Title | Hours |
| PFS 741 | Intercultural Communication in Organizations | 3 |
| PFS 821 | Employee Onboarding and Role Development | 3 |
| PFS 823 | Organizational Change and Communication | 3 |
| PFS 825 | Communication Practices for Inclusive Organizations | 3 |
| PFS 827 | Communication Ethics for Managers and Leaders | 3 |
| PFS 829 | Communicating Across Workplace Generations | 3 |
| PFS 831 | Case Studies in Organizational Communication | 3 |
| PFS 833 | Communication and Team Development | 3 |
| PFS 835 | Interpersonal Communication Skills at Work | 3 |
| PFS 837 | Communication Strategies for Remote and Hybrid Teams | 3 |
| PFS 839 | Conflict Dynamics in Organizations | 3 |
| PFS 875 | Special Topics in Organizational Communication | 3 |
