• Introduction
• Program Recognition
• Curriculum
• Course Delivery Format
• Admission
• Graduation Requirement
• Articulation to Master of Arts (M.A.) in Communications (Specialization in Strategic Public Relations)

Introduction

The Graduate Certificate in Public Relations is designed for graduate students whether in a job that involves public relations or not, and who initially might not want to commit to a full master's degree program. The Graduate Certificate in Public Relations provides the basic concepts of public relations, and enables graduate students to gain the knowledge and skills required to develop careers as public relations practitioners and professionals. 

Graduates of the program will have:

• An informed understanding of the main theories and concepts of communication and public relations relating to current public relations practice locally and internationally;

• An informed understanding of the role and significance of ethical strategic public relations for governments, public and private organizations, the media, consumers and other stakeholders;

• The ability to write effectively for public relations, including specific communication techniques for electronic and social media.

Program Recognition

Zayed University's graduate programs are approved by the UAE Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research. Zayed University is accredited by the Middle States Commission on Higher Education.

Furthermore, the College of Communication and Media Sciences endeavors to achieve accredited status with the Accrediting Council on Education in Journalism and Mass Communications (ACEJMC).

Curriculum

At the beginning of the program, students take an intensive one-day orientation seminar. The orientation offers a number of workshops to introduce students to the program including Blackboard (virtual classroom software), case study and analysis, library resources, and the writing of reports and reference citations.

The Graduate Certificate in Public Relations curriculum comprises the first 4 courses of the Master in Communications (Specialization in Strategic Public Relations) program for a total of 12 credits for the graduate certificate:

• COM 501 Foundations of Communication Studies
• COM 502 Introduction to Communication Research
• COM 510 Public Relations Principals and Practices
• COM 511 Advanced Writing for Communications

The Graduate Certificate in Public Relations takes an integrated approach to advanced academic study that enables students to relate their course work to their daily professional activities. Each student's program of study will culminate in a significant piece of research, which could be linked to their current workplace.

Course Delivery Format

The format for delivering the Graduate Certificate in Public Relations is designed to minimize time away from work and family while maximizing interaction with fellow students and faculty.

Faculty members utilize a mix of in-classroom and distance learning instruction that demonstrate the flexibility needed to accommodate experienced working graduates. The in-classroom instruction for each course is conducted during two evenings on weekdays over a six-week period. 

The Graduate Certificate in Public Relations is delivered over a period of 12 months at Zayed University located in Abu Dhabi and/or Dubai.

For more information on the admission deadline, please visit the Key Dates section of our website.

Admission

• Admission is open to males and females of all nationalities.
• Applicants must have earned a four-year baccalaureate degree with a GPA of 2.5 or higher from an accredited university.
• ELTS score of 5.50 (with minimum sub scores no less than 5.0 in reading and writing) or TOEFL score of 550 (CBT 213 - IBT 79).
• Candidates do not need an undergraduate degree in communications to pursue the Graduate Certificate in Public Relations. However, if they were not communications or media majors, they will be required to take preparatory work as necessary, to be determined on a case-by-case basis. Prospective students may be allowed to take qualifying coursework at another institution.

For more information on the admission requirements, application procedure and program cost, please visit the Admissions and Fees section of our website.

Graduation Requirements

Graduate students must maintain a minimum grade point average (GPA) of 3.0 in course work taken in fulfillment of the requirements of a graduate certificate.

Articulation to Master of Arts (M.A.) in Communications (Specialization in Strategic Public Relations)

Courses successfully completed with a "B" or higher grade may be transferable into an affiliated Zayed University master's degree program; however, admission into the Graduate Certificate in Public Relations does not guarantee admission into the Master of Arts (M.A.) in Communications (Specialization in Strategic Public Relations) program. Students, if admitted, must request transfer of completed graduate certificate course credits to the master's degree program.