• Introduction
• Program Recognition
• Curriculum
• Course Delivery Format
• Admission
• Graduation Requirement
• Articulation to Master of Arts (M.A.) in Communications (Specialization in Tourism and Cultural Communication)

Introduction

The Graduate Certificate in Tourism and Cultural Communication meets the needs of those who have earned a baccalaureate degree and wish to obtain a foundation in tourism communication without committing to a full masters degree program. It also offers the opportunity for students to continue on to complete the full masters degree program.

The program provides an introduction to tourism communication and enable students to gain core knowledge and skills to prepare them for a new career area or a specialization within the industry.

The Graduate Certificate in Tourism and Cultural Communication prepares participants to meet the growing demand for qualified tourism professionals.  Graduates of the program will:

• Attain a global and regional understanding of current trends and directions in  tourism and related industries; 

• Understand the role played by new information technologies in tourism;

• Learn strategies for developing integrated marketing communication campaigns that serve organizational and/or corporate objectives;

• Understand linkages between tourism communications and local culture and heritage, especially in the United Arab Emirates context; and

• Develop best professional and leadership practices that enhance the success and effectiveness of the organization and its staff.

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 Tourism and Cultural Communication curriculum comprises the first 4 courses of the Master in Communications (Specialization in Tourism and Cultural Communication) program for a total of 12 credits for the graduate certificate:

• COM 501 Foundations of Communication Studies
• COM 502 Introduction to Communication Research
• COM 520 Tourism Principles and Practices
• COM 522 Tourism Communication

The Graduate Certificate in Tourism and Cultural Communication takes an integrated approach to advanced academic study that enables students to relate their course work to their daily professional activities. Assessment will be continuous throughout the program, using a combination of case studies, research projects, written papers and presentations, relying on both formal and informal faculty and peer-review activities.

Course Delivery Format

The format for delivering the Graduate Certificate in Tourism and Cultural Communication 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 in the week over the six-week period. 

The Graduate Certificate in Tourism and Cultural Communication 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 and demonstrate sufficient English proficiency to manage a challenging, fast-paced program.
• Candidates do not need an undergraduate degree in communication to pursue the Graduate Certificate in Tourism and Cultural Communication. However, if they were not communication 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.
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For more information on the admission requirements, application procedure and program cost, please visit the Admissions and Fees section of our website.

Graduation Requirement

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 Tourism and Cultural Communication)

Courses successfully completed with a "B" or higher grade may be transferable into an affiliated Zayed University masters degree program; however, admission into the graduate certificate does not guarantee admission into the Master of Arts (M.A.) in Communications (Specialization in Tourism and Cultural Communication) program. Students, if admitted, must request transfer of completed graduate certificate course credits to the masters degree program.