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Graduate Certificates

If you're interested in specializing in a core competency at the graduate level, you need to consider the online graduate certificates offered through the Information Design & Communication program.

A graduate certificate is a valuable academic and professional credential, no matter what your background. Our certificates consist of six graduate-level courses—that's 18 credit hours. If you want to explore a new career or upgrade your knowledge and skills, IDC's online Graduate Certificate in Technical Communication and its Advanced Certificates (with specializations) offer unparalleled opportunity for personal and career growth.

By combining theory and practice, our carefully designed curriculum means you'll learn about current developments in the field. You'll have an edge on technical communication or information design careers.

Through our comprehensive coursework, you'll learn to

  • design information for today's business and technology
  • use graphics communication technologies effectively
  • plan, create and manage business communication projects
  • design and create content for the web
  • plan, design and create instructional systems

Graduate Certificate in Technical Communication

Do you have an undergraduate degree in technical communication or another field? Are you interested in learning more about technical communication? Are you thinking about a change in careers?

The Graduate Certificate in Technical Communication is the place to start. You'll be introduced to the profession through our three required courses. You'll start your certificate by taking:

  • IDC 6001—Practices of Professional Communication
  • IDC 6002—Information Design
  • IDC 6030—Visual Design Strategy

After you complete these nine credit hours, you can choose from any of our offerings for your remaining nine hours of study.

We meet the needs of working professionals. Your comprehensive program of study is offered as a challenging and engaging online experience. You'll learn with full time SPSU faculty in an online classroom setting that helps you meet the demands of your work/life balance.

Graduate Certificate in Technical Communication and the MSIDC Degree

If you successfully complete the certificate, you may be eligible for admission to the degree program. Students with exceptional grades and coursework projects may apply for the master of science degree. The Graduate Review Committee will evaluate your work and determine if admission to the degree program is an option.

Advanced Certificates (with specializations)

If you have a master's degree in technical/professional communication or if you've already earned our Graduate Certificate in Technical Communication, you may want to increase your knowledge and skills beyond the basics. An Advanced Certificate is the way you can stay current in your field or add another area of specialization to your qualifications.

To earn an Advanced Certificate with a specialization, you'll take 6 courses; the required courses are listed below.

  • Visual Communication:
    •  IDC 6005—Visual Thinking,
    •  IDC 6035—Information Graphics,
    •  IDC 6042—Applied Digital Graphics
    •  IDC 6045—Multimedia, and
    •  IDC 6135—Website Design.

  • Content Strategy (choose 5 of the 6):
    • IDC 6010—Writing Across Media,
    • IDC 6060—Strategies for Global Communication,
    • IDC 6090—Medical Communication,
    • IDC 6150—Marketing Communication,
    • IDC 6175—Digital Rhetoric, and
    • IDC 6240—Content Strategy

  • Instructional Design:
    • IDC 6035—Information Graphics,
    • IDC 6135—Website Design,
    • IDC 6140—Instructional Systems Design,
    • IDC 6145—Performance Technology, and
    • IDC 6155—Online Instructional Development

  • Communications Management:
    • IDC 6110—Communication Project Management
    • IDC 6245—Business Analysis,
    • MGNT 6001—Managerial Communications, and
    • MGNT 6025—Managing Professionals

  • User Experience:
    • IDC 6120—Usability Testing,
    • IDC 6135—Website Design.
    • IDC 6180—Information Architecture
    • IDC 6220—Mobile User Experience, and
    • IDC 6245—Business Analysis
The remaining course(s), if any, can be selected from any of our offerings.

Quality education is what we offer working professionals. Just like our Graduate Certificate in Technical Communication, your courses in any of the Advanced Certificates are offered fully online. You'll work directly with full time faculty throughout your specialization.

Apply

If one of our certificate options would meet with your personal or professional goals, we'd like to hear from you. SPSU is on the semester system and our classes start in August and January of each year. In order to evaluate your information and provide you with an admissions decision, we'll need your application materials as follows:

July 1: for courses starting in the Fall Semester (mid-August)

November 1: for courses starting in the Spring Semester (early January)


For More Information...

  • Learn how to apply to the IDC degree or certificate programs
  • Read more about our M.Sc. in IDC
  • See if our graduate-level Certificates are right for you
  • Review the IDC Courses required for the degree and certificate programs

Contact us

If you have any questions, please contact our Program Assistant.

Email: donna@spsu.edu    Address: 1100 South Marietta Pkwy  
Phone: 678-915-7202                         Atrium Bldg, J333
                                                             Marietta, Ga 30060