Graduate Certificate in Professional Communication

Employers routinely cite the need for effective oral, interpersonal and group communication skills. The Graduate Certificate in Professional Communication, offered by the Department of Speech Communication at Minnesota State University, Mankato, integrates communication theory, research and practical skills to provide students with the necessary abilities to succeed in a variety of professional arenas.

Our program has been developed primarily for working professionals who are unable to enroll in a traditional face-to-face graduate degree program. The graduate certificate program is offered entirely online. Prospective students can complete our program while continuing to work, and need not travel to Mankato for coursework. There is no residency requirement for this certificate.

Our program meets the needs of working students who have a bachelor's degree in a communication-related field and are employed in an occupation in which they are using communication skills. Our program provides these students with advanced training in communication skills for job enhancement, promotion opportunities, and/or career re-training.

Certificate Program

The graduate certificate is 12 credits, all of which are available online and all of which will also transfer into the MA program in Speech Communication should students decide to continue. The program consists of two core courses, and then students may select two additional courses from four more offerings. The program is designed to be completed in two years or less. Each course listed below will be offered at least once every two years.

Core: 6 credits

CMST 601: Communication Research Methods: Offered every spring
CMST 633: Communication for Professionals: Offered every spring

Choose 6 credits from the following:

CMST 512: Organizational Communication: Offered every spring
CMST 515: Topics in Rhetoric and Culture: Offered every fall
CMST 545: Conflict Management: Offered every spring beginning Spring 2009
CMST 604: Communication Training and Development: Offered every fall

Admission to this program requires the following:

1. Scholastic requirements:
   • 2.75 GPA or better on overall undergraduate work
   • 3.00 GPA or better on overall undergraduate work in the last two years.
2. Documentation requirements:
   • A statement of personal, educational and professional goals

Admission Process

The Graduate Coordinator examines applications for admission and determines if the GPA (overall undergraduate GPA of at least 2.75 on a 4.0 scale and/or a 3.0 for the last 2 years of undergraduate work) requirements are met. If the applicant does not meet the requirements, admission may be provisional.

Provisional Admission

Probationary Status will be provided for applicants with an undergraduate degree whose GPA is below regular admission standards under the following conditions:

1. An applicant may be admitted on the basis of their performance on the Graduate Record Exam (GRE). Acceptable performance is a composite score of 1380 and at least one subtest of 500, or
2. An applicant may petition the graduate faculty for provisional admission. In such cases, admission will be contingent upon the student's adherence to contract terms formulated by graduate faculty stipulating specific performance requirements.
3. Completion of the contract requirements will result in a change to a regular admission status.

Retention Requirements

Admitted applicants to the Speech Communication Graduate Certificate Program must maintain a scholastic standing of 3.0 GPA in overall graduate coursework.

Graduate Faculty

Contact Information

Please contact Kathy Steiner (kathleen.steiner@mnsu.edu; 507-389-2213), department administrative assistant, for a complete certificate program package, including all application materials and forms.