The Communication Certificate Program is an interdisciplinary plan of study administered by the Department of English. The curriculum provides students with the opportunity to explore practical and theoretical dimensions of communication theories in interpersonal, small group, public, mass and intercultural contexts.

Students develop competencies in verbal and visual literacy by analyzing and interpreting language, symbols, images and mediated messages.Core and elective courses in the program approach communication as a complex process that influences human relationships in private, public, intercultural and mediated contexts.

The primary goal of the Communication Certificate Program is to furnish students with conceptual tools with which to evaluate and respond to the diverse communication events that occur in everyday life, as well to prepare them for careers in communication.

Registration and Requirements
Students from any major may register for the Communication Certificate Program. Before the end of the second semester of his/her junior year, and no later than the beginning of the senior year, the student should meet with the Communication Certificate Director, Bradley House 112, and complete a Saint Anselm College Declaration of Intent to enter a Certificate Program. A student must have a cumulative grade point average of 2.33 (C+) to be accepted into the Communication Certificate Program.

To be awarded a Communication certificate, a student must:

1. complete four required courses and at least one elective course in the Communication Certificate Program with no grade lower than a C in any of the courses;
2. earn an overall grade point average of 2.33 (C+) for required and elective courses in the Communication Certificate Program;
3. earn a minimum grade of C for a research paper on a specific topic related to the study of communication;
4. write a research paper on a specific topic selected from the curriculum of a core or elective course in the Communications Certificate Program or in place of a research paper the student may complete a supervised project that relates to a communication or media topic or complete a supervised service learning practicum;
5. pass a comprehensive exam based on the materials from core and elective courses completed in the Communications Certificate Program;

Required Courses (4)

1. EN 216 - Principles and Practices of Journalism: An introduction to the basic methods and techniques of writing for the print and broadcast media. The student practices clear and concise writing, effective editing, and efficient gathering of information for news stories.
2. EN225 - Communication Theory: Surveys theories that seek to explain the processes and contexts of human communication.
3. SO229 - Mass Communication: Examines the content and media of mass communication and the ways audiences interact with mass-mediated messages.
4. FA278 - Visual Communication: Provides an introduction to the forms of visual communication in contemporary society and highlights the creative, informative, and persuasive images behind graphic design.