Graduate Certificate in Professional Writing – Communications (Online) Centennial College

• Program Code: 6441
• School: School of Communications, Media, Arts, and Design
• Credential: Ontario College Graduate Certificate
• Program Type: Post-diploma program
• Program Length: 1 year/ 2 semesters
• Location: Online

The Professional Writing – Communications program will prepare you to work as a versatile communications professional. This graduate certificate program will combine assessing audience needs and delivering thoughtful and relevant content with effective project management techniques as you develop the skills to write and produce copy for a variety of professional settings and styles.

The innovative courses in this program will encompass a wide range of communications disciplines and vocational skills, including:

• Web copywriting
• Technical writing
• Proposal writing
• Writing for social media
• Content marketing
• Presentations and speech writing
• Content management
• Information design and data visualization
• Digital storytelling

As a Professional Writing – Communications student, you'll have the advantage of creating a diverse and professional portfolio that will include training modules, complex visual aids (such as infographics), and compelling layouts for various print and virtual platforms (brochures, newsletters, websites, and more). With your well-rounded training, you'll be able to launch a writing career that will go the distance, taking on a range of roles in both the profit and non-profit sectors.

The online delivery of the program is asynchronous, allowing you to self-pace your learning by accessing lessons and course materials when you choose. This makes for a flexible, self-directed learning environment. Weekly virtual faculty office hours allow you to connect face-to-face with your professors.

Semester 1

• CMPW-700 Content Bootcamp
• CMPW-703 Web Copywriting
• CMPW-704 Webtools
• CMPW-706 Visual Design and Layout
• CMPW-707 Communications Strategy & Planning
• CMPW-708 Editing
• CMPW-709 Technical Communications 1
• CMPW-721 Instructional Design
• CMPW-722 Policy & Procedure Writing
• CMPW-799 Storyworks 1

Semester 2

• CMPW-710 Digital Storytelling
• CMPW-712 Presentation & Speech Writing
• CMPW-714 Information Design
• CMPW-716 Content Management
• CMPW-717 Report Writing
• CMPW-718 Technical Communications
• CMPW-720 Field Placement
• CMPW-723 Storyworks 2

Program Highlights

• The Content Bootcamp, an intensive two-week workshop at the beginning of the first semester, will build on your academic writing skills, polishing your writing for a professional audience.
• A vocational program at its core, Professional Writing – Communications will prepare you for a writing career with longevity. As such, in every course, you'll produce professional quality work so you graduate with a polished and diverse portfolio.
• Unique second-semester course components will include creating training modules, implementing training programs, and leading virtual or live training sessions to complement the content and documentation created in first-semester courses.
• The Digital Storytelling course, a standout feature, will encourage you to think critically about the future of communications and its role in business, technology and society in general. You'll have the opportunity to collaborate on a creative communications project, exploring what it means to be a communicator in a digital world.
• A field placement in the final semester will provide you with valuable experiences in a variety of industries. Program faculty will work with you to place you in an organization relevant to your long-term career goals.

Program Vocational Learning Outcomes

Program Vocational Learning Outcomes describe what graduates of the program have demonstrated they can do with the knowledge and skills they have achieved during their studies. The outcomes are closely tied to the needs of the workplace. Through assessment (e.g., assignments and tests), students verify their ability to reliably perform these outcomes before graduating.

• Evaluate the effect of technology and emerging media on contemporary storytelling.
• Collaborate with communicators, clients, and subject matter experts to produce mutually acceptable content.
• Plan, create, and edit business and technical content that aligns with client, project, structure, and strategy requirements.
• Design and create complex visual aids, presentations, and layouts for print and virtual platforms.
• Design and develop innovative communication methods to create audience-appropriate content
• Manage the execution of a communications project using effective leadership skills and project management tools and techniques.
• Develop and maintain a professional portfolio and materials to market and promote services.
• Assess the effectiveness of communications strategies in relation to the audience’s needs and industry standards.
• Adapt existing content to meet business requirements.
• Complete all work in accordance with applicable laws, regulations, and industry principles and practices, including the use and re-use of copyright materials.

Career Outlook

• Technical writer
• Communications coordinator
• Social media officer
• Editor
• Web copywriter
• Proposal writer
• Instructional designer
• Report writer/business analyst

Areas of Employment

• Arts and culture
• Retail and e-commerce
• Government and non-profit
• Finance
• Marketing
• Software development and IT
• Medicine
• Science
• Web design