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College of Information and Communications

Certificate in Data and Communication

Are you a communications professional seeking flexible, online continuing education to update your skills? Or are you a recent graduate looking to augment your degree with tools that are in high demand?

Our 12-hour certificate combines courses from the School of Journalism and Mass Communication with courses from the School of Information science to make you more marketable and up-to-date in an industry in constant flux.

The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics sees strong growth in the data science field and predicts the number of jobs will increase by about 28% through 2026. To give that 28% a number, that is roughly 11.5 million new jobs in the field. Reference:  Is Data Science Still a Rising Career in 2021


Core Overview

12 credits (3 core, one elective)

  1. iSCI/JOUR 709 Data and Digital Communication Fundamentals (new course) Students will demonstrate ability to use data to develop applied knowledge and insights.They will apply communication theories to real world applications.
  2. JOUR 705 Strategic Communication Principles
    Students will define and provide examples of strategic communications principles, concepts, and strategies across multiple contexts.
  3. Data: student can choose one of these options
    SLIS 534 Knowledge Discovery, SLIS 560 Information Visualization, or other approved courses.
  4. Elective: Choose one from the list of approved courses:
    • iSci 770 Design and Management of Databases
    • iSci 780 Information Networks – summer 2022
    • JOUR 599 Media Sales and Advertising Technology
    • JOUR 599 Fundamentals of Brand Presence Optimization (SEO)
    • JOUR 740 New Technologies and Mass Media
    • iSci 794/JOUR 597 Internship - ongoing
    • JOUR 710 Organizational Communication
    • JOUR 740 New Technologies and the Mass Media
    • JOUR 776 Seminar in Interactive Media and Emerging Communication Technologies
    • JOUR 790 Topics in Mass Communication (1-6 Credits)
    • JOUR 772 Seminar in Health, Science, and the Media
    • JOUR 802 Seminar in Ethical Reasoning in Mass Communications
    • Special Topics
    • iSci 726 Fall Knowledge management 2022?
    • Other approved electives

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