Research Communication Graduate Certificate
The Research Communication graduate certificate develops participant’s written, oral, and visual communication skills required for engaging various audiences around scientific and technical topics. Certificate courses explore science and research communication, effective presentations, writing strategies for specialist and non-specialist audiences, and relationship building capacities for effective problem-solving.
Why Earn the Research Communication Certificate?
The Research Communication certificate provides the skills and capacities needed to communicate complex research findings and implications to experts, generalists, and novices. Completing this certificate prepares participants for any field requiring effective communication, including those inside and outside academia.
Who Will Benefit from Completing the Program?
Anyone who wants to improve their communication skills. In addition to improved communication skills, anyone who aims to be more critical about the messages they receive and produce, particularly around scientific and technical matters. The certificate is relevant for graduate students, postdoctoral fellows, faculty, and employees invested in effective communication and problem solving.
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Course Details
The RECM graduate certificate can be completed within four or five semesters depending on elective preferences and enrollment in more than one course per semester.
Required Course (9 credit hours) Name Credit Hours Offered RECM 701 Oral and Visual Communication 3 CH Spring RECM 722 Storytelling for Research Communication 3 CH Spring RECM 739 Research Communication Portfolio 3 CH Fall Elective (6 credit hours) Name Credit Hours Offered RECM 727 Writing and Reviewing Research 3 CH Fall
Spring
SummerRECM 729 Writing Your Journal Article in 12 Weeks 3 CH Summer RECM 745 Communication and Diverse Audiences 3 CH Fall GRD 709 Writing Fellowships 3 CH Spring *RLM 706, RECM 707, RECM 708, GRD 713, GRD 735 may substitute for one, 3 credit-hour requirement. 3 CH Total Credit Hours 15 CH Electives from Other Departments Elective Name Credit Hours Offered CM 603 Message Construction Varies CM 604 Audience Analysis Varies EH 502 Writing in Popular Periodicals Varies EH 503 Business Writing Varies EH 504 Technical Writing Varies EH 556 Visual Rhetoric Varies EH 557 Writing and Medicine Varies MBA 616 Web Analytics Varies MBA 655 Digtial Marketing Strategy Varies Course Planning Term Fall Start Spring Start Summer Start Fall RECM 727 or RECM 745 Spring RECM 722 and RECM 701 RECM 722 and RECM 701 Summer Option: RECM 727 or RECM 729 RECM 727 or RECM 729 RLM 775 & LEAD 540 Fall RECM 739 RECM 739 RLM 773 & RLM 706 Spring Option: GRD 709 Option: GRD 709 RLM 774 & Elective Summer Option: RECM 727 or 729 Option: RECM 727 or RECM 729 Fall Option: RECM 745 RECM 739 Schedules subject to change. Please check with program director for options during a specific semester.
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Faculty & Contact
Courses are taught by instructors within the Office of Interdisciplinary Graduate & Professional Studies and other academic units. Please refer to the course schedule to see which instructor is teaching any specific course.
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Course Requirements and Schedules
Any graduate student, post-doctoral fellow, or UAB employee with a bachelor’s degree can enroll in this program. There are no prerequisites required.
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Application Checklist
- Postdoctoral Trainees & Postdoctoral Scholars
- Complete the online application
- Contact the Office of Postdoctoral Education to seek Educational Assistance (postdocs@uab.edu)
- Current and New students
- Request official copies of all your academic transcripts to be sent to UAB graduate admissions (more details in the application)
- Complete the online application
- Pay the application fee
- Postdoctoral Trainees & Postdoctoral Scholars
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Frequently Asked Questions
What are the admissions requirements for the Research Communication graduate certificate?
- Submit official copies of all academic transcripts demonstrating that you have earned a bachelor’s degree from a regionally accredited college or university with a 3.0 minimum grade point average.
- Complete and submit the UAB Graduate School Application.
- GRE and MAT are not required to be admitted.
Is the Research Communication graduate certificate a credential?
Yes. The Research Communication graduate certificate is an official credential that is tracked and awarded on the student's UAB transcript.
If you plan to “stack” your Research Communication certificate into the Interdisciplinary Graduate Studies degree, you must enroll into the courses in the standard letter grade format.
Can undergraduate students take the Research Communication Graduate Certificate courses?
Yes, with permission of the program director and your academic advisor.
Do you have to be a Research Communication student in order to take Research Communication course?
No. You do not need to be admitted to the certificate in order to take Research Communication courses. Anyone in the following groups may enroll in Research Communication courses:
- Non-degree Seeking, Post-Bac
- Graduate Students
- Post-Doctoral Fellows
- Community members
- UAB employees
*** Please note that if you are not a current degree-seeking student, you should apply as a non-degree student in order to take individual courses. If you want to earn the certificate, apply as a degree-seeking student and choose the Research Communication certificate.
Can UAB employees use the tuition benefit to pay for Research Communication courses?
Yes, current UAB employees may use their tuition benefits to take Research Communication courses. Visit benefits@uab.edu for more information on using your education benefit.