In one to two years — while studying from home — students can earn a graduate-level certificate from a nationally acclaimed journalism and mass communication school at one of the premier public universities in the U.S. All courses are taught completely online and no travel to the UNC campus is required.

Benefits
The Certificate in Technology and Communication helps students see how technology has changed the way people live, think and communicate. Through readings, online forum discussions, audio lectures and e-mail, students interact with award-winning professors as well as with virtual classmates.

The program attracts a variety of professionals from a range of disciplines. Some students use the certificate to prepare for graduate school. Others want to broaden their knowledge of new media or add academic training to their professional background.

Classes are small — usually no more than 20 students--to foster a seminar-like atmosphere.

Curriculum
JOMC 711: "Writing for Digital Media" (3 credit hours)
JOMC 712: "Visual Communication and Multimedia" (3 credit hours)
JOMC 714: "Database and Web Research" (3 credit hours)

Upon completion of three courses, students receive a certificate as well as a notation on their UNC-Chapel Hill transcript. Courses are taught in both the fall and spring semesters, and students can enroll in one or two classes per semester. Please note, however, that not all courses are offered each semester. The program’s faculty (PDF) are recognized experts in their fields as well as accomplished at teaching online.

Admission
Applicants for the Certificate in Technology and Communication must have a bachelor's degree to apply for admission to the certificate program. Priority is given to those with a 3.0 GPA and three years in a communications-related field. Information regarding application requirements and deadlines can be found at jomc.unc.edu/apply.

Learning at a distance
The Certificate in Technology and Communication is completely online. That means students can learn from any location with a computer and an Internet connection. Students should have a home broadband connection to the Internet and a computer running the latest Windows or Mac operating system.

Courses are delivered using the Sakai course-management system, which students access on the first day of class. Within the Sakai system, the instructor will post a syllabus, links to course materials and announcements.

An important part of each class is participation in discussion boards available through Sakai. Online discussion can be very vigorous and in some cases will exceed what students may have experienced in the classroom. Everyone is expected to participate. The quality of online discussion is cited regularly as a favorite part of the program.

Distance learning is not for everyone. It requires self-motivation and discipline. Students should expect to spend eight to ten hours a week on coursework in each three-credit-hour class. Instructors are available by e-mail or phone for students needing additional assistance.

What Is a Certificate?
An academic certificate is a series of post-baccalaureate courses that enables a student to explore a specific area of study. Like a master's or doctoral degree, a certificate is offered by a host academic department, is approved by UNC-Chapel Hill's Graduate School, and is related to an academic area of study. Some credits earned in a certificate program are eligible to be applied to graduate-degree programs. Certificates are noted on University transcripts, and no distinction is made between certificates earned online and those earned on campus. Admission to the certificate program has no bearing on admission to the school's graduate-degree programs.

Full degree option: M.A. in Technology and Communication
The School of Journalism and Mass Communication offers an online Master of Arts in Technology and Communication.  More information on the MATC is available at matc.jomc.unc.edu. The MATC accepts transfer credit from the Certificate in Technology and Communication only. Certificate students who are admitted to the MATC may transfer credit for JOMC 711: Writing for Digital Media and JOMC 714: Database and Web Research to the MATC. The credit must have been earned within five years of admission to the MATC. Students may not earn credit toward the Certificate and the MATC concurrently. In other words, Certificate students who are admitted to and enroll in the MATC before completing the Certificate become MATC students and will not receive the Certificate.

For more information
Please explore the remainder of the website to learn more about what the program has to offer. To discuss the program and how it may fit with your educational goals, please contact:

Maggie Hutaff, Program Coordinator for E-learning
UNC-Chapel Hill School of Journalism and Mass Communication
Campus Box 3365, 310 Carroll Hall
Chapel Hill, NC  27599-3365
Ph: 919.843.9471
Fax: 919.843.8138
E-Mail: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

For more information about distance education at UNC-Chapel Hill, please visit http://distance.unc.edu/.