Thank you for your interest in the UNC-Chapel Hill School of Journalism and Mass Communication's Certificate in Technology and Communication program. In one to two years--while studying from home, work or on the road--you 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-Chapel Hill campus is required.

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

The program attracts a variety of professionals from a range of disciplines. Some students plan to use the certificate credits towards a graduate degree. 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 710 Computing Concepts and Issues: Power Tools for the Mind (3 credit hours)
JOMC 711 Writing for Digital Media (3 credit hours)
JOMC 712 Visual Communication and Web Design (3 credit hours)
JOMC 713 Global Impact of New Communication Technologies (3 credit hours)
JOMC 714 Database and Web Research (3 credit hours)

Upon completion of any four of the five courses, you will receive a certificate as well as a notation on your 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.  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/or three years in a communications-related field. Prospective students may apply for admission before the start of the fall or spring semester. The deadline is Nov. 15 for Spring semester and June 30 for the Fall semester.

Applicants must submit a resume, college transcript, and statement of purpose (250 words or less), explaining their reasons for seeking the certificate. International students will be asked to submit scores for the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL). Applicants do not have to take the Graduate Record Examination (GRE).

To apply, click here.

Learning at a distance
The Certificate in Technology and Communication is wholly online. That means you can learn from any location with a computer and an Internet connection. We strongly suggest a home broadband connection to the Internet and a computer running the latest Windows or Mac operating system.

Courses are delivered using the Blackboard course-management system, which students access on the first day of class.  Within the Blackboard 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 on Blackboard.   Online discussion can be very vigorous and in some cases will exceed what you 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. Expect to spend six to nine 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 comprised of 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 residential graduate-degree programs.

For more information
Please explore the remainder of the Web site to learn more about what the program has to offer.  However, we realize you may have additional questions about how distance education works or about the curriculum.  To discuss the program and how it may fit with your educational goals, please contact:
Louise Spieler
Assistant Dean for Distance Education and Executive Education
UNC-Chapel Hill School of Journalism and Mass Communication
Campus Box 3365, 316 Carroll Hall, Chapel Hill, NC 27599-3365
Ph: 919.843.8137 or toll-free 1.877.668.0674
Fax: 919.843-8138
E-Mail: This email address is being protected from spam bots, you need Javascript enabled to view it