Skip to navigation Skip to main content

Explore UAB

Colleges & Schools

Graduate School

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.  

  • Course Details

    The Research Communication certificate is comprised of 15 hours. You must complete 9 core hours (GRD 701, GRD 722 and GRD 739) and 6 elective hours chosen from the electives list below.

    (total 15 credit hours: 9 required/core + 6 elective)

    REQUIRED/CORE

    Required Course Name Credit Hours Offered
    RECM 701 Oral and Visual Communication 3 CH Spring: Online
    RECM 722  Storytelling for Research Communication 3 CH Spring: Online
    RECM 739 Research Communication Portfolio 3 CH Fall: Online

    ELECTIVES: CHOOSE 6 CREDIT HOURS

    Graduate School Courses

    Elective Name Credit Hours Offered
     RECM 727  Writing and Reviewing Research 3 CH Fall: Online
    Spring: Online
    Summer: Online
    RECM 729 Writing Your Journal Article in 12 Weeks 3 CH Summer: Online
    RECM 745 Communication and Diverse Audiences 3 CH Fall: Online
    GRD 709 Writing Fellowships 3 CH Varies
    GRD/ RLM 706 Grants and Fellowships 101 (One day workshop) 1 CH Varies
    GRD/ RECM 707 Presenting Effectively (One day workshop) 1 CH Varies
    GRD 713 Mentoring 101 1 CH Varies
    GRD 735 Leadership 101 1 CH Varies

    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
  • 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.

  • 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.

  • 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
  • Frequently Asked Questions

    What are the admissions requirements for the Research Communication graduate certificate?

    1. 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.
    2. Complete and submit the UAB Graduate School Application.
    3. 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.

Back to Top