Cert in Communication and Media Studies

Cabrillo College's Communication Studies department looks at how people connect and create meaning in different settings. Courses cover public speaking, small-group and interpersonal communication, intercultural exchange, argumentation and debate, and health communication. The department grants a Certificate of Achievement that requires sixteen units of communication coursework. A smaller Communication Studies Award is also available for students who complete nine units and hold a 3.0 GPA in those classes. The certificate appears on the student transcript, which sets it apart from the award, and the department points to employer interest in communication skills as a reason to complete it. Classes are scheduled in several formats, including online asynchronous and synchronous sections, hybrid courses, and in-person sections at the Aptos and Watsonville locations, so students can match study to work and family commitments.