Cert in Public Relations, Advertising, and Applied Communication

The Public Relations certificate, delivered through the College of Business, gives students a compact grounding in how organizations speak to their audiences. It suits anyone who wants to add communication strategy to another field of study. Four courses make up the credential: principles of public relations, public relations tactics, reputation management and crisis communication, and social media and content marketing. Together they cover planning, messaging, and the handling of public attention when things go wrong. Classes are offered at the Big Rapids location, over the internet, or through a blend of both. The college may ask for full college transcripts when it decides the regular admission standard is needed. Transfer students may bring in no more than half of the certificate credits from another institution, and credit totals can vary with placement and prerequisites. Questions go to an advisor in the College of Business, who can also explain how the credits fit each student's main degree. The program is based at the Main Campus of Ferris State University in Big Rapids, Michigan.