Professional Writing - Communications

Please Note: Professional Writing - Communications is also offered online.

The Professional Writing – Communications program will prepare you to work as a versatile communications professional. This graduate certificate program will combine assessing audience needs and delivering thoughtful and relevant content with effective project management techniques as you develop the skills to write and produce copy for a variety of professional settings and styles.

The innovative courses in this program will encompass a wide range of communications disciplines and vocational skills, including:

• Web copywriting
• Technical writing
• Proposal writing
• Writing for social media
• Content marketing
• Presentations and speech writing
• Content management
• Information design and data visualization
• Digital storytelling

As a Professional Writing – Communications student, you'll have the advantage of creating a diverse and professional portfolio that will include training modules, complex visual aids (such as infographics) and compelling layouts for various print and virtual platforms (brochures, newsletters, websites and more). With your well-rounded training, you'll be able to launch a writing career that will go the distance, taking on a range of roles in both the profit and non-profit sectors.

Visit our program blog.

Program Highlights

• The Content Bootcamp, an intensive two-week workshop at the beginning of the first semester, will build on your academic writing skills, polishing your writing for a professional audience.
• A vocational program at its core, Professional Writing – Communications will prepare you for a writing career with longevity. As such, in every course you'll produce professional quality work so you graduate with a polished and diverse portfolio.
• Unique second-semester course components will include creating training modules, implementing training programs, and leading virtual or live training sessions to complement the content and documentation created in first semester courses.
• The Digital Storytelling course, a standout feature, will encourage you to think critically about the future of communications and its role in business, technology and society in general. You'll have the opportunity to collaborate on a creative communications project, exploring what it means to be a communicator in a digital world.
• A field placement in the final semester will provide you with valuable experiences in a variety of industries. Program faculty will work with you to place you in an organization relevant to your long-term career goals.

Career Outlook

• Technical writer
• Communications coordinator
• Social media officer
• Editor
• Web copywriter
• Proposal writer
• Instructional designer
• Report writer/business analyst

Areas of Employment

• Arts and culture
• Retail and e-commerce
• Government and non-profit
• Finance
• Marketing
• Software development and IT
• Medicine
• Science
• Web design

Academic Requirements

• Degree or a three-year college diploma in any discipline
• We will consider applicants who have successfully completed partial post-secondary education (minimum two years) and have relevant work experience

Additional Requirements

• English language proficiency

Note:

Students who are accepted into the program will be invited to:

• Submit a resume and/or complete an intake questionnaire after receiving their offer
• Attend a mandatory Program Welcome Session* online, prior to program start up
• Complete an English language assessment upon registration. Students who test below the required COMM 170/171 English proficiency level will take the ENGL-700 Professional English Communications course or the pre-requisite English COMM course for ENGL-700 in the first semester.

*All new students must attend a session prior to their program start date.

1. Apply Online

Domestic Students

If you are applying through the Better Jobs Ontario Program, please apply at the Employment Training Centre (Progress Campus). The Better Jobs Ontario Program is a funding initiative for those who have been laid-off and are in need of training. For more information go to Better Jobs Ontario Program.

If you have previously attended a full-time program at Centennial College, you may be eligible for a Program Transfer. Visit Enrolment Services at any Campus for information.

All other applicants must apply online at Ontariocolleges.ca. A non-refundable application fee of $125 must accompany applications. The fee is payable online, by telephone, online banking, by mail, or in-person to Ontariocolleges.ca. For more information go to Ontariocolleges.ca Application Fees.

International Students

 Apply directly to Centennial College here.

2. Submit Documents

Domestic Applicants

Current Ontario high school students and graduates from Ontario high schools: Notify your guidance counsellor that you have applied to college and your school will forward transcripts to Centennial College via Ontariocolleges.ca.

Graduates of college/university, or high school outside Ontario but within Canada: You are responsible for requesting that your educational institute sends any required documents and transcripts to Ontariocolleges.ca.

Domestic applicants who attended school outside of Canada: If you are submitting transcripts to meet admission requirements, you must have the transcripts assessed by an independent credential assessment agency such as World Education Services (WES) or International Credential Assessment Service (ICAS). For more information go to Submitting your Transcripts.

International Applicants

Please refer to the International Education Application Guide.

3. Confirm Your Offer of Admission

Offers of Admission are sent by mail to eligible applicants. When you receive your offer, you must login to your account at Ontariocolleges.ca and confirm before the Deadline to Confirm noted in your offer letter.

You may confirm only one college and one program offer at a time.

You must confirm your offer by the Deadline to Confirm noted in your Offer of Admission letter or your seat may be given to another applicant.

When you confirm your Offer of Admission at Centennial College you are given access to your personal myCentennial account where you can check your email, grades, register for courses, pay tuition fees, and see your class timetable.

4. Pay Fees

Centennial fees statements are sent by email to your personal email account and to your myCentennial email account. Fees statements are not mailed.

You must make a minimum payment by the Fees Deadline noted in your Fees Statement or your seat may be given to another applicant.

5. Build Your Timetable (Register for Courses)

Build your timetable (web-register for courses) at my.centennialcollege.ca.

Fall registration begins mid-July
January registration begins mid-December
May registration begins mid-April

Your web-registration will not open if:

You have not submitted your minimum fee payment by the deadline
You received a Conditional Offer of Admission and you have not met the conditions of your offer.

Once you have paid your fees or have made appropriate arrangements, register for your courses online through myCentennial.

Fees noted below are estimates only. Tuition is based on two semesters, beginning Fall 2024.

Technology Requirements

Bring IT programs will require students to own and use a mobile computing device that meets or exceeds the recommended hardware requirements.

Note: If you require accommodation for a documented disability, please consider your adaptive technology needs when you select a device for your BringIT programs (click for recommendations). If you wish to access disability services, please make an appointment with the Centre for Accessible Learning and Counselling Services, by calling 416-289-5000, ext. 3850, or by email at calcs@centennialcollege.ca.

Have questions? Check out Frequently Asked Questions for our Bring IT Program.

Students from this program will require to own/purchase a device and software relevant to the program:

Minimum Recommended Hardware Specifications

• Preferred: Windows or Apple laptop capable of running the current version of Microsoft Office.

Specific software requirements will be discussed during the Bootcamp sessions

• Note: This program requires students to use contemporary software titles that are popular in the industry. While some may be free to download, you may need to buy others. For details, email Program Coordinator Kelly McConvey.

You will need regular access to a computer with an internet connection. High speed broadband access (LAN, Cable or DSL) with minimum 10mbps download speed is highly recommended. Some courses have more advanced system requirements.

Program Vocational Learning Outcomes

Program Vocational Learning Outcomes describe what graduates of the program have demonstrated they can do with the knowledge and skills they have achieved during their studies. The outcomes are closely tied to the needs of the workplace. Through assessment (e.g., assignments and tests), students verify their ability to reliably perform these outcomes before graduating.

1. Evaluate the effect of technology and emerging media on contemporary storytelling.
2. Collaborate with communicators, clients, and subject matter experts to produce mutually acceptable content.
3. Plan, create, and edit business and technical content that aligns with client, project, structure, and strategy requirements.
4. Design and create complex visual aids, presentations, and layouts for print and virtual platforms.
5. Design and develop innovative communication methods to create audience-appropriate content
6. Manage the execution of a communications project using effective leadership skills and project management tools and techniques.
7. Develop and maintain a professional portfolio and materials to market and promote services.
8. Assess the effectiveness of communications strategies in relation to audience’s needs and industry standards.
9. Adapt existing content to meet business requirements.
10. Complete all work in accordance with applicable laws, regulations, and industry principles and practices, including the use and re-use of copyright materials.