Online Graduate Certificate in Organizational Communication
Strengthen communication strategy to drive organizational impact
100%
online
4+
Months
12
credits
$5,250
$438/credit
Program Overview
In today’s fast-paced and high-stakes environment, clear, ethical, and strategic communication is critical to achieving organizational goals. The Online Graduate Certificate in Organizational Communication at Northeastern University equips professionals with the tools to design and lead effective communication strategies across industries.
Whether you're managing internal communications, shaping brand messaging, or navigating stakeholder dynamics, this program prepares you to research, create, assess, and improve communication plans that align with organizational values and drive real results.
What You'll Learn: Strategic communication tools for real-world organizations
- Conduct communication research and stakeholder analysis to inform strategy
- Develop targeted messaging using audience, channel, and message alignment
- Create compelling content across multimedia platforms to support organizational objectives
- Navigate ethical and intercultural challenges in communication planning
- Evaluate communication effectiveness using measurement tools and data-driven frameworks
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Organizational Communication Program Benefits and Features
Practical communication skills for today’s workplace
From strategic storytelling to communication audits, you'll gain actionable skills that can be applied immediately across industries like healthcare, higher ed, tech, and nonprofits.
Taught by experienced communication professionals
Learn from faculty with real-world expertise in internal and external communication, digital strategy, and organizational culture.
Build a communication portfolio
Across four project-based courses, you'll create real communication plans, content, and assessments you can use to showcase your skills to employers.
Earn credits toward a master's degree
Lay the foundation for a future master’s degree: The Online Graduate Certificate in Organizational Communication can pave the way to a master's degree at Northeastern University—if you earn a B or better in your coursework, you can apply credits to the following degrees:
Incrementally advance your education with valuable credentials that immediately help you move forward in your career.
How to Join
Join the Online Graduate Certificate in Organizational Communication using Northeastern Online's Fast App, a streamlined graduate admissions process you can complete in less than 5 minutes. No lengthy application. No waiting for an admission decision.
All you need is a bachelor's degree in any field to join.
College
Current Fast App dates
| Term | Submit app by | Enroll by | Start courses |
| Fall 1 | August 1 | August 25 | September 3 |
Submit your Fast App by August 1 to start September 3.
Not ready to start?
Request more information.
Courses
Take all 4 courses as part of the graduate certificate.
CMN 6150: Communication Research and Strategy
Introduces the first two stages of an organizational communication program—research and strategy. Covers the information gathering a practitioner must perform, from organizational objectives to key stakeholder groups, to develop optimal communications solutions. Includes the three communications elements critical to achieving the desired communications outcomes—audience, message, and channel. Introduces methods for producing communications plans that support organizational performance. Offers students an opportunity to gain an understanding of the evolving roles and responsibilities of different communication functions.
3 credits
CMN 6230: Content Creation and Delivery
Considers how internal and external communications networks through digital and nondigital media can be leveraged when designing and executing communication plans. Offers students an opportunity to construct multimedia signature stories to influence target audiences and to support organizational objectives. Explores stakeholder analysis, communication planning methodology, and the principles of persuasion. Students apply concepts by experimenting with various tools and platforms and learning from the experiences and reflections of their peers.
3 credits
CMN 6300: Communication Strategies for Organizational Culture and Ethics
Examines the need for communication professionals to understand the environment and context for the communications programs they develop and operate. Explores how ethical issues and intercultural communication both affect and are affected by organizational communication programs. Considers key questions when it comes to topics that can trigger strong stakeholder reactions. Through discussion, real-world scenarios, and case analysis, offers students an opportunity to apply the framework and principles to answer these questions and keep the organization’s communications on the right path.
3 credits
CMN 6250: Organizational Communication Assessment
Focuses on demonstrating the value of communication activities to the organization. Explores an evaluative framework and measurement tools to make data-driven decisions and recommendations for improvement. Offers students an opportunity to apply the framework to assess a communications channel for real-world organizations.
3 credits
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