Crisis Communication and Reputation Management Certificate

Program Cohort, Registration, and Cost

Application Deadlines

Bundle and Save on the Full Program

Spring 2025: April 7 - Sept. 28, 2025
Application Deadline: April 4, 2025

$6,570 (Six courses)

  • SAVE 15%: Enroll in the full program by March 21, 2025 for $5,584.50
  • SAVE 10%: Enroll in the full program after March 22, 2025 for $5,913.00

Summer 2025: June 30 – Dec. 21, 2025
Application Deadline: June 27, 2025

$6,570 (Six courses)

  • SAVE 15%: Enroll in the full program by June 13, 2025 for $5,584.50
  • SAVE 10%: Enroll in the full program after June 14, 2025 for $5,913.00

Fall 2025: Sept. 29, 2025 – April 5, 2026
Application Deadline: Sept. 26, 2025

$6,570 (Six courses)

  • SAVE 15%: Enroll in the full program by Sept. 12, 2025 for $5,584.50
  • SAVE 10%: Enroll in the full program after Sept. 13, 2025 for $5,913.00

Monthly payment option: $1,095 per course for six months

Crisis Communication and Reputation Management Certificate Overview

Navigate turbulent waters with confidence through the Rutgers Crisis Communication and Reputation Management Certificate (CCRM). Crisis communication requires leaders who can guide decision-makers through volatile, uncertain, complex, and ambiguous (VUCA) situations while protecting the organization’s reputation, brand, credibility, and trust and ensuring its ability to thrive.

The art of being an effective spokesperson is a valuable tool at any level. The Rutgers Crisis Communication and Reputation Management Certificate program offers you a transformative opportunity to navigate uncertainty and unforeseen business challenges with confidence. Dive into real-world case studies, simulation exercises, and interactive workshops with our internationally renowned team of experienced instructors. Gain insights into crisis communication, crisis communication planning, crisis response strategies, communication during a crisis, media training, and risk and reputation management. Our comprehensive online program includes six four-week courses plus two one-hour, one-on-one media training sessions.

The most successful students will have three-plus years of experience with communication, PR, marketing, community relations, human resources, or other professional duties. Whether you are a communication professional seeking specialization or an organizational leader committed to safeguarding brand equity, our program empowers you with the tools to thrive in high-stakes situations and emerge not just unscathed, but stronger. Secure your Rutgers Crisis Communication and Reputation Management certification, earn Continuing Education Units (CEUs), and become a risk and reputation management professional—enroll today!


Begin your journey today.

Who Will Benefit from the Crisis Communication and Reputation Management Certificate?

  • Public relations and public affairs professionals who need to guide their organization during challenging times
  • Marketing, human resources, or other specialists who face labor actions, change management, workplace incidents, or other internal challenges
  • Marketing leaders navigating reputational issues such as recalls, regulatory scrutiny, or flawed products
  • Investor relations practitioners with demands to guide organizations through high-stakes situations that can affect market value, product launches, and more
  • School district and higher education leaders in environments of community conflict, potential threats, and wrongdoing accusations
  • Public information officers for military, police, fire, and emergency management who need to expand their abilities to impact safety, awareness, and disclosure
  • Social media specialists who are often on the front lines of detecting and responding to public-facing reputational threats
  • Public relations agency staff and consultants seeking to add skillsets that will grow their business
  • Candidates for certifications such as APR and ABC or advanced degrees
  • Chief risk and information security officers who assess and mitigate competitive, regulatory, and technological threats
  • Forensics and integrity services leaders who investigate facts, manage regulatory challenges, and resolve disputes
  • Legal compliance and corporate governance executives who handle compliance regarding internal and external laws and regulations
  • Corporate communications, strategic communications, and legislative affairs leaders who build relationships, develop strategies, and craft messages

What You Will Gain from Completing the Crisis Communication and Reputation Management Certificate

Fundamentals of Crisis Communication

You’ll be introduced to the overarching principles and theories of crisis communication management in Fundamentals of Crisis Communication and learn how to identify potential crises, explore some of the top crisis mitigation strategies, examine facets of artificial intelligence in crisis response, and view how other organizations navigated their challenges.

Crisis Communication Planning

In Crisis Communication Planning, you’ll develop your own custom crisis management plan for your organization and learn about the dynamics of managing a crisis team and how to develop relationships with key publics.

Crisis Response Strategies

In Crisis Response Strategies, you’ll develop a comprehensive set of techniques for responding to active crisis scenarios and develop a toolkit for managing online and traditional media for effective crisis responses.

Communication During a Crisis

In Communication During a Crisis, you’ll develop branding and related communication strategies applied during crisis events, including key messaging and other tools for internal and external crisis communication.

Media Engagement

In Media Engagement, you’ll prepare strategies for interacting with media and other stakeholders on behalf of the organization during crisis events, effectively providing statements, working with hostile questions, and directing multiple spokespeople with different agendas.

Risk and Reputation Management

In Risk and Reputation Management, you’ll develop strategies for managing risk and protecting reputations throughout your organization including developing a custom risk and vulnerabilities assessment for your organization, incorporating best practices for improving reputations, and developing ethical decision-making tools.

One-on-One Media Training Coaching

Twice during the program, you will participate in One-on-One Media Training, helping you, as a growing crisis communication leader, have a positive impact on your organization’s target audiences, or even instruct other spokespeople and subject matter experts on effective interviews. One session is on media-focused message refinement for your organization and the second session is a critiqued individual mock media interview.

Course Schedules

Fall 2024 Cohort
Course
*CEU Earned
Dates
4.0 CEU
September 30 - October 27, 2024
4.0 CEU
October 28 - November 24, 2024
4.0 CEU
November 25 - December 22, 2024
4.0 CEU
January 13 - February 9, 2025
4.0 CEU
February 10 - March 9, 2025
4.0 CEU
March 10 - April 6, 2025
Winter 2025 Cohort
Course
*CEU Earned
Dates
4.0 CEU
January 13 - February 9, 2025
4.0 CEU
February 10 - March 9, 2025
4.0 CEU
March 10 - April 6, 2025
4.0 CEU
April 7 - May 4, 2025
4.0 CEU
May 5 - June 1, 2025
4.0 CEU
June 2 - 29, 2025
Spring 2025 Cohort
Course
*CEU Earned
Dates
4.0 CEU
April 7 - May 4, 2025
4.0 CEU
May 5 - June 1, 2025
4.0 CEU
June 2 - 29, 2025
4.0 CEU
June 30 - July 27, 2025
4.0 CEU
July 28 - August 24, 2025
4.0 CEU
August 25 - September 28, 2025
Summer 2025 Cohort
Course
*CEU Earned
Dates
4.0 CEU
June 30 - July 27, 2025
4.0 CEU
July 28 - August 24, 2025
4.0 CEU
August 25 - September 28, 2025
4.0 CEU
September 29 - October 26, 2025
4.0 CEU
October 27 - November 23, 2025
4.0 CEU
November 24 - December 21, 2025
Fall 2025 Cohort
Course
*CEU Earned
Dates
4.0 CEU
September 29 - October 26, 2025
4.0 CEU
October 27 - November 23, 2025
4.0 CEU
November 24 - December 21, 2025
4.0 CEU
January 12 - February 8, 2026
4.0 CEU
February 9 - March 8, 2026
4.0 CEU
March 9 - April 5, 2026

*Continuing and Professional Studies (CPS) at Rutgers University's the School of Communication and Information offers 18 Continuing Education Units (CEU) for the Crisis Communication and Reputation Management Certificate Program. CPS maintains all CEU records and can provide documentation in support of CEU attainment.

Meet the Instructional Team

Getting Started

How do I register and pay?
  • Create an account in Ancor if do not already have one.
  • Once you've created an account, use the links provided by your CPS program coordinator to add each course to your cart.

 Pay in full:

  • Your discount will automatically apply once all the courses are in your cart.
  • Enter your payment information and submit.

 Pay as you go:

  • Enter your payment information and submit.
  • Each month, we will reach out to you to remind you to register for your next course.
What payment options are available?

It’s quick and easy! Registration is on a first-come, first-served basis.

piggy bank standing on bookSeek Employer Support

Many employers support the upskilling costs of this certificate program. Connect with your human resources department to understand your organization’s policy, and reach out to cps@comminfo.rutgers.edu regarding your next step.


Generic Credit Card imagePay by Credit or Debit Card

Once you enroll in the program, a member of the CPS team will provide you with a link to the program and course registration. You may purchase this certificate’s bundled tuition savings or the monthly course rate. Online registration is completed with a credit or debit card. Registration is complete when your credit or debit card information is processed.


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Step 1: Apply here https://www.salliemae.com/
Step 2: Your application will come to our department for certification.
Step 3: Once you are certified and SallieMae approves your loan, reach out to cps@comminfo.rutgers.edu to complete your registration.


Students within Continuing and Professional Studies are not considered matriculated Rutgers University students and therefore are not eligible for Rutgers University’s financial aid.

What will I receive upon completion?
  • Crisis Communication and Reputation Management Digital Badge
  • Crisis Communication and Reputation Management Certificate
  • Transcript
  • Letter of Certification of Continuing Education Units

Questions?

For program questions or to register:
CPS@Comminfo.Rutgers.edu
848-932-7169