In this course, communication professionals will build the strategic skills needed to move beyond tactical execution and grow into trusted consultants, advisors, and leaders.
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Public Relations Certificate
Program Cohort, Registration, and Cost
Application Deadlines |
Bundle and Save on the Full Program |
|---|---|
Fall 2025: Oct. 6, 2025 – April 5, 2026 |
$4,770 (Six courses)
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Spring 2026: April 6 - Sept. 27, 2026 |
$4,770 (Six courses)
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Monthly payment option: $795 per course for six months
Public Relations Certificate Overview
Become a Strategic Voice in a Communication-Driven World
In today’s fast-paced, high-stakes communication environment, public relations professionals are expected to be more than media managers—they are strategic advisors, ethical stewards, content creators, and data-informed decision-makers. The Rutgers Public Relations Certificate Program equips both emerging and upskilling professionals with the tools, insights, and forward-thinking skills needed to thrive in modern communication roles across industries.
Designed for professionals who are expanding their communication responsibilities, making a career pivot into public relations, or looking to elevate their strategic impact, this six-course program blends theory, practice, and the latest technologies influencing the field, including artificial intelligence, multi-channel storytelling, and measurement tools that connect communication outcomes to business goals.
Rutgers developed this PR Certificate program by incorporating the strengths of a research-focused university with current industry best practices. The result is a contemporary curriculum instructed by practicing communication leaders to guide the student’s development of in-demand hard and soft skills, ongoing expansion of a deep toolbox, and generating the respect to guide senior leadership through organizational change.
A highlight of the program is the Public Relations Capstone Project, which gives students the opportunity to design a real-world campaign aligned with their career goals, organizational needs, and professional context, resulting in a strategic, portfolio-ready asset they can apply immediately in their work.
Who Will Benefit from the Public Relations Certificate?
- Public relations and public affairs professionals who are focused on growing their influence within their organization and with senior leadership
- Marketing, human resources, or other specialists seeing an increase in their areas of operation and internal communication needs
- PR practitioners with few in-house peers to guide their PR skill growth to create and execute campaigns and plans
- Public information officers that need to expand their abilities to impact a growing range of audiences and build reputations, trust, and credibility
- Social media specialists who are on the front lines of public perception
- PR agency staff and consultants seeking to add skillsets that will grow their business
- Journalists transitioning into PR who need to build skills well beyond media relations
- Non-profit leaders expanding areas of expertise or growing awareness of causes
- Lawyers and other legal professionals advocating for their clients or growing their footprint
- Candidates for certifications such as APR and ABC or advanced degrees
What You Will Gain from Completing the Public Relations Certificate
Developing the Mindset of a Communication Strategist
Creating Trust and Reputation: Ethics Within Public Relations
In this course, students will learn to recognize and evaluate ethical challenges, strengthening their ability to navigate complex situations and lead with integrity in their campaigns.
Powerful Storytelling for Contemporary Communicators
This course helps professionals harness the power of storytelling to strategically engage target audiences while integrating AI tools and crafting effective prompts to enhance their writing process.
Building Social Media Campaigns That Create Impact
In this course, students will learn to design and execute sophisticated social media campaigns by combining compelling content, visuals, strategy, timing, and cadence to maximize impact and online effectiveness.
Increasing PR’s Power Through Marketing Communication
This course equips students to strategically integrate owned, earned, shared, and paid channels, harnessing their unique strengths and measuring impact to amplify the effectiveness and value of PR through marketing communication.
Measuring Your Communication Effectiveness
This course guides public relations professionals through planning, measuring, and reporting campaign effectiveness using SMART objectives, industry frameworks, dashboards, and data-driven insights to connect PR efforts to real business value.
Capstone Project
As the culminating experience, students will develop a comprehensive public relations capstone project tailored to their professional setting or aspirations. This real-world project allows participants to apply the skills and strategies gained throughout the program to design, present, and potentially launch a campaign that advances their organization or their career.
Course Schedules
Fall 2025 Cohort
Course
*CEU Earned
Dates
Developing the Mindset of a Communication Strategist
3.0 CEU
October 6 - November 2, 2025
Creating Trust and Reputation: Ethics Within Public Relations
3.0 CEU
November 3 - 30, 2025
Powerful Storytelling for Contemporary Communicators
3.0 CEU
December 1, 2025 - January 11, 2026
Building Social Media Campaigns That Create Impact
3.0 CEU
January 12 - February 8, 2026
Increasing PR's Power Through Marketing Communication
3.0 CEU
February 9 - March 8, 2026
Measuring Your Communication Effectiveness
3.0 CEU
March 9 - April 5, 2026
Spring 2026 Cohort
Course
*CEU Earned
Dates
Developing the Mindset of a Communication Strategist
3.0 CEU
April 6 - May 3, 2026
Creating Trust and Reputation: Ethics Within Public Relations
3.0 CEU
May 4 - 31, 2026
Powerful Storytelling for Contemporary Communicators
3.0 CEU
June 1 - 28, 2026
Building Social Media Campaigns That Create Impact
3.0 CEU
July 6 - August 2, 2026
Increasing PR’s Power Through Marketing Communication
3.0 CEU
August 3 - 30, 2026
Measuring Your Communication Effectiveness
3.0 CEU
August 31 - September 27, 2026
*Continuing and Professional Studies (CPS) at Rutgers University's the School of Communication and Information offers 18 Continuing Education Units (CEU) for the Public Relations 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.
Seek 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.
Pay 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.
SallieMae loans may be suitable for you
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?
- Public Relations Certificate
- Transcript
- Letter of Certification of Continuing Education Units
Questions?
For general program questions or to register:
CPS@Comminfo.Rutgers.edu
848-932-7169