Professional Communication Essentials associate certificate
This three-course, nine-credit associate certificate is designed for students in programs
or in workplace environments that require good communication skills. The
program focuses on the communication essentials of business writing and
public speaking. The writing includes direct, indirect, and persuasive messages,
document/webpage design, and emails, memos, letters, and reports. Public
speaking includes running meetings, giving oral presentations, and working in
teams.
This associate certificate is given as a completion credential. Any student successfully
completing the three courses is eligible for the associate certificate. Some students
might complete the associate certificate while enrolled in their current programs, while
others may be admitted to UFV for the purpose of taking the certificate.
Entrance requirements
New students should apply to Qualifying Studies. Students will be
required to meet the admissions requirements for the university, as well as meet
CMNS course prerequisites.
Students currently enrolled in post-secondary programs are required to meet
only the course prerequisites. All
Communications courses (except CMNS 115) require some
proficiency with email, web-based research, and word-processing packages.
Fees and additional costs
See the Fees and Other Costs section. Other than the $25 graduation fee, there are no additional fees for the
associate certificate. Students will be eligible for financial aid if they take all three
courses in the summer.
Program outline
Course
Title
Credits
CMNS 125
Communicating Professionally to Academic and Workplace Audiences
3
or CMNS 175
Writing for the Internet
CMNS 235
Public Speaking
3
CMNS 251
Professional Report Writing
3
Note: CMNS 125 and CMNS 251 are offered online, as well as in classroom format.
Undergraduate continuance
Students enrolled in undergraduate courses (courses numbered 100 or higher) must maintain an undergraduate Cumulative Grade Point Average (CGPA) of at least 2.00 to remain enrolled in Good Academic Standing at UFV. Students in Good Academic Standing will have no registration limits placed on them. Failure to meet the minimum CGPA requirement will result in restrictions on registration and may eventually lead to academic suspension from undergraduate studies at UFV. Students on Academic Warning or Academic Probation are limited to registering in 10 credits. For further details, see the Academic standing and undergraduate continuance section of the academic calendar. Academic standing is governed by UFV's Undergraduate Continuance policy (92).
Residency
Students must complete at least two of the three courses required in the certificate at UFV.
Graduation requirements
Students must achieve a minimum GPA of 2.00 calculated on the three courses used for the program, with a minimum grade of C in any individual course, to be eligible for the associate certificate.
Students can apply and be eligible for the associate certificate retroactively to Fall
2005. All three courses must be completed within a 10 year time period.