Grady College and Terry College of Business proudly announce the undergraduate Corporate Communications Certificate, a new program preparing students for future careers specializing in business acumen and communications strategy for an increasingly integrated field.

The new certificate program is housed in the Department of Advertising and Public Relations at Grady College. Co-directed by Zifei “Fay” Chen, an associate professor, and Ben Deutsch, an executive in residence, this certificate program will start recruiting its first cohort in Fall 2026. The certificate combines two core courses in management and marketing at Terry College with two core public relations courses in corporate communications, plus the choice of one elective course from each program.

With the core courses being offered in both fall and spring semesters, the application for the first cohort for the Corporate Communications Certificate can be completed here.

“I’m thrilled with the launch of our newest undergraduate certificate — Corporate Communications, said Charles N. Davis, dean of Grady College. “It represents a real milestone for UGA, another Grady College-Terry College partnership, and it addresses an area of great interest for both our students and our employers.”

The Corporate Communications Certificate will provide students with a unique opportunity to dive deep into the subject of corporate communications by learning and understanding how communication expertise and business knowledge work together to support organizational goals and business strategy. Taking the courses built into this certificate program will help communication students add a business-oriented credential that distinguishes them in a competitive job market. At the same time, it will also help business students appreciate cross-functional versatility as they prepare for professional roles spanning communication, public relations, marketing, stakeholder management and workplace culture. It is an education for future leadership positions in building stakeholder trust, advancing business goals and shaping organizational impact. 

“The Corporate Communications Certificate gives students the business foundation and the communication expertise to lead in today’s organizations,” said Terry College of Business Dean Santanu Chatterjee. “It offers the integration of communication strategy, business literacy, data analytics and leadership. By combining Terry College coursework in marketing, management and specialized business disciplines with strategic communications, we’re preparing graduates who can build trust, strengthen brands, and help organizations make better decisions. We are happy to collaborate with the Grady College on this promising program.”

Course offerings

The Corporate Communications Certificate is open to any Grady College or Terry College undergraduate student who has completed, or is in progress of completing, at least 30 hours of instruction and has a GPA of 3.0 or above.

A total of 18 hours must be completed to earn the certificate, including four required core courses: Introduction to Corporate Communications, Advanced Corporate Communications, Principles of Marketing and Principles of Management. Students will have the choice of one elective communications course and one elective business course. Elective communications courses include public affairs communications, crisis communication, sports communications or PR Management, while business electives range from financial management to organizational leadership, music business or risk management, among others.

The certificate is expected to focus heavily on professional practice through real-world cases and will draw on the vast networks of Grady College and Terry College. Among the expected highlights are lectures from chief communications officers and senior industry leaders throughout the country, and especially from some of Atlanta’s Fortune 500 companies including The Coca-Cola Company, UPS and Delta Air Lines.

“Aligning business acumen and communication strategy to broaden students’ perspectives for greater impact as they enter the workforce has been the core when we started discussing this collaboration,” said Juan Meng, a UGA Athletic Association Endowed Professor and head of the Department of Advertising and Public Relations. “With Dr. Zifei Chen’s research expertise on corporate communications, Professor Ben Deutsch’s rich industry experience and connections, and the support from Terry College of Business, we are ready to provide students with some of the most relevant courses to combine communication expertise and business knowledge that can translate their skill sets across various industries and organizational functions.” 

More details can be found on the Corporate Communications Certificate webpage.

Applications for Spring 2027 enrollment are open now through Oct. 9, 2026, through the Corporate Communications Certificate application form.