Online Graduate Certificates

The nine courses offered across our three certificate programs also make up the curriculum of our online master’s program, the M.A. in Digital Communication. The rigorous, project-based curriculum allows students to explore the economic drivers and technological changes affecting media and communication organizations today. Students learn how to:

• Lead, plan strategically and harness agile, entrepreneurial thinking for beneficial change and innovation
• Find trends, patterns and stories in data and communicate insights that will drive impactful decision-making
• Create compelling stories across media platforms, deliver unforgettable user experiences and develop visual literacy to succeed in a design-focused world

Some courses are taught by full-time UNC Hussman faculty, whose fall and spring courses are part of their regular teaching loads. Others are led by experienced industry experts, whose teaching is informed by their daily work as leaders in various media and communications industries.

Each certificate offers one course per summer, fall or spring session, allowing students to complete a certificate in one year.

Certificate courses are taught via the university-supported Canvas learning-management system. Instructors deliver content and students participate mostly asynchronously. This means students must log on often but usually not at a specific time, except for occasional synchronous sessions on Zoom about twice per course. Students and instructors are supported in their use of Canvas by UNC Hussman staff, university tech support, and external Canvas help resources—including 24/7 chat and phone support.

The certificate programs follow the university’s alternate academic calendar, utilized by several other online graduate programs. Each 14-week session is divided into modules, each usually one week in length. While much of students’ work is self-paced within an individual module, the courses feature regular deadlines for assignments and discussion participation, providing a combination of flexibility, accountability and rigor ideal for for busy professionals seeking a UNC-caliber graduate learning experience.

Applicants accepted into our online master’s program can transfer credit for up to three certificate courses toward the degree program. This allows students to try out online learning before committing to a full degree program and lighten their course loads—from two courses per session, down to one—for part of their time in the master’s program.

We enroll new online master’s students once annually, with spring application deadlines and a fall start date. Certificate students and graduates are not automatically admitted to the master’s program. They complete the same application as other applicants but may seek recommendation letters from certificate instructors and highlight in application materials their successes in the certificate program.

Based on 2025-26 estimated rates
¹Approximate total for one certificate program

Students should budget up to $150 per course for books, software, subscriptions or other purchases required by the instructor. They are expected to have consistent access to a computer with an up-to-date Mac or PC operating system and that meets the system requirements for Adobe Illustrator. A home broadband internet connection is required.

Many employers offer tuition assistance or reimbursement for employees. Check with your organization’s office of human resources. The university offers an installment payment plan. Tuition payment plans and all other financial arrangements are made through the Office of the University Cashier or the Office of Scholarships and Student Aid. UNC Hussman does not manage student bills.

Criteria for admission include:

• Three years of full-time communications experience
• A recognized undergraduate degree
• Undergraduate grade-point average of “B” or better (3.0 GPA on 4.0 scale)

The GPA standard is treated as a guide, and meeting the above criteria does not guarantee admission.

Apply via the university’s online application. Select “Certificate” as your application type, along with the appropriate program name (e.g., Digital Storytelling) and start term.

The following materials are required:

• Unofficial transcripts
  Upload a transcript for all postsecondary institutions listed on your application.
• Statement of purpose
  Describe your career goals and academic interests, focusing on how they think the program will benefit you professionally and personally. The statement should be double-spaced and no longer than two pages.
• Resume
  Include details of all communication-related work experience, totaling at least three years of full-time experience (e.g., three years in a full-time communications role, six years in a role with 50% communications duties, etc.).
• Writing sample
  Submit a news article, marketing plan, press release or other example of professionally oriented writing.
  
• Application fee
  Pay the $90 fee payable by credit Visa, Mastercard, Discover, check or money order. These categories of applicants are eligible to have the application fee waived:
  • U.S. veterans and active military personnel: You will automatically receive a fee waiver based after answering the related questions on the admission application.
  • Full-time employees of UNC-Chapel Hill: Please download this form, have it completed and signed by staff from the university’s central human resources office, and submit it to certificates@unc.edu. Check the “credit card” box as your payment method in the application, and proceed with completing and submitting your application. Your application will be considered based on the time it is submitted, even if the fee waiver has not yet been approved at that point.

For technical support with the application, please contact UNCSlateSupport@unc.edu. For questions about the certificate programs or admissions process, contact grad@hussman.unc.edu.

UNC Hussman faculty and graduate-program administrators will review fall 2026 applications on a rolling basis for all three certificate programs. Important dates:

• Application review begins – May 1, 2026
  Applying by this date gives you the best chance at admission.

• Final admissions deadline – June 8, 2026
  Applications received after review begins will be considered for admission as space permits, until the final deadline.

All deadlines are at 11:59 p.m. Eastern on the date listed.