Apply to an Advanced Graduate Certificate program

We admit new students for the Fall and Spring semesters only.

Advanced Graduate Certificate Programs

Advanced Graduate Certificate in Visual Communication (18 credit hours)
Advanced Graduate Certificate in Content Strategy (18 credit hours)
Advanced Graduate Certificate in Instructional Design (18 credit hours)
Advanced Graduate Certificate in Communications Management (18 credit hours)
Advanced Graduate Certificate in User Experience (18 credit hours)

Minimum Requirements

Master's degree in technical communication or equivalent from an accredited college, or
Graduate Certificate in Technical Communication from SPSU

Application Materials

Be sure to give yourself plenty of time to gather and compile the following documents for your application. All application requirements are effective for Fall 2012 admission:

Graduate Certificate application
Although the form instructs you to send the graduate certificate application to the Graduate Admissions office, send it instead to Donna McPherson in the English, Technical Communication & Media Arts department.
Application fee
Send a $50 non-refundable application fee with your application. Checks should be made payable to Southern Polytechnic State University.
Application essay
Your essay should be at least 2 pages (500 words minimum), double-spaced, and typed. Focus on why you have chosen an online learning environment for graduate-level study. Also include a list of elective courses your are most interested in taking and why these courses support your professional and academic goals.
Professional resume
Show current and past work and other relevant experience.
Portfolio
A portfolio is not required; please disregard this requirement on the application form.
Immunization Waiver
As an applicant to an online program, you are not required to have current immunizations, but you will need to return the immunization form as part of your application. Fill out the "Student Information" section at the top, check the second box under "Exemptions," and send the form with the rest of your application materials.
Transcript(s)
Ask every institution you've attended to mail an official transcript to Donna McPherson in the English, Technical Communication & Media Arts department. If you are an international students who did not earn a baccalaureate degree from a college in the U.S., ask your institutions to submit an official English-translated transcript of college-level education.

Admission Decisions

The Graduate Review Committee, made up of department faculty, will evaluate your application materials packet. They will assess your submission carefully and determine your suitability for admission to your program of choice.

The committee meets immediately after the application deadline passes. Because admission decisions need to be made quickly, they will only consider completed applications. The Graduate Review Committee reserves the right to accept or reject any application.

You'll be notified in writing once a decision is made on your application.

Your application materials are due for consideration by these dates:

July 1 for Fall Semester (begins mid-August)
November 1 for Spring Semester (begins early January)

Send all your application materials to:

Donna McPherson, Program Assistant
English, Technical Communication & Media Arts Department
Southern Polytechnic State University
1100 South Marietta Parkway
Atrium Building, J333
Marietta, GA 30060

Next steps:

English, Technical Communication & Media Arts Department | Southern Polytechnic State University
Atrium Building, J333 | 1100 South Marietta Parkway | Marietta, GA 30060

678-915-7202 | 678-915-7425 (fax) | tcom@spsu.edu | Site Map