Program Overview
Program Details
Canadian Students
Full Time Offerings
Part Time Offerings
International Students
Full Time Offerings
Your Learning Experience
This intense, one-year Ontario College Graduate Certificate program will provide you with the skills and experience needed to hit the ground running as a strategic communications and corporate public relations professional in the private or public sector. You will learn how to plan, develop and execute effective public relations strategies, and handle the PR, communications and even ethical issues organizations face every day. You will also learn technical skills such as graphic and web design techniques in addition to practical skills such as special event planning and press release distribution to help you graduate career-ready.
Sharpen your verbal and written communications skills during a 224-hour field placement with our industry partners, where you’ll gain real work experience and make business contacts through professional communications and public relations associations.
Fanshawe College’s Public Relations - Corporate Communications program is designed to prepare college and university graduates to enter the exciting and challenging world of communications. Students will hone their writing and presentation skills, learn the latest digital communication and web design techniques, and analyze public relations and ethics challenges.
A second-term field placement allows students to put these new skills to work. Students will make business contacts through professional associations and complete course work with a community focus. The curriculum is current, community-minded, and developed by professional communicators.
Developing superior writing skills, combined with an emphasis on teamwork, graphic design skills, and technological savvy gives graduates of this program a competitive edge. This program is best suited to individuals with already above-average writing skills, an outgoing personality and an ability to see solutions when others are focusing on problems. If you’re ready for the challenge, a world of career possibilities is waiting.
This program is available part-time
Career Information
Successful graduates of Fanshawe’s Public Relations – Corporate Communications program are working in the health care, finance, education, arts and entertainment, sports, manufacturing, corporate government and non-profit sectors. As communications professionals, their roles may include writing, research, media relations, social media management, government relations, crisis communication, event planning, fundraising, community relations, strategic communication planning and marketing.
Did you know Fanshawe consistently ranks high in graduation employment rates among large colleges in Ontario?
Here are some examples of career opportunities for graduates of Fanshawe’s Public Relations-Corporate Communications program:
- Communications Specialist
Play an integral role in planning and implementing both internal and external communications initiatives, as well as developing corporate policies and procedures. - Communications/Public Relations Officer
Perform a variety of communication tactics to create and design proactive and strategic communications. - Events and Communications Coordinator
Coordinate corporate events from ideation and planning to execution for an organization’s internal and external initiatives.
Field Placement FAQs
How does field placement work?
You will research and apply for a variety of placement positions during the first semester of the program. These postings have been organized by the program coordinator. Once you have been accepted for a placement position, you will work with them every Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday during the second semester in order to complete the minimum requirement of 224 hours. There will also be assignments within the field placement course, such as a learning contract, bi-weekly reports, an online portfolio, as well as a presentation at the end of the term.
What kinds of organizations participate in field placement?
We have had students working in every type of organization including large corporations, small businesses, non-profits, arts organizations, as well as municipal and provincial government offices.
Do we have to do a placement in London or can it be somewhere else, for example, Toronto?
Your placement can be outside of London, although we don’t recommend it. You will still be in classes Mondays and Tuesdays during the second term, and you have to attend those classes, and you would have to look after your own travel and accommodation costs. Keep in mind that there are many opportunities with great organizations right here in London.
What kind of jobs will I be doing at my placement?
This will vary from one organization to another. Each placement organization will have different needs and strategies. It is, therefore, important to carefully choose the right placement for your interests. The placement opportunities available to you will be as varied as the public relations and corporate communications field itself.
Some of the duties that students have performed in the past are: editing documents, writing articles, performing interviews in the field, managing social media accounts, preparing communication plans, updating websites, contacting donors, printing and preparing documents for release, doing competitor analysis, looking at industry trends, planning events, etc.
Is the placement paid?
Typically, field placement is not paid as it is part of a course in the overall program. There are, however, some instances where a placement has been paid or the organization offered a stipend or honorarium, but that must not be an expectation. The point of the placement is to gain experience, network, achieve the required hours, and complete the associated course work in order to graduate.
Although I still have much to learn, I have been incredibly lucky to have a wonderful support system in the form of my professors, classmates, and family. They have helped me find my passion.
Learning Outcomes
The graduate has reliably demonstrated the ability to:
- Coordinate and contribute to the planning of public relations activities, including the development of clear, measurable communication objectives and project or tactical budgets and selection of strategies, tactics, tools and resources to manage a range of stakeholder relationships and issues and achieve organizational objectives.
- Coordinate, contribute to and adapt the implementation of strategies and tactics and the management of budgets and resources to achieve communication objectives and meet activity guidelines and requirements.
- Write and edit clear, accurate, targeted copy aligned to organizational objectives, appropriate for the chosen channel(s) and to a specified deadline.
- Produce effective, accessible, and timely print, digital and multimedia communications, independently and collaboratively, to manage specific stakeholder relations and/or issues and achieve organizational objectives.
- Use research results and analytical skills to guide the development of communication objectives and public relations activities, evaluate their impact, and support organizational objectives and stakeholder relationships.
- Engage stakeholders by adapting language, tone and presentation style to the public relations purpose, situation, audience and channel(s).
- Comply with and support others to work in accordance with relevant professional association and industry codes of ethics, public relations professional standards and practices, and legal obligations, protocols and policies.
- Monitor emerging social and economic trends, and local, national and global issues to guide the planning and implementation of public relations strategies and tactics and support organizational effectiveness, stakeholder relationships and ongoing personal professional development.
- Assess the selection and implications of current and emerging technologies on the quality and delivery of public relations activities and on organizational effectiveness.
- Select strategies and tools to build and manage stakeholder relationships to support public relations activities, organizational objectives and career development.
Academic School
Program Coordinator:
Jackie Westelaken
Explore our vibrant campuses and discover what makes Fanshawe unique. Get a firsthand look at classrooms, labs, student spaces, and residence halls, and connect with faculty, staff, and current students. Whether you're interested in learning more about academic programs, student services, or extracurricular activities, this is your chance to experience campus life up close. Don't miss the opportunity to see how we can help you achieve your academic and career goals!
Admission Requirements
A Two- or Three-Year College Diploma, or a Degree
(Note: minimum 'C+' average or cumulative 2.5 GPA)
OR
Professional background and experience as
judged by the College to be equivalent to the above
International Admission Equivalencies
English Language Requirements
English Language Requirements
Applicants whose first language is not English will be required to demonstrate proficiency in English by one of the following methods:
- A Grade 12 College Stream or University Stream English credit from an Ontario Secondary School, or equivalent, depending on the program's Admission Requirements
- Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) test with a minimum score of 88 for the Internet-based test (iBT), with test results within the last two years
- International English Language Testing System (IELTS) Academic test with an overall score of 6.5 with no score less than 6.0 in any of the four bands, with test results within the last two years. SDS Program Requirements.
- Canadian Academic English Language (CAEL) test with an overall score of 70 with no score less than 60 in any of the four bands, with test results within the last two years
- Pearson Test of English Academic (PTE) with a minimum score of 59, with test results within the last two years
- A Cambridge English Test (FCE/CAE/CPE) with an overall score on the Cambridge English Scale of 176 with no language skill less than 169, with test results within the last two years
- Fanshawe College ESL4/GAP5 students: Minimum grade of 80% in ESL4/GAP5 Level 9 or 75% in ESL4/GAP5 Level 10
Recommended Academic Preparation
Recommended Academic Preparation
Recommended Personal Preparation
Recommended Personal Preparation
Advanced skills in written and oral communication and computer applications, particularly Microsoft Word, Excel and PowerPoint.Applicant Selection Criteria
Applicant Selection Criteria
Where the number of eligible applicants exceeds the available spaces in the program, the Applicant Selection Criteria will be:- Preference for Permanent Residents of Ontario
- Receipt of Application by February 1st (After this date, Fanshawe College will consider applicants on a first-come, first-served basis until the program is full)
- Achievement in the Admission Requirements
Courses
Level 1 | ||||
COMP-6041 | Design Principles in Digital Media 1 | 3 | ||
This course is a blend of lecture and computer lab time. Students will learn the basics of designing on an Apple iMac computer using the Adobe Creative Cloud software (InDesign, Illustrator and Photoshop). Assignments will be based off of skills learned in the lecture portion of the lab time and will be submitted to the instructor for evaluation." | ||||
COMP-6048 | Digital Marketing & Web Design | 3 | ||
Students will learn basic web page design principles as well as methods of using the web to market and communicate to target audiences. Students will design and publish web pages, using HTML and content management programs. This course prepares the students for a wide range of communication applications of new web technologies. | ||||
CORP-6006 | Trends & Technologies in PR | 3 | ||
Various PR trends and technologies are studied in this course, with an emphasis on social media planning and analytics from an organizational perspective. Individual and team research projects will result in an understanding of target demographics and how to engage them online. | ||||
CORP-6009 | Professional Presentation Skills | 3 | ||
Presentation skills are essential soft skills that are used every day whether speaking one-on-one, to a group of five people, or 500. Effective and professional presentation skills can make individuals stand apart based on comfort level, delivery style and how messages are tailored for an audience. Topics in this course include dealing with presentation anxiety, creating informative and persuasive presentations, using appropriate body language and gestures and understanding cross-cultural communication. The course also covers effective facilitation skills and how to facilitate meetings and small group activities. | ||||
PBRL-6014 | Professional Practice & Ethics | 3 | ||
This course is designed to help students prepare for their field placements and eventual employment by examining professional workplace conduct, practices, and ethics. Participants will examine the importance of professional practices as required in workplace situations, and will also consider the need for ethical standards in business, public relations and the media. Students will be encouraged to develop high standards of personal and professional ethics and practice. The course explores current workplace standards of behaviour and examines ethical challenges drawn from current events in the corporate, political and non-profit sectors. Issues related to team work, conflict resolution, leadership, and cross-cultural communication will also be explored. | ||||
PBRL-6016 | Strategic Public Relations | 3 | ||
This course lays the foundation for studies in public relations. A brief history of PR will be covered before looking at publics, PR planning and research, organizing special events, along with other facets of PR. A case study method combined with assignments and guest lectures will be used. | ||||
COMM-6038 | Visual Communication & Design | 3 | ||
This course will teach students the basic elements for various elements of visual communication that PR and communication professionals may incorporate into a campaign including photography, and video interactive websites. |
Tuition Summary
London
*Total program costs are approximate, subject to change and do not include the health and dental plan fee, bus pass fee or program general expenses.