Interacting with Media for STEM Professionals and Researchers – CTMSPR

Scripps College of Communication
1 Ohio University
Athens, OH 45701-2979
740-593-4883
scrippscollege@ohio.edu

Delivery Mode: Online; Hybrid; Other location

Terms of Entry: Fall, Spring, Summer

Enrollment Eligibility: Current degree-seeking student or non-degree status

Certificate Overview

This certificate delivers a combination of media literacy and media competencies designed for early to mid-career STEM professionals. The courses are designed to give media skills to STEM professionals so that they can better convey the importance of their research to lay audiences both through the news media and directly through social media and other media forms. The certificate also will enhance STEM professionals’ skills at direct communication through social media and other media devices to advance a personal or professional brand.

The certificate consists of three courses totaling 12 credit hours, and so may normally be completed in three semesters or less.

Two experiences comprise the first “course:” a 1 credit hour seminar (COMM 5013, Media for STEM Professionals Seminar) and a 3-credit hour online course (COMM 5401, Media Today and Tomorrow for STEM). The seminar and the course can be taken concurrently. The seminar provides a general communication media overview and introduction for STEM professionals. The second and third courses are COMM 5411, STEM Media Messaging and COMM 5421, Mastering the Media Interview for STEM Professionals. The courses do not need to be taken in sequence.

Certificate Learning Outcomes

• Students will be able to demonstrate knowledge about the breadth of media in the 21st Century, audiences for various media forms, and how to differentiate between factual news, opinions, analysis and “fake news.”
• Students will be able to understand how journalists get information and to demonstrate techniques on how a STEM professional can relate directly with the news media.
• Students will be able to exhibit techniques of how to communicate with the general public and be able to describe STEM-based research projects without jargon.
• Students will be able to develop an idea for a podcast and learn the elements of creating, producing, and promoting a STEM-based podcast.
• Students will be able to exhibit the differences between broadcast and print interviewing techniques.
• Students will be able to create effective create an “elevator pitch” and “branding statement” to promote their research

Opportunities upon Completion

With the advent of smart phones, social media, search engines and smart speakers, media has changed more in the past 10 years than it did in the previous 60. Media is more pervasive in our daily lives and is an integral part of almost everything one does professionally. In that context, communication of science to the general public is increasingly considered a responsibility of STEM professionals. Although great media skills are often seen as essential for career success (while mediocre to poor skills may spell disaster), experience in communication has not always been part of standard scientific training.

In the words of highly respected communication company Cision: “Does everyone need media training now? In a word? Yes. Media training, one of the mainstays of public relations, has never been more important than it is today. Media training infused with a social media perspective is critical and can make the difference between creating a strong positive public impression or a truly negative one.”

In particular, many funding agencies require a public education component as an element of grant proposals, in order to demonstrate how the recipient will help make the case for the value of the work in furthering the funder’s aims and, in the case of publicly funded grants, to support the good stewardship of tax dollars. This certificate will help doctors, engineers, and scientists develop the skills essential to successful pursuit of funding necessary to their careers.

Upon applying for graduation (for degree-seeking students) or completion of the certificate requirements (for non-degree students), you must contact the program coordinator for verification of completion and the awarding of the certificate.

Certificate Relationship to Parent Degree Program

The parent program of this graduate certificate is the Master of Arts in Organizational Communication, program code MA 5332. Neither enrollment in nor completion of the Organizational Communication degree is required to complete this certificate. However, completing the certificate does fulfill 12 of the required elective hours for the degree. Students admitted to this certificate may also seek admission to the Organizational Communication degree, and/or other certificates. Two certificates may also “stack” toward the degree. Previously submitted application materials will be reused as much as possible, as determined by the Organizational Communication Program Director. More information on the Organizational Communication degree program.

Complementary certificates include:

• CTCMTI—Digital Media Transformation & Innovation
• CTCCOM—Crisis Communication

Admission Requirements

Undergraduate degree in a field other than Journalism. No additional requirements beyond university graduate admission requirements.

International Students

An I-20 cannot be issued based on admission to this program.

Completion Requirements