Public Relations - Corporate Communications - 766

Ontario College Graduate Certificate
One year or less
OSAP Checkmark OSAP Eligible
An increasingly complex and interesting field, a career in Public Relations offers the chance to let your writing and communications skills shine.

Note: Public Relations - Corporate Communications (766) was formerly named Public Relations (166).

 

A rewarding education through Mohawk College’s Public Relations – Corporate Communications program sets you up for a rewarding career!

Overview

The Mohawk College Public Relations – Corporate Communications graduate certificate program has established itself as a leader in innovative training employers look for from our skilled grads. Highly sought-after grads find employment across a broad spectrum of industries.

Students leverage learning and become adept in managing communications in a fast-paced digital online global society.  Learn to maintain open and effective communications between corporations, governments, organizations, and their publics.  Effective organizational communication requires highly trained public relations – corporate communications professionals.

In two semesters you will:

  • Build a network of leading industry professionals
  • Fast track your education through our flexible 140-hour field placement partnership program, learning and developing your skills in a workplace setting – taken anytime during both semesters
  • Gain invaluable hands-on experience in:
    • social media and digital communications
    • digital publishing
    • media relations management
    • issues and crisis communication
    • industry ethics and communications law
    • public relations event planning and execution, and more!
  • Discover learning in an actual work environment, contributing to team efforts on real world projects, by engaging with actual clients through our in-house full-service communications agency – The Agency

  • Develop an industry ready professional portfolio of the work you create

Program Highlights

Build your own public relations – corporate communications industry network through a variety of activities, starting before you even take your first class:

  • Day-One Industry Mixer - Meet and mingle with PR/communications professionals
  • Guest speaker series – Gain insights from award winning, highly regarded industry professionals in the classroom
  • Informational interviews – Visit and meet one-on-one with industry professionals as you begin planning your career goals
  • Mock job interviews – Visit an industry professional and practice your interviewing skills without the pressure of landing the job
  • Become a student member with the Canadian Public Relations Society (CPRS) and the International Association of Business Communicators (IABC) – the two largest industry associations for PR practitioners and communicators in Canada

What You'll Learn

  • Formulate PR strategies and execute tactics in corporate and not-for-profit communications.
  • Learn to use social and digital media in PR planning and execution.
  • Explore media relations, electronic publishing, crisis communications and advertising.
  • Acquire expertise in PR analysis and planning.
  • Write professional-level public relations materials.
  • Design visually creative materials to meet PR objectives.
  • Plan and execute an event.
  • Develop a fundraising plan.

Program Advisory Committee (2022-2025)

Program content is enhanced through consultation with industry professionals sitting on our Program Advisory Committee:

  • Maria Babbage – Director, Corporate Communications, Joseph Brant Hospital
  • Jennifer Candlish – Communications Director, Jan Kelley
  • Julie De Liberato – Director of Marketing and Communications, Ovarian Cancer Canada
  • Candace Lee Lickers – Manager Corporate Communications, Indigenous Communications, BMO Financial Group
  • Mary Fearson – Founder/President, OnPrpose Inc.
  • Oindrila Harza – Manager, Content and Media Strategy, Corporate and Public Affairs, TD Bank
  • Alexandra Pecoski Carson – Vice President, Citizen Relations International
  • Kalvin Reid – Director of Public Relations, Enterprise Canada
  • Jay Robb – Communications Manager, McMaster University, Faculty of Science
  • Matt Warner – Manager, Internal Communications, Green Shield Canada
  • Kim Zarzuela – Communications Officer, Hamilton-Wentworth District School Board

Program Length

1 academic year (period of 8 months – 3 days per week, each semester)

View the Exceptions Calendar for start dates and semester break information.

Our Grads Stand Out – Our Grads Are Highly Sought

  • Winning CPRS “Student Awards of Excellence” and “Student Project Awards”
  • Working in healthcare, education, sports, entertainment, government, corporate, not-for-profit, and PR/Communications agencies

Student Experiences and Testimonials 2020-21

Join us at Open House from April 6 - April 11

Come and explore our campuses, meet with faculty and staff and learn about the many student services and supports available to Mohawk students to help you succeed.

 

Register today!


We're here to help

We’re here for you to support applications and admissions by providing online and virtual service.

 

Applied and have questions?
The admissions team is available to help, you can contact them via Admissions or by phone at 1-844-767-6871.

 

Haven’t applied and need help?
Contact us or phone 905-575-2460.


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Program delivery

Learn about program delivery terms.

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Admission

  • University Degree or College Diploma (two-year or longer) in a related area of study (as determined by the College), OR an acceptable combination of related work experience and postsecondary education (as determined by the College)
  • Postsecondary transcripts, indicating courses completed to date, must be submitted at the time of application
  • Proof of English proficiency for applicants where English is not their first language must be submitted to Ontario Colleges

Language Requirements for Applicants with English as a Second Language:

  • IELTS Academic overall band of 6.5 with no band less than 6.0
  • TOEFL iBT 88
  • CAEL 70, no sub-test band score less than 60
  • PTE Academic 58
  • Mohawk College English Language Test (Accuplacer: Assessment for Success) aligned with CAEL Band
  • Successful completion of the GAS-English for Academic Purposes (478 or 278) program. Placement in the GAS-EAP program is determined by scores on an in-house English language test or TOEFL or IELTS

Brock University and Mohawk College collaboration

Brock University students can complete both a Bachelor of Arts in Business Communication Studies, or Bachelor of Arts in Media and Communication Studies at Brock, and a Public Relations Graduate Certificate at Mohawk in just 4 years of study. View Mohawk's Credit Transfer Agreements.

Applicants whose first language is not English will be required to demonstrate proficiency in English.

Tuition and Fees

2023 - 2024 Domestic Tuition and Fees

Description Semester 1 Semester 2

Compulsory Ancillary Fees

$814.66 $758.46
Co-op Fees N/A N/A

Compulsory Program Fees

$0.00 $0.00
Domestic Tuition $3,720.60 $3,720.60
Total Domestic Charges Per Semester $4,535.26 $4,479.06
Total 1st Year Fees $9,014.32

Above fees based on full-time September program start date. Contact Student Services to confirm fees for other start dates or semesters.


2023 - 2024 International Tuition and Fees

Description Semester 1 Semester 2
Total Tuition & Ancillary Fee $8,795.00 $8,795.00
Co-op Fees N/A N/A

Program Compulsory Fees

$0.00 $0.00
International Tax Recovery $450.00 $375.00
Total International Charges Per Semester $9,245.00 $9,170.00
Total 1st Year Fees $18,415.00

If you pay by wire transfer, please note your bank might charge you a fee to transfer money. Make sure your transfer includes the Mohawk payment and the wire transfer fee. This applies to each wire transfer payment you make.

Additional Information

Financial Assistance

When it comes to paying for your education, investing in your future can be more affordable than you think. A Mohawk education is one of the most cost-effective means of acquiring the skills and knowledge you need to have a prosperous and rewarding career. 

As you start on your chosen career path, it's important to have a realistic set of expectations regarding the expenses associated with attending college. In addition to your tuition fees, you will also need to budget for books, supplies, housing, and other related living expenses. You may be able to supplement your income and savings with scholarships, bursaries, or loans. It pays to do some research into what types of financial assistance you may qualify for.

Available Financial Assistance Resources:

Apply for Awards:

By submitting a Scholarships and Bursaries Application every semester, students have access to over $3 million in Mohawk College scholarships, bursaries and Ministry-partnered funding to help meet their financial needs.

Financial Literacy and Money Coaching:

Whether saving for school, sticking to a budget, or planning for a major purchase, financial literacy affects us all. That's why Mo' Money is committed to helping our students improve their money skills and become more confident with their money.

Course Overview & Descriptions

Click on the course title for a course description.

Experiential Learning

How you'll gain skills

Field Placement

Students participate in a flexible field placement consisting of 140 hours, completed during the academic year, prior to the end of the second term.

Visit the Public Relations Program Student Placement Partnership page for information on the field placement opportunities for this program!

The Agency

The Agency Logo

The Agency is an experiential learning facility operating within the McKeil School of Business at Mohawk College. Students from a variety of programs including Advertising, Public Relations - Corporate Communications, Marketing, Graphics and Broadcast Media collaborate in developing real world marketing and communications solutions for selected non-profit organizations and start-up companies in the greater Hamilton area.

All projects with our clients/partners are integrated into the curriculum and students are marked on what they do. They work under close faculty supervision as they develop effective marketing communications solutions relevant to meeting clear client objectives.

Learn more about The Agency

Learning Outcomes

Program Learning Outcomes, often referred to as ‘Program Standards', set out the essential learning that a student must achieve before being deemed ready to graduate.

In many cases these program learning outcomes were developed by the Ministry of Colleges and Universities (MCU) in consultation with employers and educators who are experts in the program field. To ensure the outcomes remain current and in line with industry needs, we invite our employers, graduates working in the field and current students to re-examine and update them during regular, ongoing program review focus groups.

Career Opportunities

Your future career options

  • Public Relations and Corporate Communications
  • Social Media and Digital Communications
  • Media Relations
  • Community Relations
  • Public Affairs
  • Event Management

 

Where you could work includes:

  • Corporations
  • Professional Organizations and Societies
  • Government - Local, Municipal and Federal
  • Other Not-For-Profits such as Education, Healthcare, Religious Organizations, Police, Libraries
  • Public Relations – Communications Agencies
  • Advertising/Marketing/ Promotional Agencies
  • Sports and entertainment
  • Fashion and lifestyle
  • Event management

 

Opportunities for students and grads

  • Pursue student memberships with the Canadian Public Relations Society (CPRS) and the International Association of Business Communicators (IABC).

Educational Pathways

 

Pathways to Mohawk 

If you've successfully taken a course at another post-secondary institution, you may be able to earn course exemptions toward your credential here at Mohawk.

 

Pathways within Mohawk

If you have successfully completed one of the following programs at Mohawk, you may be eligible to receive transfer credit in this program. *

We offer a diverse range of programs to further your studies within Mohawk following completion of this program. * 

This Pathways map shows how the identified program can lead to future program choices within Mohawk.

Pathways beyond Mohawk

Earn a degree:

See ONTransfer for additional opportunities at other colleges or universities in Ontario.

Search the Mohawk Transfer Database for opportunities outside of Ontario.

Additional Information

The Public Relations program has a mandatory laptop requirement. All students are required to have a laptop that is capable of effectively running the software packages that we use for instruction. This provides our students with 24/7 access to industry-relevant production tools and learning resources.

The requirement of an approved media capable laptop is foundational to our learning structure and is necessary upon program entry. We have updated our policy to include laptops capable of meeting our required software specifications.

Mohawk College currently has a partnership agreement with Dell. To receive educational discounts when purchasing your new laptop, please visit the Mohawk Custom Online Store. If you already own a laptop which meets our minimum standard necessary to run the required software, a new purchase will not be required.

To Access Mohawk’s Custom Online Store:

  • Login to your MyMohawk account with your MohawkID and password.
  • Click on the Technology Solutions tab.
  • Navigate to the Computer Store and click “Online Dell Store.”
  • Once you arrive at the Mohawk College Discount Store webpage, select “Shop Your Standard Configuration” to see the list of laptops we recommend for this program. 

Minimum (Better) and Recommended (Best) Workstation Laptop configurations:

Windows Workstation

  • OS: Windows 10 or 11 (64-bit)

    • CPU: Intel 12th Gen i7 or better

    • GPU: Nvidia RTX 3050 or better

    • RAM: 16GB or greater (32GB recommended)

    • Internal storage: 500GB or greater SSD

    • Recommended machine: Dell Inspiron 16 Plus (7630) or Dell XPS (9530)

Note: Chromebook devices will not be able to run the required professional media-industry software that our students will use regularly during each semester of the Public Relations program. Apple laptops are not recommended as they are not a public relations industry standard, but will work if it can run the required software.

Software Requirements

Adobe Creative Cloud: A monthly subscription to Adobe Creative Cloud can be purchased from the Adobe Creative Cloud website.

  • Microsoft Office: Available with your Microsoft 365 account.
  • Microsoft Publisher: Available for download with your Microsoft 365 account.
  • Microsoft Project: Available for download with your Microsoft 365 account.

Hardware

Personal External Storage:

  • Minimum capacity: 1TB
  • Technology: solid-state drive (SSD)
  • Read/Write Speeds: approximately 500MB/second or greater (USB 3.1 or better)
  • Connector: USB-A or USB-C connector as required to interface with your laptop
  • External mouse

Program Coordinator

Tim Tuck portrait.

Tim Tuck

Program Coordinator – Professor

Faculty

Contact us

Domestic Canadian Students

Contact Student Recruitment
Haven’t applied yet and have questions?
Contact our Student Recruitment team for information on programs, how to apply, and more.

Contact Admissions
Contact our Admissions advisors for help with your application.
Contact Admissions
Phone: 1-844-767-6871

International Students

Contact International Student Recruitment
Contact our International Student Recruitment team for information on programs, how to apply, and student life.
Contact International
Email: intl.representatives@mohawkcollege.ca
Phone: 1-905-575-2254
Toll free phone numbers:
For general questions: 1-888-Mohawk9 (1-888-664-2959)
North China: 10-800-714-2521
South China: 10-800-140-2541
Brazil: 0800-022-7408
Philippines: 180011102544

Contact International Admissions
Contact our Admissions advisors for help with your application.
Contact International Admissions
Phone: 1-905-575-2254

*Not all programs are international eligible. Please see our programs available for international students.

Accessible Learning Services

Are you a student with a confirmed or suspected disability? Visit our Accessible Learning Services website to discover how we can help you.

Do you have a project for our students?

If you or your organization has a marketing communications project that might be suitable for our students, please apply below. We will respond to you as soon as we can. Please note that we do not accept applications made directly to faculty or program coordinators. If you have any questions please contact theagency@mohawkcollege.ca

Apply for Student Support

Program Coordinator

Tim Tuck portrait.

Tim Tuck

Program Coordinator – Professor

Canadian Domestic Students

Fennell Campus (FF)
Sep 2024
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Joshua R

“The PR program helped me adopt the hard skills I use every day in the workplace. My internship served as the perfect transition from student to professional communicator!”

Joshua R '18
Digital Communications Coordinator | Agent des communications numériques
Doctors Without Borders / Médecins Sans Frontières

Janine Duff

“When I decided to make a big career change and pursue my passion for communications, Mohawk College's Public Relations program gave me the required knowledge, skills and real-world experience to achieve my professional goals and land a rewarding role right after graduation. The professors were always willing to go above and beyond to support our success and share their industry connections. I'm so thankful for their encouragement and mentorship, and I still use what I learned in the program every day in my current role.”

Janine Duff – Class of 2022
Account Executive
Birchall & Associates Inc.

(Graduate Medal - McKeil School of Business, School of Communications, Creative Industries and Liberal Studies, Mohawk College)

Megan McGinnis

“Once I walked across the stage and exited a long eight-year post-secondary journey, I felt unsure of my next steps. Add a global pandemic to the mix, failed job hunts, falling passion and a lot of isolated time, I realized my talents in communications but had no clue how to integrate these findings into a career path. Then I discovered Mohawk College’s Public Relations post-graduate program. For eight months I gained more networks, knowledge and practical applications than in my eight years at university. The faculty regularly went out of their way to help students succeed, whether it was an extended zoom call, reviewing a resume, or recording a class. I learned the value of strategic writing and speaking in helping others communicate effectively. Experiential learning was continuous and strengthened my confidence and capabilities in transitioning me into the role of a communications coordinator today. It was without a doubt the best life move I’ve made.”

Megan McGinnis – Class of 2022
Account Coordinator
OnPrpose Inc.

Eleni Jalbout

“My time in the Public Relations post-graduate program at Mohawk College provided me with the communication and community relations skills that are foundational to the job I have now. In my current role as a community engagement specialist, communicating succinctly and creating key messaging are two fundamental skills that I learned in the PR program. I have Tim’s PR classes to thank for the strong communicator I am today.”

Eleni Jalbout – Class of 2021
Community Engagement and Issues Specialist
Metrolinx | Hamilton-Niagara

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“During my time in the Post-graduate Public Relations Program, I learned valuable skills that has helped me succeed in the real world. I always knew that I had a love for communications, but the program and my professors gave me the confidence to call myself a PR Practitioner!”

Megan Dunscombe - Class of 2021
Consumer & Lifestyle PR Specialist
MAVERICK Public Relations