When researchers make discoveries that change the world, communicators play a key role in sharing those breakthroughs beyond the lab. Whether you’re a graduate student, a postdoc, or a faculty or staff member at a university, UAB’s Research Communication certificate can help you explain important work to both expert and lay audiences—giving you a background that can enhance a career in science journalism, research communication, medical writing, and more.

Our goal is to make you an expert in understanding and presenting complex research. To do that, you’ll complete 15 hours of coursework. First, you’ll take some mandatory courses, which include Presentation and Discussion Skills, Writing Research for Broad Audiences, and a research communication portfolio class where you will build a collection of your best work. Next, you’ll get to tailor the rest of your coursework to your interests by choosing eight hours of elective credits. We’ve collaborated with the College of Arts and Sciences, the Collat School of Business, and the Graduate School’s Professional Development Program to offer you a diverse range of courses, from Writing in Popular Periodicals, Visual Rhetoric, and Science Communication to Web Analytics and Social Media Marketing. By the time you’ve earned your certificate, you’ll have had the chance to equip yourself with tools to take your career in research communication to the next level.