Advance your career with a certificate in Media and Leadership

Fast Track | Online | No GRE

Explore full certificate details on the VCU Bulletin.

Ask us how a certificate in Media and Leadership can impact your career.

Certificate application deadline: May 1st, 2026

 

Info Session: MS & Certificate

Ready to take the next step in your professional journey? Join the VCU Robertson School for virtual information sessions exploring our M.S. in Mass Communications, with specialized concentrations in Integrated Communication and Media Leadership, as well as our Graduate Certificate in Media & Leadership. These are the perfect opportunities to learn how our programs can help you lead in today's evolving media landscape. The sessions will take place on Thursday, May 28, 2026, from 12:00 and 4 PM EST.

You can join the meeting directly at vcu.zoom.us/my/robertsongrad. For more details, feel free to reach out to Jonathan Brown at brownj64@vcu.edu

 

Courses

As a student in the media and leadership certificate program, you will take required courses that cover the topics of leadership and media law and ethics.

You will then choose six credits from the following electives:

• MASC 600: Managing Your Media Career. 3 credits.
• MASC 611: Communication Research. 3 credits.
• MASC 618: Media Economics and Management. 3 credits.
• MASC 643: Digital Management and Analytics. 3 credits.
• MASC 645: Digital Production. 3 credits.
• MASC 654: Persuasion. 3 credits.
• MASC 679: Writing Across Modern Media. 3 credits.
• MASC 682: Media Mechanics. 3 credits.
• MASC 683: Strategic Communications in the Global Environment. 3 credits.
• MASC 685: Strategy. 3 credits.
• MASC 687: Entrepreneurial Media Management. 3 credits.
• MASC 691: Topics in Mass Communications. 3 credits.

Read more about our courses in the VCU bulletin.

 

Sample Schedule:

Summer 2024

MASC 645: Digital Production

MASC 676: Media law and ethics

Fall 2024

MASC 611: Communication research

MASC 643: Digital Management and Analytics  

MASC 600: Managing Your Media Career 

Spring 2025

MASC 687: Entrepreneurial Media Management 

MASC 691: Topics in mass communication

MASC 679: Writing Across Modern Media  

Summer 2025

MASC 675: Leadership in Action 

MASC 694: Capstone (or thesis)

 

Graduation

As you approach the end of your academic program and the final semester of matriculation, you must make a formal application to graduate. No degrees will be conferred until the application to graduate has been finalized. Graduate students and program directors should refer to the following graduation information as published in the Graduate Bulletin for a complete list of instructions and a graduation checklist.

Student Outcomes

Upon successful completion of the certificate in media and leadership, you will:

• Demonstrate an understanding of the practical skills necessary in media law and ethics
• Demonstrate leadership skills necessary in contemporary media fields.
• Master written and multimedia platforms, including modern tools and technologies, to communicate clearly and effectively to inform and engage audiences in mass communication fields such as journalism or strategic communication.